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

[Jarquis]

Steyn averaged 46 in UAE without Pakistan best batsman... He is green track bully and depends on juicy SA pitches to get wickets.

 

[Furball]

Steyn averaged 46 in UAE without Pakistan best batsman... He is green track bully and depends on juicy SA pitches to get wickets.

YouTube - Austin Powers in Goldmember - 'How About 'No' You Crazy Dutch B*****d!!!'

 

[shankar]

Yeah he was awesome in Nagpur taking that 10fer but also took 5 in that bloody Ahmedabad pitch on the 1st morning and didn't do much in the other games in Chennai, Kanpur and Kolkata. Went for plenty infact. Still, that Nagpur spell was just incredible. When he's bowling like that I don't know what we can do.

The spell to Sachin in that Nagpur 1st inning was so memorable. Sachin had played the most gorgeous of off-drives to an out-swinger in the last ball off Steyn's over. He bowled almost exactly the same delivery in the next over except ever so slightly shorter in length - Sachin didn't adjust and played the same shot, the ball moved away just that little bit more and caught the edge. It was an exposition of the kind of incredible skill required to get batsmen out at the highest stage - It was even more impressive considering the imperious form Sachin was in, scoring two hundreds in the other two innings of that 2-match series!

 

[morgieb]

What last world cup? There's one in 2015 too, isn't there?

Can you seriously see him playing on till it tho?

 

[Teja.]

Yeah he was awesome in Nagpur taking that 10fer but also took 5 in that bloody Ahmedabad pitch on the 1st morning and didn't do much in the other games in Chennai, Kanpur and Kolkata. Went for plenty infact. Still, that Nagpur spell was just incredible. When he's bowling like that I don't know what we can do.

The spell to Sachin in that Nagpur 1st inning was so memorable. Sachin had played the most gorgeous of off-drives to an out-swinger in the last ball off Steyn's over. He bowled almost exactly the same delivery in the next over except ever so slightly shorter in length - Sachin didn't adjust and played the same shot, the ball moved away just that little bit more and caught the edge. It was an exposition of the kind of incredible skill required to get batsmen out at the highest stage - It was even more impressive considering the imperious form Sachin was in, scoring two hundreds in the other two innings of that 2-match series!

Yeah, but Steyn pretty much won both matches for SA singlehandedly. Steyn is a more useful bowler than say McGrath in India, IMHO. While the former kept taking 3-5 wickets a match at <25 always, The latter might go for plenty in some tests but wins others single-handedly and still averages about the same at a higher wpm. Considering how hard it is to win tests in India after 2000, I'd take Steyn.

And about that Nagpur spell, What a ****ing amazing 109 from Sehwag in that Innings. Arguably his best. WAFG.

 

[Xuhaib]

it was a fantastic spell but he was bowling to the mighty Badrinath,Saha and Harbhajan, reckon had Laxman played that game he would have stopped the rot midway.Chris Martin spell in the first test was more awesome I reckon.

 

[centurymaker]

it was a fantastic spell but he was bowling to the mighty Badrinath,Saha and Harbhajan, reckon had Laxman played that game he would have stopped the rot midway.Chris Martin spell in the first test was more awesome I reckon.

And DRAVID

 

[Blaze 18]

Can you seriously see him playing on till it tho?

In all likelihood he will not, but if India flunk miserably in the 2011 World Cup, there is a small chance that he might consider playing the 2015 edition. He will be about as old in 2015 as Sanath Jayasuriya is currently, so age will not be a factor. I cannot see it happening though.

 

[morgieb]

In all likelihood he will not, but if India flunk miserably in the 2011 World Cup, there is a small chance that he might consider playing the 2015 edition. He will be about as old in 2015 as Sanath Jayasuriya is currently, so age will not be a factor. I cannot see it happening though.

Sanath didn't debut when he was 16 tho....by 2015 he'd be playing 26 years of international cricket. Surely there's a time where cricket becomes less enjoyable and your body finds it harder to handle?

 

[Blaze 18]

Sanath didn't debut when he was 16 tho....by 2015 he'd be playing 26 years of international cricket. Surely there's a time where cricket becomes less enjoyable and your body finds it harder to handle?

