We didn't even change ends - Gambhir recalls he and Sachin facing off against Steyn and Morkel in 2011

Tendulkar made 146 in the 1st innings, while Gambhir made 93 and 64 in 2011 Test.

By Jatin Sharma - 07 Jan, 2022

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir recalled the Cape Town Test match of the 2010-11 Test series against South Africa, highlighting how he and Sachin Tendulkar took on the Proteas’ dangerous pacers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in what is described as one of the best spells of fast bowling.

The Test remains in memories of cricket fans thanks to the epic battle between Tendulkar and Steyn in India's first innings, with the Indian cricket great later going on to call it the best spell he faced in Test cricket.

The series was level at 1-1 and both India and South Africa were desperate to clinch the series in the third and final match at Newlands in Cape Town. But the Test ended in a draw after India took a two-run first-innings lead in response to South Africa's 362 and were 166/3 after the Proteas posted 341 in their second innings.

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Sachin Tendulkar made 146, while Dale Steyn finished with 5/75 in that innings. On the other hand, Gautam Gambhir also starred with the bat scoring 93 and 64 in both innings.

Gambhir said there was a point when he and Tendulkar struggled to rotate while facing deliveries from Steyn and Morne Morkel while recalling that match.

"I remember that one spell which I faced off Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, which Sachin goes on record saying that was the best spell he faced in his Test career, in Cape Town. We scored eight runs in one hour and we didn't even rotate, we didn't even change ends," Gambhir said on Star Sports.

Further, the Indian opener hailed Morne Morkel as "the best fast bowler I have ever faced".

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"I think he was the best fast bowler I have ever faced. I have faced Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, and all the best fast bowlers in the world and I have said it on record and I will say it again: I think he was the best I have faced.

With his height and his pace, he was probably the toughest for any batter. Especially for me, I thought that there was no easy delivery and there was probably no getting away and you had to face the heat. So he was probably world-class," Gambhir said.

South Africa and India will play for the series in the third Test match at Cape Town after the home side won the second Test in Wanderers to level the series 1-1.

By Jatin Sharma - 07 Jan, 2022

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