*Official* India in South Africa

[Black_Warrior]

Gambhir. Green pitch. Gambhir. Green pitch. Gambhir.
The beauty of Sehwag is his ability to completely change a match in the first session and putting the opposition on the back foot. As much as I know he wants to, he will never bat in the middle order again. A victim of his own success.

That is why, if Sehwag is playing in the XI, there is only on place for him - opener. Yes I know he hasnt clicked so far and that has put the pressure on the middle order but if he gets going, he can make it India's match by the end of Day 1. No one else can do that.
The guy needs to get a big one. I really want to see him get a big hundred against Steyn in his backyard.

 

[Bun]

I like Vijay. He's done well on the whole with the opportunities he's had and he's never had a consistent run in the team to properly make a name for himself. So his failures need to be put into perspective.

BUT... dropping Dravid for Vijay is a silly suggestion. What on Earth makes you think Vijay will score more runs on a bouncy track compared to Dravid?

Dravid hasn't done anything of note in South Africa. He's a legend but sadly one on his last legs. I'd have rather blooded a new player in this tour than trying with Dravid who couldn't buy runs in his pomp in here.

But having said that, it's not a wise move to disturb a winning combination. From what I've seen, Dravid still looks more likely to score more than Vijay in current form. I'd love to see the exciting Pujara given an extended run because he's the one anointed as Dravid's successor and these as priceless outings he's getting with Dravid Sachin etc still around.

 

[vcs]

TBH, Dravid should be in the side for his catching alone.. that catch of Steyn in the first innings..

 

[Black_Warrior]

well if Gambhir is fit, play Gambhir
Gambhir
Sehwag
Dravid
Tendulkar
Laxman
Pujara

 

[marc71178]

It really is a blight on the ranking system that even in the strong likelihood that South Africa win the next test, they will still not be the best team in the world, when clearly they should be. There would be a huge asterix next to India's ranking if there isn't one already.

Erm WTF?

Prior to this series they've won 1 out of 5 series (and that against the West Indies) - how does that make them the best side in the world?

 

[Jono]

It's pretty random how on the whole the cricketing world underrates South Africa (and South Africans), but on this forum they are so significantly overrated. It's weird.

It's like some on CW don't think winning test series are relevant to being the best. You just have to win in Australia and that's it.

 

[sachin200]

where are you taipan...................
where are you 0RI0N. ..................

 

[vcs]

It's pretty random how on the whole the cricketing world underrates South Africa (and South Africans), but on this forum they are so significantly overrated. It's weird.

It's like some on CW don't think winning test series are relevant to being the best. You just have to win in Australia and that's it.

I can't remember them winning a series at home against Australia since readmission... Australia have some weird hex over them.

 

[Jono]

where are you taipan...................
where are you 0RI0N. ..................

Disappearing when their team loses. The sign of a true troll rather than just a passionate fan who gets hot under the collar.

Watch them reappear when SA do well in the third test.

 

[Jono]

South Africa v India: VVS Laxman does it once again | Cricket Features | South Africa v India | ESPN Cricinfo

To do it now 4 times in one year is ridiculous!

 

[vcs]

Disappearing when their team loses. The sign of a true troll rather than just a passionate fan who gets hot under the collar.

Watch them reappear when SA do well in the third test.

Haven't seen that r3alist bloke lately either.

 

[Prince EWS]

I have a really radical idea for India's batting lineup. I know it may be a little out there but hear me out.

Firstly, Sehwag and Gamhir open the batting. I know it's a philosophy that the likes of Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan don't subscribe to so I may be scoffed at, but I have this theory that picking the best two opening batsman in the country to open the batting could be a secret weapon. It's a gamble, but a gamble I'd be willing to take in these desperate times.

Dravid bats three. While the number three position is usually reserved for underperfoming young batsmen who average under 27 domestically like Martin Guptill, I think India can afford to go with the potentially outrageous option of picking an experienced Test batsman with 12,000 Test runs at an average of over 50 and an excellent technique adaptable to all conditions. Who knows - maybe the ability to score top order runs on lively wickets will actually be useful while trying to score top order runs on lively wickets.

In my most controversial suggestion of the lot, I'm going to put forward the unprecedented idea of Tendulkar batting four. While no batsman has ever gone out to bat at number four at any level of cricket having scored more than 14530 Test runs, I think the old chap might just be good enough to do it.

Laxman bats five. He's terrible under pressure, hopelessly out of form and has the worst record in South Africa of all the Indian batsmen but number five's a completely inconsequential position that couldn't possibly ever be the difference between India winning or losing a Test, so I think they can hide him there.

Traditionally the number six spot would be filled by a one day specialist hack cricketer who wasn't up to Test cricket mentally or technically, but I think the element of surprise could work for India here as that's the exact sort of player South Africa will be expecting them to pick. Instead I'm going to give a gun young batsman with a good technique and a stupidly good First Class record (Pujara) an actual run in the side of more than one game. They definitely won't see that coming.

On top of all the problems I admitted this lineup had earlier in my post, I also have concerns over the fact that it's the exact same team that would've played the second Test if Gambhir was fit. Who in their right mind actually makes a forum post advocating no changes to a batting lineup? It's almost enough to make me scrap the whole idea and go with a top six of; Tendulkar, Raina, Laxman, Pujara, Dhoni, Sehwag.

