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

[smash84]

I would agree that South Africa are the better bowling side, but I am not sure that the difference between the two attacks is as big as being made out. India's fast bowlers have generally done well on overseas tours.

I am not sure the difference is quite small. Steyn is the best in business these days and if the pitches are mostly like they used to be at the Wanderers Steyn might just rip through the Indian batting line up. Steyn is the main difference between the two bowling line ups and that is a huge difference.

 

[Chehtha]

I would agree that South Africa are the better bowling side, but I am not sure that the difference between the two attacks is as big as being made out. India's fast bowlers have generally done well on overseas tours.

well just cant seperate the two sides in terms of batting prowess....so the deciding factor must be the way the sides bowl....would be a mouthwatering prospect seeing the indian batsman against the likes of steyn and co...But can see the sa batsmen dominating the indian bowlers considering their recent form...

 

[Xuhaib]

If India can keep Steyn under 15 wickets they will win the series.

 

[Chehtha]

I am not sure the difference is quite small. Steyn is the best in business these days and if the pitches are mostly like they used to be at the Wanderers Steyn might just rip through the Indian batting line up. Steyn is the main difference between the two bowling line ups and that is a huge difference.

ya quite right.Still remember the day he ripped apart the entire indian team in a session at ahmedabad....

 

[Blaze 18]

I am not sure the difference is quite small. Steyn is the best in business these days and if the pitches are mostly like they used to be at the Wanderers Steyn might just rip through the Indian batting line up. Steyn is the main difference between the two bowling line ups and that is a huge difference.

Dale Steyn is the world's best fast bowler, there is absolutely no doubt about that. If it is his day he can certainly run through the Indian batting line-up as he showed in the first test vs India earlier this year. I did not say anything to the contrary.

I did not say the difference is quite small either; I said the difference is not as big as is being made out. The Indian fast bowlers, particularly Zaheer Khan, in helpful conditions are a handful. I would back Dale Steyn and co. to outperform the Indian fast bowlers in unhelpful conditions every single day of the week and three times on a Sunday; but the difference is not as much in helpful conditions.

 

[Blaze 18]

well just cant seperate the two sides in terms of batting prowess....so the deciding factor must be the way the sides bowl....would be a mouthwatering prospect seeing the indian batsman against the likes of steyn and co...But can see the sa batsmen dominating the indian bowlers considering their recent form...

In my opinion, India have a better batting line-up than South Africa. Fielding may turn out to be the difference between the two sides; India's catching has not been great in recent times.

 

[Chehtha]

Point taken. Well just hoping for a cracker of a series. Clearly a great december ahead for test cricket lovers....

 

[Blaze 18]

Point taken. Well just hoping for a cracker of a series. Clearly a great december ahead for test cricket lovers....

Certainly.

 

[Teja.]

Since we're taking Zaheer Khan's average in SA on face value and using it as a measure of how he'll do against them this series, You might as well take Sree's wpm and average in SA on face value.

 

[smash84]

Since we're taking Zaheer Khan's average in SA on face value and using it as a measure of how he'll do against them this series, You might as well take Sree's wpm and average in SA on face value.

I don't get it. can you elaborate on this???

 

[smash84]

Dale Steyn is the world's best fast bowler, there is absolutely no doubt about that. If it is his day he can certainly run through the Indian batting line-up as he showed in the first test vs India earlier this year. I did not say anything to the contrary.

I did not say the difference is quite small either; I said the difference is not as big as is being made out. The Indian fast bowlers, particularly Zaheer Khan, in helpful conditions are a handful. I would back Dale Steyn and co. to outperform the Indian fast bowlers in unhelpful conditions every single day of the week and three times on a Sunday; but the difference is not as much in helpful conditions.

If the difference is so great in unhelpful conditions I don't quite see why it can't be as much or more in helpful conditions. After all the SA bowlers know well how to exploit the helpful conditions.

 

[Prince EWS]

If the difference is so great in unhelpful conditions I don't quite see why it can't be as much or more in helpful conditions. After all the SA bowlers know well how to exploit the helpful conditions.

Helpful conditions close the gap though. South Africa have better quicks in all conditions but in helpful conditions, the difference is lesser.

Anyway, was just thinking that this could well be Boucher's last Test series. Already dumped from ODIs and has been in poor form with both bat and gloves. Won't get dropped for this series but probably shouldn't be around for the following one if he doesn't perform.

 

[Howe_zat]

Helpful conditions close the gap though. South Africa have better quicks in all conditions but in helpful conditions, the difference is lesser.

Anyway, was just thinking that this could well be Boucher's last Test series. Already dumped from ODIs and has been in poor form with both bat and gloves. Won't get dropped for this series but probably shouldn't be around for the following one if he doesn't perform.

I'm inclined to agree. Once he steps down, do we think AB should take the gloves or they should bring in another specialist, such as Khun? I'd say it'd really be worth the extra spot in the side for De Villiers to take the gloves, as he is not a bad keeper if not great. Just so long as it doesn't affect his batting.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm inclined to agree. Once he steps down, do we think AB should take the gloves or they should bring in another specialist, such as Khun? I'd say it'd really be worth the extra spot in the side for De Villiers to take the gloves, as he is not a bad keeper if not great. Just so long as it doesn't affect his batting.

I really doubt De Villiers will keep. I'd think about trialling it but I don't see it happening - he's gone on the record saying he doesn't want to keep in Tests and would rather focus on his batting. Given the way he's been batting, you wouldn't want to mess with it.

It's not like Kuhn can't bat, anyway. He averages 41 in franchise cricket playing largely as an opener and 80 odd for South Africa A - numbers that put Virus to shame.

 

[Blaze 18]

Helpful conditions close the gap though. South Africa have better quicks in all conditions but in helpful conditions, the difference is lesser.

This.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Real test for India's number 1 test team argument.

Best batting line up against a strong bowling side in home conditions.

The player I am interested to see is Sehwag..this is the opportunity for Sehwag to remove any dispute about whether he is a flat track bully or not. If he fails in this series, he will always be called FTB by some people and while I might not agree, those people will still have an argument.

But if Sehwag performs in this series, he will be an undisputed great batsman in my opinion.

 

[Shri]

If I could pick the final XI I would play Vijay as an opener and bat Sehwag at 5. He already has a 100 in SA from that position.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Oh that was 10 years ago..
Sehwag is the best opener in the world at the moment and you want him to bat at 5? India have never won in SA, they need their openers to click, they need a positive start to take the thunder away from Steyn and Morkel and the best chance is if Gambhir and Sehwag, who have been doing it for a couple of years now click together. I would not want to tamper with that unless somebody gets injured.
What I might do is have Vijay at 3, and Dravid at 5 and Laxman at 6.

 

[M0rphin3]

If I could pick the final XI I would play Vijay as an opener and bat Sehwag at 5. He already has a 100 in SA from that position.

And drop?

That's likely to backfire. And I'm yet to be convinced by Vijay, tbh.

 

[M0rphin3]

The player I am interested to see is Sehwag..this is the opportunity for Sehwag to remove any dispute about whether he is a flat track bully or not. If he fails in this series, he will always be called FTB by some people and while I might not agree, those people will still have an argument.

Which FTB averages 50 in Aus? He has nothing to prove, but one would expect him to do well given his current form.