Angels in the details for SA

“It’s not just about the now. It’s important that we define the character of the team in the next couple of months. We’ve got to ensure that the puzzle comes together.” - Enoch Nkwe

TELFORD VICE in Cape Town

THE result says otherwise, but in an important sense South Africa have already improved on their previous performance in a men’s Test series in India.

Virat Kohli’s team won the first Test by 203 runs in Visakhapatnam on Sunday — raising the spectre of the 3-0 drubbing South Africa suffered in India in November 2015.

But a silver lining shines out of Sunday’s debris.

South Africa batted for 195.1 overs in the match, longer than they managed in any of the games four years ago.

Their first innings of 131.2 overs was significantly longer than the total number they faced in two of the three decided matches in 2015.

Even their second innings of 63.5 overs had them at the crease for longer than five of their seven innings last time — three of them first innings.

“I’m proud of how the boys responded after losing the toss; that can play around with your mind,” interim team director Enoch Nkwe told reporters in Vizag on Sunday.

“We showed a lot of character and determination, we stretched ourselves.

“One thing I want this team to have is the courage to back themselves and not shy away. In the first innings we did that brilliantly.”

Only twice in South Africa’s nine Tests in India in which they have batted second have they banked a longer first innings.

Although they have survived for more overs in three of their seven fourth innings in India, the 191 runs they scored this time is their highest total batting last.

The pitch was undeniably Indian, but nothing like the outrageously skewed surfaces that ambushed them in 2015.

The worst were in Mohali, where they batted for 107.5 overs, and Nagpur, where they stayed alive for 123.

South Africa stuck it out for 192.4 overs in the last Test in Delhi, but by then the series had been decided and the sting had been drawn from the contest.

And the pitch’s character in the dead rubber was a lot closer in character to what we saw in Vizag than in Mohali or Nagpur.

Nkwe is in the job only until the end of the tour. But he seems determined to make his tenure count.

“My biggest drive is to make a difference in human beings,” he said. “Right now I’m in this position and I’m grateful for that.

“It’s not just about the now. It’s important that we define the character of the team in the next couple of months. We’ve got to ensure that the puzzle comes together.

“This is a great place to see that — what sort of character does the team have and what areas do we need to look at and improve.”

He wants his team to “control sessions a lot longer, whether with bat or ball; to be a lot smarter and innovative”.

He is keenly aware of the importance of “the mind, the physical aspects, the emotional aspects” and of “getting the guys to think a lot more sharply”.

“If we can reach the point where we’re in control of the game for 80% of the time, we’ll be in winning positions a lot more often,” he said.

No-one can begrudge Nkwe the ambition of securing his position permanently.

Results like Sunday’s won’t help him do that. But, for once, the angels are in the details.

First published by TMG Digital.