Absolutely. Like I said, it really depends on two things :

1) India's performance in the 2011 edition

2) His fitness and desire to play the game

The second one will not be a problem, in my opinion. What is another five years for a dude who has been around for twenty-one years ? The first one will be the biggest factor; if India perform reasonably well, I reckon he will quit ODI's soon after.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Can you seriously see him playing on till it tho?

I can see him playing Tests until then, and if India don't do well in 2011, he'll probably decide to have one more crack at it in 2015. He doesn't have to play all ODI's in the 4 years leading up to it. He's already cut back a lot, it's been almost 10 months since he played an ODI for us. Besides, I I think he'll play in the IPL for a few more years too, and if he's playing T20 in 2014, he'll probably play the ODI WC in 2015 too, barring a dramatic loss of form/reflexes or India winning it in 2011 itself.

 

[Blaze 18]

I can see him playing Tests until then, and if India don't do well in 2011, he'll probably decide to have one more crack at it in 2015. He doesn't have to play all ODI's in the 4 years leading up to it. He's already cut back a lot, it's been almost 10 months since he played an ODI for us. Besides, I I think he'll play in the IPL for a few more years too, and if he's playing T20 in 2014, he'll probably play the ODI WC in 2015 too, barring a dramatic loss of form/reflexes or India winning it in 2011 itself.

You really see him playing tests till 2015 ? I can see him playing till the end of 2012, not much more than that, especially if India win a test series in South Africa and/or Australia by then.

 

[bagapath]

If Sachin plays for India beyond the Australia tour next year end, he will be as much part of the public conscience as Taj Mahal. Would love to have him around as long as he is good enough to play for India. But it wont happen, I think.

Also, I dont want to see him go out like Kapil Dev. I am not big on the "going out while at the peak" philosophy. I think there is great beauty in a star fading away as well (look at Ricky Ponting!) ; and stats getting spoilt a bit don't matter either. But Kapil actually blocked Srinath from getting the new ball for two full years. Sachin should not repeat that mistake and stop a more qualified youngster from playing by hanging on to his place for selfish reasons. Other than that, if he remains the best choice for team India then he can play even if his personal standards are dropping. The team getting the best option is more important than an individual's stats rotting a bit.

 

[smash84]

Also, I dont want to see him go out like Kapil Dev. I am not big on the "going out while at the peak" philosophy.

Why not? It sounds like a good philosophy and as much as people talk about it hardly ever do we see it happening in practice.

 

[Cricket_God]

Yeah, but Steyn pretty much won both matches for SA singlehandedly. Steyn is a more useful bowler than say McGrath in India, IMHO. While the former kept taking 3-5 wickets a match at <25 always, The latter might go for plenty in some tests but wins others single-handedly and still averages about the same at a higher wpm. Considering how hard it is to win tests in India after 2000, I'd take Steyn.

And about that Nagpur spell, What a ****ing amazing 109 from Sehwag in that Innings. Arguably his best. WAFG.

both his spells in nagpur and motera were good but fact is indian was missing key players in both matches and the ball did reverse for him.in conditions where there is no swing he has failed.

 

[chicane]

both his spells in nagpur and motera were good but fact is indian was missing key players in both matches and the ball did reverse for him.in conditions where there is no swing he has failed.

Both those spells came with a new ball, and really, that Nagpur spell might have been good enough even for a full strength batting line-up. Anyway, quite right that he's been as blunt as any other average bowler on Indian roads.

 

[bagapath]

Why not? It sounds like a good philosophy and as much as people talk about it hardly ever do we see it happening in practice.

had imran done it, in 1988, pakistan would not have won the world cup. there may be unfinished jobs from the team perspective that only certain players can help them complete even if they are past their personal primes.

also, it is beautiful to see pacino win an oscar for scent of a woman.

 

[Jono]

Why not? It sounds like a good philosophy and as much as people talk about it hardly ever do we see it happening in practice.

Because a player past their peak can still be one of the best XI players in the country.

 

[Xuhaib]

play Kohli will average 500 for the series.

 

[Jono]

Nah no way.



















He won't have an average as he won't go out