The Current Top two test teams (based on ICC Test Rankings) are competing against each other for the Top Spot. India couldn't field their two important test players Rahul Dravid & VVS Laxman due to cheek bone injury and finger injury respectively. The Team that India selected for the first test doesn't look any where close to winning the test match. The composition of the team speaks defensive mindset of MS Dhoni, when the opposition has a strong batting line up like what SA have, India should have opted for the fifth bowler(either Tyagi or Ojha based on pitch conditions) instead they went for the wicket keeper batsman Saha which is kinda strange.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first as expected; as the sub-continent pitches are good for batting for the first three days and later on spin will come into play. Zaheer got the break throughs that India needed but they couldn't hold onto the advantage till the end of the day. Amla and Kallis escaped the few good deliveries initially and they scored unbeaten centuries. Indian bowling doesn't have the depth and variety to trouble good batsmen because of which the score reads 291/2 at the end of Day one. I am sure this test would be a dull draw unless quick wickets tumble tomorrow or India succumbs to the pressure of retaining the number one position.
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