***Official*** India in South Africa 2013/14

[kykweer.proteas]

Arun Lal again repeating that Steyn feeds off Morkel. Also that batsmen are more scared of Morkel than Steyn. Most ridiculous thing ever

well south african batsmen face these bowlers in the nets all the time. and all of them fear morkel because of his steep bounce.

 

[Jassy]

Maybe. The feeding off comment is ridiculous though. Isnt it common wisdom that it's the other way around? Moreover though a good bowler definitely benefits from the relentlessness of Steyn's bowling at the other end

No Arun Lal fan personally but to be fair to him, he also said that Morkel feeds off Steyn too. His point was more about the whole hunting in a pairs thing.

 

[Jassy]

That was a miserable leave by Amla, SA could've been in a perfect position. Anyway SA are gonna draw it.

I thought SA were winning by an innings and 500 runs or something? You seem to have had a sudden change of mind!

 

[Lasereyes]

One of the best tests in recent times. South Africa showing why they are the #1 side in the world. Enough plays and misses and odd edges for India to feel optimistic, but you feel they need 2 wickets min in the morn session, which has tended to produce the wickets. At the start of the innings, I believed Smith, Amla and AB were the keys. Two of them are out.

One factor that might count - India has no 5th bowler or even a decent change bowler like Sehwag or Tendulkar. A distinct disadvantage if a partnership develops. That's why Dhoni is so keen on trying to develop Jadeja. Problem is he is not currently good enough to bat #6, nor frankly is Dhoni (overseas anyway).

 

[harsh.ag]

Go home, Hindi commentators. You are drunk. Since they don't know enough hindi phrases, words and metaphors, they end up saying ridiculous things. The only time they make sense is when they are apologetically using English in between. All because of the fact that ex-cricketers just have to get in the act somehow. Gtfo. Let some good radio guys through who know what they are talking about.

 

[harsh.ag]

One of the best tests in recent times. South Africa showing why they are the #1 side in the world. Enough plays and misses and odd edges for India to feel optimistic, but you feel they need 2 wickets min in the morn session, which has tended to produce the wickets. At the start of the innings, I believed Smith, Amla and AB were the keys. Two of them are out.

One factor that might count - India has no 5th bowler or even a decent change bowler like Sehwag or Tendulkar. A distinct disadvantage if a partnership develops. That's why Dhoni is so keen on trying to develop Jadeja. Problem is he is not currently good enough to bat #6, nor frankly is Dhoni (overseas anyway).

Jono, do the honours.

 

[Jassy]

That is because some of the guys don't even speak proper Hindi. You can see Gavaskar, Dravid, Ganguly et al pretty much struggle to speak fluently in Hindi for more than a few minutes; they run out of words sooner rather than later. Not their fault too.

 

[harsh.ag]

Go home, Hindi commentators. You are drunk. Since they don't know enough hindi phrases, words and metaphors, they end up saying ridiculous things. The only time they make sense is when they are apologetically using English in between. All because of the fact that ex-cricketers just have to get in the act somehow. Gtfo. Let some good radio guys through who know what they are talking about.

That is because some of the guys don't even speak proper Hindi. You can see Gavaskar, Dravid, Ganguly et al pretty much struggle to speak fluently in Hindi for more than a few minutes; they run out of words sooner rather than later. Not their fault too.

Of course it's their fault. They just can't keep their hands of the honey-pot even if they are incompetent to do the job. Any person worth his salt should make way if he can't get the job done. There is a hindi commentary channel separately so that a section of the audience gets the same experience as the English speakers. They are ruining that experience.

 

[Cabinet96]

Jono, do the honours.

Haha, jog on. I'm as big a fan of Kohli's bowling as anyone in the shorter formats, but the day his little leg cutters are considered a decent option when trying to bowl a side out on day five will be a dark one for test cricket.

 

[Jassy]

Call it bias but I think Sehwag and Tendulkar had genuine potential with the ball; had considerably more potential than your regular part-timer IMO. Baffles me why they were not used more often than they were especially in India and the subcontinent, but I guess they weren't needed given India's spin riches until recently. If Doherty and Beer could play for us then.....

