***Official*** India in South Africa

[Pratters]

My batting line up for tomorrow would be -

Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Ganguly
Karthik

 

[silentstriker]

If India lose wickets Sehwag bats at 7 for me.

Well yes...I thought this was assuming he opens?

 

[silentstriker]

My batting line up for tomorrow would be -

Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Ganguly
Karthik

I'd go for

• Jaffer
• Karthik
• Dravid
• Tendulkar
• Ganguly
• Laxman
• Sehwag

 

[Turbinator]

But having Sehwag is actually a gamble, a risk, but I would like India to take this risk.

He will either fail miserably once again, or he will look to settle in but as his natural game suggests will look to attack soon after. But if Sehwag succeeds, we have a very good chance of winning this game.

Jaffer
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Karthik

 

[silentstriker]

Let him succeed at seven.

 

[Turbinator]

Let him succeed at seven.

It might be too late, it'll most likely be a draw.

 

[marc71178]

Something I was thinking about - should Sehwag open in the 2nd innings?

I would have said so had they bowled SA out with half an hour or so to go tonight - bit hard on the keeper to have to turn right round, but now I'd say stick with plan A as he's a night's rest.

 

[silentstriker]

I would have said so had they bowled SA out with half an hour or so to go tonight - bit hard on the keeper to have to turn right round, but now I'd say stick with plan A as he's a night's rest.

Yea, I'd have to agree.

 

[Anil]

Exactly, give SA the slightest sniff, and 350 is a total that does that.

As I said, if SA somehow manage to dominate and score quickly, bowl outside leg into the footmarks, and pack the legside field.

to score 310, we need to very likely bat into the fifth day and that would mean very little time to bowl s.a out...

 

[silentstriker]

to score 310, we need to very likely bat into the fifth day and that would mean very little time to bowl s.a out...

Declaring before scoring 300 would be foolhardy IMO. You are hoping the pitch breaks up, but you aren't sure. And SA will be keen not to draw the series so if the pitch warrants it, they'll go hard.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

to score 310, we need to very likely bat into the fifth day and that would mean very little time to bowl s.a out...

310 in a day's cricket isn't as hard as you think. It's a run rate of less than 3.5 per over if all 90 are bowled. If India get to lunch for the loss of 1 or 2 wickets or thereabout, I can see them pushing on past 300.

They have to realize that the pressure is on South Africa right now and play confidently enough to suit.

 

[Turbinator]

Declaring before scoring 300 would be foolhardy IMO. You are hoping the pitch breaks up, but you aren't sure. And SA will be keen not to draw the series so if the pitch warrants it, they'll go hard.

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Without courage, there is no growth my friend.

 

[silentstriker]

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Without courage, there is no growth my friend.

Courage is completely different from stupidity.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Without courage, there is no growth my friend.

That courage should first come with aggressive batting then, rather than moderate batting and reliance on an aggressive bowling effort. India have to aim to get the target to at least 330 by the close of play tomorrow. They shouldn't even be considering a declaration for less than that.

 

[Pratters]

to score 310, we need to very likely bat into the fifth day and that would mean very little time to bowl s.a out...

Very valid point here whichis why India would have to look at accelerating in the end (and having wickets in hand to do it.) I do not think the run rate would be that much of a factor as would whether India can last. It is not easy at all.

For 350 -

Lead of - 40 runs.
First 30 overs - run rate of 3 - 90 runs.
Next 30 overs - run rate of 3.5 - 105 runs.
Last 25 overs - run rate of 4.5 - 112 runs.

Near perfect scenarios do not come good more often than not of course.

The pitch, crumbling, will not be easy to bat on as well. So it is likely we do not get as many. However, we have to look at getting South Africa to bat at least 5 if not 10 overs tomorrow. So, I would settle for some thing around 320 for South Africa to chase in the 4th inning as well if we cannot accelerate in the post tea session. Having enough overs to bowl the opposition out is crucial. Even a 4th inning total of around 250 is defendable if India collapses provided the pitch deteriorates a lot. India does have Kumble and it will not be a cake walk for RSA to chase 250. Where what India should aim to set as a target for RSA is concerned, they should look at 350 but any thing above 300 is much better than it sounds.

 

[silentstriker]

That courage should first come with aggressive batting then, rather than moderate batting and reliance on an aggressive bowling effort. India have to aim to get the target to at least 330 by the close of play tomorrow. They shouldn't even be considering a declaration for less than that.

I don't want anyone taking chances before tea TBH. If in the first sixty overs, we only score 150, thats fine by me.

I am deathly afraid of losing the series on the back of another spineless second innings performance, which might very well happen.

Bat out the first sixty, if you aren't down more than two wickets, attack.

 

[Turbinator]

Courage is completely different from stupidity.

That courage should first come with aggressive batting then, rather than moderate batting and reliance on an aggressive bowling effort. India have to aim to get the target to at least 330 by the close of play tomorrow. They shouldn't even be considering a declaration for less than that.

Agreed, stupidity is different than courage. But courage, as Mr. Mdjfodsjfo said, should come from aggressive batting. We shouldn't go out there with a mindset of - let's play cautiously, and until we manage to get 330 we won't declare. Instead there should be a clear intent shown for a win. Go out there see off the new ball, attack, but attack smartly. I, honestly, won't be happy with a drawn series.

 

[Turbinator]

I don't want anyone taking chances before tea TBH. If in the first sixty overs, we only score 150, thats fine by me.

I am deathly afraid of losing the series on the back of another spineless second innings performance, which might very well happen.

Bat out the first sixty, if you aren't down more than two wickets, attack.

If we continue to be scared of spineless second innings performances, there is no way we will improve. What did Imran use to say to his team when he was captain. A draw is as good as a loss. Go out there, no matter how down we are, go for the win. But at the same time play smart cricket, don't lose your cool.

 

[silentstriker]

Agreed, stupidity is different than courage. But courage, as Mr. Mdjfodsjfo said, should come from aggressive batting. We shouldn't go out there with a mindset of - let's play cautiously, and until we manage to get 330 we won't declare. Instead there should be a clear intent shown for a win. Go out there see off the new ball, attack, but attack smartly. I, honestly, won't be happy with a drawn series.

Because you either have no idea what an accomplishment a drawn series is for India, or don't care.

And its all right to show intent, but its smarter to just bat naturally. India's natural batting rate bar Sehwag tends to be around 2.5-2.75 runs per over.

 

[Turbinator]

Because you either have no idea what an accomplishment a drawn series is for India, or don't care.

And its all right to show intent, but its smarter to just bat naturally. India's natural batting rate bar Sehwag tends to be around 2.5-2.75 runs per over.

I know what a drawn series is for India here in RSA, but we clearly have been the better team and certainly deserve a better result than 1-1.

The same way we deserved a better result than 1-0 in WI, but were denied due to weather.