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*Official* India in South Africa

irfan

irfan

State Captain
Shri said:
Smith reckons the pitch is going to be a batsman's nightmare. Its very green and the conditions are cloudy. Expecting a scorecard like the early 2000s NZ home series. Unadkat is a swing bowler, could be brilliant if the conditions live up to the hype.
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If that's the case I really hope Dravid has a wonderful series and makes a truckload of runs in trying conditions leading us to a series victory. It would be a fitting swansong for the main man responsible for a lot of our overseas triumphs.

Reckon it's time also for Ishant to have a break-out tour and re-establish himself as one of the brightest pace prospects. In Zak's absence, I am backing him to step up and be our leading wicket taker.
 
smash84

smash84

The Tiger King
irfan said:
If that's the case I really hope Dravid has a wonderful series and makes a truckload of runs in trying conditions leading us to a series victory. It would be a fitting swansong for the main man responsible for a lot of our overseas triumphs.

Reckon it's time also for Ishant to have a break-out tour and re-establish himself as one of the brightest pace prospects. In Zak's absence, I am backing him to step up and be our leading wicket taker.
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Yeah man. Just love that man Dravid. I hope he does well and proves all the nay-sayers wrong.

Not expecting much from Ishant tbh.
 
Blaze 18

Blaze 18

Banned
irfan said:
Am absolutely livid that we don't have ANY experienced back-up pace options. I wish Unadkat and Umesh all the best but you can't go into a critical series like this and expect debutants to win you matches.

Hated the fact that Dhoni was more concerned about Zaheer's fitness for the WC next year. Who gives a flying **** about the WC right now, I want us to win in South Africa damnit - do whatever you have to do to get Zak right.

I know these guys I list below aren't the best options but where are they now:
RP Singh
Praveen Kumar
Abhimanyu Mithun
Sudeep Tyagi
Ashish Nehra (why is he only being considered for ODI's?)
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Irfan, Ashish Nehra is not fit enough for tests (I don't think he is good enough either, but that is another debate). Munaf Patel and RP Singh would have been a handful in South African coniditons; while I have no clue as to why the latter was not even considered, the former, like Ashish Nehra, has fitness issues every now and again. India cannot afford any of their bowlers to breakdown in the middle of a test match, especially considering they only play four regular bowlers.

Zaheer Khan is a huge loss, the dude is India's best fast bowler by about two country miles. However, the conditions may reduce the impact of his loss a little bit.
 
Blaze 18

Blaze 18

Banned
Shri said:
Smith reckons the pitch is going to be a batsman's nightmare. Its very green and the conditions are cloudy. Expecting a scorecard like the early 2000s NZ home series. Unadkat is a swing bowler, could be brilliant if the conditions live up to the hype.
Click to expand...
Mind games. It will not be a pancake flat wicket, but I would be very surprised if the pitches are anything like the ones India encountered in New Zealand. South Africa's biggest advantage - only advantage, perhaps - over India is their superior pace attack. Overtly bowling friendly conditions would negate that, and South Africa realise that.
 
Blaze 18

Blaze 18

Banned
"It is a blow, but at the same time we have to see the longer picture. We have to think about the World Cup also. We are so close to the World Cup. Until we are 100% sure about his fitness and injury, we won't risk playing him."

MS Dhoni on Zaheer Khan's chances of playing in Centurion.

South Africa v India, 1st Test: India weakened ahead of clash of equals | Cricket News | South Africa v India | ESPN Cricinfo

What on earth is he smoking ? India need Zaheer Khan much more in tests than they do in ODIs.
 
Checkmate

Checkmate

School Boy/Girl Captain
It's better not to risk aggravating the injury this time so that he has a chance to play in the next 2 tests. Otherwise he could break down in the middle of this first test and be out for who knows how long.
 
H

Hit Wicket

School Boy/Girl Captain
irfan said:
RP Singh
Praveen Kumar
Abhimanyu Mithun
Sudeep Tyagi
Ashish Nehra (why is he only being considered for ODI's?)
Click to expand...
RP Singh - has been in terrible form in domestics. Has put on weight and been trundling in at 120-125 kmph. Is not playing the latest Ranji match, so might be injured as well.

Mithun - Can't see how he is a better or worse choice than Yadav. Both are similar bowlers - Yadav quicker. And both are inexperienced. Also, is out of the latest Ranji match, so might be injured as well.

Tyagi - Had a good start to the domestic season, but is out injured now. Hardly any international experience, so in the same boat as Yadav and Unadkat.

Nehra - Hasn't played a First Class match for more than 2 years.

P Kumar is the only viable alternative who could have been considered.
 
Blaze 18

Blaze 18

Banned
Hit Wicket said:
Mithun - Can't see how he is a better or worse choice than Yadav. Both are similar bowlers - Yadav quicker. And both are inexperienced. Also, is out of the latest Ranji match, so might be injured as well.
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Continuity (or lack thereof) is the issue. Abhimanyu Mithun was rushed into the series in Sri Lanka, at the last possible moment, but still managed to do okay on pitches that had nothing in them for the faster bowlers. Why has he not been given another go ? If the selectors believe that Yadav is the better bowler, then why was he not picked ahead of Mithun for the Sri Lankan series ? Has the former done something extraordinary in the last four-five months ?
 
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Maximus0723

Maximus0723

State Regular
Would be awesome if there no play 2moro.

Greater chance for a draw.
There is no way we win against SA without Zaheer Khan. So it's best to hope for a draw.
 
vcs

vcs

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Why the **** isn't Ashish Nehra playing FC cricket, I read an article in cricinfo recently that he was "making himself available" for selection in Tests. Does he expect to waltz into the side based on ODI form?
 
Mike5181

Mike5181

International Captain
Is Zaheer Khan injured whats the goss?
Without him you would think the likes of Kallis would have some fun with the Indian attack.
 
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