SL Vs SA, 2018: South Africa's Miserable Run in Asia Continues

It is absolutely saddening to witness a top-notch outfit like South Africa struggling miserably on Asian shores in the longest version of the game. The once dominant powerhouse of Test cricket, has now been reduced to a mere shambolic visiting team, which is failing to even compete in the subcontinent.

Last time, the Proteas touched Asian shores, some rather treacherous tracks awaited them in India. Back then, the side was left to a mere spectacle as Virat Kohli’s India drubbed them 3-0 in a four-match affair.

Now, without the services of their best batsman, AB de Villiers, things look even worse for the Proteas. The highly-rated top-order batsman Aiden Markram has failed to make his talent count on his maiden voyage to the subcontinent.

Markram has looked like a lamb to the slaughter while facing the Sri Lankan bowlers and all the talks of him being the next Graeme Smith have vanished in thin air.

Moreover, it isn’t that South Africa were historically a weak Test outfit. On their previous tour of Sri Lanka in 2014, the side managed to win the two-match series 1-0, thanks to a memorable bowling performance from speedster Dale Steyn in the series opener at Galle.

In their previous 10 completed innings in the subcontinent, the Proteas have been dismal, to say the least. Their batting has been the biggest setback. Also, with ace men like Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, time and again the Proteas returned with dismal numbers.

Since the first Test of their tour of India in late 2015, they batted a total of 10 times in Asia. But in what can be termed as an extremely shocking affair, the side has managed to breach the 200 run mark, just once.

In addition, such has been the sheer agony of South Africa’s run of form in Asian conditions. Things look even bleak for the near future, as a massive tour of India awaits them in 2019. And if measures aren’t taken, another drubbing awaits the Proteas.

South Africa in previous 10 innings in the subcontinent:

184

109

214

79

185

121

143

126

73

124