*Official* India in South Africa

[MW1304]

no

?

Yes.

 

[Jono]

Wet ball still

 

[Cevno]

?

Yes.

Harbhajan scored a century from 15 for 5.

 

[M0rphin3]

THE Toss in the first match was massive.

Uh, I'd say toss in this match was more crucial. When India came into bat, there was good sunshine, but there's none now. And showers in between should've helped too IMO.

First match, the loss of toss was exaggerated by India's poor batting, which was due to mainly lack of practice (and some awesome bowling of course).

 

[Shri]

Another 2 wickets before close will make this India's day I reckon. Would be great to have SA all out for about 275.

 

[Rant0r]

Woah, that is a huge huge call.

On talent alone, despite the fact that Harbhajan is Hugely overrated due to one dream series, then yes Harbhajan would be picked ahead of Harris. But the way he fits into the team (and the way Harbhajan would not) and glowing endorsements from team management, not to mention the continued omission of Botha suggest they won't move him on any time soon.

 

[chicane]

SA have done pretty well here. Can't say we've capitalised on the toss if we don't have them close to bowled out before end of day's play..

 

[Jono]

If Bhajji was told to do a holding job, he'd do it better than Harris. But because he has more talent than Harris he's told to bowl attackingly.

 

[Xuhaib]

Woops my bad.

Seriously questionable that Zaheer is better than any South African Tail ender. Take out Harbhajan's hundreds against a pop gun attack on a road and he's barely better than any of them either other than nuisance value.

I reckon if Harbhajan was South African they'd still pick Harris, Harbhajan's record away from home is deplorable at best, as well as he bowled last test. Harris does a job for South Africa, his record is far from embarrassing and has claimed more than a few big scalps.

get out now.

 

[Blaze 18]

Broad's century was fantastic, but it might have to be taken with a grain of salt. As for Harbhajan Singh's centuries - while they were scored on flat pitches, they were quite important ones. The first one was a match-saving one, and the second helped India secure a lead. It wasn't the first time he scored some runs either; he scored some very useful runs with Zaheer Khan in a test match in Banglaore in 2008 - it went some way in saving the test for India as India were in a precarious position. He also scored a couple of fifties in Australia.

 

[Shri]

I expect India to regroup and bowl better after the break.

 

[M0rphin3]

On talent alone, despite the fact that Harbhajan is Hugely overrated due to one dream series, then yes Harbhajan would be picked ahead of Harris. But the way he fits into the team (and the way Harbhajan would not) and glowing endorsements from team management, not to mention the continued omission of Botha suggest they won't move him on any time soon.

I hope you're not serious.

 

[Cevno]

Uh, I'd say toss in this match was more crucial. When India came into bat, there was good sunshine, but there's none now. And showers in between should've helped too IMO.

First match, the loss of toss was exaggerated by India's poor batting, which was due to mainly lack of practice (and some awesome bowling of course).

It had rained pretty much continuosly at centurion before the match.

And it had more natural bounce there that wicket,plus with the moisture on the wicket it was causing tennis ball bounce.
So it had swing/seam plus slow high bounce.

While this wicket has Seam movement at the moment but not so much slow bounce along with it.

Besides the first test match wicket became pretty flat from day 2 onwards. Don't see that happening here to that levels tbh.
Don't think we will see scores near to 450 here.

 

[Cevno]

On talent alone, despite the fact that Harbhajan is Hugely overrated due to one dream series, then yes Harbhajan would be picked ahead of Harris. But the way he fits into the team (and the way Harbhajan would not) and glowing endorsements from team management, not to mention the continued omission of Botha suggest they won't move him on any time soon.

 

[Cevno]

Broad's century was fantastic, but it might have to be taken with a grain of salt. As for Harbhajan Singh's centuries - while they were scored on flat pitches, they were quite important ones. The first one was a match-saving one, and the second helped India secure a lead. It wasn't the first time he scored some runs either; he scored some very useful runs with Zaheer Khan in a test match in Banglaore in 2008 - it went some way in saving the test for India as India were in a precarious position. He also scored a couple of fifties in Australia.

Agreed.

That match is still suspect of fixing as well.

 

[MW1304]

Harbhajan scored a century from 15 for 5.

65-6 when he went in actually but thanks for actually elaborating.

It was on a road against NZ, in India.

Broad's was from 102-7, which is little better, but it was on a tough pitch with a decent bit of movement, against Amir, Asif, Riaz and Ajmal. He went on to get 169.

And if anyone brings up the spot fixing you can go **** yourself. Spot fixing takes nothing away from the knock AFAIC.

 

[Jarquis]

Harbhajan scored a century from 15 for 5.

He actually came out at 65/6 in what was effectively 93/6 against an attack of Martin, Vettori, Patel + part timers.

Stuart Broad hit 169 after England were 102/7 on the first day of an English Test after being put in to bat and Aamir, Asif, Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal were running riot.

 

[Jarquis]

Broad's century was fantastic, but it might have to be taken with a grain of salt. As for Harbhajan Singh's centuries - while they were scored on flat pitches, they were quite important ones. The first one was a match-saving one, and the second helped India secure a lead. It wasn't the first time he scored some runs either; he scored some very useful runs with Zaheer Khan in a test match in Banglaore in 2008 - it went some way in saving the test for India as India were in a precarious position. He also scored a couple of fifties in Australia.

Not quite sure how you can say 169 in the first innings of a Test match after being 102/7 isn't important
Without it we would've lost, badly.
Wasn't the first time Broad has made runs either.

Broad has 6 50+ scores in 46 innings and Bhaji has 10 in 128, so to suggest one has done it before while the other hasn't is st00pid.

 

[Cevno]

65-6 when he went in actually but thanks for actually elaborating.

It was on a road against NZ, in India.

Broad's was from 102-7, which is little better, but it was on a tough pitch with a decent bit of movement, against Amir, Asif, Riaz and Ajmal. He went on to get 169.

And if anyone brings up the spot fixing you can go **** yourself. Spot fixing takes nothing away from the knock AFAIC.

Even if you take that into account.
Still it was 2 innings plus several other vital contributions versus 1 innings.

 

[M0rphin3]

65-6 when he went in actually but thanks for actually elaborating.

It was on a road against NZ, in India.

Broad's was from 102-7, which is little better, but it was on a tough pitch with a decent bit of movement, against Amir, Asif, Riaz and Ajmal. He went on to get 169.

And if anyone brings up the spot fixing you can go **** yourself. Spot fixing takes nothing away from the knock AFAIC.

Loving the balanced post tbh.