South Africa’s towering fast bowler Marco Jansen said his plan to attack India with a barrage of short deliveries had worked to perfection after his six for 48 left the visitors within touching distance of a landmark Test series victory.
The 2.03 metre left-armer helped bowl India out for 201 in response to South Africa’s imposing first-innings total of 489 on day three in Guwahati. Having already secured victory in the opening Test in Kolkata, the Proteas are closing in on their first series win in India since Hansie Cronje’s side triumphed in 2000.
South Africa’s spinners dismantled India’s top order before Jansen took charge during a devastating spell that reduced the hosts to 122 for seven. His short-ball tactic was improvised in real time.
“To be honest, we just said we were going to try it,” Jansen told reporters. “The ball was not nipping as much like in Kolkata; the ball was not squatting as much, so we had to figure out a plan. When I got my first wicket with a bouncer, we said, okay cool, let us see how long this works, and it just came off.”
Jansen, who claimed his fourth five-wicket haul in 21 Tests, said the surface offered enough pace and bounce to commit to the approach. “It is a good wicket. If you play the short ball well, you will score runs. If you bowl well, you will get wickets,” he said.
Dhruv Jurel was the first to fall to the ploy, top-edging a pull shot to depart for an 11-ball duck. Nitish Kumar Reddy followed when he tried to fend off a rising delivery, only for Aiden Markram to complete a superb diving catch at second slip. Ravindra Jadeja succumbed to another perfectly directed bumper as India slipped further behind. Jansen later returned to wrap up the innings inside 83.5 overs.
The tall quick, who has previously represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, said the performance felt like a breakthrough in understanding how to exploit Indian conditions.
“I have always struggled bowling in India, white ball or red ball,” he admitted with a grin. “I am still jealous of people who get the ball to squat and nip back, and bowlers shorter than me like KG,” he added, referring to Kagiso Rabada. “Today was one of those days where everything clicks. As a player, you take those days and you run.”
With Rabada ruled out of the series due to a rib injury, Jansen has had to shoulder the responsibility of leading the pace attack. “Not having KG there definitely adds a bit of responsibility and pressure,” he said. “But we know we have the bowlers. We know we have the players to help the team win.”
