***Official*** India in South Africa

[Dravid]

Anyway, not saying to get rid of Munaf. He's clearly hurt. But he needs to get his act together in the field. It was a disgrace that Karthik with full pads was outrunning him 2x.

Worst part his, Karthik ran all the way to fine leg, when Munaf was at fine leg!

 

[Dravid]

yes runs are all that matter..and sachin is probably only batsmen IND has who does not have much technical flaws, and he ain't doing much either so in the end runs are all that matter, key being consistent at getting them.
It would've been nice if SAF were 30/2 instead of 55/2, I say SAF will win with 5 wickets left...

Sachin got runs this series dude. 44, 63, 64...and you could cleary see today he wasn't fit.

 

[Turbinator]

Sachin got runs this series dude. 44, 63, 64...and you could cleary see today he wasn't fit.

Yeah true, Sachin is working hard out there and eventhough he is past his prime, he continues to deliver. But I have a feeling he'll have a pretty decent year. However, yes today he was clearly unfit and was struggling, despite that he continued to battle hard out there.

 

[Jono]

Singh is a pretty decent bowler. His record is pretty good and he deserves a shot. I'm pretty sure he fields better than Munaf, and probably be more useful with the bat.

If Munaf doesn't learn to field a little better and get fit, I would pick singh over Munaf for the two home series later on in the month and start of feb.

Which Singh?

RP Singh definitely should not play test matches for India atm, and neither should VRV really, but I can see why one would play either of them ahead of Irfan. But ahead of Munaf? No way.

 

[Turbinator]

Which Singh?

RP Singh definitely should not play test matches for India atm, and neither should VRV really, but I can see why one would play either of them ahead of Irfan. But ahead of Munaf? No way.

I think he is talking about Gagandeep Singh.

 

[TT Boy]

Be an amazing victory if South Africa can actually chase down this total, I still fancy them at the moment but captain Smith and Kallis are the key. If they can both make half centuries then they are as good as home. Be easily South Africa’s greatest victory under Smith, considering this might be Cape Town but only in name and effectively they would have beat India at their own game.

But India like in Durban deserve to go down if only for their lack of thought and balls. I thought Dinesh and Ganguly until he was set up and made to look like an idiot for the second test running were fantastic and understood what was needed but the rest especially Sachin, regardless of injury were pathetic. He did his captain Dravid by failing to rotate the strike and he did Laxman like a good un. But credit to South Africa, Kallis and Pollock bowled beautifully, especially Kallis who has really stepped it up with the ball in the last twelve months.

Long way to go for South Africa however, and with Kumble you never know but it should be a classic no matter who prevails. Rounding off a fantastic test series and one of the best test matches I’ve seen in a while.

 

[silentstriker]

Be an amazing victory if South Africa can actually chase down this total, I still fancy them at the moment but captain Smith and Kallis are the key. If they can both make half centuries then they are as good as home. Be easily South Africa’s greatest victory under Smith, considering this might be Cape Town but only in name and effectively they would have beat India at their own game.

But India like in Durban deserve to go down if only for their lack of thought and balls. I thought Dinesh and Ganguly until he was set up and made to look like an idiot for the second test running were fantastic and understood what was needed but the rest especially Sachin, regardless of injury were pathetic. He did his captain Dravid by failing to rotate the strike and he did Laxman like a good un. But credit to South Africa, Kallis and Pollock bowled beautifully, especially Kallis who has really stepped it up with the ball in the last twelve months.

Long way to go for South Africa however, and with Kumble you never know but it should be a classic no matter who prevails. Rounding off a fantastic test series and one of the best test matches I’ve seen in a while.

The thing that will kill me the most when they lose is the fact that it was a tailor made pitch. If India cannot win on this.....it just would be totally ridiculous. In South Africa, you simply cannot lose if you're offered something like this.

 

[Turbinator]

It will be a big shame if we lost, imo. And yes we didn't bat well at all, we weren't able to do the basics. The only person who looked impressive was Karthik, who actually rotated strike and went after the bad balls. Also, Ganguly looked good, but once again was softly dismissed.

But then again, it's not over till it's over, who knows Kumble might just pull off something here. Had we got 30-40 more runs, we really would've had a chance in this game.

 

[TT Boy]

Lost a bit of respect for some people in this thread to be honest. I can very much understand being angry at events, but the reactions of the seven-ball over sum it up for me. Miscounts of the balls in an over are not a rare event, and although this occasion had dramatic circumstances, it`s part of the human element of cricket.

I`m guilty of over-reacting more than a few times, like in the 2005 Ashes series, and generally everytime Bracken gets hit for a run. However umpires are not biased, and make mistakes with their decisions. But guess what? It evens out. Sometimes you will get decisions going your way, and how much better will it feel when you`ve taken the bad gracefully?

Statements like "Rauf should go to hell" really dissapoint the faith I have in humanity. He is a man doing his job, and if he screws up often enough, he loses his job and the money and status that go with it. I can not see why, those things in consideration, Rauf or any umpire or player or groundsperson would not do their job, something they`re talented about and passionate about, without doing it to the best of their ability. I understand people are not perfect, and can become complacent, which is frustrating when you have no power to change it. But by basing a person`s worth by their performance in a cricket match, you are degrading yourself.

We are grossly blessed people to be in a position to enjoy a game of cricket, more often than not howand when we want it, let alone having food, shelter and safety. Never forget the millions of people who would give it all just to have a few seconds of our lives.

Well said.

