Seam for success

India embarks upon a tour of South Africa that is unquestionably its toughest overseas assignment since the ill-fated tour of Australia two years ago. After disappointing results in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka that brought into question just how much India had improved by conquering the Aussies, a positive result in South Africa, even if it is a competitive series defeat, would do much to restore India's credibility as a Test nation worthy of respect under all conditions.

Along with a tour of Australia, a Test series in South Africa must currently stand as the most difficult in world cricket, especially for teams from the subcontinent. Fast, seaming pitches as the conditions in which to face the home team's hostile pace attack complemented by a solid and deep batting line-up makes playing South Africa at home a daunting challenge. The results prove it, as the world's second-ranked Test nation has been defeated at home just once in the ten years since isolation, by Mark Taylor's Australians in 1997.

India's success in South Africa hinges upon its seam attack. Moderate-to-low totals in the 250 range are an inevitability so the pacemen will need to have an excellent series. Sri Lanka, under coach Dav Whatmore, have recognised that spinners won't win series abroad on a consistent basis and have implemented a long-term plan to succeed with fast bowlers. India could do likewise, starting with Nehra and Zaheer, as it is unlikely that Kumble and Harbhajan will be a tandem strike force.

Though virtually impossible to contain once in the dominant position, periods of absolute control over an attack by the batsmen are likely to be few and far between in South Africa. Batting should be a disciplined fight for runs, as Pollock and co like to strangle batsmen out by restricting the scoring. Finding the balance between taking the initiative and utilising natural flair against defensive-minded bowlers, and sustaining partnerships by preserving wickets on seamer-friendly pitches, is an awesome task.

Following is an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of each side leading into next month's Test series.

South Africa

Strengths: If there's one word you associate with South Africa, it's discipline. Exceedingly well-drilled in all departments, South Africa will religiously stick to their plans and stay patient. Unlike the Aussies, they are not committed to forcing the play, and whether batting or bowling the South Africans are prepared to wear down the opposition in a battle of attrition.

A clear strength is their depth in both batting and bowling. Mark Boucher, with 3 hundreds, comes in at No. 8. The batting talents of Pollock and Klusener provide a tail with plenty of wag, making South Africa capable of productive partnerships until the last wicket has fallen. The bowling is similar. In addition to having an array of seamers to pick from, Kallis is a respectable bowler in his own right and automatically adds depth to the bowling attack, if not great variety. A combination of Ntini, Ngam and Nel in support Pollock and Donald will ensure no respite for the batsmen.

South Africa remains the world's best fielding unit and hold a clear edge over India in that area.

Weaknesses: South Africa's weakness is that they lack true flair and innovation and will choose the conservative option over the risky one. When placed under pressure, the batsmen are not always prepared to seize the initiative, most notably against spinners. South Africa are also willing to accept draws rather than take aggressive steps to pursue victory.

Their bowlers are entirely unused to being smashed around and become disconcerted when that happens, but exploiting it is obviously immensely difficult.

Ominously, it is difficult to identify individual weaknesses. Boeta Dippenaar and Neil McKenzie are relatively inexperienced but the rest of South Africa's batsmen are battle hardened. No single bowlers is yet to clearly emerge behind Donald and Pollock, but Ntini, Nel and Ngam still present legitimate threats even if their Test inexperience is a question mark.

What South Africa do lack is a quality spin bowler. Paul Adams and Nicky Boje have presently dropped off the screen and the spinner selected in Zimbabwe was Claude Henderson, who one would not expect to trouble India. Any spinner South Africa selects will be for token variety and whoever does play should provide India one of its main scoring avenues.

Key player: Jacques Kallis. It may seem obvious, but Kallis has emerged as one of South Africa's most valuable players and will have a significant influence on the series. As their No. 3, Kallis is the lynchpin of the South African batting order and will be the rock around which large, methodical totals will be built, at least if the South Africans have their way. Finding a way to dislodge this consistent batting technician will be one of the keys to the series.

If he's injury free, Kallis is also a very useful contributor with the ball, claiming 20 wickets in against West Indies this year with a career bowling average of 27.54. His economical style, often bowling wide of off to help build up pressure for his partners, makes him a quintessential member of South Africa's attack. Perhaps Tendulkar will be the man to ensure this tactic doesn't work.

India

Strengths: The ability to unsettle the bowlers by scoring quickly is the greatest strength of India's strongest department, its middle order batting, but it's hard to imagine much free scoring in this series. The potential to compile huge partnerships and bat for long periods is another asset, with Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman all capable of producing a great innings on their day, but the ability to consistently build mid-range partnerships rather than the occasional record-setting ones will be imperative if India are to win.

Spinners should be a strength, for it's certainly a distinct advantage over South Africa, but it's questionable just how much of an influence they will have on pitches not offering turn. Kumble and Harbhajan may fill more of a restrictive rather than attacking role, bowling in partnership with the pacemen and helping to generate pressure rather than serve as match-winners themselves. More than likely South Africa will allow them to do this, so the spin battle should be much more a test of patience for the bowlers than a test of temperament like it was in the Australian series, for example.

For all that, India's chief strength is probably encapsulated in one word: Tendulkar.

Weaknesses: The most glaringly obvious one is the collective vulnerability to fast bowling. Made to play constantly off the back on pitches with bounce and seam movement, it's easy to envision a series of edges and disastrous collapses against South Africa's disciplined pace battery.

Weak swishes outside off, an over-eagerness to play off the front foot, a susceptibility to short-pitched bowling...these are the technical and temperamental weaknesses which have destroyed India overseas. There really is not much excuse for it these days and certainly Tendulkar and Dravid, with their class and experience, do not share that failing. Das, though largely untested so far, also seems to have the makings of a batsman who can handle himself on livelier pitches. It's Ramesh, Ganguly, Laxman and the reserves who are most susceptible to these types of conditions, so it follows that they shape as India's batting weaknesses.

On the bowling front, it is the seam bowlers' tendency to become over-enthusiastic on wickets offering them something that is potentially costly. When Srinath, Zaheer and co find themselves bowling on pitches that assist seamers, as they invariably will, it's important that they do not attempt to become different bowlers but rather continue to stick to their fundamentals and get the most out of the conditions available. How often do we see over-eager fast bowlers bang it in too short when they're presented with a helpful pitch?

Key player: Javagal Srinath. As India's principal seam bowler, Srinath is responsible for making inroads into South Africa's formidable batting with the new ball. If he doesn't, and too much is left to the less experienced Zaheer and Nehra, India will be spending some long days in the field. A 15-wicket series is within reason and should definitely be possible given Srinath's ability to move the ball both ways off the seam.

It would help if Srinath could establish a dominance over at least one member of the top order. That player could be Gibbs if the cocksure opener over-attacks against the moving ball.

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