India has more collective experience in the starting line-up than South Africa: Hashim Amla

Legendary South African batsman Hashim Amla says that the more “collective experience” on the Indian side was one of the main factors in the visitors’ comfortable victory in the match played at Centurion.

India beat South Africa 113 races in the first round of SuperSport Park with a 1-0 win in the three-game series.

“The result was correct,” Amla told Cricket South Africa (CSA).

“They (India) have been a strong unit for the last two years or so. They have more experience collectively and it always makes a big difference to protect them when you run on the board.”

South Africa did not have many experienced players at its level, Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi only had a decent exposure in the traditional format and India had all the top players in the squad.

Amla said India had a big advantage in the first inning as a result of the match.

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“Centurion is known for making it harder to bat as the days go by. So after India won the draw, batted and scored over 300, the Proteas batters were at stake to match at least that score,” Amla said.

“Being behind 130 runs really hurt them, and in the end it made a difference.”

38-year-old Amla, who averaged 9,282 races in 124 Trials in 46.64 centuries, praised the Indian batters on the first day of the event for their top-level show.

“On the first day, he deserved to join the field and play disciplined cricket for the Indians,” he said.

“It’s clear that when the teams come to SA they’re talking about keeping their batsmen out of the post well, and that’s probably where Protease leaves them.”

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Amla felt that the South African bowlers had fought well after that hard start to the day.

“Not defying enough defense. That was the first day, but on the second day, however, they did very well to limit the Indians to 327. They could reach 400 more.

“The bowlers all had their moments. Lungi (Ngidi), KG (Kagiso Rabada) and youngster (Marco) Jansen stand out, of course. However, I liked watching Temba Bavuma in a relatively low-scoring match. rarely worried. ‘

Amla acknowledges that there is work to be done for South Africans, even though they believe they can still bounce back and defend the proud mark of never losing a home series against India.

“There’s definitely a return, but it’s going to take a laser-like focus for a long time and a touch of a fortune,” he said.

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“(Captain) Dean (Elgar) and Aiden (Markram) are players in the class with hundreds of pedigrees and if they get a boost, it would certainly ease their nerves and give the younger boys the confidence they need.”

Baptism legend Temba Bavuma wants to go higher when he retires from the Quinton de Kock Test kiln.

“The two best batsmen in the middle are Temba and Quinton (de Kock). Because Quinton has left Test out of cricket, this is exacerbating the bat team and it really, now more than ever, is essential for Temba to make a higher one.

“Be it three or four, take the time to fulfill the role of revitalization.”

The second Test will be played from January 3 to 7 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.