Red-hot South Africans have a point to prove

Though South Africa haven't lost a match in 19 ODIs, their record against India in India is quite ordinary

15-Nov-2005

Over the next couple of weeks, India will attempt to do what no other team has managed in nine-and-a-half months - beat South Africa in a one-day international. Since England beat them by 26 runs on January 30, 2005, South Africa have remained unbeaten in 19 games, winning 16 of them and tying one, while two were interrupted by the weather. Their winning streak is especially amazing considering their stats just before they embarked on that run - in 13 earlier matches, they had lost 12. (Click here for South Africa's results in their last 32 matches.)

Longest undefeated streaks
Team	Undefeated matches	Period	Captain
Australia	21	Jan-May 2003	Ricky Ponting
South Africa	19	Feb 2005 -	Graeme Smith
Australia	14	Jan-March 2000	Steve Waugh
England	12	May 1991-March 1992	Graham Gooch
New Zealand	12	Feb-Sept 2004	Stephen Fleming

Graeme Smith has played a big hand in these wins, not only with his captaincy, but also with his batting at the top of the order, averaging nearly 50 in those games. However, South Africa are without two of the batsmen who have been quite vital to their success - Herschelle Gibbs has averaged almost 56 in the 15 games he has played in this period, while Boeta Dippenaar played only six of those games, but scored 327 runs at 81.75.

Makhaya Ntini has been the stand-out bowler with 31 wickets from 16 matches, but Andrew Hall has been the unlikely hero, with 15 wickets at just 16 apiece. Nicky Boje has also played his part well, and in the subcontinent, his absence might well be a significant one, especially since Robin Peterson, his replacement in the squad, has taken nine wickets in 21 matches at 69 apiece. Also, the two big stars in their team, Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock, have only contributed modestly to those wins.

South African batsmen during the winning streak
	Matches/ Runs	Average	Scoring rate
Herschelle Gibbs	15/ 724	55.69	81.53
Graeme Smith	16/ 774	51.60	84.13
Justin Kemp	19/ 518	47.09	119.08
Ashwell Prince	18/ 419	46.56	71.75
Mark Boucher	19/ 344	38.22	100.58
Jacques Kallis	15/ 492	37.85	69.59
AB de Villiers	10/ 147	14.70	66.82

South African bowlers during the winning streak
Bowler	Matches/ wkts	Average	Economy rate
Andrew Hall	9/ 15	16.27	68.73
Makhaya Ntini	16/ 31	18.84	74.78
Charl Langeveldt	12/ 19	25.37	84.12
Andre Nel	16/ 23	26.57	80.82
Nicky Boje	12/ 11	34.81	4.10
Shaun Pollock	16/ 13	41.77	71.26
Jacques Kallis	15/ 7	47.00	86.81

South Africa enjoy a 28-16 advantage against India, but in the 15 matches in India, they have lost nine times.

Surprisingly, in the age of the ODI overdose, India and South Africa have played each other just ten times in the last five-and-a-half years. South Africa have won five times and lost four (with one washout), but three of the victories have been at home. The last four matches have been in the subcontinent, and the South Africans have won just once, and lost twice.

Graeme Smith Robin Peterson Herschelle Gibbs India South Africa South Africa tour of India