*Official* South Africa in India

[L Trumper]

No doubt that the bowling was exceptional (esp the strategy) .... What I am saying is that I would have liked Ind batsmen to match that too (thinking process). It's obvious that a bowler is setting you up with something if he is bowling the same line and length

I remember doing such stuff in school like get a couple of ball to come in to the pads and then bowl a straight quick one. Or keep bowling on a few staight ones on the legs and then get one to move away from the leg to off. I know this is not a great example to use but just to show that bowlers set batsmen up at most level. Which is why I found some of those leaves strange but those highlights don't reflect the whole game plan so may be I could have missed something. And yeah those simple things work at all levels

Two outswingers followed by inswinger is always difficult. No matter how good a batsman is if bowler got it right chances of batsmen's survival is almost none. Legend has it that malcom marshall once told gatting that he is gonna do the three card trick and will get him and he did exactly that in the match.
Even if you know bowler setting you up its difficult to predcit
when exactly the ball is going to nip back,
whether bowler can delver the inswinger in those conditions,
how long can it nip back,
does wicket have enough carry to take it over the stumps
whether its okay to drive the balls that are swinging away et al;
sometimes he can go a bit shorter and still bowl the outswinger (steyn against SRT), if you are willing to drive which will induce an edge.

Its just damn good bowling batsman has to be very careful. Considering the placid pitch we can't blame them because batsman generally dont think it is possible on these kind of pitches. In second innings they will do better but I am pretty sure SA had this in bag.

 

[funnygirl]

I was overconfident that Dhoni won't lose a test.But that is going to change.I am so disappointed with the selection of Saha,a specialist batsman really?

Not taking credit away from SA.They were awesome and deserved winners.Steyn my man once again proved why he is the best.

 

[silentstriker]

Yea, Saha was a stupid pick in the squad. I mean he was never intended to play as a specialist bat by the selectors but their shortsightedness of not picking any backup batsmen (they knew Laxman was iffy) was just inexcusable.

That's not what's going to lose the Test though. First and foremost, it's Steyn and his awesome bowling, and second, it's India's less than inspired bowling.

But really, I was really upset in Ahemdabad, and several other instances where India lost the Test. I am not upset now. There is nothing to get upset about if you lose to someone like Steyn. That's just losing to a superior level of play, nothing much you can do. As a fan, you hope for the best for your team while enjoying the awesome ferocity of a fast bowler at the absolute peak of his power, saying **** you to the pitch and running wild all over the batting lineup.

 

[Goughy]

It is a little scary that all SA's 4 seamers were quicker than the 2 chosen by India. Even Kallis as SA's 4th seamer broke 90 mph and was faster on average than Indias frontline seamers despite already cracking a big ton.

 

[silentstriker]

Yes, most defnitely. That's always been an issue. Can you believe that before Kapil Dev, Gavaskar had never seen any Indian fast bowler bounce an opposition player? The whole team was shocked when he came along, and he was hardly express!

Ishant was never 90mph, but he was bowling 140kph initially and now he is 5-10kph slower. While more speed is nice, I think India seem to be missing a lot more than that with our pace bowling most of the time. India do need swinging conditions to be really effective, and the problem is that could also play into the other team's hands.

 

[Goughy]

Yes, most defnitely. That's always been an issue. Can you believe that before Kapil Dev, Gavaskar had never seen any Indian fast bowler bounce an opposition player? The whole team was shocked when he came along, and he was hardly express!

Ishant was never 90mph, but he was bowling 140kph initially and now he is 5-10kph slower. While more speed is nice, I think India seem to be missing a lot more than that with our pace bowling most of the time. India do need swinging conditions to be really effective, and the problem is that could also play into the other team's hands.

Without a doubt India's seam bowling stocks have never been higher than what they are right now. However, people never seem satisfied and are always looking for the next big thing. Just look at the excitement over Ishant and Sreesanth before and so on.

If India were happy with their stock and unfair expectations were not applied then a tidy unit could be built.

 

[Furball]

Without a doubt India's seam bowling stocks have never been higher than what they are right now. However, people never seem satisfied and are always looking for the next big thing. Just look at the excitement over Ishant and Sreesanth before and so on.

If India were happy with their stock and unfair expectations were not applied then a tidy unit could be built.

I think part of it comes from their rivalry with Pakistan. Fully fit, Pakistan can pick from Shoaib, Asif, Aamer and Gul, which is arguably as good as any pace attack around, plus have great fast bowlers like Imran, Waqar, Wasim, Sarfraz and the bowler from the 60s who's name eludes me just now.

India's seam stocks are certainly decent, but compare unfavourably with Pakistan's, both now and through the years.

 

[JBH001]

Well said.

That being said, Sachin would do well to improve his record v South Africa in the remaining tests he plays v them this year.

Sachin's poor record against SA at home is only of worth to the statistical contortionists forever twisting numbers through arbitrary hoops. In reality it means little other than that he had a couple of poor series against them. I swear that sometimes I think that some CW posters look at players (for example Murali, Ponting, Sachin) in certain series' and almost wish they do badly so they can go on making statistical points in long boring post-athons. If it werent funny it would be more than a little sad.