 

[Prince EWS]

On the topic of India's fifth bowling options, I was really surprised Vijay got a bowl. I'd never seen him bowl before now but I had him down as the tenth best bowler in the side in my head based on his record and having seen the others, and he certainly didn't change my mind in the over he bowled. Rohit has much more to work with as far as his offies go so I can only speculate that Vijay was given a bowl purely because South Africa wouldn't have seen him before.

 

[Jassy]

Anyways, no silly games tomorrow with Kohli bowling or Dhoni rolling his arm over. The regular bowlers will have to send down most of the overs; Ashwin's hardly had anything to do in this game, he could easily be made to bowl 30 overs if that is an issue. India have to go all out here, they won't get too many better chances to win a series in SA than this. SA are on the mat and one of their premier bowlers is out for the next match on a ground that has traditionally brought about their downfall. If India don't win here they will be very disappointed. No-one expected them to come this far (except Cabinet who said he wouldn't bat an eyelid if India hammered SA!) but now that they have they should do everything in their power to go all the way.

 

[Jassy]

Haha I reckon Dhoni actually bowls a little in the nets sometimes. No way can a regular keeper just come up and land everything on the straight otherwise. Not very likely at any rate.

 

[silentstriker]

One of the best tests in recent times. South Africa showing why they are the #1 side in the world. Enough plays and misses and odd edges for India to feel optimistic, but you feel they need 2 wickets min in the morn session, which has tended to produce the wickets. At the start of the innings, I believed Smith, Amla and AB were the keys. Two of them are out.
.

 

[Ray.]

Anyways, no silly games tomorrow with Kohli bowling or Dhoni rolling his arm over. The regular bowlers will have to send down most of the overs; Ashwin's hardly had anything to do in this game, he could easily be made to bowl 30 overs if that is an issue. India have to go all out here, they won't get too many better chances to win a series in SA than this. SA are on the mat and one of their premier bowlers is out for the next match on a ground that has traditionally brought about their downfall. If India don't win here they will be very disappointed. No-one expected them to come this far (except Cabinet who said he wouldn't bat an eyelid if India hammered SA!) but now that they have they should do everything in their power to go all the way.

Don't write off SA so easily. We have showed why we are the number #1 side. We lost pretty badly against Pakistan in 1st test and later owned them in the second test, and earlier we were clearly outplayed by Aus in Aus on2 matches then came on to beat them and take the series. So shhh a lit bit, SA are gonna pummel them in 2nd test even bad then they did! I know Durban is not a good ground for us but I still expect us to rape em pretty hard there! And Amla won't give his wicket everytime like he did in 2 of his innings this test so be prepared for the worse India!

 

[Jassy]

Don't write off SA so easily. We have showed why we are the number #1 side. We lost pretty badly against Pakistan in 1st test and later owned them in the second test, and earlier we were clearly outplayed by Aus in Aus on2 matches then came on to beat them and take the series. So shhh a lit bit, SA are gonna pummel them in 2nd test even bad then they did! I know Durban is not a good ground for us but I still expect us to rape em pretty hard there! And Amla won't give his wicket everytime like he did in 2 of his innings this test so be prepared for the worse India!

Edit *that* word from your post or you could be in trouble. Not that I care too much, but I read a discussion re. the same in another thread. Just saying
I notice you have come down from your '''SA will win by an innings and 500 runs''. Why are you talking about the next test? Already given up hope. Nowhere have I said SA aren't the best test side in the world. Mentioning their comeback against a side that had lost a test to Zimbabwe in their last series wouldn't have been the argument I would have used to substantiate my viewpoint though.

EDIT : Are you a closet Indian fan?

 

[Garson007]

Thank God none of this in this series.

 

[silentstriker]

That was one of the highlights of the decade.

 

[Contra]

Have they mentioned anything about the whether and how likely it is to intervene? And if yes for how long? I honestly want a whole days play tommorow, or at least a good 75-80 overs. First session will be absolutely crucial as bowling conditions are the toughest in the morning. If SA manage to get by the first hour or so without losing a wicket then it'll be pretty tough for India to win.

 

[Jono]

Need two wickets minimum in the first session.