As South Africa faced a whitewash in the three-match Test series, South African batsman Zubayr Hamza admitted that they should have been better prepared well before taking on India. The 24-year-old got a chance in the third and final test at Ranchi after an injury to Aiden Markram left him out of the squad. He impressed with a knock of 62 in the first innings as well.
“I will just say that maybe we should have prepared more mentally in terms of playing them in whatever conditions that we faced,” Hamza said. “Indians are extremely disciplined and professional about the way they go about doing the job. So I wouldn’t say we were under prepared against the seamers. I would say based on the general thought of playing in India, you’d assume that it would be tougher to play against the spinners. In saying that we knew, obviously first have to get through the quick bowlers that they’ve got.”
Elected to bat, India had declared their first innings at 497/9 and bowled out South Africa for 162 also. Following on, South Africa managed to put up 132/8 on the third day before getting all out very cheaply on the fourth day morning.
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“To have almost been bowled out twice in just less than two days, it’s pretty poor from our side. It’s been tough. I think we struggled to build partnerships. So from our side with the bat I think we struggled in terms of our defences, and they bowled pretty attacking lines and I think that’s been the key for them. I just think we haven’t been good enough to keep those good balls off,” Zubayr Hamza said.
Hamza stitched a 91-run partnership with Temba Bavuma (32) as well. He also scored his maiden fifty in the first innings.
“First half century for the national side so pretty happy with that but also disappointed in the same breath, not having gone on to make use of that opportunity. And the first time that I’ve been out twice in the same day, so it’s been a tough day. Really disappointing for the side,” Hamza said. “To have almost been bowled out twice in just less than two days, it’s pretty poor from our side. I think we struggled to build partnerships.”
He even praised the Indian bowling attack where pacers did the job for India.
“I wouldn’t say intimidated, I think they bowled pretty good lengths and lines. I think as far as experience goes, it’s good. There’s always lessons to be learned. There has to be a way that you can take some sort of learnings out of it and build confidence going forward, instead of just dwell on the negatives,” Zubayr Hamza concluded.
