Fletcher faces litmus test

It's nearly two years that India haven't played a Test overseas and as they prepare to take on South Africa at the Wanderers on Wednesday, it will be a trial by fire for coach Duncan Fletcher, who has now come a long way from the team's 0-8 result abroad.
The last Test India played on foreign soil was in January 2012, against Australia at Sydney. It was the last game in a long run of defeats away from home (England followed by Australia).
There are not many coaches in world cricket who would survive an 0-8 blanking in overseas conditions but Fletcher did somehow. And now, it is easy to see why the team stands up for him. He is a father figure to these youngsters in the absence of senior, highly experienced players.

"Communication is very easy at the moment with youngsters in the side. Fletcher is obviously a go-to man. I can always go and speak to him about what he feels about my batting or whatever problems I am facing," said Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of his team's practice sessions in Benoni.
The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were complete coaching-manuals in themselves, given their experience and ability, an awe-inducing factor in the hearts of the young ones. It is a tad tough to imagine the trio speaking to Fletcher about their problems, if any. But with these young players, there is an obvious connect here.

A lot has changed in the last two years.
Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman have gone from the scene, unthinkable as it may seem. Even Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir no longer open the batting for India in any format, while Harbhajan Singh is miles away from the playing XI. Zaheer Khan is still around though.
But it can be said that the transition phase of Indian cricket is nearly over. It has been a painful process since that 0-8 defeat.