There is little doubt that each of the three Test match pitches will encourage fast bowlers. And that there won’t be a spinner in South African colours in this series. They are like a pin in a haystack here and nobody is even bothering to put a finger into that haystack. Strangely, that might present India with an opportunity at some point should the pitches start to dry a bit, for South Africa do not bat well against spin. Anil Kumble is in good form and if Harbhajan Singh can put that morose look away and have a decent conversation with the ball, India might have options that South Africa won’t like.

That leaves the one question that could have a bearing on the series. What is going through Sachin Tendulkar’s mind? Great players do not take kindly to bad patches, nobody does for that matter, but when supreme confidence is replaced by indecision, the coat of brilliance looks thinner. I would venture to say that it is in the state of Rahul Dravid’s finger and Sachin Tendulkar’s mind that India’s chances in this series lie.