Exclusive: Paul Adams Backs Spin Trio of Harmer-Maharaj-Muthusamy to Rattle India in Test Series

The South African spinners have sounded an early warning ahead of their two-Test tour of India, starting November 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. 

The trio of Simon Harmer, Senuran Muthusamy and Keshav Maharaj played defining roles in Pakistan recently, where the series ended 1-1 and the Proteas clinched a memorable win in Rawalpindi.

Harmer and Muthusamy claimed 13 and 11 wickets respectively across the two Tests, while Maharaj returned nine wickets in his lone outing, underlining the depth and variety in their spin resources.

Spin could be a potent weapon for the World Test champions against the Indians in their backyard. Last year, New Zealand spinners Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel ran riot as they shocked India 3-0.

SPIN VARIETY AND EXPERIENCE

Former international spinner Paul Adams, who has been the High Performance Spin Bowling Lead at Cricket South Africa, backed the spin trio to come good in India. 

"The trio of Harmer, Muthusamy, and Maharaj brings a wealth of experience and variety to the attack. Their performances during the Pakistan tour were impressive. They played key roles as match winners and showed great control and adaptability in the spin-friendly conditions. Together, they form a balanced spin unit that can certainly pose problems for India, especially in subcontinental conditions where spin plays a major role," he told SportsBoom.co.za.

Slow left-arm orthodox spinner Maharaj is the most seasoned among the trio with 60 Test matches under his belt. Harmer (12) and Muthusamy (7) haven't played that many Tests but have been part of the first-class setup for many years. 

"Each of them offers something unique: Harmer’s consistency and bounce, Muthusamy’s left-arm control and batting depth, and Maharaj’s leadership and ability to strike at crucial moments," reasoned Adams, who retired with 134 Test wickets in 45 outings between 1995 and 2004.

HOW BATTERS SHOULD PLAY INDIAN SPINNERS

The South African batters found a way to tackle spin in Pakistan against the likes of Noman Ali, the top wicket-taker of the series with 14 scalps, and Asif Afridi, both left-arm spinners. And that perhaps trained them a bit to prepare against Ravindra Jadeja of India, a veteran of 338 Test wickets in 87 outings.

Adams lauded Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Muthusamy for their batting display in Pakistan. 

"South Africa has chosen a positive route with the bat, and that mindset was evident in the Pakistan series. Players like Zorzi [104 in Lahore and 55 in Rawalpindi], Stubbs, and Muthusamy showed great intent and composure against spin."

"Stubbs played a confident 76 in Rawalpindi, using his feet well and mixing sweeps with aggressive stroke play, while Muthusamy’s unbeaten 89 was a masterclass in rotating strike and building partnerships under pressure. The lower-order resistance can be just as crucial on spin-friendly conditions; therefore, batting depth will also play a role," he said.

Adams was a left-arm wrist spinner whose action was likened to a frog in a blender by England legend Mike Gatting. Batters couldn't read the wrong'uns. He understands the trajectories of left-arm spinners and how a batter could dominate them, too. 

"Against someone like Jadeja, who thrives on accuracy and subtle variations, the key will be proactive footwork, decisive stroke play, and patience. The Proteas batters must look to disrupt his rhythm, whether by using the crease, sweeping, or stepping out to meet the ball early. The confidence gained from playing in spin-friendly conditions in Pakistan will serve them well in India."

South Africa was thrashed 3-0 by India in their last tour in 2019-20, but a lot has changed since, including the captains of both teams. Proteas captain Temba Bavuma also shared his thoughts on the upcoming India Test series, saying he believes no team is unbeatable despite South Africa's recent struggles in India.