Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj doesn't believe hosts India will prepare rank runners for the two-Test series that begins in Kolkata on Friday.
Prior to their India tour, South Africa drew a two-match series 1-1 on square-turning tracks of Pakistan.
"I don't think it will be as spin-friendly as we experienced in Pakistan. I think it will be good wickets that will deteriorate as the game goes on. So, probably, more of your traditional Test wickets from what we see," the left-arm spinner said.
"I think if you watched a bit of the West Indies series, it was good wickets that went almost to day four and five. So, I do believe that the sort of narrative is changing in terms of getting wickets.
"They (India) are a wonderful team and they've come a long way, especially with the transition that they have had. I would think that they want to go with good cricket wickets, just judging from the West Indies series."
However, Maharaj expects his team to carry a bit of momentum from Pakistan against India.
"We are carrying a bit of momentum from Pakistan in that second Test, (where) we showed that regardless of the toss, we're still going to fight and try to force the result in our way," he said.
"I think there's a real precision about how we've gone about our business throughout this cycle so far, and in the previous cycle."
South Africa haven't won a Test match in India for 15 years, which is an added source of motivation for them.
"There's a real hunger and desire within the camp to beat India in India. It's probably one of the toughest tours, if not the toughest in the Proteas calendar, for the various generations that have come (here)," Maharaj said.
"We feel like it's one of our biggest tests. And it will be a wonderful opportunity to grade ourselves, to see how far we've come slowly.
"We have started to conquer other parts of the subcontinent. And I feel like this is one assignment that we really, really want to take."
