South Africa vs India – Third Test at Cape Town – First day

India won the toss and elected to field in this test. This provides the 50^th occasion of India inserting the opposition against various oppositions and the fourth such occasion against South Africa. The other three such occasions against South Africa are – at Durban in Nov 1992 {Match Drawn} : at Durban in Dec 1996 {India lost by 328 runs} and at Port Elizabeth in Nov 2001 {Match drawn}

This test was the 150^th test for R Dravid, He became the fifth cricket to play 150 plus tests in the annals of test cricket. Others are – SR Tendulkar {177} : SR Waugh {168} : AR Border {156} and RT Ponting {152}. R Dravid became the second Indian cricketer to appear in 150 plus tests after SR Tendulkar {177}.

SR Tendulkar was playing his 15^th test against South Africa in South Africa. Other cricketers to play 15 tests against South Africa in South Africa are – WR Hammond and FE Woolley of England.

GC Smith was dismissed leg before wicket by Zaheer Khan for 6 in this test providing Zaheer Khan his 52^nd leg before wicket dismissal. GC Smith was dismissed leg before wicket for 35^th occasion.

GC Smith was dismissed for single digit runs on 25 occasions in his test career. He was dismissed leg before wicket on 35 occasions in his test career..

GC Smith was dismissed for the sixth occasion by Zaheer Khan – the most by an Indian bowler – at Durban in Dec 2006 {caught by SR Tendulkar for 5} : at Cape Town Jan 2007 {caught Karthik for 55} : at Nagpur Feb 2010 {bowled for 6} : at Kolkata in Feb 2010 {bowled for 4} and at Durban {caught MS Dhoni for 9}. Zaheer Khan wrested the record from S Sreesanth who had dismissed GC Smith on five occasions.

Zaheer Khan of India and CS Martin of New Zealand share the record of dismissing GC Smith on most occasions. Both the bowlers have dismissed GC Smith on six occasions..

When MS Dhoni caught AN Petersen of I Sharma for 21, he set a new record for most dismissals by an Indian wicket keeper against South Africa. It was his 21^st dismissal {20 caught plus one stumping}. He wrested the record from NR Mongia who had 20 dismissals {19 caught plus one stumping}. At the end of the first day’s play, MS Dhoni had effected 22 dismissals against South Africa.

HM Amla’s half century {59} in this test represents the 56^th half century by South African batsmen against India. This knock represents his 19^th test half century and 31^st fifty.

Sreesanth achieved “Wisden’s 75” when he had HM Amla caught by CA Pujara for 75. He became the 24^th Indian bowler to capture 75 or more wickets. {Wisden Cricket Almanac lists the bowlers with 75 plus wickets}.

JH Kallis’s 81 not out in this test provide the 57^th half century by South African batsman against India. This knock represents his 55^th test half century and 93rd fifty.