Former head coach Ravi Shastri has said that India will have to get safely through the new-ball challenge on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa and then try and force a result, even if it requires them declaring before 400, rather than chasing 489.
Trailing 0-1 in the two-match series, India were 9/0 in 6.1 overs when stumps were drawn in fading light.
South Africa’s lower order produced a brilliant effort, with batters from Nos. 7 to 11 piling on 243 runs. Star all-rounder
Senuran Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne put together an 88-run partnership for the seventh wicket, before the former added another 97 alongside No. 9 Marco Jansen.“Tactically, India will have to take a call tomorrow. See how they get through the new ball and then take the game
forward and force a win in this Test. They will have to call the shots, which means you might even want to declare behind,” Shastri said while commentating.
“Then try and bowl out the opposition quickly in the second innings. You have got to take those chances. You cannot wait to bat and go past 489; that will take a long time. Might have to even declare 80, 90, 100 runs behind and see how it goes,” Shastri added.
In his explosive innings, Jansen hammered seven sixes, the most by an overseas batter in India, going past Viv Richards and Matthew Hayden, who held the record with six each.
A team has declared its second innings while still behind only 33 times in Test history and just three of those attempts have resulted in a win.
The first instance occurred during England’s 1934/35 tour of the Windies. With uncovered tracks in those days, persistent rain left the wicket almost unplayable, prompting England to declare despite trailing by 21 runs.
Windies skipper Jackie Grant then declared their second innings to set a target of 73, but Wally Hammond anchored the chase to guide England to the win.
