First test match between India and South Africa of the three test match series

First test match between India and South Africa of the three test match series is about to start at Centurion on Thursday 16th December.

It can be termed as a biggest ever welcoming reception hosted by South Africa for Indian team that arrived here recently to play all the three formats of cricket game starting with test series followed by a solo Twent20 and then one day international series.

Against a tough team like South Africa, India will have a good testing time to prepare for forthcoming World Cup 2011.

The aforesaid reception for India was marvellously organized inJohannesburg by South African Cricket Board. India had won World Twenty20 2007 here and another remembrance is that of a single test win inSouth Africa before they lost next two tests thereby losing 2006-07 test series by 1-2.

Those next two tests where India was badly beaten were held at Kingsmead and Newlands which are the venues for current series too. It was a dream come true match for Sreesanth at Johannesburg where he showed the magic of his swing bowling and shattered South African batting line.

India currently is topping the ICC Test Team Ranking whereas South Africais at number two. So this series may be termed as the battle between the equals except that the host team will have a bigger advantage of playing at home.

The first test is to be played at Centurion where Zaheer Khan will be missed badly who is still to recover from his injury. At this ground South Africa has a superb record of winning as they have lost only a single match here. Indiawould be playing their first match on this ground.

The match has been delayed due to rain as was predicted by the met department in South Africa and if this continues it may head toward a major loss in time to play. The match may go for a draw if substantial time is lost due to rain and wet ground.