*Official* India in South Africa

[Jono]

zinzan what does your avatar mean/refer to?

 

[Zinzan]

zinzan what does your avatar mean/refer to?

You don't recognize it's ...

Karl Pilkington

 

[Zinzan]

So far so good for India, if they get through the next 9 overs unscathed, they'd have to be damn happy only 1 down at lunch.

 

[Jono]

Haha I know Karl Pilkington (wag) but Pilkipedia?

 

[Gilly Fan]

A fascinating test looks like it might become a boring draw.

Desperately need a wicket before the end of the session.

 

[Jono]

A fascinating test looks like it will become a boring draw.

It may be a draw, but a boring draw I don't think so. If we draw this, we'll be 6-8 down probably. Will be a tense-ish finish.

 

[Zinzan]

Haha I know Karl Pilkington (wag) but Pilkipedia?

Ahh ok, It's a play on this

and

 

[Jono]

Yep, got the your country needs you reference, but didn't know about the Wikipedia needs you thing.

Cheers mate.

 

[Daemon]

I like Sehwag as a player (even though I don't really like watching him bat much) because I think he's over-criticised by some, but I'm really glad that happened, even ignoring that it's helped me win money. The amount of people who said Sehwag was the key wicket or the key to the game in general was really starting to grind my gears. He's not the best batsman in his team, and he's not amongst the top three in South African conditions or in the second innings of games - let alone both at once. In the second innings he averages 30 odd - even given the high strike rate, that's Afridi territory. Is he a key Test match batsman?

Yes, Sehwag's a world class batsman and yes, he's a very important part of India's team, but that doesn't mean he's the most important wicket in every single situation. The second innings in South Africa is one of those times where Tendulkar and Laxman are going to be much, much more important. If you gave me, as someone who bet on South Africa, the chance to declare two batsmen out before the start of this innings, Sehwag still would've opened the batting with Gambhir. He's becoming as over-prioritised as he is over-criticised.

Of course he isn't the most valuable or rather the most difficult batsman to get out. The thing is, if he gets going, forget a draw, India might even win. Chances of that happening are pretty low obviously, we all understand that.

If Sachin, Dravid or Laxman bats throughout the day, do you think we'll win? If Sehwag bats the day however, there is no doubt we'll at least get close. Once again, not saying this makes Sehwag a better player than the aforementioned in any way. Just explaining why people feel Sehwag can make the difference between a win and a draw (or loss).

From a South African perspective though, I'd worry more about getting the big 3 out rather than Sehwag.

 

[centurymaker]

Inning scores in this match don't reflect how tough this surface has been to bat on.

360 ish twice and 340ish.
It's more like a 250 - maybe upto 300 run pitch.

 

[GotSpin]

Three more wickets before Lunch please

 

[Bun]

How was that not given a boundary

 

[Jono]

Lol, that was 4. Irrelevant, but 3rd umpire must be blind.

 

[Bun]

Apart from the Chennai 08, has there been another game where a Sehwag assault fetched India victory?

 

[miscer]

Lol, that was 4. Irrelevant, but 3rd umpire must be blind.

imagine we lose by a run.

 

[M0rphin3]

Steyn clearly off radar here.

 

[Jono]

Apart from the Chennai 08, has there been another game where a Sehwag assault fetched India victory?

Do you mean in the 4th innings?

Because I'll name plenty of his 1st/2nd innings knocks that resulted in us winning.

 

[Shri]

If so many of you are so keen on getting rid of Ishant, who's your choice as a replacement? There appear to be none at present. In fact, Sree's a worse choice than Ishant, with virtually no cure to his extravagance. Beyond that. the best you have is Irfan, Vinay Kumar, by a long shot Pankaj Singh and a laughable bunch. Irfan's out of favour (and struggling with injury), Vinay's out of favour, Pankaj may be out of his depth here and the rest, ironically, is where the selectors often look. Would you replace Ishant with any of them? It doesn't seem a good idea.

Should play someone who is at least willing to work hard and correct mistakes(unlike Sharma who has problems with no balls and his action, which can be corrected with time away from tests and experts' coaching). Someone like Mithun. He isn't going to be a world beater but even a bowler who consistently averages 30-35 will be of great help for Zaheer instead of the ones who are going for 40-45 per wicket at the moment.

 

[centurymaker]

Steyn clearly off radar here.

Yea no swing today for him or very little at times.

 

[Bun]

Do you mean in the 4th innings?

Because I'll name plenty of his 1st/2nd innings knocks that resulted in us winning.

Yes of course, please. I wanted to know whether there is sweet merit in Smith's apparent fear of him which delayed the declaration till all out.