South Africa complete comprehensive victory
Once the players woke up to sunny skies in Centurion, it was only a matter of time before South Africa took the final two wickets that stood between them and a 1-0 lead in the series
16/12Result
1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Centurion, Dec 16-20 2010
-
![India]( "India")
136 & 459 (128.1 ov) -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
Player of the Match
16/12Result
1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Centurion, Dec 16-20 2010
-
![India]( "India")
136 & 459 (128.1 ov) -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
Player of the Match
Day 5
A statement of intent from South Africa
The home side turned in a near perfect assertion of superiority - a bruising performance with the ball and supremacy with the bat
Smith praises dominant performance
Graeme Smith paid tribute to his team for a "dominant performance" after their innings-and-25-run win over India in the first Test in Centurion
Zaheer fit for Durban, but Raina's form a worry
After the post-match presentation, Zaheer Khan bowled a spell on the same pitch that the Test was played on, along with Ishant Sharma. MS Dhoni confirmed that he was fit, and would play the second Test
Smith surprised by India's fifth-day approach
Graeme Smith expected more of a fight from India on the final morning, and was surprised at how easily the last two wickets came
MS Dhoni worried by inept bowling
MS Dhoni has come down hard on his bowlers after India started yet another tour with a demoralising defeat
First-Test blues for India
India have lost four of their last five first Tests in overseas series against the top teams, which suggests it's becoming an unwanted habit for the side
Day 4
Tendulkar and Dhoni delay South Africa's win
When strong winds and storm clouds forced the players off SuperSport Park late on the fourth day, South Africa were on the verge of winning a Test they had dominated entirely
Tendulkar focussed amid the frenzy
There were whites, there were blacks, there were browns at the grass banks of SuperSport Park, and all they wanted was for Sachin Tendulkar's 50th Test hundred to come in front of them
Ishant's revenge and a lesson in patience
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the day of the fourth day of the Centurion Test between South Africa and India
'Congrats you massive little legend!'
Twitter reactions to Sachin Tendulkar becoming the first batsman to make 50 Test centuries
South Africa's two moments of brilliance
The way the hosts' bowlers managed to execute their plans on a flat pitch showed the difference in quality between theirs and India's bowling attacks
India show fight at last
Two-and-a-half days too late, but India did take on the challenge. A strong message has been sent. That the team wouldn't roll over and die
Day 3
de Villiers and Kallis devastate India
If the Indians thought they had hit rock bottom on the opening day, they were in for the most unbelievable of shocks as they crashed through that bottom and continued their free-fall
'It will be hard for South Africa to get us out' - Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir has said the wicket in Centurion has become good for batting and India has the quality to save the Test match
New feather in Kallis' cap
After Jacques Kallis got his first Test double-century, the argument that he is the greatest ever South Africa batsman has grown stronger
de Villiers delivers yet again
He is just the No. 5 you want when you are dominating and looking for a declaration, challenging himself to score fast and beating the deep fields
McLaren's new job, and the travails of Sreesanth
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the day of the second day of the Centurion Test between South Africa and India
Kallis explains golf-shot celebration
Jacques Kallis says he is relieved to have finally got a double-century in Tests, and is particularly pleased it came against the world's best Test team
Day 2
Super South Africa assume complete dominance
Jacques Kallis reached 100 faster than he has ever done in Tests and Hashim Amla pushed his Test average against India this year beyond 600 as South Africa ended the day 230 ahead with eight wickets remaining
Morkel steps into Ntini's shoes
Despite being a very different bowler, Morne Morkel shares many traits with Makhaya Ntini, whose place he has taken in the South Africa squad. His performace in Centurion suggests the handover is complete
Indian bowling listless in Zaheer Khan's absence
Under pressure after a poor batting effort, on a pitch that had eased out but was still lively, Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth missed Zaheer Khan, the leader of the attack
A day for walkers and a day out for the ladies
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the second day of the first Test between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park
Harbhajan assault was deliberate - Petersen
Alviro Petersen was driving confidently in the morning session and looked set to continue in that vein. If he had, it would have gone a long way in cementing an opening slot
Disappointed Dravid confident of saving the game
At the end of the second day, with India falling hopelessly behind, Rahul Dravid didn't promise to show "what batting actually means", but said India believed they could get out of this rut
Day 1
Steyn, Morkel leave India in tatters
With Virender Sehwag gone, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel gave India a South African welcome - one that involved tenderizing gloves, bruising bodies and the smell of lacquer and leather
Harbhajan rues losing crucial toss
Harbhajan Singh says his team was well-prepared for the series, but not for the damp pitch where the toss was vital, where the ball seamed and nipped around, and where a few stopped on the batsmen
No warm-up leaves India's welcome cold
India may not admit it, but their decision to go into a tough series in alien conditions without any warm-up games may have fuelled the disastrous start in Centurion
The football chant and Sehwag's no-show
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the first day of the first Test between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park
Wet weather delays start of Test series
Wet weather has delayed the start of the first Test between South Africa and India in Centurion
Adapting to the local weather is key - Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar has singled out early acclimatisation to the South African weather as key to India's performance on the tour, ahead of the first Test in Centurion on Thursday
Morkel and Steyn exact a carefully planned revenge
On Thursday, at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Morkel and Steyn exacted a carefully planned revenge for the pain inflicted on them by the Indian batting in Kolkata earlier in the year
Others
India have let themselves down
By not preparing well enough for South Africa and by not acknowledging Dravid's landmark as much as they should have
'The only challenge he has is to beat himself'
Team-mates and opponents alike applaud Tendulkar's incredible achievement
Evolving Tendulkar remains India's best
When you next hear Tendulkar talk about wanting to get better, he is not merely dishing out a quote
Unadkat in the swing of things
It's yet to be seen how the 19-year old will perform on the biggest stage in South Africa, whether he has the necessary skills and the mental fortitude to excel, but his coaches and parents believe he has what it takes
Weather set to play a big part
The weather is set to have a vital part to play in India's first Test against South Africa in Centurion
Zaheer almost certain to miss first Test
Zaheer Khan could miss the first Test against South Africa due to a hamstring injury
The Gamechangers
A marquee series needs a marquee contest, a main event, the headliner. This Test series between the two top teams features two of the most joyful cricketers in the world