South Africa brace themselves up for sub-continental challenges

South Africa are the No. 1 side in the world. They have built up a tremendous reputation of being good tourists, an achievement that gains magnitude given the way other countries have performed while playing in unfamiliar conditions. The side is blessed to have three men Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn - who will vie for a spot in a few all-time elevens.

With that said, an important aspect of it has been their ability to adapt to situations. Despite being a pace-dominated attack, South Africa have been able to pull off some eye-catching wins in the sub-continent. A lot of credit for that is obviously due to the way they've 'embraced the conditions'. A young member like Temba Bavuma is keen on talking about the need to embrace the opportunity. A lot of technical adjustments have to be made too. They've roped in Australian Michael Hussey to offer them tips on batting. Hussey, while working a lot with an out-of-form Hashim Amla, has also been giving a lot of advice to the other players.

For Dean Elgar, "Just his calming words sometimes can help you, sometimes he can just help you with one little small technical thing that can help you develop as a player in the sub (continent)." For someone like Bavuma, he's been able to evoke a sense of awe just by the 'energy and enthusiasm he brings in'. But probe him further and Bavuma explains the smaller, important things that Hussey has told them. "Back home, you probably hit more balls straighter down the ground because there is more swing whereas here you will be scoring more square off the wicket because the wickets are on the slower side. Your batting won't change but your scoring areas might be a bit different," Hussey has told Bavuma.

Getting into the nitty-gritties of the adjustments that have to be made, much has been made of the brand of ball being used. The SG ball, traditionally, is seen as one that has a more prominent seam. For off-spinner Simon Harmer though, the adjustment is easier he says. "The SG ball that we played in the warm-up, the ball that we will be using in the game, isn't a hell of a lot different to the Kookaburra ball," he reckons.

"The Kookaburra ball, as it gets older, closer to 80 overs, the seam starts to disappear into the ball whereas (with) the SG ball, it starts to come out a bit. So for me as a finger spinner, all that means is that I can grip the ball better later on into the game. And I think sweat's going to play a big part with the reverse-swinging ball," he adds.

The touring group has also been watching a lot of videos from the past but someone like Simon Harmer is stilldependenton the bowling group to iron out thechinks rather than consulting a former Indian spinner. It is something that Elgar echoed too when asked about the threat of Ashwin. "I think he is possibly India's spearhead," he says and adds, "You can only prepare the best with what you have. We are lucky we have a few off-spinners in our side and we face them quite a bit as well and we get a few coaches to also throw off-spin."

Despite the preparations and stature, South Africa are not comfortable seeing themselves as favourites. Given India's record at home, it would seem as bravado to proclaim oneself as favourite. "I think we come in to the series with a lot of expectations after winning the T20s and ODIs. So we've got confidence on our side... Cricket's cricket. It's very difficult to say who is favourite but we're up for it," says Dale Steyn, arguably, the best non-Asian fast bowler to master the sub-continental conditions.

"Pace through the air is really important. With the wickets here being on the slow side. Anything that is 135 (kph) and down, the batters are able to make the adjustment. It gives you a lot less time to adjust when the ball is reversing... So one of my key things I've done here is to bowl fast," he explains. He does not believe that he's lost pace either, as a journalist suggested. "I don't know about that. I've been watching the ODIs. I don't know what you were watching," he says, unimpressed.

But he's also quick to stress on the other vital ingredient for a fast bowler control. "In the past times that I have played here, I've bowled against guys like Sehwag. That guy was a nightmare to bowl to. He scored 300 in Chennai. If you missed your mark by that much, he would smoke you. Whereas I feel now, that India's batting line-up is slightly different. The two opening batters, kind of, let you bowl to them a little more," he says.

Analysis coupled with mind-games come up next on the agenda for Steyn. "We do a lot of homework with regards to the players we are playing against, how they get out. Especailly their last ten innings. Is that a pattern that has built up? It's not rocket science. Jacques Kallis used to say top of off or the odd bouncer to any batter in the world is difficult. That's generally it, really.

"It is important to know where you want your fielder to be. The delivery stays the same but the batsman's shot making will change. It is about getting into his head a little bit. Maybe look at his last ten dismissals. Where he's gotten out... Making him aware 'I know that's where you've gotten out. I know you're uncomfortable out there. Stats tell me that in your last ten dismissals, you've been out there eight times... And if you're getting out there again, I'm going to laugh at you too'.""

But that's generally how Steyn makes fast bowling look like a simple chore.

"I love bowling in India... the grounds are quite flat whereas in South Africa it's like the pitch is on a table and it feels like you're running uphill before you bowl.... (In India) It's like you're running flat. So you don't have that extra leg work. It almost feels like you're running downhill all day long... So you're able to push on," he says and continues to stay unperturbed when asked about the prospect of bowling on a pitch that doesn't offer any bounce. "I'm smiling man. He might get out LBW all day long."

The answer to South Africa's dominance in foreign conditions probably lies in Steyn's answer. Their fast bowler has whole-heartedly embraced toiling on dust bowls. The others in the team, and perhaps a few from the opposition, will do well to take a cue from the attitude.