Proteas spin bowler Simon Harmer says the pitch at Eden Gardens in Kolkata is not the worst he’s seen on an Indian tour, revealing that the ones they faced 10 years ago were a lot more difficult to play on.
The Proteas' top-order batting again crumbled on a difficult pitch to leave visitors staring down the barrel of a defeat after two days of the first Test against India in Kolkata.
The Proteas had no answers to Jasprit Bumrah as they folded to 159 all out against India on the first day of the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
South Africa will begin their two-Test series against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday, with captain Temba Bavuma returning to lead the Proteas after recovering from injury.
Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad has compared the upcoming series in India to the World Test Championship final and has backed his charges not to be overawed by the occasion.
There was double delight for South Africa after Proteas Women's captain Laura Wolvaardt and men's spinner Senuran Muthusamy scooped the ICC player of the month awards for October.