Duminy's unavailability changes team dynamics - Amla

The rumours of raging turners in the Tests against India have not got South Africa in a strategic spin just yet, as they plan to start things off by sticking to their traditional strengths. Three seamers and a lone specialist spinner is the way South Africa have always done things, and they seem set on starting that way in India as well, irrespective of the conditions.

"There's an old West Indian saying, 'If it ain't broke don't fix it,' so if the seamers do the job for you, be it in the subcontinent or anywhere else in the world, so be it," Hashim Amla said. The phrase actually originated out of farmers in Texas and popularised a director in Jimmy Carter's administration but Amla's point stands.

Now the question is which three seamers and which spinner?

The first answer is obvious. South Africa's premier pack is made up of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, as has been the case since 2011. They have not featured in every Test over the last four years, but the ones they have missed have only been because of injury. It's unlikely the case will be any different this time around.

Morkel is the only one carrying an injury - he tweaked a quad muscle in the third ODI in Rajkot - and will have a last-minute fitness assessment on the morning of the match to determine his availability. If he pulls up unfit, South Africa will have to give uncapped Kagiso Rabada a debut.

The issue of the spinner is more complex, though. South Africa have given themselves a choice between Simon Harmer, Dane Piedt and Imran Tahir, but are keeping their cards close to their chest as to which one will play. Essentially the choice is between an attacking spinner (Tahir) and a containing one (Harmer or Piedt), which is further complicated by the unavailability of JP Duminy.

"When JP plays, he adds that added spin option for us. But with him not being in the team for the first Test, it adds dynamics to our team," Amla said. That means South Africa's holding overs have to either come from part-timers or from a specialist holding bowler.

"In conditions where the pitch is turning, spinners have multiple roles. When it doesn't turn they fall into a defensive role. When it does turn, naturally they fall into an attacking role. A lot depends on the surface," Amla said. "We have been very strong with our seam bowlers wherever we have been in the world. We have a few options in the seam department and we have been blessed and done well. We are fortunate in that our seam bowlers have done well in the subcontinent. They can be an attacking option. Not many countries around the world can say that. Our spinners will probably do both roles depending on what the game needs."

Both Harmer and Piedt are also wicket-takers, albeit to a lesser degree than Tahir, and if South Africa are looking for a spinner who can switch gears, they are more likely to go with one of them. Being the incumbent, having played in Bangladesh, Harmer appears to be the frontrunner.

Sticking with Harmer for now also seems to tally with Amla's overall philosophy of trying, "to do what's most efficient to try and win a game." That may sound incongruous on first reading because Harmer is not the most attacking spinner South Africa have at their disposal. So he may not be the most efficient appointment but, as Amla explained, going for the kill does not always mean relentless aggression.

"There will be times when you have to play the game in a way that will ensure a result. Sometimes you have to play a slightly defensive game to make sure the result comes a bit later, he said. "We all know the game of cricket is a bit like chess - you have got to make the right moves. Sometimes you will get it wrong and sometimes it works in your favour. That's as simple as I keep it."

And that's a phrase Amla can call his own.