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

[MrPrez]

Will be a draw. We suck at closing stuff out.

In an ideal world, we'd get India out, have a small total to chase, and get really close before making the decision to go for it despite the risk. And Kallis would hit the winning runs.



And Cullinan would cry himself to sleep.

 

[theegyptian]

Will be a draw. We suck at closing stuff out.

In an ideal world, we'd get India out, have a small total to chase, and get really close before making the decision to not go for it despite the lack of risk. And Kallis would be 10*off 30 balls.

fyp

 

[Jarquis]

Yeah, am I missing something when people say that this is a nailed on draw? India need 100 to make SA bat again and if there's a bit of dodgy weather about then Steyn, Philander and Morkel need far fewer runs to play with than that

 

[akilana]

fyp

It is kinda boring now and you are completely wrong about Kallis. More probably like the last innings of the last test 31 off 37.

 

[theegyptian]

It is kinda boring now and you are completely wrong about Kallis. More probably like the last innings of the last test 31 off 37.

Dude it was tongue in cheek. If you can't see that you're better off somewhere else.

Read every post of my mine about Kallis in the retirement thread. I'm more than complimentary about him but it doesn't mean because he is retiring that he is immune from legitimate criticism- especially if we're are going to compare him with the very greatest.

 

[Shri]

Yeah, am I missing something when people say that this is a nailed on draw? India need 100 to make SA bat again and if there's a bit of dodgy weather about then Steyn, Philander and Morkel need far fewer runs to play with than that

Tests that awesome rarely happen. Not impossible, just highly improbable. With the Indian batsmen in reasonable form, the scenario you and Jono mention always looked like a long shot to me. Guess we'll see soon enough.

 

[smash84]

awt shri. With the indian batting in reasonable form it is difficult to see SA winning this one. India are just 100 behind and even if SA have to score 100-120 in the final session it won't be easy

 

[centurymaker]

Lack of bad weather/bad light on day 4 has meant that draw is far from guaranteed yet.

 

[Riggins]

Really is a long batting lineup when your number 8 averages 62 in test cricket.

 

[Jono]

Lack of bad weather/bad light on day 4 has meant that draw is far from guaranteed yet.

Exactly.

All the talk about this being a dead on draw (as opposed to a likely draw) was based on the players going off early on day 1 due to bad light. Days 2 and 4 have barely been affected by bad light though, and if it doesn't rain tomorrow they may get all the overs in. That's plenty of time for South Africa to win. Its also plenty of time for India to bat ages and score runs and prevent South Africa from winning, sure. But at the end of Day 1, despite India being comfortable at 1-170 odd and the bad light, a draw wasn't a lock because the possibility of:

(a) Indian collapse in first innings;
(b) Big South African first innings score;
(c) Weather and light not being as bad as forecast; and
(d) India collapsing in the second innings,

were all still a decent possibility.

a, b and c have occurred. All depends on d now.

 

[Cruxdude]

Just had a look at the catch by Faf. Man was that something or what! Also what was with Dhoni not taking the new ball at all? Could have at least tried something different. Going to be a good hard battle today. If India can save this test it should be a pretty big boost to the young batsmen's belief.

 

[Jono]

Just had a look at the catch by Faf. Man was that something or what! Also what was with Dhoni not taking the new ball at all? Could have at least tried something different. Going to be a good hard battle today. If India can save this test it should be a pretty big boost to the young batsmen's belief.

Mix of had no interest in trying to win so didn't want the new ball so SA could score quickly, and also had no faith in his pace bowlers to do any damage with the new ball.

 

[Cruxdude]

Mix of had no interest in trying to win so didn't want the new ball so SA could score quickly, and also had no faith in his pace bowlers to do any damage with the new ball.

Considering the ease with which Kallis and Steyn were batting against the old ball it seemed a real odd decision by Dhoni.

Also Zaheer has been pedestrian in this test. Maybe it is the short turnaround time between the tests but could very well just be him being past his best days.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Considering the ease with which Kallis and Steyn were batting against the old ball it seemed a real odd decision by Dhoni.

Also Zaheer has been pedestrian in this test. Maybe it is the short turnaround time between the tests but could very well just be him being past his best days.

He's been pedestrian for a couple of years. Sad, because I thought he was back after the first innings at joburg.... Bowled really well. After that it's been awful

 

[ankitj]

India needs to bat out 2 sessions to save the game. By that time India should have enough lead that SA won't be able to chase.

 

[sreeku7]

Zaheer is a liability both with the ball and bat now.And of course in the field.

 

[sreeku7]

Exactly.

All the talk about this being a dead on draw (as opposed to a likely draw) was based on the players going off early on day 1 due to bad light. Days 2 and 4 have barely been affected by bad light though, and if it doesn't rain tomorrow they may get all the overs in. That's plenty of time for South Africa to win. Its also plenty of time for India to bat ages and score runs and prevent South Africa from winning, sure. But at the end of Day 1, despite India being comfortable at 1-170 odd and the bad light, a draw wasn't a lock because the possibility of:

(a) Indian collapse in first innings;
(b) Big South African first innings score;
(c) Weather and light not being as bad as forecast; and
(d) India collapsing in the second innings,

were all still a decent possibility.



a, b and c have occurred. All depends on d now.

what about a SA collapse?

 

[silentstriker]

what about a SA collapse?

No time for that. They;d h

 

[Prince EWS]

No time for that. They;d h

Thanks chris.hinton.

 

[smash84]

India needs to bat out 2 sessions to save the game. By that time India should have enough lead that SA won't be able chase.

yep....that would be the case IMO