Wanted Them to Really Grovel , that is the daring and loaded phrase of the South African coach Shukri Conrad after his team had taken a leading role in the Guwahati Test, a quote that immediately elicited heated responses in the world of cricket. On its part, the comment with clear purpose showed the competitive callousness of the mindset behind the South Africa to extend their second innings as far into the day four as possible as it kept India in the field much longer than what they had planned. Batting an hour into the third of the four sessions and taking the lead to a devastating 548 runs before making the announcement, South Africa made it very clear they did not want a simple win or even a 2-0 series win, they wanted a psychological win.

South Africa had started off on the wrong foot when they had found themselves at a very shaky 247/6 but as the game progressed they were able to get themselves a formidable 489 in the first innings which led to them bowling out India. They could have done the follow-on, but instead of doing so, the visitors wanted to send another unmistakable signal which they did by innating again. It was just what Conrad had meant, wear out the Indian bowlers bodily and mentally, take away the scintilla of hope that a record might be attacked, and prepare a massacre in the last innings. The term Wanted them to really grovel was not just rhetoric, this was a calculated psychological strategy that was required to bleed out the hosts before the actual reality of day five.

To start with, Conrad clarified that timing was constructed based on the ability to take advantage of the new ball and the lateevening shadows something that most analysts overlooked. South Africa desired a hard new ball in dying light and such circumstances are historically favorable to fast bowlers. And when Marco Jansen made a superb 6 off 48 in the first and–withdrawing evil bounce causing India more than once a disturbance that was clearly not his fault–South Africa thought they could crack the second innings in the first.

India entered day four on a d together 27/2 in 15.5 overs, and eight wickets remain required by South Africa to ring the bell on successfully completing a series that they have dominated at all times.

Nevertheless, the remarks made by Conrad also attracted attention since they resembled the same notorious words made by former England captain Tony Greig in 1976 when he said the West Indies would be made to grovel a line which has over time spawned a fabled series revival. Although Conrad used a different tone and sporting context to refer to the comment, the competitive passion behind the words could not be denied. To South Africa, the Test was not only a chance to win a series that has been uncommon to them in India they have not won a single such series since 2000 but also to regain faith after several years of unreliable Test outcomes.

Lastly, the spin dependability of South Africa demonstrated a new dawn of Proteas cricket. They also had three expert spinners supported over the series on turning subcontinental surfaces, which matched a strategic development. Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer have been in the limelight of South Africa successes in the recent past with Harmer taking the role of being the co-leader in the series in terms of the number of wickets. Conrad has added spin is of utmost importance in motivating the young bowlers back home and erasing the thought that South Africa is only driven by the speed factor.

The day five starts when the weather and light allow the mission to continue with 90 or more overs being fulfilled. Currently having a huge advantage, having a powerful onslaught and the conditions beginning to provide change and roll, South Africa feel that they are at the ideal position to finish a historic triumph. Conrad did not underestimate the fact that India will not give up easily but he is confident. To be Wanted, really grovel was as he puts it both a declaration of competitive spirit and a call to arms of a team that was starving to be respected internationally.

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