South Africa host India for a full tour early next year with the 3 match Test series giving it a kickoff. Prior to the series South Africa led by AB de Villiers has won the one off Test against Zimbabwe. It was very much according to AB de Villiers a dress rehearsal before the much anticipated series against India gets underway. AB de Villiers feels that this was adequate before the challenge against India. Stating that the intention was to get the players in form, de Villiers maintained that he was happy with the workload he got on the field.
“Our preparation was to make sure we get through this Test match, with a bit of workload and get guys into form. I’m happy with [the] workload. All our batsmen had time in the middle and all the bowlers had a chance to shine,” he said as per Cricbuzz reports.
“It was very enjoyable in the end. It all happened at the same time. I love taking responsibility for the team and it went very well,” de Villiers added.
Expressing hope over the future of day-night Test cricket, the 33-year-old added, “The batters were a little bit more positive, and there was talk of declaring earlier than normal. It encourages more positive cricket and I enjoy that, although I’m not sure what the answer is because I still enjoy five day as well. But there is definitely an excitement to day-night cricket for four days. We all enjoyed it and I think the spectators will enjoy it as well.”
India will face South Africa in three-match Test series from January 5 at Newlands, Cape Town. The series will be followed by six ODIs and three T20Is.
India Test Squad:
Virat Kohli(c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Parthiv Patel, Jasprit Bumrah
Itinerary:
Jan 05 - Jan 09, 1st Test – Newlands, Cape Town
Jan 13 - Jan 17, 2nd Test – SuperSport Park, Centurion
Jan 24 - Jan 28, 3rd Test – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Feb 01, 1st ODI – Kingsmead, Durban
Feb 04, 2nd ODI – SuperSport Park, Centurion
Feb 07, 3rd ODI – Newlands, Cape Town
Feb 10, 4th ODI – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Feb 13, 5th ODI – St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
Feb 16, 6th ODI – SuperSport Park, Centurion
Feb 18, 1st T20I – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Feb 21, 2nd T20I – SuperSport Park, Centurion
Feb 24, 3rd T20I – Newlands, Cape Town
