*Official* India in South Africa

[Prince EWS]

And with the way it's set up, I strongly believe it won't ever gain enough popularity in the US or Canada for them to field their strongest national team.

ITSTL - are you saying that they could actually field a much better team from who they have available, but don't? If so, would you care to elaborate?

 

[Jono]

1 test series win in the last 6.

Umadkat?

Haha, South Africa don't win series. #1? Nah.

 

[Bun]

It is incredible that after everything only 2 Indian batsmen averaged more than 40 in the series. Gambhir with 60 and Sachin with 82. Fair to say how India looks different when Sachin Tendulkar gets going, and how they struggle when he doesn't. The recent NZ series demonstrated that too.

For SA also, only 4 batsmen averaged above 40. Kallis leads with 166, followed by Amla - 50, and then ABdV and Prince who just about averaged 40.

And the bowlers - Steyn - 21 wickets @ 17! Morkel 15 @ 24. while for India - Zak - 10 @ 24 and Harbhajan 15 @ 29.

It has truly been a memorable series, but it is indisputable that three masters shaped it from what could have been an okay one, Tendulkar, Kallis and the peerless Steyn.

 

[Turbinator]

So proud of India

I believed in my boys from the start. Knew they could pull it off.

 

[Jono]

Arun Lal randomly promoting his environment conservationist views. Haha that literally came from nowhere.

 

[shankar]

Lopsy, the find of the series. Unrecognisable from the bowler in the first match.

 

[Jono]

Completely agree with the South Africa dude on the Ten Cricket analyst panel (always forget his name). India were in more winning positions in this Cape Town test, and probably shaded the series slightly.

 

[Prince EWS]

Arun Lal randomly promoting his environment conservationist views. Haha that literally came from nowhere.

Haha I missed it; what did he say?

 

[Jono]

Gambhir's performances in this test will go under the radar because of Kallis, Steyn and Sachin's, but my God my respect for that man has risen so much.

WAFG. Always had it in him since he was a gun at International Cricket Captain.

 

[M0rphin3]

Completely agree with the South Africa dude on the Ten Cricket analyst panel (always forget his name). India were in more winning positions in this Cape Town test, and probably shaded the series slightly.

Craig Matthews

Yeah happened to see the show once. The baldie and Arun lal were ****ing dire but he was the saving grace tbh.

 

[Jono]

Haha I missed it; what did he say?

The host said "we've had a whale of a time", then my stream froze, then when it returned around 6 seconds later Arun Lal was talking about anti-whaling, and how saving the environment and animal habitats is something he strongly believes in and one day wants to promote further. Then the beauty was when he mentioned that his tie (with whales on it) brings attention to the environment and problems with whaling.

IThe randomness of this is so awesome.

 

[shankar]

The host said "we've had a whale of a time", then my stream froze, then when it returned around 6 seconds later Arun Lal was talking about anti-whaling, and how saving the environment and animal habitats is something he strongly believes in and one day wants to promote further. Then the beauty was when he mentioned that his tie (with whales on it) brings attention to the environment and problems with whaling.

IThe randomness of this is so awesome.

 

[Prince EWS]

Completely agree with the South Africa dude on the Ten Cricket analyst panel (always forget his name). India were in more winning positions in this Cape Town test, and probably shaded the series slightly.

I think South Africa played better kallisball across the series by a fair way, tbh, but I think this is a great example of why India are #1 - they get it done. South Africa are just too inconsistent from match to match and they struggle to turns 'winning' draws into results, especially away from home when they aren't playing on 300 par wickets. If you're going to beat India you usually have to completely outplay them, and if they get on top at home they'll put you away.

And after silentstriker spent so much of India's first innings championing the South African attack because of Steyn and pointing out that it was why he thought they had a better attack than England, I'll point out that the second innings is precisely why I think the opposite. If Steyn is negotiated or has an unlucky day, South Africa are ****ed. England haven't proven much of anything yet but their attack has the basis to be a lot more consistent and Swann's shown he can bowl teams to victory when England are in good positions.

 

[M0rphin3]

The host said "we've had a whale of a time", then my stream froze, then when it returned around 6 seconds later Arun Lal was talking about anti-whaling, and how saving the environment and animal habitats is something he strongly believes in and one day wants to promote further. Then the beauty was when he mentioned that his tie (with whales on it) brings attention to the environment and problems with whaling.

IThe randomness of this is so awesome.

 

[Jono]

SA obviously played overall better cricket considering the fact they dominated the first test and were never in a situation to lose it.

Theoretically there was a point in every match where India could have lost. You can't say the same for SA.

But India came the closest to winning the series. At the end of the day it means very little. But still, they're the away team who were 1-0 down and 5-130, I know who came out stronger.

 

[Edged&Taken]

"well ofcourse......." says dhoni

 

[Jono]

MS Dhoni blaming the Kookaburra ball and India's bowlers being smarter/thinking bowlers and not out and out fast bowlers for the reason India couldn't finish SA off in the 3rd innings is ****ing dire.

 

[M0rphin3]

Yeah, irrespective of the series result, imo India is the deserving #1. Ahead of other teams by quite a margin IMO. And honestly I don't see it changing unless Tendulkar and Laxman retire.

 

[Prince EWS]

MS Dhoni blaming the Kookaburra ball and India's bowlers being smarter/thinking bowlers and not out and out fast bowlers for the reason India couldn't finish SA off in the 3rd innings is ****ing dire.

Haha, Sreesanth and Sharma are smarter bowlers than Steyn?

K.

 

[M0rphin3]

MS Dhoni blaming the Kookaburra ball and India's bowlers being smarter/thinking bowlers and not out and out fast bowlers for the reason India couldn't finish SA off in the 3rd innings is ****ing dire.

Someone tell the **** that kookaburra ball has nothing to do with his dire captaincy. WAFC.