Whose the Winner??

Can somebody separate these two teams please? The Test series went into its final day with all three results possible, and ended level. The same scenario awaits the finale of the ODI series, for the forecast for rain on Sunday, which follows a week full of rainy days in Centurion, makes a drawn series a probable result too. To determine a winner, we go back to where it all started what seems like an eternity ago - in reality it has only been a month and a week since the tour began - the stunningly beautiful SuperSport Park.

The weather back then was similar too, with rain in the air, the pitch under the covers, and India got off to a typically slow start to the tour, on a damp surface. They have surprised many with the fight they have shown since, especially in the one-dayers, in which they have fielded a side with much less experience than the Test one.

MS Dhoni is eager to get back to Centurion. "I don't mind a damp wicket again," he said. "I don't think it will really happen. And I am hopeful there won't be any Duckworth-Lewis involved in the match.

"It doesn't get any better than this: the best teams in the world playing against each other, and once again the series has gone down to the last match. That's an ideal set-up for the end of the tour. I am just hoping it will be a perfect day for cricket, and may the best team win."

In terms of skill-levels and the quality of cricket on display, the one-dayers haven't quite lived up to the lofty standards that the Test series set, but it is not exactly a bad thing for the Tests to maintain that primacy, not in some corporate talk from the administrators but out on the field.

The series has left South Africa captain Graeme Smith drained. "I am looking forward to the two weeks off," he said. "With two top teams playing, it's competitive, and there was also the matter of selecting the World Cup squad. So it can be quite heavy on players, and especially captains. We'd love to finish the series strong on Sunday and freshen up for the World Cup, during which we have to be at our best for six whole weeks."

The tour has, indeed, taken its toll on minds and bodies. India had to send three players home after the Test series - Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir - while South Africa lost Jacques Kallis, who is always considered more than just one player because he contributes with both bat and ball.

Tempers have flared, respect has been earned, records have been broken, we have celebrated the presence of people of Indian origin in South Africa, we have seen a South African support team help India excel, and going into the last day of a tour that has lasted close to two months, we don't have a winner.

After having seen fortunes swing this way and that over the tour, Smith, who will be captaining South Africa for the last time in a home ODI, is not even thinking of making brave statements going into the decider. "At the moment no one holds the advantage," he said. "It's about who performs better on the day. Obviously sitting here, I would love to say that I back us to do well, but you have got to be realistic. You have to go out on Sunday and do the same things well, keep staying positive about the way we play, sum up the conditions there and just perform. Centurion normally has a slightly better batting wicket than we have played on in the series so far. So we may need to adapt to that."

For one final day, before the cricketers from these two teams go spend time with their families and then go into their respective World Cup camps, they will put in one big effort to keep the level of competitiveness and quality up to the standards that have been maintained through the entire tour. For one final day, it will be about this tour, and not about the No. 1 ranking or the World Cup. And as Dhoni said, may the best team win

See saw series set for the Decider

The curious case of Virat Kohli keeps getting interesting. Prior to the series his case was distilled into this emotive question: How can you drop him from the playing eleven when he is in such good form? Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Gautam Gambhir return to take the top three. Yuvraj Singh is the best part-time spinner and can win a game with the bat, Yusuf Pathan's explosiveness will be vital lower down, and Suresh Raina can potentially get going right from the start and is more suited to the lower order, in Indian conditions, than Kohli.

Or so it seemed before this series. With Yusuf clicking in one game and Yuvraj too hitting a fifty, apart from his bowling, the pressure has escalated on Raina. If there is Yusuf and Yuvraj for power hitting, would it better to blood an in-form Kohli ahead of Raina? That's the thought Kohli will strive to strengthen in this decider and something that Raina will try to kill.

The series itself hangs on a knife's edge. India had just won three random games against South Africa in South Africa before this series and are on verge of something special. For their part, South Africa have hung on, despite threatening to implode in all the games, and pushed the series to a decider. The weather might play spoil sport, though, with the forecast predicting thunderstorms on the match day.

South Africa's World-Cup puzzles too are falling in place. JP Duminy has shown that he has the temperament to lead the lower order, Faf du Plessis hinted at a solid temperament, and Morne Van Wyk, with an accomplished performance in the Twenty20 game, is putting pressure on Colin Ingram. Smith has had a torrid time in the last two games and though he is an established player, a good show at Centurion won't hurt him. They have been shy to give Imran Tahir any exposure in this series, probably preferring to keep him hidden till the World Cup.

Morne Morkel has been simply outstanding in this series, extracting bounce from sluggish tracks in the last two games and indicating he might be a force to reckon with even on traditional slow-and-low subcontinental tracks. The ball to remove Yusuf Pathan - a full length delivery that seamed away at the last instant - in the fourth ODI also showcased that he is just not a hit-the-deck short of length bowler but someone who thinks a lot about his game and has the full repertoire.

Clash of the Titans

A lot of cricket is expected as the Top ranked Test sides take on one another in a 3 Tests, 1 T20 and 5 ODIs in South Africa. The Men in Blues have already reached SA to be welcomed with the biggest reception ever for a visiting team which will see its batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar probably for the last time dressed in Blue.

