*Official* - Road to India in South Africa - 2010-11

[Prince EWS]

I see your point but wouldn't a great bowler be more effective on a helpful pitch than a merely good bowler? The more helpful the pitch, the more likely Steyn would be more effective than say Morkel/Kallis right?

Nah not really. Steyn's obviously going to be better than all the other bowlers on any pitch, but the more helpful the pitch, the more that gap closes.

 

[Checkmate]

Nah not really. Steyn's obviously going to be better than all the other bowlers on any pitch, but the more helpful the pitch, the more that gap closes.

Agreed, but I think the gap would remain significant, considering how much better Steyn is than the rest of the pack.

 

[Jarquis]

But not as significant as it is on a normal deck.

 

[Checkmate]

But not as significant as it is on a normal deck.

It's still a good amount though. I think that'd be the critical difference when a player like Ambrose takes 7 for 1 in a spell while the rest (Bishop and Walsh - excellent bowlers but not quite as good as Ambrose) take the remaining wickets.

Edit: Here's the match http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63594.html

 

[akilana]

India 3-0.. it's that easy

 

[vcs]

India 3-0.. it's that easy

No it isn't.

 

[social]

India will be bruised, battered, beaten and on the plane home before the know what's hit them

There is simply no way that the batting of Harby etc will save them from the obvious shortcomings of 3 of the top 7 and they wont score enough runs

 

[Jarquis]

Assuming you mean Gambhir, Raina and Dhoni?
South Africa have their own question marks over Peterson and then Boucher is not a world beater. Don't get me wrong, Boucher's an absolute great, but he does only average a touch over 30 with the bat and I don't see Boucher vs Dhoni being decisive in the series.

Gambhir seemed to have touched some form in the back end of the NZ series IIRC, and if India opt for Pujara ahead of Raina, then their batting could potentially but up some stiff totals.

Is going to be a good series

 

[Prince EWS]

Question marks over Dravid as well IMO.

 

[Jarquis]

Will score more runs than Prince

 

[vcs]

Yep, but a confident Dravid with a couple of important tons under his belt >> the Dravid at the start of the series who was 16(100) against Patel and co when Sehwag was going great guns at the other end.

 

[Checkmate]

Plus, Smith has yet another finger injury, might miss some of the series.

Pakistan v South Africa: Smith finger injury may rule him out of India series | Cricket News | Pakistan v South Africa | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[social]

Question marks over Dravid as well IMO.

I'm actually giving the benefit of the doubt to both Dravid and Sehwag

Wouldnt surprise me to see both having series to forget

Viru was roughed up by the Aussies on pitches where the ball rarely got above knee height and the thought of him against a 6' 6" 150 k Morkel is not good and Dravid is simply not the player he was and in danger of going on 1 series too long

 

[Jono]

Haha, if five of our top seven suck then that will be so tragic.

Hope that doesn't occur.

 

[Furball]

Question marks over Dravid as well IMO.

Nah. Dravid's "decline" is over-stated.

 

[Blaze 18]

India should do okay, I don't see them getting walloped by South Africa. Sure, South Africa will fancy their chances at home, but this is quite possibly the best possible Indian side ever to tour South Africa.

 

[Cruxdude]

Pretty excited about watching Zaheer, Sree and Ishant on anything other than flat-tracks. Think they are being underestimated after all these tests in India.

 

[Checkmate]

Pretty excited about watching Zaheer, Sree and Ishant on anything other than flat-tracks. Think they are being underestimated after all these tests in India.

Yup, hope they stay fit!

 

[Avada Kedavra]

sa are struggling against a 2nd string pak side.Ind def. have a great chance of atleast a drawn series.

 

[M0rphin3]

India to win the series. This is the best ever Indian squad to tour SA. And SA aren't doing great against Pak either.