*Official* India in South Africa

[Jono]

Substituting Australia for SA, those were the odds just before lunch on day five in Sydney, January 2008, weren't they?

Haha, was in an airport lounge at the time so not sure.

Either way, we didn't have Gambhir then. We do now. The kid has more guts and fight than the entire Australian batting line-up.

 

[centurymaker]

I don't believe Sehwag influenced the declaration much. Did the same against Pakistan in Dubai. Just the way Smith works out declaration decisions every time I guess.

But thats not the right way to go about it. SHould always give the batting side a sniff, otherwise they just leave almost everything outisde off-stump, which really reduces the chance of them getting out.
Maybe a couple of successful chases by australia over the years against them has made him this conservative.

 

[Bun]

Great session from India's pov. If they manage to draw this, they'd have the bragging rights from this series. And strengthen their holding as number one.

But still long time to go. The slightest wobble can create an avalanche of wickets.

Tight test cricket indeed.

 

[NasserFan207]

But thats not the right way to go about it. SHould always give the batting side a sniff, otherwise they just leave almost everything outisde off-stump, which really reduces the chance of them getting out.
Maybe a couple of successful chases by australia over the years against them has made him this conservative.

Lol, don't be ridiculous.

Sorry, but this 'giving the opponents a sniff' is total rubbish and wishful thinking. There is absolutely NO reason to do it.

The responsibility of every captain should at first be to avoid losing, then aim to win.

 

[Blaze 18]

This match reminds me of the Bangalore test match between India and Pakistan a few years back. India needed a similar target on the last day - Sehwag fell early, but Dravid and Gambhir took India through to lunch. Danish Kaneria and Shahid Afridi wrecked havoc after lunch, and India went on to lose that match (we won't lose this though, don't worry).

 

[M0rphin3]

But thats not the right way to go about it. SHould always give the batting side a sniff, otherwise they just leave almost everything outisde off-stump, which really reduces the chance of them getting out.
Maybe a couple of successful chases by australia over the years against them has made him this conservative.

And Pakistan came awfully close. I'd say it's a smart decision considering Steyn's not getting much of the pitch. There's turn but trusting Harro the **** to get wickets would be

 

[Daemon]

But it isn't the score that is relevant, but rather the time.

Once Steyn and Kallis had gotten SA to a score of 290-300, Morkel should have thrown the bat every ball. Not blocking deliveries. That mindset has to have been said from coach/captain, not Morkel himself. I very much doubt he cared about his average.

Kallis was badly injured, so it would have been hard for him to throw the bat. But SA left the launch pretty late.

They may still win, but if they do, it'll be despite Smith's captaincy, not because of it.

awta. but declaring at 310 is a pretty questionable decision. Why would you risk losing a series when you clearly have the upper hand at that point of time?

 

[Cevno]

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

Saved a test match in Adelaide.

4th Test: Australia v India at Adelaide, Jan 24-28, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo


Helped big time in this at Nagpur against Australia -

4th Test: India v Australia at Nagpur, Nov 6-10, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo


This one at Mohali -

2nd Test: India v Australia at Mohali, Oct 17-21, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

And made the chase easy in this one too-

2nd Test: India v England at Mohali, Mar 9-13, 2006 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

There have been many many more in the first 2 innings too and many in the last 2 that resulted not in a win.

 

[Cevno]

Haha, was in an airport lounge at the time so not sure.

Either way, we didn't have Gambhir then. We do now. The kid has more guts and fight than the entire Australian batting line-up.

Also no Bucknor or Benson here.

Specially Bucknor.

 

[NasserFan207]

awta. but declaring at 310 is a pretty questionable decision. Why would you risk losing a series when you clearly have the upper hand at that point of time?

Thankyou.

 

[Briony]

I disagree so strongly. This is the series decider. Why would you allow India even a sniff of victory? A day is plenty of time to bowl people out. Easily worth batting them out of the game.

Given that SA drew the last two series in India and the latter has never won a series in SA, why would you open the door to victory for them? The way Steyn and Morkel batted last night suggested that the pitch wasn't a minefield. With Kallis unable to bowl, they're a man down and Harris does not get the bite out of the pitch that Harbi does. It's been a test of hot weather and their key bowlers have already bowled a lot of overs.

And if India draws, has it really got the bragging rights?

