***Official*** India in South Africa

[Jono]

Clearly India's day, despite what some of these foolish commentators may believe.

Lol I love it. They got all their wickets in one session, India's two weakest batsman including a make-shift opener put on 150+, Steyn doesn't look completely fit, but its SA's day.

Sometimes they just go overboard, always talking about SA continously.

 

[Pratters]

Clearly India's day, despite what some of these foolish commentators may believe. Let's hope Tendulkar goes on for a big one tomorrow and gets off to a good start to 2007. As for declarations, we shouldn't even think about that right now. The game could change dramatically and IMO this pitch will get tougher to bat on. It is quite flat, but it is already turning considerably and reverse swing will likely come into play throughout the test. India should aim for 400 right now, then see what happens once we get there. Good to see that we're actually getting 90 overs of play in here, unlike in Durban.

Stole the words out of my mouth. Session by session is the key really. The declaration question is a long way away, if at all.

 

[adharcric]

Uhh yeah, 400 should be our primary target, NOT the declaration mark. Sachin and Laxman should look to see off the new ball tomorrow and go at a RR of 3 (at least) until we get to 400. After that, we should accelerate to a RR of 4 (at least) given we have wickets in hand. Declaration at 550/600 sounds good, but there's a long way to go so let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

 

[silentstriker]

The bookies have set the over/under for India's innings at 475.

Declaration on 400 should cost Dravid his captaincy if he decides to be that foolish. 550 is a good starting point for declaration.

But lets even get to 400 first.

 

[Nate]

India should try to bat out most of the second day IMO. They should be aiming for 450+, which is doable with their line-up and this pitch. No need for foolishly aggressive batting or an early declaration IMO. Just batting for a long period with a RR of around 3.5 or better at the end.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Before we start talking about Decs' and so on, don't rule out a traditional Indian middle order collapse.

 

[Anil]

Uhh yeah, 400 should be our primary target, NOT the declaration mark. Sachin and Laxman should look to see off the new ball tomorrow and go at a RR of 3 (at least) until we get to 400. After that, we should accelerate to a RR of 4 (at least) given we have wickets in hand. Declaration at 550/600 sounds good, but there's a long way to go so let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

that's the key i think, it's a good start but let's not jump the gun just yet...

 

[adharcric]

Alright guys, good day of play here. Time to catch some sleep. Later.

 

[Pratters]

that's the key i think, it's a good start but let's not jump the gun just yet...

Personally, I would like it to be 600 even if we need to bat half an hour into day 3. However, if India do manage to bat on, I think the declaration will come around 550 near the end of day 2 tomorrow.

 

[silentstriker]

Before we start talking about Decs' and so on, don't rule out a traditional Indian middle order collapse.

Yup.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Yup.

Is that traditionally English and Indian then?

 

[Turbinator]

Before we start talking about Decs' and so on, don't rule out a traditional Indian middle order collapse.

Wait, let's not forget Sehwag is now officially part of the middle order... so the chances of a collapse are quite low.

 

[Goughy]

How quick is Makhaya going at the moment, he seemed to be a lot down on pace in the first innings, in the 130kph mark.

Ntini as a super fast bowler is a myth. He is in the 130s the vast majority of the time with the rare ball in the low 140s.

 

[Jono]

Is that traditionally English and Indian then?

And WI and NZ.

Pretty much anyone but Australia

 

[silentstriker]

TBH, Indian collapses occur when:

• There is pressure
• The pitch has bounce and/or movement
• It's India's second innings

So that means only about a 50/50 chance of a collapse. If any of the three conditions were met, it would be around 100%.

 

[Jono]

Ntini as a super fast bowler is a myth. He is in the 130s the vast majority of the time with the rare ball in the low 140s.

True, but his bowling is generally short of a length which has the tendency to hurry the batsman more-so than Steyn, despite Steyn being a few k's faster.

However you're right, when Ntini over-pitches he's slower than Steyn bowling the same length.

 

[PhoenixFire]

TBH, Indian collapses occur when:

• There is pressure
• The pitch has bounce and/or movement
• It's India's second innings

So that means only about a 50/50 chance of a collapse. If any of the three conditions were met, it would be around 100%.

But we have Sehwag to strengthen the middle order

 

[Goughy]

Lol I love it. They got all their wickets in one session, India's two weakest batsman including a make-shift opener put on 150+, Steyn doesn't look completely fit, but its SA's day.

Sometimes they just go overboard, always talking about SA continously.

I didnt hear the comments. Were they from SA commentators? If so its no surprise. SA voices are the most biased I have heard. Its all part of a defensive mechanism and in the new SA noone is allowed to criticise anything. Believe me, they would be making different comments off air. Kind of feeds into the KP backlash.

If you want to know how favourably they look on SA cricket, the main channel here wanted 6 SA players in the ICC World Test XI

Dont read too much into the comments if they were from SA people. They will not believe them themselves.

 

[Nate]

TBH, Indian collapses occur when:

• There is pressure
• The pitch has bounce and/or movement
• It's India's second innings

So that means only about a 50/50 chance of a collapse. If any of the three conditions were met, it would be around 100%.

• When it`s India`s turn to bat?

 

[Nate]

Silentstriker makes up more than a fifth of posts in this thread.

And by makes up, I mean contributes, not uses lies to deceive.