KOLKATA: The South Africa cricket team is back where it all began for them. It was on Nov 10, 1991 that they played India in a One-Day International at the Eden Gardens, marking an emotional return for them to international cricket after 21 years of sporting isolation due to Apartheid.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Eden and South Africa seem to have developed a deep bond since then. The first of the two-Test series between the two teams was originally scheduled to take place in New Delhi from Nov 14 and Eden Gardens was supposed to host West Indies in the second Test from Oct 10.
But keeping the weather conditions in mind, the BCCI swapped the Eden Gardens and Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium’s allocated matches bringing the Proteas back to the city.
Things have changed vastly over the years as the Clive Rice-led South Africa in 1991 had a reputation to establish, but on Friday while going out to toss, South Africa captain
Temba Bavuma must be telling his boys that they have a reputation to defend.
After all, they are the reigning World Test champions, a feat that even cricketing powerhouse India have failed to achieve so far. But the hosts can establish their credentials as a contender for the WTC title by beating the champions at home.
For inspiration, the visitors will have to look no further than how their ‘A’ side recorded a thrilling win against their Indian counterpart. People back home will look up to these boys to perhaps settle a score after their women’s side fell short against India in the final of the recently-concluded Women’s World Cup.
Test cricket itself is returning to Eden Gardens after almost six years since the historic pink-ball Test against Bangladesh in Nov, 2019. Interestingly, none of the India cricketers who played in that Test win will be in action this weekend.
Instead, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav, who did not find a place in the playing XI then, are expected to play a pivotal role in the outcome of this Test match.
The Eden crowd will definitely miss Mohammed Shami after the pacer made a roaring return to domestic cricket this season. The Bengal new-ball bowler picked up 15 wickets playing two Ranji matches at this venue in the last one month, raising hopes of a possible comeback to the national side. However, the selectors have continued to ignore him.
If picked up, it will be a big occasion for Shami’s Bengal new-ball partner Akash Deep, who has grown up playing his cricket at the Eden.
The Test will also mark Gautam Gambhir’s maiden Eden experience as a Test match coach. The venue is a familiar one for Gambhir because of his association with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Eden is almost a second home for him.
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