***Official*** India in South Africa

[Pratters]

India going at 3 runs an over, Tendulkar, Laxman and Karthik still to bat. So I am very pleased with the session. VERY valuable 73 runs I would say.

 

[Salamuddin]

India need to get a move on after lunch........they have gotta have a crack at the Saffie openers tonight.

Personally I think 300 is enough.....I can't see the Saffies making that on a 5th day wicket ....on the 3rd day they could only do 9-224.

 

[adharcric]

Yeah, India almost made up for the two early wickets with this partnership. The same trend of each team giving it back to the other team continues.

 

[Jono]

Just to do my regular duties:

SA paying 5.50
India 4.00
Draw 1.53

 

[adharcric]

Like SS, I won't be comfortable with anything less than 350. 325 at worst.

 

[Salamuddin]

Just to do my regular duties:

SA paying 5.50
India 4.00
Draw 1.53

India to win is worth a bet IMO.

 

[adharcric]

LOL @ Jono, what a champ.

 

[Slow Love™]

They probably thought of giving Sehwag one last chance or some thing. Karthik may well have been asked to open as a one off thing or to wear off the new ball in inning 1. As the batting in this inning was limited to an extent by overs, the feeling probably was that if Sehwag batted and hung on, it could mean some quickers runs than Karthik would bring to the table because of the faster SR of Sehwag.

Well, then we'd be back where we started, with Sehwag being promoted for quick runs. Although I think it was a bad idea because of Sehwag's recent form, I think that Afridi has been used like that once or twice by Pakistan - the idea being, similarly, that if he gets off to a raging start and wickets aren't lost, it makes it a lot easier to judge further on whether you can afford to really press for a victory (via declaration) or not. Anyhow, if that is the case, then I still have a bit of sympathy for the guy.

 

[Salamuddin]

Like SS, I won't be comfortable with anything less than 350. 325 at worst.

300 should be plenty......you're wasting bowling time for those extra 50 runs....

I just can't see Safrica making more than 250 in the final dig......only 1 team has chased over 180 successfuly at Newlands and that was a very strong Aussie team in 2001/2002.

 

[Pratters]

Just to do my regular duties:

SA paying 5.50
India 4.00
Draw 1.53

Draw drastically down from last night then. Like I said last night, it was the most unlikely result for me. I would put the money on India at the most favourable time (maybe after India loses a quick wicket after lunch - so I would wait 2-3 overs before putting money on India).

Really, yesterday when draw was the most likely result, I am thinking India could have come at even better rates.

 

[adharcric]

Well, then we'd be back where we started, with Sehwag being promoted for quick runs. Although I think it was a bad idea because of Sehwag's recent form, I think that Afridi has been used like that once or twice by Pakistan - the idea being, similarly, that if he gets off to a raging start and wickets aren't lost, it makes it a lot easier to judge further on whether you can afford to really press for a victory (via declaration) or not. Anyhow, if that is the case, then I still have a bit of sympathy for the guy.

Can you really put that stroke down to his being sent in as a pinch-hitter? That's a natural stroke for him.

 

[Slow Love™]

It's been a pretty interesting test so far. Attritional cricket now and then, and some really conflicting signals of intent by both sides. Quite possibly a very tough decision for Dravid to make ahead.

 

[Pratters]

Well, then we'd be back where we started, with Sehwag being promoted for quick runs. Although I think it was a bad idea because of Sehwag's recent form, I think that Afridi has been used like that once or twice by Pakistan - the idea being, similarly, that if he gets off to a raging start and wickets aren't lost, it makes it a lot easier to judge further on whether you can afford to really press for a victory (via declaration) or not. Anyhow, if that is the case, then I still have a bit of sympathy for the guy.

Not really. Sehwag for pinch hitting v Sehwag for natural batting resulting in quick runs are different. The reason I was in facour of Sehwag opening as I mentioned earlier were on the lines a) India had a cushion, b) even if Sehwag failed, India would know where they are placed as opposed to Sehwag requiring to possibly play a crucial role in the post tea session to accelerate the scoring. If he makes runs, good. If he fails opening, no worries. So for me it was the option I supported and I thought it was a good idea regardless of the failure.

I have no sympathy for Sehwag though. He played a terrible shot to a ball way outside off stump he had no business trying to hit.

 

[Slow Love™]

Can you really put that stroke down to his being sent in as a pinch-hitter? That's a natural stroke for him.

I dunno, really. I'm just trying to figure why he was in there, and speculating that there might have been a purpose.

 

[Jono]

300 should be plenty......you're wasting bowling time for those extra 50 runs....

I just can't see Safrica making more than 250 in the final dig......only 1 team has chased over 180 successfuly at Newlands and that was a very strong Aussie team in 2001/2002.

Ideally I'd like India to have a few overs at SA today. Maybe 7-10 or so.

If Ganguly and Dravid can get the lead up to 170 or so, then India can be in a real strong position to launch after tea. If Sachin gets his eye in, and the pressure is off, he can really launch. If anyone remembers back to Ind vs. Eng first test, when India were giving Eng a scare during the 4th innings chase, Tendulkar really turned it on.

We'll see how the day goes.

 

[Dravid]

It's been a pretty interesting test so far. Attritional cricket now and then, and some really conflicting signals of intent by both sides. Quite possibly a very tough decision for Dravid to make ahead.

At least it has more competition than the Ashes ;p

 

[Salamuddin]

Can you really put that stroke down to his being sent in as a pinch-hitter? That's a natural stroke for him.

Ideally I'd like India to have a few overs at SA today. Maybe 7-10 or so.

If Ganguly and Dravid can get the lead up to 170 or so, then India can be in a real strong position to launch after tea. If Sachin gets his eye in, and the pressure is off, he can really launch. If anyone remembers back to Ind vs. Eng first test, when India were giving Eng a scare during the 4th innings chase, Tendulkar really turned it on.

We'll see how the day goes.

exactly jono.....if I were Rahul, I'd be aiming for 10 overs at Smith And Devilliers...and hopefully knock off 1 of those and maybe one more.

 

[Salamuddin]

I'd give myself 50 overs to get 200 runs.....that 'll leave the Saffies with a traget of 314 plus 10 overs tonight....

 

[adharcric]

We should look to add another 100 runs by tea.

 

[Slow Love™]

Not really. Sehwag for pinch hitting v Sehwag for natural batting resulting in quick runs are different. The reason I was in facour of Sehwag opening as I mentioned earlier were on the lines a) India had a cushion, b) even if Sehwag failed, India would know where they are placed as opposed to Sehwag requiring to possibly play a crucial role in the post tea session to accelerate the scoring. If he makes runs, good. If he fails opening, no worries. So for me it was the option I supported and I thought it was a good idea regardless of the failure.

I have no sympathy for Sehwag though. He played a terrible shot to a ball way outside off stump he had no business trying to hit.

Yeah, fair enough, I guess I just don't make that much of a distinction between the two. In scoring quick runs, Sehwag tends to play extravagant shots. He did screw up, no question, I just felt bad if he was under instructions to really go after the bowling (and got berated for playing a stupid shot), but you're essentially right, he should have at least had a bit of a look for the first few overs at least.