South Africa has yet to win a bilateral series in India so far, and so the fifth ODI at the Wankhede stadium is an opportunity to change the trend.
Hashim Amla is also looking at the decider as a chance to weigh in with runs. There is no shortage of hard-hitters; they need an anchor to bat as long as possible in the 50 overs.
“Everyone feels a big one is around the corner. Even if he scores a century, a batter is hoping that a big one is around the corner. I have been batting well, most of the innings I have managed to get a little bit of the flow going and getting myself out all the time. Cricket is like that and every batter feels a big one is around the corner.”
Amla realises that runs from specialists at the top can make the difference between victory and defeat, especially with the bowling unit forced to cover up for the absence of Morne Morkel and J-P Duminy, both injured, in Sunday’s fifth and final tie.
“I don’t think Morne is fit enough to play. He bowled a bit in the nets but we will take a final call before the match,” said Amla.
“Losing JP will affect us; he has been an unbelievably consistent performer. He adds great balance to the team with off spin as well.”
He is confident of the replacements ability, adding: “No big series is ever won on 11 players. We have about 15 players who are going to be there at different times. This is one of those times for us.
“Coming to the sub-continent, it (spin-friendly wickets) is not a surprise for any of us. Like when foreign teams come to South Africa, they are expecting a little bit of seam and bounce and a different skill is challenged. So obviously spin will play a big part in the ODIs and Tests. It is just the way you play in the sub-continent,” he said.
Success formula He has a view on reasons for SA’s success on away tours.
“I would say it’s just about being able to adapt as quick as possible. South Africans are adaptable people, so wherever we go we try and learn as quick as possible about the conditions and try and play accordingly. With the sharing of knowledge from the senior players, that’s helped everyone who has come into the set-up to perform overseas. Everyone has learnt different things.”
Amla has toured India before and realises that quick runs at the start will help counter the difficulty in ramping up scoring in ODIs under the new field restrictions.
“Throughout the series, the start has been really important. Teams have been 150 for two after 30 overs, so it’s been good going from the top order on both sides. Towards the back-end, it has changed a bit because in the last three to four years we have been used to having five men in the circle. I think it (extra fielder in the outfield rule) has been good (for cricket). Personally I feel so because it has given bowlers a chance at the close. We used to get quite big scores before because of the extra guy in the circle, and now the scores have come down a bit.”
