Unlike the two pitches he has seen in the last three days, South Africa’s bowling coach Vincent Barnes’ face hasn’t changed colour. Despite the fact that the visitors would be within their rights to protest against the misleading name to the venue — Green Park — Barnes seems unperturbed. It’s a combination of two factors that shows that Barnes isn’t spooked by the dry and dusty track here as the Indians were by the grassy wicket in Motera.

The exceptional show of his bowlers and the time his boys have spent in the sub-continent lately means the 48-year-old is in too good a mood to bad-mouth anyone. “It’s going to be difficult, there is no doubt about it. It’s good as this will test our bowlers in these conditions. We have world-class spinners in our midst. Paul Harris won a game for us in Pakistan and Robin Peterson did the same in Bangladesh. It gives them an opportunity,” Barnes told The Indian Express. And as he realises that he might give up the bowling combination, he hastily adds: “in case they are played.”

A guarded Barnes now goes on to speak about left-armer Harris, who is certain to play the Test. He reminds us of Harris’s five-wicket haul in Cape Town during the 2007 tour against India to make his point. “That was a pitch where the ball started turning from the second day, and Harris was effective. If a pitch is going to offer turn and bounce, it will give any spinner a chance. It brings us in the game as much as it brings India in the game. They, too, will have to face our guys,” he asserts.

... contd.