*Official* India in South Africa

[vic_orthdox]

No...they don't. Have them bat as long as possible into tomorrow. They can't win anyway - the last thing you want is Sehwag to have to come out tonight.

Two things: SA would love two new balls during the day, especially with the second new ball proving so vital in other innings, and the pitch being a real new ball wicket.

Also, if Sehwag gets going, it leaves India with a carrot to go for the win and makes it achievable, which actually could bring SA into the game more. If you have Rahul, VVS and Sachin deciding to go into lockdown, it's going to be pretty tough for anyone, bar Steyn, to knock them over. Maybe Morkel early doors. If India see the need to attack, it brings all four bowlers into the equation.

 

[NasserFan207]

We will see.

I still think this will likely be a draw though. Smith wont want to give India even a sniff, I cant see him declaring.

 

[vcs]

No that's false.

We didn't need Steyn to win, or another Zaheer. Yes it'd make life easier, but the game was up for grabs and Dhoni decided he wasn't willing to risk a loss.

What we need is a captain with balls. We don't have won, so we won't win in SA.

I missed some of the play after 160-6 upto now. What happened? We weren't looking like getting either of Boucher or Kallis out at that stage.

 

[silentstriker]

Two things: SA would love two new balls during the day, especially with the second new ball proving so vital in other innings, and the pitch being a real new ball wicket.

Also, if Sehwag gets going, it leaves India with a carrot to go for the win and makes it achievable, which actually could bring SA into the game more. If you have Rahul, VVS and Sachin deciding to go into lockdown, it's going to be pretty tough for anyone, bar Steyn, to knock them over. Maybe Morkel early doors. If India see the need to attack, it brings all four bowlers into the equation.

If they bat now, the ball will still be new tomorrow. It only hurts India to have to bat tonight.

 

[Jono]

I missed some of the play after 160-6 upto now. What happened? We weren't looking like getting either of Boucher or Kallis out at that stage.

Hard to get players out when you have no fielders anywhere.

 

[smash84]

Hard to get players out when you have no fielders anywhere.

 

[vcs]

Hard to get players out when you have no fielders anywhere.

None of the bowlers looked particularly penetrative after lunch including Zaheer. Someone needed to pick up the slack after that 4-wicket burst from Harbhajan but it never came. Even Prince's wicket was from a disgusting ball that should gone for 4.

 

[Jono]

The poor bowling only started when they tried to bounce out the batsman with the field spread, because bowling line and length would only result in edges going through the slips.

It was awful captaincy, there is no escaping it.

 

[Daemon]

None of the bowlers looked particularly penetrative after lunch including Zaheer. Someone needed to pick up the slack after that 4-wicket burst from Harbhajan but it never came. Even Prince's wicket was from a disgusting ball that should gone for 4.

They were all tired. Should've had Ojha for Sharma this game.

 

[vcs]

They were all tired. Should've had Ojha for Sharma this game.

Ojha would have really come in handy in this innings.. maybe he suits Dhoni's style of captaincy better. Then again, we might have conceded 450 in the first innings and the match could be over by now, so who knows.

 

[vic_orthdox]

If they bat now, the ball will still be new tomorrow. It only hurts India to have to bat tonight.

I'm still trying to work out how that's relevant to what I said, but anyways...

It's why I'm talking about the possibility of them declaring tonight, and really supporting it. Even though I'd almost expect SA to bat through till they are bowled out, because they'll be happier with 1-1 than the possibilty of losing 2-1 if they don't bowl well.

And by two new balls in the day, I mean in the 4th innings as a whole. The earlier they declare, the longer they get with a second new ball, which would be pretty vital.

 

[Cevno]

None of the bowlers looked particularly penetrative after lunch including Zaheer. Someone needed to pick up the slack after that 4-wicket burst from Harbhajan but it never came. Even Prince's wicket was from a disgusting ball that should gone for 4.

True.

The game turned as soon as Boucher came out and Ishant sharma bowled tripe at him.

Dhoni should have instead brought Tendulkar there,but persisted with pacers at other end till too late with stupid fields and that was criminal.

Let alone steyn even Sehwag bowling or a Yuvraj could have been vital here.

 

[silentstriker]

It's why I'm talking about the possibility of them declaring tonight, and really supporting it

My bad, I thought you wanted them to bat on.

 

[silentstriker]

lolnoballs

 

[Jono]

Sreesanth wickets on a good track to bowl on - 0
Ishant wickets on a good track to bowl on - 1, from a long hop.

Embarrassing.

Thank God for Harbhajan. Bowled well all day.

 

[Cevno]

Another No ball.FFS!!

If Ishant and Sreesanth played for Pakistan they would have got pay checks for overstepping the line!

 

[vic_orthdox]

My bad, I thought you wanted them to bat on.

Them batting on = reality, ITBT. That's why I was referring to it in the first post.

 

[Cevno]

And another one.

 

[Jono]

Honestly Teja how can you like this ****.

Hate him so much.

 

[Jono]

Graeme Smith and MS Dhoni

Pathetic.

Bring back Fleming and Vaughan.