*Official* South Africa in India

[Prince EWS]

I don't get all the moaning about not declaring - it's the first innings. Does anyone actually think that if India bat for the rest of the game they won't get 554 runs? The important declaration is the one South Africa will make in the second innings - if they declared earlier they'd just have to bat longer later (likely on a more uneven pitch too, mind) as there's no risk of India scoring less than 500 runs and saving the game anyway.

 

[NUFAN]

I don't get all the moaning about not declaring - it's the first innings. Does anyone actually think that if India bat for the rest of the game they won't get 554 runs? The important declaration is the one South Africa will make in the second innings - if they declared earlier they'd just have to bat longer later as there's no risk of India scoring less than 500 runs and saving the game anyway.

Yeah India probably will score over 550 runs this match, but I mean if Steyn or Morkel had of gotten a wicket today India have Vijay, Badrinath and Saha who are all very inexperienced.

Instead the South African bowlers will bowl to fresh batsman tomorrow (unless South Africa don't actually declare ever).

Also, if South Africa have to bat again in the second innings, I doubt he'll do a CWXI Green and let India (CW XI Blue) win the match

 

[wfdu_ben91]

The match will be determined by if Steyn can nip out Gambhir and Sehwag early on. Do that and India's middle-order looks very vulnerable with debutants Badrinath, Saha (?) and an inexperienced Murali Vijay.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah India probably will score over 550 runs this match, but I mean if Steyn or Morkel had of gotten a wicket today India have Vijay, Badrinath and Saha who are all very inexperienced.

Vijay, Badrinath and Saha aren't going to be any more experienced tomorrow.

 

[Sir Alex]

SA have declared. I wish we saw Mishra and Khan walking out.

 

[NUFAN]

Vijay, Badrinath and Saha aren't going to be any more experienced tomorrow.

Well actually they will be.

I think it's easier to have two cracks at opening batsman. If they didn't get a wicket late today, they would still have a chance early tomorrow. Now they only really get the one spell, unless they declare say 40 minutes before lunch tomorrow.

Also, if Sehwag or Gambhir got out today, who would have come in, Mishra perhaps? South Africa would have the momentum behind them if they got him out early today/tomorrow too.

I just noticed they've declared. What's the difference between 558 and 540 runs...

 

[Arjun]

Let's just hope this isn't the last Test that Mishra and Ishant get.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

Pitch is too flat for Sehwag to fail.

 

[Arjun]

By the way, if you click on a name on the Cricinfo scorecard, you have an option of profile or hawkeye.

 

[Briony]

The SA attack appears even friendlier than the Indian one at this stage. At least Khan made the SA openers jump around.

 

[Arjun]

Anybody backing Saha to score a big hundred? Anyway, looking at the South African innings, the bulk of the 558 runs were scored by Kallis and Amla, while the rest (including a 50 by AB), with extras contributed 132. For the Indians to match this total, two batsmen (likely to among be the openers and Tendulkar, and maybe Dhoni) have to get stuck into the bowling and not give their wickets away under any circumstances.

 

[Uppercut]

I don't get all the moaning about not declaring - it's the first innings. Does anyone actually think that if India bat for the rest of the game they won't get 554 runs? The important declaration is the one South Africa will make in the second innings - if they declared earlier they'd just have to bat longer later (likely on a more uneven pitch too, mind) as there's no risk of India scoring less than 500 runs and saving the game anyway.

Agree. Only leaving four overs in the evening gives them two shots with the new ball too.

Their batting was a joke though. They could at least have tried to get the runs slightly more quickly.

 

[Sir Alex]

SA scored today at a lesser RR than yesterday? Were we emplying 8-2 fields?

 

[ret]

SA, today, scored 267 from 85 overs @3.14! As I had suspected yday, these guys look to save the game first and then if there is an opportunity to win they go for it.

SA have brought the game to a point where it would be the team playing poorly that will lose with draw being the most likely result .... what's the point in playing cricket, if the opposition has to make all the moves to win?!

Amala played as if he was trying to save the game for SA rather than setting up a total after winning the toss and batting first

As an Ind fan, I can't complain much. We have an inexperienced side wrt middle order, lost the toss and things could have gone south if SA had put pressure on a spin dependent bowling attack bowling on day 1 and 2

People complain abt flat pitches not producing results but one way to get that is to play according to the pitch. If you are going to bat the same whether there is grass on the pitch or it's a flat deck then it means you are only getting results because of the conditions. It's time the teams adapted their games and played accordingly so if it's a flat deck, they would say 'mate to get a result on this we have to bat at this rate'

 

[Uppercut]

I struggle to see a result coming out of this pitch regardless- although obviously I hope to be proven wrong.

 

[ret]

I struggle to see a result coming out of this pitch regardless- although obviously I hope to be proven wrong.

Ofc, draw is the most likely result unless one of the teams play poorly, duh!

 

[TT Boy]

Absolute waste declaring with 15 minutes left. Wicket has nothing in it for the seamers and South Africa should have pulled out lunchtime tomorrow with Amla 330 N/O.

 

[TT Boy]

SA scored today at a lesser RR than yesterday? Were we emplying 8-2 fields?

Dhoni had three boundary riders on the onside for AB’s first delivery... South Africa didn’t attack, India didn’t attack. Stalemate.

 

[ret]

Will try to win, onus now on batsmen: Kirsten

Nagpur, Feb 7 (PTI) India coach Gary Kirsten believes his team can still win the first Test against South Africa and said the onus is now on the batsmen to bring the home side back into the match.

In reply to South Africa's massive first innings total of 558 for six declared, India were 25 for no loss after the second day's play.

Kirsten said the Indians should bat themselves back into the contention tomorrow.

"We certainly will give the best shot to win the game. We need to bat well. That's going to be very important," Kirsten said.

"There is lot of work to do on the batting side. A couple of guys have to apply themselves and get big scores on board.

We know we are capable of doing that.

fullstory

It would be good to see if Ind can pull of a win here! Only thing is that you would want to take risks against teams that take risk too and not rely on others taking a risk to win and then trying to benefit out of it

 

[aussie]

Pitch is too flat for Sehwag to fail.

Indeed. I hate these road pitches.