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*Official* India in South Africa

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Yes they still would considering they had gone into the first test without any preparation and lacking Zaheer Khan.
Well I agree they'd have bragging rights but certainly not for those reasons. It's India's fault they didn't have any preparation, and Zaheer's poor fitness is all part and parcel of the Indian cricket package at the moment; it's something they have to live with.

As I said, a drawn series away from home is almost like a win between these two teams, IMO, but that India's management are too stupid to organise a practice game, and that they have no depth for their injury-prone attack leader, are not mitigating circumstances.
 

centurymaker

Cricketer Of The Year
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.
Actually sports is about winning!!! I really dislike all these defensive captains....
first dhoni set overly defensive fields which put the match in SA's favour. Then Smith made it easier for india to get away with a draw.
If smith had declared on 310 with 6-8 overs to bowl at india, steyn and morkel would;ve had two shots with teh 1ST new ball at the indian top order and at two different times (last evening and this morning).
BOth teams have missed their opportunities of winning this series. SA can still win though but it's unlikely now.
 
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Daemon

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Well I agree they'd have bragging rights but certainly not for those reasons. It's India's fault they didn't have any preparation, and Zaheer's poor fitness is all part and parcel of the Indian cricket package at the moment; it's something they have to live with.

As I said, a drawn series away from home is almost like a win between these two teams, IMO, but that India's management are too stupid to organise a practice game, and that they have no depth for their injury-prone attack leader, are not mitigating circumstances.
And it's not like they had no preparation at all. They were playing on bouncy wickets in Kirstens academy and whatnot. They must have had a couple of South African pace bowlers bowl to them in there as well no doubt.

If one wants to blame the centurion loss on something, blame the excellent drainage system that didn't wash out the first day.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
And it's not like they had no preparation at all. They were playing on bouncy wickets in Kirstens academy and whatnot. They must have had a couple of South African pace bowlers bowl to them in there as well no doubt.

If one wants to blame the centurion loss on something, blame the excellent drainage system that didn't wash out the first day.
Blame it on playing much worse cricket than South Africa IMO.
 

Bun

Banned
I am not denying SA were superior to India in the first match, nor am I dreaming Zaheer Khan's presence wouldv;ve meant an Indian victory, but the demolition won't have been so bad.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
I am not denying SA were superior to India in the first match, nor am I dreaming Zaheer Khan's presence wouldv;ve meant an Indian victory, but the demolition won't have been so bad.
You're missing the point. Even if Zaheer playing would've meant India won by an innings and 200 runs, it's still not relevant. It's not like it was absolute fluke that he missed the game and he was just coming off a streak of 100 consecutive Tests. That Zaheer keeps missing games is a factor in how good - or otherwise - India are as a unit. It's not mitigating.
 
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Teja.

Global Moderator
Absolute champion.

Now averages 77 in SA ftr.

Not bad for a guy touted to be an FTB terrified of movement.

WAG.
 

Uppercut

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Absolute champion.

Now averages 77 in SA ftr.

Not bad for a guy touted to be an FTB terrified of movement.

WAG.
Yeah I always backed Gambhir to come good on the seaming tracks but after Morkel owned his soul to an embarrassing extent in the first innings of the first test I was having my doubts.
 

Teja.

Global Moderator
On the contrary, Gambhir is probably the third most watchable player in the Indian team for me after Dravid and Sachin and hands down hits the most beautiful boundaries in the world.
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
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.


SA should try winning some home series tbh.
 

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