SA pulverised it in the first test - the Durban test was much closer and when you consider the costly umpiring blunders would have been closer still.

 

[Bun]

Saved a test match in Adelaide.

4th Test: Australia v India at Adelaide, Jan 24-28, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo


Helped big time in this at Nagpur against Australia -

4th Test: India v Australia at Nagpur, Nov 6-10, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo


This one at Mohali -

2nd Test: India v Australia at Mohali, Oct 17-21, 2008 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

And made the chase easy in this one too-

2nd Test: India v England at Mohali, Mar 9-13, 2006 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

There have been many many more in the first 2 innings too and many in the last 2 that resulted not in a win.

I was talking about his 4th innings efforts in Indian wins. I didn't know about the Mohali effort against England although it was a small target.

India have won 13 times chasing a target in the 4th innings but he has just the 80 against england in 08 to speak of. I certainly would consider VVS Laxman or Sachin Tendulkar a bigger threat if I'd been an opposition captain. He is hyped not without reason considering his extra ordinary strike rate and ability to take away matches in single session but 4th innings efforts are not his forte

 

[Bun]

Given that SA drew the last two series in India and the latter has never won a series in SA, why would you open the door to victory for them? The way Steyn and Morkel batted last night suggested that the pitch wasn't a minefield. With Kallis unable to bowl, they're a man down and Harris does not get the bite out of the pitch that Harbi does. It's been a test of hot weather and their key bowlers have already bowled a lot of overs.

And if India draws, has it really got the bragging rights?

SA pulverised it in the first test - the Durban test was much closer and when you consider the costly umpiring blunders would have been closer still.

Yes they still would considering they had gone into the first test without any preparation and lacking Zaheer Khan.

Overall if this series is drawn the honors would be dead even, and since India have the better record than SA in the preceding few years and that this is an away series, they'd feel better and SA would feel it was an opportunity lost to make a claim for no.1.

 

[NasserFan207]

Yes they still would considering they had gone into the first test without any preparation and lacking Zaheer Khan.

Overall if this series is drawn the honors would be dead even, and since India have the better record than SA in the preceding few years and that this is an away series, they'd feel better and SA would feel it was an opportunity lost to make a claim for no.1.

What? SA won't gain the no 1 ranking if they win.

I care more about losing than winning, suspect Smith feels the same way.

 

[Bun]

What? SA won't gain the no 1 ranking if they win.

I care more about losing than winning, suspect Smith feels the same way.

So? Wouldn't a win have taken them closer to that than a draw?

 

[Briony]

Yes they still would considering they had gone into the first test without any preparation and lacking Zaheer Khan.

Overall if this series is drawn the honors would be dead even, and since India have the better record than SA in the preceding few years and that this is an away series, they'd feel better and SA would feel it was an opportunity lost to make a claim for no.1.

No less preparation than the SA players. Khan was a loss but he wouldn't have bridged the gap between the two teams, just lessened the margin of victory. SA hasn't won a home series for some time in any case so it's not as if they were raging favourites but India hasn't beaten the Proteas at home either in their past two series.

 

[0RI0N]

relax guys we have dravid, tendulkar and laxman still to come. not to mention pujara and dhoni and a tail which can bat a bit.

It's an internet meme short for "are you admiring?" - but it's normally used more to ask someone if they're jealous.

So yes 0RI0N, I'm mirin'.

Hey bagapath, umadkat?

f'kn brilliant ground
only 2 other grounds can match it.
The Oval and The SCG

 

[Blaze 18]

Yes they still would considering they had gone into the first test without any preparation and lacking Zaheer Khan.

Overall if this series is drawn the honors would be dead even, and since India have the better record than SA in the preceding few years and that this is an away series, they'd feel better and SA would feel it was an opportunity lost to make a claim for no.1.

 

[Prince EWS]

Given that SA drew the last two series in India and the latter has never won a series in SA, why would you open the door to victory for them?

India has never drawn a series in SA either; why open the door to that?

And if India draws, has it really got the bragging rights?

Drawn series away from home, especially when the two teams are 1 and 2 in the world and have such vastly different home conditions = bragging rights, IMO.

 

[Prad100w]

f'kn brilliant ground
only 2 other grounds can match it.
The Oval and The SCG

yes indeed..love the ground..!!1