Indian cricketers don’t need anyone to tell them about the inherent strength of South African cricket. That the South African have been defeated on just three occasions in the last four years; is an ample testimony to their fighting potential against the heaviest of odds. At the end of the fourth day of the Johannesburg test, South Africa showed stubborn resistance in the fourth innings. It was evident that the batsmen had no desire to give up, even if the target of 458 in the fourth innings looked pretty stiff. The undaunted South Africans went into the final day with the score reading 138/2. From a position of strength, the Indians were pushed on the back foot as the South Africans took the challenge head on. But for a few more runs in the closing stages, they would have created test history.