Rain threat looms over 1st Test

Visakhapatnam, September 30 

Weather could play spoilsport during the first Test between India and South Africa starting here on Wednesday with rain predicted on all five days. It has been raining here regularly over the last one week and there is an 80 percent chance of showers on the opening day of the series opener. On Day 2 and 3, the percentage drops to 50 and 40, respectively. The warm-up game between South Africa and Board President’s XI in Vizianagram, around 50km from here, was also affected by rain. 

Want to be consistent, says SA spinner Maharaj

South Africa’s most experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj wants to be as consistent as the seasoned Indian duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin during the upcoming series.

The orthodox left-arm spinner, with 94 wickets from 25 Tests, had a successful county performance and is hoping to make life “uncomfortable” for the Indian top-order. “It is nice that people speak highly of you. Look at Jadeja and Ashwin. Ashwin has got a lot of variations and Jadeja keeps it simple but the key is consistency and that makse it uncomfortable for the batsmen. I want to emulate that going forward and do my job from one end,” said Maharaj, who is on his maiden Test tour of India. 

Spin will hold key but reverse swing could also play a huge role, he said. “Besides spin, reverse swing will be key. If it starts to reverse, we also have amazing bowlers who can utilise the conditions,” he said. — PTI