South Africa v India Tests 2013: 5 reasons why it's wrong to expect miracles from Zaheer Khan

2. No practice match

With the practice match in Benoni getting cancelled due to rain, Zaheer’s only real chance of easing back in has also been taken away from him. Had the practice match happened, it would have given him the chance to get the feel of conditions and also get into his bowling rhythm.

But now that the game has been called off, he will have to rely on whatever bowling he did in the Ranji Trophy, and the bowling he gets in while practising in the lead-up to the game. Hopefully from India’s perspective, Zaheer can match the intensity of a Test match in the nets to be fully prepared.