The 1st Test at Centurion starts from 16th Dec where the two sides are gearing up as the ultimate tag of World Champions is at stake. Proteas have lost only one Test match at Centurion while India is yet to play here. On the periphery it is Gary Kirsten v/s Corrie van Zyl, both South Africans players who will try and out-wit one another with Corrie being under pressure as he newly takes charge of the South African side. This series will see the best new ball seamers (Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel) taking on probably the best opening partners (Viru and Gauti) with little bit of dampness and grass on the pitch. History burdening both the sides : India has won just 1 Test of the 12 it has played since 1992, while SA recent performance of registering no wins in the last two series at home.

SA is a side which has not been no. 1 for long now but have always been too close to that spot. They definitely boast of the best side at home in present times. Under this condition Dhoni's boys will face the challenge of a life time to keep their crown.

Apart from quicks, spin will also play a crucial role. India would be least worried in this department as it can rely on the experienced and attacking Bhajji compared to Paul Harris. But India would not want to neglect him owing to his performance in 2006-07 against India at Cape-Town.

Even weather gods are expected to affect the first Test match. The team that wins the toss would decide to bowl first if play starts early. But rain is almost sure on the first day so the team would like to bat first, capitalize on the conditions and then use the pitch on the second and the third day. So play may start a bit late than the fans have expected.

Mind games have started before the start of the series. Captain Graeme Smith said at a press conference in Centurion "If you're going to be No. 1 in the world you have to be convincing all around the world and beat people in their own backyards. That's what Australia did consistently. The pressure will be on India." Smith knows that even if they clinch the series they wont become No.1 but its about dominance and prestige now. On the other hand Coach Gary Kirsten says India will play on the front foot and if they win the series they will be the best side in history to come out of South Africa.

Head to Head Comparison:

Batting

Opening

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are probably the best opening pair in the world in all forms of cricket. But they have a tough competition from skipper Grame Smith and Alviro Petersen who scored a century against India as a debutant. Sehwag's average of 55 overall slumps to 26 in SA and this would be a big reason for India to worry. Morkel still thinks Sehwag is the biggest threat to them. The Proteas have strategised to get Sehwag out, as it slows down the scoreboard for India. If either of Sehwag or Gambhir play the day 350 is on board. So as India for sees danger it mostly comes down to Sehwag in the end.

India may hove an edge in the opening pairs.\

No.3

Rahul Dravid, India's no. 3 has an average of 53 which goes down to 34 in SA. India would want him to become 'the Wall' again. He should ride on his 191 against New Zealand and would be confident to take on the bowlers with his style. Hashim Amla, probably the most feared batsmen of this year who averages 88 in Tests and 76 in ODIs, since he came to India earlier this year. He also has a fine average of 85 at Centurion. It is a tough one at No.3

Middle Order

The No.4s are legends of cricket. Sachin Tendulkar v/s Jacques Kallis. How can anyone compare the two. Sachin is having the best time of his legendary career with an awaited 50th ton as he comes for the last time to SA under his tricolour helmet. Kallis has always been in form and his bouncers would make him even more valuable.

The No.5s are again incomparable. VVS Laxman and AB de Villiers. Laxman has been excellent with the tail enders too. With recently scoring the highest individual score by a Protea 278*, and Laxman not having a good record in SA, AB de would provide an edge to Africa. Even his excellent fielding would make him more valuable.

The No.6 are probably weak links of the Teams. Ashwell Prince and Suresh Raina. Raina has not got runs in his series against NZ. Prince's still anyways has the home ground advantage over Raina.

Wicket Keepers

MS Dhoni and Mark Boucher are almost of the same caliber behind the stumps but as far as batting is concerned Dhoni's present form will give an edge to Boucher. Though Dhoni cannot be written off just like this.

Spin

India clearly edges SA as Harbhajan will love the bounce and spin on these tracks. Moreover he has proved himslef as an excellent No.8 batsmen with two consecutive centuries under his belt. Paul Harris will have to work too hard to come at par with Singh.

Fast

Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel SA clearly has the best opening duo compared to Indian quicks who will miss Zak due to injury. Steyn's average of 19 and Morkel's average of 22 would come to the likes of SA. Under these conditions Indian weak bowling attack will be put to a big test as Ishant Sharma and S Sreesanth compete against the lethal duo of SA.

11th man

Lonwabo Tsotsobe will provide the variation as a left handed quick with Steyn and Morkel being right handed. India will have to choose amongst new kids Jaydesh Unadkat and Umesh Yadav. Probably the performance of these will create the difference.

Captains

MS Dhoni and Graeme Smith can be called the best captains their country has seen. This is the real clash where Dhoni's toss losing habit could hurt India.

Coach

Gary obviously is better placed and experienced compared to his compatriot Corrie.

Injury

India will obviously miss Zaheer Khan probably for the first Test at Centurion. But even South Africa has woes as its captain Smith is suffering from finger injury and Hashim Amla has been advised to rest owing to his arm.