 

[Black_Warrior]

There is a reason why people don't belive ind is not the best side even in the current period. Every one is saying they are undefeated since SRI08 tour but they hardly have a tough series from then on. Played against aussie team in disarray and transition and won which is a good result. That is the only series can be considered tough. Through out the 2009 they beat NZ away which ENG,SA and AUS do for fun everytime. And they won against SRI in home which AUS and SA do for fun. Before that they had a series victories against ENG in 2007 which mostly achieved cause of the rain in lords test. Because their away record is nothing to write off, most of the aussies and saffers are hard to agree about IND being the best side, which is understandable.

Agree with you on most points except the bit about 'Played against aussie team in disarray and transition and won'. That is not true. Australia were a pretty strong team, and they played good cricket..and were in a realistic position to win a test match and make it 1-1 had it not been for Ponting's defensive and petty approach. Anyway..point is, the same Australian team in disarray managed to beat South Africa in South Africa. So by no means can you dismiss the win over Australia in 08.

To be honest, it is perhaps a bit unfair from India's perspective..They are up against the number 2 ranked team in the world in what is supposed to be the contest which will decide the best test team in the world and they are without two of their best batsman. That is not an ideal situation. And while I would back India to beat other sides from number 5 onwards without Dravid and Laxman, against the second best team, its hard.
Anyway, the second test match will be a turner and Harbhajan and Mishra will run through the side with Sehwag getting a 200.

It is a little scary that all SA's 4 seamers were quicker than the 2 chosen by India. Even Kallis as SA's 4th seamer broke 90 mph and was faster on average than Indias frontline seamers despite already cracking a big ton.

Wow really? I havent seen the match but do you know at what pace Ishant was bowling at? Its really disappointing that people like Ishant, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan come in hitting 90 mph then in a year become medium pacers.

 

[Goughy]

Wow really? I havent seen the match but do you know at what pace Ishant was bowling at? Its really disappointing that people like Ishant, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan come in hitting 90 mph then in a year become medium pacers.

Ishant had an average of 82.8 and a top of 86.9. Zaheer slower than that.

Compared to Morkel who had an av of 88.3 and a top speed of 94.4

Can check them all by using cricinfo's new Hawkeye feature

India 66/2 (23.0 ov, M Vijay 27*, SR Tendulkar 15*, JH Kallis 0/5) - Stumps | Live Scorecard | Cricinfo.com

 

[Anil]

so dhoni prepares for the 1st blemish in his captaincy record...

 

[silentstriker]

Yup, not a bad thing to lose to though. I can't wait for another Steyn spell. India ar elosing either way, so I'm hoping for an awesome spell again. 5 overs, 3 runs, 5 wickets again. Wow.

 

[funnygirl]

Yup, not a bad thing to lose to though. I can't wait for another Steyn spell. India ar elosing either way, so I'm hoping for an awesome spell again. 5 overs, 3 runs, 5 wickets again. Wow.

No man i don't want that again at India's expense

 

[silentstriker]

Well, India lost already. They're not getting out of it. So instead of losing 8 wickets to mediocre bowling over a day and a half, I'd rather see a 90mph spell reverse swinging the crap out of all the batsmen. Would give me a high that I rarely get post-McGrath .

 

[Uppercut]

It is a little scary that all SA's 4 seamers were quicker than the 2 chosen by India. Even Kallis as SA's 4th seamer broke 90 mph and was faster on average than Indias frontline seamers despite already cracking a big ton.

Yeah that's true, although to be fair to Zaheer, his first couple of spells were very good.

Could only laugh at the bit about Kallis. Scores 170 over two days then bowls 90mph on the third. No player that good should realistically exist.

 

[Anil]

this will end on the 4th day...

 

[chicane]

I think it's a given that Steyn will bowl another furious spell or two today. Just need Sachin and the others to make it a contest and I'll be frothing.

 

[aussie]

Yeah that's true, although to be fair to Zaheer, his first couple of spells were very good.

Could only laugh at the bit about Kallis. Scores 170 over two days then bowls 90mph on the third. No player that good should realistically exist.

Kallis bowling 90 mph was questionable at the end of 3rd day. He definately didn't look that quick.

 

[Uppercut]

I absolutely love Steyn's celebrations. He just goes nuts. It's exactly how I'd react if I ever took a test wicket.

 

[L Trumper]

Agree with you on most points except the bit about 'Played against aussie team in disarray and transition and won'. That is not true. Australia were a pretty strong team, and they played good cricket..and were in a realistic position to win a test match and make it 1-1 had it not been for Ponting's defensive and petty approach. Anyway..point is, the same Australian team in disarray managed to beat South Africa in South Africa. So by no means can you dismiss the win over Australia in 08.

To be honest, it is perhaps a bit unfair from India's perspective..They are up against the number 2 ranked team in the world in what is supposed to be the contest which will decide the best test team in the world and they are without two of their best batsman. That is not an ideal situation. And while I would back India to beat other sides from number 5 onwards without Dravid and Laxman, against the second best team, its hard.
Anyway, the second test match will be a turner and Harbhajan and Mishra will run through the side with Sehwag getting a 200.

I did mention that it is a good series win. As far as AUS victory against SA is considered, AUS went there to prove a point while SA were more or less sleeping. But from outsiders perspective IND did hardly anything apart from beating AUS in home, while SA lost their ranking mostly because they didn't play enough. I am not saying SA or AUS number one either but its more or less a tie. IND are better in home compared to those two but still has something to prove on away games to be called as number 1.