Kapp, Luus, Rana and a study of resilience | South African women’s tour of India, 2024

“Test cricket is all about survival.”

That’s the most tired saying in cricket, and like all clichés it’s an oversimplification. But like all clichés it has a ring of truth to it. Because sometimes in Test cricket and in life situations require you to work it out. They require your blood, sweat and tears. Sometimes even that’s not enough.

South African women found themselves in a situation after Day 1 that demanded similar responses against India in Chennai.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s women had made 525/4, the most runs ever scored in a single day in Test cricket (both men and women). The Proteas bowlers had leaked runs at over five runs/over. And don’t forget the balmy Chennai weather and the fact that they fielded 100 overs in the sun.

On Day 2, with India declaring on 603/6, all South Africa had to do was survive in the match. They had to work long and deep enough with the bat and the bat to somehow force an improbable draw or simply show that they were not here just to melt under the sun.

But South Africa didn’t just survive in Chennai. They showed resilience, a quality that is not only about survival, but also about the ability to bounce back. In the end, that made all the difference.

~

When the Indians announced their innings just before the lunch break, it stood to reason that we would see a repeat of what happened in last year’s Tests against England and Australia. India scored big in the first innings, and then their spinners wrapped up the opponents and took them back to their hotels before you could say “Deepti Sharma”.

However, South Africa, the team with the least experience in the Test phase that India has faced at home since last year, showed that they will do everything they can to stay in the team.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and her opening partner Anneke Bosch started in exactly the same fashion. Wolvaardt played the pacers with ease, but her poor form in Test cricket (averaging 11 in four innings) continued and she was condemned for playing a cross-batted shot on a Sneh Rana delivery that came in and stayed just a touch too low.

Then Sune Luus and Bosch dropped their anchors considerably and showed brilliant technique and temperament against spinners Rana, Deepti and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Bosch looked a lot more compact in the beginning than Luus, who was dropped behind the wickets twice. Since the pitch and turn on it were slow, the batters concentrated on playing the ball late, and under their eyes. Bosch also mainly used her range against Rana, who usually threw a 5th-6th stump line. Since the pitch was late, she was in no danger there.

That was the moment Rana’s cunning and bowling skills surpassed the South African. On the third ball of the 30th over of the Proteas innings, Rana turned the ball to the batter in a big way. There was also a cloud of dust coming from the field because Rana had landed the ball on the seam (aligned for more side spin than over spin), and it went square.

The natural reaction of any good batsman against spin after such a delivery would be to reach the delivery of the ball and blunt it before it can turn. Bosch did just that. This time, however, Rana’s seam was much more upright (hence less side spin and turn), the line a little wider, and Bosch planted her front foot near the line of delivery. That was it. It cost her lead and Deepti completed a simple catch.

In the space of two deliveries, Rana had shown her worth in the team that had undervalued her in the other formats. This tactic also worked for her later in the day when she had Delmi Tucker caught by Richa Ghosh. On a day when the ball didn’t do much, Rana’s skill kept India dominant.

However, South Africa continued the fight and Marizanne Kapp joined Luus at the crease. From her first ball, the all-rounder, whose last innings in the format was a 150 against England, batted as if she had been born in Nungambakkam, Chennai, and not Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

The formula for her was the same that Luus told the broadcasters after the match day.

“The plan was very simple. To cover the stumps if it was straight and defend solidly, and then take advantage of the freebies. One thing we’ve worked on is using the depth of the crease and coming down. Hitting the ball as close to your eyes or under your eyes…”

Therefore, Luus and Kapp had no qualms about hitting them when offered a full toss, a flighted delivery or a half-tracker. The fact that the run rate was still hovering around three runs/over and not above it was also evidence that the Indian bowlers were not making it easy for them, and Rana was again central against Kapp as she continued to follow her flighted hit me balls with absolute rippers that gripped and turned.

It wasn’t easy out there and Deepti proved that by hitting Luus in front of the wicket. However, she had already hit 164 deliveries and scored 65 runs. Kapp had 69 to her name after 125 deliveries when the day ended.

At 236/4, the Proteas are still well behind the game, with Rana’s 3/61 on a quiet pitch ensuring that.

When a day ends in a Test match, that’s what you want to see, right? You want both parties to show fighting spirit, regardless of the situation they find themselves in. And as players standing there at the crease, you not only want to survive, but also empower yourself and others to be more than their reality.

Because true empowerment comes from the way we respond to adversity, not from the circumstances that impose that adversity on us.

Kapp and Luus did exactly that on day 2, and that’s why they survived to live another day in the Chennai sun.

If you haven’t downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — really. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the app here.