I said to myself when watching that there maybe some fanfare on this forum but the reactions are hardly surprising. Considering some people have a complex where only Indian cricketers are seemingly on the wrong end of decisions and if it wasn’t for umpiring error they would have drawn in Durban. Which is ridiculous when you think that if it wasn’t for the weather they would have gone down in three days. India had a rough day today with the umpires but its hardly like South Africa have had it all their own way, just ask Herschelle Gibbs whose received a shocker yesterday which easily could cost him his test career.

To paraphrase Dileep Premachandran at Cricinfo, India dug their own grave.

 

[silentstriker]

So guys...Karthik...can you drop him after 63 & 38* and a very committed (and vocal ) performance behind the stumps. Admittedly, the pitch is flat and Dhoni might have equalled him, but still he has very nice technique and seems to be able to defend very well (1st innings) as well as attack when needed (2nd innings).

Play him and Dhoni and make one the specialist bat? That might be too much, but I am really impressed, flat pitch or not. When Dhoni was unstoppable, I still thought he would struggle in certain places while Karthik has much better technique and might be able to score in more places.

Thoughts?

 

[TT Boy]

It will be a big shame if we lost, imo. And yes we didn't bat well at all, we weren't able to do the basics. The only person who looked impressive was Karthik, who actually rotated strike and went after the bad balls. Also, Ganguly looked good, but once again was softly dismissed.

But then again, it's not over till it's over, who knows Kumble might just pull off something here. Had we got 30-40 more runs, we really would've had a chance in this game.

Those 40 odd runs India obtained after first innings could be the decisive factor though. 169 would not have been enough for India regardless of the state of the wicket considering they only have one real spinner.

 

[Turbinator]

So guys...Karthik...can you drop him after 63 & 38* and a very committed (and vocal ) performance behind the stumps. Admittedly, the pitch is flat and Dhoni might have equalled him, but still he has very nice technique and seems to be able to defend very well (1st innings) as well as attack when needed (2nd innings).

Play him and Dhoni and make one the specialist bat? That might be too much, but I am really impressed, flat pitch or not. When Dhoni was unstoppable, I still thought he would struggle in certain places while Karthik has much better technique and might be able to score in more places.

Thoughts?

Same thing I was thinking when watching the match. But I guess we'll just have to drop Sehwag, and make Karthik the specialist bat and let him open with Gambhir/Jaffer.

I think it's the domestic cricket that has really helped Karthik to come good.

 

[jot1]

Interesting. As long as it's a genuine request that Smith could accept or reject (rather than an order), I don't think I have a problem with it. You would expect that this could only be the case though if the umpires were taking responsibility for the screwup themselves.

Smith chose not to appeal in the spirit of the game, even though, the umpire's request, regardless, he had the full right to do. And if we lose this test, will probably be crucified for.
Which brings me to a sore point: Not one person in this thread had a good word to say about Smith iro his decision. If he had chosen to claim the wicket, he would have been villified as a bad sportsman!

 

[silentstriker]

Smith chose not to appeal in the spirit of the game, even though, the umpire's request, regardless, he had the full right to do. And if we lose this test, will probably be crucified for.
Which brings me to a sore point: Not one person in this thread had a good word to say about Smith iro his decision. If he had chosen to claim the wicket, he would have been villified as a bad sportsman!

Umpire didn't give him a choice. Harper said he wouldn't give him out if Smith appealed, so Smith chose not to. I am not sure what he would have done otherwise. I couldn't blame him for appealing...its test cricket and both sides want to win.

 

[jot1]

Nah, different broadcasts and thus thankfully I have avoided the biased South African commentary talked up by the others.

The commentary I was listening to wasn't biased and it wasn't the one you were listening to.
On another subject. Does anyone know how many times a batsman has been out on a 7th "illegal" ball in test cricket, and why it isn't discounted? (The ball and so also the lost wicket.)

 

[jot1]

Umpire didn't give him a choice. Harper said he wouldn't give him out if Smith appealed, so Smith chose not to. I am not sure what he would have done otherwise. I couldn't blame him for appealing...its test cricket and both sides want to win.

According to the cricket fundis here, he did have a choice. It wasn't his problem who was at fault. Also, when did Harper say that? I know Harper asked him not to, we heard that part, I never heard the part where he said he wouldn't give him out. Just asking.

 

[silentstriker]

The commentary I was listening to wasn't biased and it wasn't the one you were listening to.
On another subject. Does anyone know how many times a batsman has been out on a 7th "illegal" ball in test cricket, and why it isn't discounted? (The ball and so also the lost wicket.)

Not sure, but it happens relatively frequently and I think its just human error. I don't know if it would be considered dead ball if they catch it right after.

 

[Sanz]

Sachin got runs this series dude. 44, 63, 64...and you could cleary see today he wasn't fit.

His avg. in the test series is 33 and in ODIs 23 with strike rate of 55.

It is amazing how you continue to defend him and yet continue to bash Ganguly at every given opportunity despite the fact that, in this series, not only Ganguly averages more than Tendulkar, he scored runs when India needed it most.

And please stop the excuses that Tendulkar wasn't fit. I am sick and tired of Tendulkar fanatics using these excuses everytime he fails.

 

[silentstriker]

There is no excuse. Tendulkar needs to start scoring runs - and quick too. Ganguly is a step backward, I've always thought that. But he has contributed with the bat again, and as long as he does that he does provide good experience so he should stay.

 

[silentstriker]

An 'in form' team for England in six months:

1. Gambhir
2. Jaffer
3. Dravid
4. Badrinath/Yuvraj Singh
5. Laxman/Ganguly/Kaif
6. Karthik
7. Dhoni
8. Kumble
9. Zaheer
10. Sreesanth
11. Munaf/Gagandeep/Anyone