South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma on Wednesday said that the lack of red-ball cricket this year has been a big disadvantage and a key factor in his team’s poor batting display in the first Test against India in Centurion.

South Africa had played five Tests before this one in 2021, and none since June when they won away in the West Indies. This is India’s 15th test this year, and they are coming off a home series against New Zealand that finished earlier this month.

“I don’t want to be accused of making excuses for our play, but that does have an impact,” Bavuma said after he top-scored in South Africa’s first innings with 52.

A crazy day three in Centurion with 18 wickets falling!

Relive all the #SAvIND action as the tourists pull away #WTC23https://t.co/eVuOA7Dm63

— ICC (@ICC) December 29, 2021

“If you look at the way we played on the first day. I don’t believe that is the standard and the intensity that we can play at. And one of the factors is the lack of match practice. You can have as many nets as you want, but nothing simulates going out in the middle.

“There is not much we can do as players, but there is that disparity in the number of games. We have to find a way mentally to meet the challenge.”

“Mohammed Shami is a world-class bowler”

South Africa will hope to limit India to a manageable target, or at worst take time out of the game with some rain predicted for day five on Thursday. Either way, they will have to find a way to counter the Indian seamers, especially Mohammed Shami, who appeared unplayable at times on Tuesday as he recorded figures of 5-44.

Shami picked up his 6th 5-wicket haul in Tests on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. He became only the 5th Indian pacer to pick up 200 wickets in the longest format of the game.

“He is a world-class bowler, so I don’t think it is something we did not expect,” Bavuma said. “As batters, we have to front up and back our defense as much as we can. But if he bowls a good ball, kudos to him.”