SA vs Ind 4th Test Live: Weather and toss key to Durban Test

Tags: India tour of South Africa -2010-11, India v South Africa 2nd Test at Durban- Dec 26-30, 2010, India, South Africa

Published on: Dec 26, 2010

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SA vs Ind 4th Test Live Scores,Dec 26: It's Christmas Day and Durban's streets are deserted. The big festival is here and almost everything is closed; everyone is off work, enjoying the Christmas mood.

DURBAN: It's Christmas Day and Durban's streets are deserted. The big festival is here and almost everything is closed; everyone is off work, enjoying the Christmas mood. But not these men whose duty it is to look after the Kingsmead ground. In fact, for the ground staff here, it's a day to slog.

They cannot help but curse and do the job, which is to protect the playing square from rain that has been troubling them for the last several days and which made regular appearances on Saturday.

After playing a decisive role in the first Test at Centurion, weather holds the key to the second battle - the Boxing Day Test - too. In all likelihood, it's going to be one of those Tests where cricket writers also need to keep a close watch on met reports. The Test begins here on Sunday.

Weather reports here suggest that the elements will be a crucial factor in the contest with rain forecast for the first, fourth and fifth days of the Tests. On other two days too, the sun is expected to play hide and seek.

All this will not only cut playing time but also largely determine how the pitch plays. The playing track was all covered up for most of Saturday, letting it soak in moisture and dampness which will make it ideal for fast bowlers. With a thick grass cover adorning the top, wet conditions will make the pitch even more troublesome for the batsmen.

Thus, indications are that it's going to a battle between the batsmen and the fast men from both sides. India, traditionally, have found these conditions difficult to handle but with Zaheer Khan back in the fray, they will go in with much greater belief. And if MS Dhoni can win the toss for a change, then India can hope to put South Africa under pressure quite early through the trio of Zaheer, Sreeshanth and Ishant Sharma. If India are asked to bat first on Sunday, then handling the rampaging duo of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel will be quite an ask.

The Test has great significance for both sides. The hosts, 1-0 up, will try to wrap up the series here and close the gap with India at the top of the Test rankings. India, meanwhile, will be striving to make sure that the series does not end up as yet another failed campaign in South Africa.

With the spice in the track giving South Africa the edge, India would be looking to Virender Sehwag to lift them with his fireworks. He remains the batsman to look up to for India when the going gets tough because conditions do not faze him. On his day, Sehwag can turn the game around, whatever the condition.

South Africa, licking their lips in anticipation, are likely to drop Lonwabo Tsotsobe and bring in the faster Wayne Parnell or Ryan McLaren.

But Steyn and Morkel remain their trump cards and the Indian batsmen will have play out of their skins to counter the duo's threat as this must be one of the greenest tracks they have ever played on.

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