South Africa have finished their whitewashing of the youngsters that make up Bangladeshis' bright future - but Proteas fans wonder if India will prove too stern a test for Graeme Smith's men. 

The Indians look dominant in 2008 and Anil Kumble is truly a master tactician, using the 10-year age gap between himself and Smith as a sword to deliver South Africa a coup de grace on the sub-continent.

Surrounding Jumbo Kumble (Captain Courageous) you'll find some of the most talented cricketers of the era, legends even.

'Although South Africa are one of few nations to have a series win in India behind them, is it reasonable to assume they can simply nip over to the sub-continent and beat one of the best teams in world cricket in 2008?'


The mighty Sachin Tendulkar is arguably the best cricketer in the world and Indian fans would say the man who graced the field at only 16 is the greatest player of all time.  Another hero, Rahul Dravid, is likely to be South Africa's nemesis and if the Proteas are unable to adapt to spin-friendly pitches, Verinder Sehwag and others will show them how they've managed to stock up their accounts while Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince shrivel in the sun.

Dust-bowl cricket in the eyes of Proteas fans might ask too much of Smith's players and find them wanting.  Although Smith is in very good nick, all cricket fans know how quickly that can be undone.  Many Indian fans might be right if they think that if Smith fails in India, the team will probably crumble around him. 

This is something Smith himself continually harps on about - the responsibility of young players.  While only 27, he says the youngsters have to shoulder more responsibility and they might fail if they don't grasp the importance of this in India.

Injuries are creeping into the battle-worn South Africans and it looks like Amla and Dale Steyn will be going into the Indian tour not fully fit.

Could all these factors be just too much?  Although South Africa are one of few nations to have a series win in India behind them, is it reasonable to assume they can simply nip over to the sub-continent and beat one of the best teams in world cricket in 2008?

Proteas fans are more realistically hoping that they can scrape a drawn series - and are more likely to see their team on the back foot from the start.  I see days of desperation ahead, where the South Africans might be clinging to the hope of a draw and an unlikely drop of rain to provide some salvation.

Most Proteas fans would take a draw as a win in India.