Former Proteas spinner Paul Adams has backed South Africa’s three-pronged spin attack of to trouble India in the upcoming Test series.
Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj were key to South Africa’s 1-1 series draw in Pakistan, where Harmer took 13 wickets, Muthusamy 11 and Maharaj nine in his only appearance.
With the two-match series in India beginning on 14 November in Kolkata, spin is again expected to play a decisive role.
“The trio of Harmer, Muthusamy and Maharaj brings a wealth of experience and variety to the attack,” Adams told SportsBoom.co.za. “Their performances during the Pakistan tour were impressive. They played key roles as match winners and showed great control and adaptability in the spin-friendly conditions
“Each of them offers something unique – Harmer’s consistency and bounce, Muthusamy’s left-arm control and batting depth, and Maharaj’s leadership and ability to strike at crucial moments. Together, they form a balanced spin unit that can certainly pose problems for India.”
Maharaj, the most experienced of the three, has played 60 Tests, while Harmer (12) and Muthusamy (seven) have been part of the first-class system for years.
Adams, who took 134 Test wickets between 1995 and 2004, believes their combination provides South Africa with a strong spin arsenal.
He also praised the Proteas batsmen for adapting well to spin in Pakistan, where Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Muthusamy all made valuable contributions.
“South Africa has chosen a positive route with the bat, and that mindset was evident in the Pakistan series. Players like De Zorzi, Stubbs and Muthusamy showed great intent and composure against spin,” Adams said.
“Stubbs played a confident 76 in Rawalpindi, using his feet well and mixing sweeps with aggressive stroke play, while Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89 was a masterclass in rotating strike and building partnerships under pressure.”
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Adams, a left-arm wrist spinner famed for his unorthodox action, said South Africa’s batsmen would need to maintain that positive intent against India’s spinners, led by Ravindra Jadeja.
“Against someone like Jadeja, who thrives on accuracy and subtle variations, the key will be proactive footwork, decisive stroke play and patience,” he said. “The Proteas batters must look to disrupt his rhythm, whether by using the crease, sweeping or stepping out to meet the ball early.”
The Proteas were whitewashed 3-0 on their last tour to India in 2019-20, but Adams believes the current squad’s confidence and spin experience could make a difference.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma has also said that no team is unbeatable and that South Africa will back themselves to challenge India in their own conditions.
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Photo: Sameer Ali/Getty Images
