Try as they might, India and South Africa will not be able to better the 1st Test in Johannesburg -- one of the best Test match draws you are ever likely to see.
But even half of that quality, that tension, that biting-your-nails-edge-of-the-seats-oh-my-god-what-is-going-to-happen will be enough to give another enthralling encounter.
Where to Watch Live
The Test match is scheduled for a 1.30pm IST start with live coverage on Ten Cricket and Ten Sports in India. The match is also available for free live streaming online courtesy Cricket Country HERE. To catch the action in South Africa online click HERE. Viewers in the US can live stream the match HERE through Willow cricket, while UK viewers can do the same HERE.
[First Day Report read HERE]
Much has been said about South Africa not going for a win, when a world record victory seemed well within their grasp; but at the end of the day the match finished in a fitting draw, and a draw going into the 2nd Test, the final one of the series, means a winner-take-all encounter in Durban starting on Boxing Day.
India were expected to be overrun by South Africa, with the Proteas holding all the aces - read experience - in both the batting and bowling department.
However, India's young guns, especially the batsmen stood up to the test admirably, with Virat Kohli, in particular, showing just why he is looked at as India's and probably world cricket's next big thing.
"If we look at the last game, we have more positives than them because when we batted first the ball was doing a bit," said Cheteshwar Pujara, who made a brilliant century in the second innings. "We batted well and when they batted in the first innings there wasn't much help for the bowlers so the kind of comeback we made in [their] first innings.
"On the last day we were expecting more movement from the cracks but it didn't happen. So I think they had the opportunity to bat well when the wicket was better and when we batted -- even in the second innings -- the ball was doing a bit. When they batted, at times there was a little bit of movement but they were lucky enough to survive."
Also a factor working in India's favour is South Africa's rather poor record in Durban in recent years, with the Proteas losing their last four Tests at Kingsmead. The pitch does not seem to help South Africa's pacers too much, with the wicket slowing down considerably over the years.
The last time South Africa came away with a victory in Durban was nearly six years ago, when they got the better of West Indies in January 2008.
"We haven't had the best record in Durban over a period of time and we are looking forward to putting that right," SA skipper Graeme Smith said. "One of the reasons was that we didn't adapt to conditions in time. The surface can change every day. Day two can be difficult to bat instead of day one and overhead conditions can play a role. But then, it can get hot and it can get flat."
Smith was forced to defend Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn's decision to not go for the final 16 runs to win the 1st Test, and the captain insisted it was time to put that draw behind them and turn their attentions towards the marquee Boxing Day Test.
"As a team, perspective is important and putting things into context," he said. "I feel we are mentally ready for Boxing Day. Today's [Wednesday's] training session is an important part of that. It will be high intensity and we will be ready come Boxing Day."
Team news: South Africa: Morne Morkel, who rolled his ankle on day three of the first Test, is unlikely to play, with the team set to take a decision on Wednesday. If Morkel is declared unfit, either Rory Kleinveldt or Kyle Abbott, who took nine wickets in his only previous Test match, will come in.
Also Imran Tahir could be dropped after a miserable outing in the first Test, with Robin Peterson the obvious replacement.
India: No injuries were reported in the away camp and it is unlikely that MS Dhoni will make any changes to his side that played so admirably at the Wanderers.
Key men: South Africa: Jacques Kallis will be determined to make his mark in his final Test match. India will have to be wary about one of the greatest ever to play the sport of cricket riding into the Test sunset with another master class.
Dale Steyn was off the boil in the first Test. That could work in two ways from India's perspective. Either Steyn will continue to be off colour, leaving the batsmen to take full toll; or the fast bowler will come into the 2nd Test with something to prove and it might just be run-for-cover time for the India batsmen.
India: Shikhar Dhawan disappointed in the first Test, playing a poor shot in the first innings, while getting a ripper in the second. Leaving the ball was the hallmark of India's batting in the Wanderers Test, and Dhawan needs to catch that habit sooner than a cold when the Durban match comes calling.
R Ashwin's form is also a concern, and the off-spinner will hope to be amongst the wickets in more spin-friendly conditions in Durban.
Expected lineups: South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB De Villiers, Faf Du Plessis, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami.
