India, frustrated by rain and lack of match practice, face an uphill struggle when they take on South Africa in the first Test at Springbok Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The Indians arrived in the central South African city on Thursday after a scheduled three-day match against a South African Board President's XI in Chatsworth, near the east coast city of Durban, was cancelled because of a water-logged field.
They will have to go into the first of three Tests with at least two players who have not played a match in South Africa.
Opening batsman Connor Williams, wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe and left-arm fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra arrived in South Africa last week to bolster the squad that played in a triangular one-day series. Williams and at least one of the new fast bowlers are likely to be picked for the Test.
India have not played a first-class match since their Test series in Sri Lanka in September, with South Africa in a similar position, having played against Zimbabwe, also in September.
The South Africans have the advantage of playing in familiar circumstances, and with their strength in fast bowling and would have preferred to tackle the Indians on a more lively pitch than is the norm in Bloemfontein.
The Springbok Park pitch is usually slow-paced and batsman-friendly, although recent heavy rains may ensure that the bowlers have a greater influence on events than usual.

The Indians look shaky at the top of their batting but have a strong middle order in which Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman and skipper Sourav Ganguly all have the ability to make big scores.
India will look to their spin bowlers, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and leg-spinner Anil Kumble, to give them an advantage over a South African team which has strength in depth in batting.
South Africa originally named 12 players for the Test but the squad was cut to 11 when fast bowler Charl Langeveldt was released to play provincial cricket.
India have yet to win a Test match in South Africa, losing a four-match series 1-0 in 1992/93 and a three-match series 2-0 in 1996/97.
In their most recent Test clash, South Africa pulled off a rare series win by a team touring India, winning both matches between the sides in 1999/2000.
Bureau Report