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Cape Town - Former South African cricket captain Ali Bacher says the Proteas’ gruelling tour to India has played a part in the team's current struggles.
SA v England - LIVE from Newlands
After losing the first Test in Durban by 244 runs, the Proteas are again up against it in the current Test against England at Newlands where the visitors posted a mammoth 629/6 in their first innings.
Before the England series, the Proteas spent 72 days in India - a tour which included three T20s, five ODIs and four Tests.
South Africa won the T20 and ODI series but went on to lose the Test series 3-0 in heavy spin-friendly conditions.
Bacher feels the tour to the subcontinent was too long.
“To tour there for 72 days, like we did recently, borders on madness. I knew beforehand we were led like lambs to the slaughter,” Bacher told Netwerk24.
“The pitches they played on in India were outrageous and a disgrace. Mere weeks after returning from India, we tackle England here in a tough series.
“What happened over there in India is still on the back of the players’ minds.”
Bacher also acknowledged that the current South African Test team is not of the same standard of years gone by.
“Over the last few years we’ve lost players like Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis. You can’t just replace them overnight.”
