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***Official*** South Africa in India
- Thread starter ret
- Start date
Craig
World Traveller
Yes I feel vindicated that he has made runs in this series so far, good on him I say. And VVS Laxman having a bowling spell, been pretty tidy today. How come he doesn't bowl more often? I assume his knees would be the reason?
(shows how boring this day has been given the lack of activity in this thread)
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Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
"What on earth is South Africa doing right now? Have they seriously decided to shut up shop and go for the draw? There's plenty of time left yet -- if they opened up and played some strokes they could easily get to 330ish by the close of play, particularly given they have five wickets left (even with a long tail). That would make for a great fifth day," says MaraudingJ.
He writes in a moment later saying: "Oh wait. Brain cramp. It's day 5 already. That's what happens when your Friday disappears in a party haze."
Sums up this test match I reckon.
He writes in a moment later saying: "Oh wait. Brain cramp. It's day 5 already. That's what happens when your Friday disappears in a party haze."
Sums up this test match I reckon.
Raghav
International Vice-Captain
How on earth would SA get 10 wickets in two sessions had if they declared? Think they did right rather than fielding again on that flat pitch."What on earth is South Africa doing right now? Have they seriously decided to shut up shop and go for the draw? There's plenty of time left yet -- if they opened up and played some strokes they could easily get to 330ish by the close of play, particularly given they have five wickets left (even with a long tail). That would make for a great fifth day," says MaraudingJ.
He writes in a moment later saying: "Oh wait. Brain cramp. It's day 5 already. That's what happens when your Friday disappears in a party haze."
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
Did you read the rest of the post?
masterblaster
International Captain
Dull end to the test. Neil McKenzie has been terrific though and it's wonderful to see him back getting so many runs at the top of the order. He's got real tenacity and grit in his batting and it just seems that he knows his game really well. Amla has been great too and that must bring joy to a lot of the South African fans.
From an Indian point of view I think RP and Sreesanth could possibly both be left out for the next test. Ishant will definitely make a comeback and I have a feeling that since the match is in Ahmedabad and after that inept Indian tail end batting effort, Irfan Pathan or Praveen Kumar might end up partnering Ishant Sharma with the new ball since both of them are in decent form and are both decent lower order batsmen.
Hoping that the next test produces a result.
From an Indian point of view I think RP and Sreesanth could possibly both be left out for the next test. Ishant will definitely make a comeback and I have a feeling that since the match is in Ahmedabad and after that inept Indian tail end batting effort, Irfan Pathan or Praveen Kumar might end up partnering Ishant Sharma with the new ball since both of them are in decent form and are both decent lower order batsmen.
Hoping that the next test produces a result.
Craig
World Traveller
Clearly not.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Ugh, read the frickin' post.
Raghav
International Vice-Captain
I read the post. You read it properly. Better with your spects if needed
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
!!!Read it again. Keep reading it until you realise how daft your reply was.
Dead set, some forumers...
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Wow, you're really embarrassing yourself here.
R_D
International Debutant
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
Just add a smiley to confuse them.
Manee
Cricketer Of The Year
Funny stuff
The word is that Ahmedabad is being prepared as a sporting wicket with a covering of grass on it - of course though, it cannot be fortold whether this grass will be shaved off before the start of play.
I believe that it is a no-brainer that RP Singh should be dropped. He bowled dreadfully in the match and it was clear that he didn't appear fit - his hamstring still appeared tight in his action, although his run up was good. I am usually a fan of giving players second chances after one bad match, but feel that, in his current state, he cannot provide the accuracy to trouble international batsman. He may pick up one or two wickets with the new ball, but I feel that he will also be expensive with it as well as being uninspiring with the old ball, if he plays in the second Test. I would pick the recently declared fit, Ishant Sharma in place of RP Singh.
