Like his Indian counterpart, Virat Kohli, the South African captain, Hashim Amla, too believed that it was the poor shot selection from the batsmen that led to a low-scoring three-day Test match in Mohali.
The Proteas were bowled out for 184 and 109 as they surrendered the Test to India by 108 runs. Amla rued the lack of application from his batsmen. "We could have applied ourselves better," Amla said. "There were decisions we made while we were batting that were not the right decisions."
There were various instants throughout the match where batsmen got out to straight deliveries while setting themselves up to play for the turn. Ravindra Jadeja’s wickets of Faf du Plessis in the first innings and Amla in the second highlighted that, as both batsmen got bowled shouldering arms to a straight delivery.
"The chat we had was that the ball's not turning that much, actually," Amla said. "There were quite a few dismissals from both teams from a lack of turn rather than excessive turn." Explaining his own dismissal, Amla said, "It's a matter of playing the ball or not playing the ball. If I'd played it, I probably would have hit it in the middle of the bat."
While South Africa’s batting left a lot to be desired, their bowling attack did a commendable job in dismissing India out for 201 and 200. Amla acknowledged the fight put up by his part-time spinners, who executed fine control over the Indian batsmen.
"Throughout this Test match, even though it was such a short Test match, we managed to hold our own right into the last innings," Amla said. "They could have got away from us with about 250 or 300 in the last innings, and that would have been exceptionally difficult. The way we bowled and applied ourselves in the field was very good."
What makes the effort all the more heartening is that it came without much contribution from their spearhead, Dale Steyn. While Steyn bowled 11 wicketless overs in the first innings, he could not bowl in the second essay as he sat out nursing a strained groin. Amla, however, said that the Proteas missed not having their ace bowler on the field.
"Not having Dale is a difficult one, because he is the best fast bowler in the world and in the subcontinent the most successful fast bowler," Amla said. "It is a blow not to have had Dale in the last innings, and we're certainly missing Morne Morkel."
The good news for the visitors is that Steyn did come in to bat in the fourth innings, which means the injury is not serious enough to keep him out for a long time. Morkel too, has all but recovered from his leg injury, and JP Duminy is on his way to match fitness after having the stitches on the webbing of his right hand removed. Amla hoped he would have the services of the trio for the second Test in Bengaluru.
"Hopefully in the next Test JP might be fit and a few dynamics might change for our team. Dale might be fit to bowl again too," he said.
