Proteas to make a call on Kagiso Rabada as Simon Harmer gets thumbs up

Rabada missed the first test in Kolkata with a rib injury he suffered in training, with Corbin Bosch stepping in at Eden Gardens and proving his worth with crucial runs down the order in the 30-run win last weekend. 

Botha says Rabada did not train on Thursday morning.

"Rabada is still being monitored by our medical staff, and he obviously wasn't in practice today, but I'll make a call in the next 24 hours," said Botha.

"As far as the pitch is concerned, obviously had a look at this morning, we're still two days out so it's difficult to predict if they're actually going to cut more grass off or not, and that will obviously make a difference.

"But what we've heard is that it tends to be a good batting wicket up front, and it becomes  a spinning wicket later on in the game, but we'll have to wait and see, maybe it spins earlier like the previous Test turned out to be."

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Some positive news out of the sick bay is that Simon Harmer, who was awarded the player of the match in Kolkata, is fit to play after a shoulder scare earlier this week.

"In terms of his fitness, he's fine and he bowled in the nets today, so no problems there," added Botha.

"Obviously if the ball spins as early as it did in the last Test then majority of the Indian batting line up are left-handers, so it brings him into a game a lot.

"Also, we balance him quite nicely with Keshav, who can bowl to the right handers and got Rahul out in the first innings, which was a big wicket for us.

"So yes, it always depends on when you come more into the game as a spinner, is it the first or second innings, and if it doesn't spin as much in the first innings, he's still a good enough bowler just to control the game, and once it starts spinning he's a danger."