The pitches had a fair amount in them for the quicks even during India’s last tour of South Africa during the 2021-22 season. Though South Africa had twice chased down 200-plus totals in the fourth innings to win that series 2-1, 300 was breached only once in those three Tests (by India in the first game in Centurion), which goes on to show batting wasn’t easy on those surfaces as well.

The opening Test aside that lasted all five days, the next two matches of that series went till the penultimate day at least.

As for the just-concluded series, one can argue that South Africa’s batting has weakened further. Also, most in the Indian batting line-up lacked application and appeared technically challenged on the Cape Town pitch during the second and final Test.

On Day 2, which also turned out to be the final day of the Cape Town Test, the pitch didn’t really misbehave much although variable bounce troubled batsmen on certain occasions. The shot selection from most of the South African batsmen though was atrocious to say the least, which too was key in helping India wrap the Test up in just over four sessions.

Going back to early 2021, a rank turner in Ahmedabad had helped India beat England in two days in what was a day-night pink-ball Test. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had then rated that Ahmedabad pitch “average.” What could the rating be for this Newlands surface?

“In terms of the ICC pitch ratings, with excessive movement and variable bounce,
it won’t be looked upon as a good pitch. Players would always prefer to get a result,
but getting so in two days is a little bit too much in favour of the bowlers.

“You need a balance between bat and ball,” said an ICC insider.

With India captain Rohit Sharma also being critical of the Newlands wicket, it won’t be surprising at all if the pitch is rated below average or even poor by the ICC.

South Africa pace legend Allan Donald, too, tore into the Newlands surface. Besides, Donald feels it wouldn’t be fair to blame the less-than-two-
day finish on the batsmen’s lack of skills.

“At Newlands, it was always going to be a good test of the bowlers’ physical ability, skills and creativity, especially when partnerships grow. I have never seen a pitch
like this.

“To watch 23 wickets fall on Day 1 and then four quickly this morning, and then seeing the way India come out and took their chances
chasing 79, that’s not Test cricket for me. Bowlers have always had to think harder and be creative in Cape Town, but this was just the opposite,” Donald, currently bowling coach of DP World Lions, told The Telegraph on Thursday.

“If you see how quickly the ball moved off the seam, the dismissals are just not about lack of skills (of batsmen). You have zero time to react to the ball that is pitched in a good area and bounces so steep, and does it so quickly off the seam.

“This was a complete mismatch between bat and ball. Yes, you still have to bowl well on such a surface, while on the other hand, (Aiden) Markram scored a gutsy, grafty hundred. Yet, massive questions will be asked.

“This pitch is going to take some serious flak, and Test cricket suffered a big blow today (Thursday). It turned out to be one-sided contest that deserved more,” Donald lashed out.