Sreesanth's issue is far more complicated. Far from being unfit, he appears to simply try too much when he is bowling. Wide of the crease, the inswinger, the low slung action - he tries them all within the space of a few overs. Sreesanth is best when he, quite simply, has the nice high arm action, relaxed at the crease and takes it away from the right hander off a good length. I feel that his selection should depend on whether he can maintain that approach in the training sessions between now and Thursday - perhaps Prasad should have a word with him about it, though I'd be astonished if he hasn't already. I'd be inclined to pick Sreesanth on a pitch which promises to have something in it for the seam bowlers and I need not remind people about his brilliant seam position, but I think he will be similarly disappointing as in the first Test if he does not attain some consistency in the action.
The word is that Ahmedabad is being prepared as a sporting wicket with a covering of grass on it - of course though, it cannot be fortold whether this grass will be shaved off before the start of play.
I believe that it is a no-brainer that RP Singh should be dropped. He bowled dreadfully in the match and it was clear that he didn't appear fit - his hamstring still appeared tight in his action, although his run up was good. I am usually a fan of giving players second chances after one bad match, but feel that, in his current state, he cannot provide the accuracy to trouble international batsman. He may pick up one or two wickets with the new ball, but I feel that he will also be expensive with it as well as being uninspiring with the old ball, if he plays in the second Test. I would pick the recently declared fit, Ishant Sharma in place of RP Singh.
Sreesanth's issue is far more complicated. Far from being unfit, he appears to simply try too much when he is bowling. Wide of the crease, the inswinger, the low slung action - he tries them all within the space of a few overs. Sreesanth is best when he, quite simply, has the nice high arm action, relaxed at the crease and takes it away from the right hander off a good length. I feel that his selection should depend on whether he can maintain that approach in the training sessions between now and Thursday - perhaps Prasad should have a word with him about it, though I'd be astonished if he hasn't already. I'd be inclined to pick Sreesanth on a pitch which promises to have something in it for the seam bowlers and I need not remind people about his brilliant seam position, but I think he will be similarly disappointing as in the first Test if he does not attain some consistency in the action.
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gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
There's the smiley.
ret
International Debutant
a dull game in the end .... would have been one of the crap games, if not for Sehwag's triple and some fine bowling by the SA bowlers on day 4 .... The quick bowlers who can swing and reverse swing usually do well on such tracks which the Phalaborwa Express showed. He not only bowled with pace but swung the ball to wipe off the Indian tail on Day 4
The next test at A'bad starts in a few days, and there is an opportunity to improve the playing 11
I would be tempted to drop one from Jaffar and Ganguly to bring in a bowler. It could be Pathan or Chawla depending up on how the team thinks the pitch is going to behave
below would be my recommendation for the 11
- Sehwag
- Jaffar / Ganguly
- Dravid
- Tendulkar
- Laxman
- Dhoni
- Pathan / Chawla
- Kumble
- Bhajji
- Ishant
- Sree / Munaf [hope that he gets drafted in the squad]
The next test at A'bad starts in a few days, and there is an opportunity to improve the playing 11
I would be tempted to drop one from Jaffar and Ganguly to bring in a bowler. It could be Pathan or Chawla depending up on how the team thinks the pitch is going to behave
below would be my recommendation for the 11
- Sehwag
- Jaffar / Ganguly
- Dravid
- Tendulkar
- Laxman
- Dhoni
- Pathan / Chawla
- Kumble
- Bhajji
- Ishant
- Sree / Munaf [hope that he gets drafted in the squad]
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Dropping Ganguly would cause so many problems, let along be unjustified at this moment anyway. He wasn't great in Australia but he's hardly been poor enough to drop.
I think the solution is simple. Don't prepare a ridiculously flat track, and 4 bowlers will be able to do the job. Its unfortunate Zaheer is missing, because Zaheer and Ishant would be a good foil, with Zaheer swinging it (and reversing it when possible), and then Kumble and Harbhajan could do their thing.
Maybe give Praveen a crack, looks like he could even swing a pebble if he wanted to.
I think the solution is simple. Don't prepare a ridiculously flat track, and 4 bowlers will be able to do the job. Its unfortunate Zaheer is missing, because Zaheer and Ishant would be a good foil, with Zaheer swinging it (and reversing it when possible), and then Kumble and Harbhajan could do their thing.