 

[vcs]

Disappearing when their team loses. The sign of a true troll rather than just a passionate fan who gets hot under the collar.

Watch them reappear when SA do well in the third test.

Haven't seen that r3alist bloke lately either.

 

[Blaze 18]

Never thought I would see an Indian pacer do that.

 

[Faisal1985]

VVS! Wattaplayaa...

Always knew India will bounce back. ZAK sure makes a difference in this Indian team.

 

[Vroomfondel]

great win. it says something about the state of the game when the real no. 1 loses to an 'attack' comprising ishant and sreesanth at Durban. How shyte is the game?

also, it was hilarious watching ravi shastri try to defend the lack of UDRS: I have yet to hear a good argument for not having UDRS, and that trend continues with Shastri's blathering about how the system isn't foolproof? Does the Indian team/BCCI know how nonsensical that sounds?

 

[vcs]

Me and Laxman talk about kids, house construction, plumbers, electricians, running errands. You cannot keep talking cricket the whole day.

Rahul Dravid, the first to take 200 Test catches, explains how he switches off between balls in the slips

Quote Unquote | Cricket Quotes | Cricinfo Magazine | ESPN Cricinfo

Why doesn't that surprise me? These two would have been software engineers or chartered accountants or something if they hadn't been so good at cricket.

 

[kingjulian]

Gambhir. Green pitch. Gambhir. Green pitch. Gambhir. Green pitch.

Does not compute. I'd rather take my chances with Sehwag. Also, lol@nodravid on a green pitch.

The beauty of Sehwag is his ability to completely change a match in the first session and putting the opposition on the back foot. As much as I know he wants to, he will never bat in the middle order again. A victim of his own success.

lol completely agree re: Dravid.

Some people are overly critical of him. If you take number of balls faced in the four innings. Dravid will be right up there with our other batsmen. Only Laxman and Tendulkar are likely to have played more balls than Dravid because of the big innings' they played. Considering he comes in at one drop, he has done well enough to hang on to his place in this series.

Also looking at a macro picture, he may have lost form but he still averages well over 40 in the last two years. We don't know a new batsman who would gaurantee much better than that, because if we did he would already be playing at the number 6 position india have available.

It would be a total brain-fart of a move to leave him out. Luckily Dhoni, Kirsten and co don't have too many brain-farts.

Also there is so much wrong with that proposed line-up, i don't know where to start. Moving Laxman is an entirely unwarranted change as well. He offers something that all the diamonds in the world cannot buy...the ability to perform when the chips are down. He must, must play at number 5. You simply don't make wholesale changes to a winning team....you won't win much if you are going to tinker out of habit like that.

 

[kingjulian]

I have a really radical idea for India's batting lineup. I know it may be a little out there but hear me out.

Firstly, Sehwag and Gamhir open the batting. I know it's a philosophy that the likes of Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan don't subscribe to so I may be scoffed at, but I have this theory that picking the best two opening batsman in the country to open the batting could be a secret weapon. It's a gamble, but a gamble I'd be willing to take in these desperate times.

Dravid bats three. While the number three position is usually reserved for underperfoming young batsmen who average under 27 domestically like Martin Guptill, I think India can afford to go with the potentially outrageous option of picking an experienced Test batsman with 12,000 Test runs at an average of over 50 and an excellent technique adaptable to all conditions. Who knows - maybe the ability to score top order runs on lively wickets will actually be useful while trying to score top order runs on lively wickets.

In my most controversial suggestion of the lot, I'm going to put forward the unprecedented idea of Tendulkar batting four. While no batsman has ever gone out to bat at number four at any level of cricket having scored more than 14530 Test runs, I think the old chap might just be good enough to do it.

Laxman bats five. He's terrible under pressure, hopelessly out of form and has the worst record in South Africa of all the Indian batsmen but number five's a completely inconsequential position that couldn't possibly ever be the difference between India winning or losing a Test, so I think they can hide him there.

Traditionally the number six spot would be filled by a one day specialist hack cricketer who wasn't up to Test cricket mentally or technically, but I think the element of surprise could work for India here as that's the exact sort of player South Africa will be expecting them to pick. Instead I'm going to give a gun young batsman with a good technique and a stupidly good First Class record (Pujara) an actual run in the side of more than one game. They definitely won't see that coming.

On top of all the problems I admitted this lineup had earlier in my post, I also have concerns over the fact that it's the exact same team that would've played the second Test if Gambhir was fit. Who in their right mind actually makes a forum post advocating no changes to a batting lineup? It's almost enough to make me scrap the whole idea and go with a top six of; Tendulkar, Raina, Laxman, Pujara, Dhoni, Sehwag.

You tell them PEWS. Some of the posts on this forum makes me wonder what list A drugs they must be having...i need some of it.

 

[R_D]

great win. it says something about the state of the game when the real no. 1 loses to an 'attack' comprising ishant and sreesanth at Durban. How shyte is the game?

also, it was hilarious watching ravi shastri try to defend the lack of UDRS: I have yet to hear a good argument for not having UDRS, and that trend continues with Shastri's blathering about how the system isn't foolproof? Does the Indian team/BCCI know how nonsensical that sounds?

Unfortunately games don't get played on paper.
Maybe on paper South Africa might have the balance to become number 1 team but you still have to go out and perform to be considered number 1.

1 series win out of last 5. Says it all really.

There were some people claiming Indian bowlers won't take 20 South African wickets