There was a bit of cynicism about Graeme Smith not declaring late on the fourth evening, taking the game away from India's grasp
There was a bit of cynicism about Graeme Smith not declaring late on the fourth evening, taking the game away from India's grasp. "Sometimes as a captain, you have to risk losing a Test match in order to win it.
Maybe it was a bit conservative. But the old school thought says you can't give a Test match away. So in hindsight, it was the right decision by Smith. You can always vary in opinions," South Africa's chief selector and former player Andrew Hudson told MiD DAY yesterday.u00a0
"The match could have swung either way with a bit of luck. India had South Africa on 130-6 at one stage. Similarly, South Africa could have done better on the fifth day with a bit of luck. In the end, it was a fair result, both teams will be pleased," Hudson added.
The Test ended with India scoring 166 for three. Sachin Tendulkar (14) and VVS Laxman (32) were the unbeaten batsmen.
Hudson paid rich tribute to Jacques Kallis and Gautam Gambhir, the two wounded batsmen who saved their respective teams on two successive days, during the hard-fought drawn Test match here at Newlands.
Kallis scored twin centuries in the Test, while Gambhir scored 93 and 64. "I take my hat off to both of them.
They showed a lot of character, guts and determination againstu00a0 some hostile bowling. They proved that it is mind over body, and just how to bat when conditions are not in your favour. Sure, crowds come in to watch good strokeplay and entertainment, but the two were determined enough to curb their games for the sake of their teams. That's what Test cricket is all about," he said.
"In fact, I have seen both turn it on in the shorter formats, and yet they seem to have the ability to adapt so quickly," he added.
Kallis completed his 40th Test century on Wednesday. "He just keeps amazing me. As a young batsman, there isn't a better role model to choose. He is the go-to man in any situation, whatever the format maybe.
It was painful to hear Kallis say that batting with an injured rib felt like someone who was stabbed by a needle.
For his courageous effort, Kallis bagged both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series awards. "Gambhir is a lot younger but I am sure even he will want to reach the iconic status that Kallis has today, not just in South Africa, but all around the world. A true talisman," said Hudson.
Both batsmen will undergo treatment and will skip the forthcoming one-day series. However, they are expected to be fit in time for the World Cup in February-March.