Maybe give Praveen a crack, looks like he could even swing a pebble if he wanted to.
ret
International Debutant
Team selection is not abt being just / unjust but doing things that are in the best interest of the team .... I guess, you picked Ganguly, so does Jaffar sit out
I do agree that the pitch needs to be sporting but what when its not? .... take a pick, Jaffar or Ganguly / Laxman
And it's a home series for Ind, so it's Ind that has to take the initiative .... SA has won against Ind in SA and would be happy to not lose the series in Ind
what I don't appreciate is many suggesting things that are in the best interest of the big 4 rather than the team for .e.g.
1. playing all of the big 4, even if it hurts the balance of the team [thats when a specialist opener like Jaffar is chosen to see of the new ball for the big 4]
2. if we play a bowling all-rounder than he is asked to open .... even if the guy is better suited to bat down the order
If Ind wants to play a specialist opener and a bowling all-rounder / extra bowler than one of the big 4 must sit out OR play the bowling all-rounder / bowler and make one of the big 4 open
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
I understand that you don't put the individual ahead of the team. If Ganguly was sucking ass and failing consistently, I'd be all for dropping him (I supported his dropping from the test and one day team originally back in 2005, and I even supported dropping him this year for the CB Series despite him performing) if he was not scoring runs, but he is.
If Ganguly fails miserably this series, then you'd consider dropping him, but letting go of Ganguly now will not only be unjustified atm, it'd cause more problems FOR THE TEAM. India don't need annoying media attention and crap right now, and if Ganguly was dropped, the media would be right, it'd be unjustified. Unlike the ODIs where a young team was the right way to go, dropping Ganguly because of his age won't be fair, and you can't justify it on his weight of runs, unless you drop a player because of one bad series?
I'd keep 4 bowlers personally, and get Kumble to go to the groundsman and tell him to prepare a sporting track. I am not the biggest fan of 5 bowlers in a series where India are playing at home. They don't need to do it, if they prepare tracks that have a bit in it for the pace bowlers and WILL turn, they should only need 4.
Plus, India have to make their mind up with Jaffer. Either play him, or don't. You can't have this policy of playing an opening batsman in some conditions, and not others. It's silly. Against Australia it was justified because India always shuffles their batting when they play Australia (probably wrong anyway, but they do it), but at home? Jaffer just scored 70+, flat track or not.
My team:
Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Dhoni
Kumble
Harbhajan
Sharma
Sree/Praveen
RP Singh seems underdone and needs more cricket, Zaheer is still injured and I don't rate VRV (haven't seen him recently to be fair).
At home, that side should win more than it loses, so long as the groundsman aren't ****heads.
If Ganguly fails miserably this series, then you'd consider dropping him, but letting go of Ganguly now will not only be unjustified atm, it'd cause more problems FOR THE TEAM. India don't need annoying media attention and crap right now, and if Ganguly was dropped, the media would be right, it'd be unjustified. Unlike the ODIs where a young team was the right way to go, dropping Ganguly because of his age won't be fair, and you can't justify it on his weight of runs, unless you drop a player because of one bad series?
I'd keep 4 bowlers personally, and get Kumble to go to the groundsman and tell him to prepare a sporting track. I am not the biggest fan of 5 bowlers in a series where India are playing at home. They don't need to do it, if they prepare tracks that have a bit in it for the pace bowlers and WILL turn, they should only need 4.
Plus, India have to make their mind up with Jaffer. Either play him, or don't. You can't have this policy of playing an opening batsman in some conditions, and not others. It's silly. Against Australia it was justified because India always shuffles their batting when they play Australia (probably wrong anyway, but they do it), but at home? Jaffer just scored 70+, flat track or not.
My team:
Sehwag
Jaffer
Dravid
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Laxman
Dhoni
Kumble
Harbhajan
Sharma
Sree/Praveen
RP Singh seems underdone and needs more cricket, Zaheer is still injured and I don't rate VRV (haven't seen him recently to be fair).
At home, that side should win more than it loses, so long as the groundsman aren't ****heads.
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