13th Match - India v South Africa

[ankitj]

This innings has been a great victory against the evils rigid selection ideology.

Technique and form junkies would've dropped Dhawan before the World Cup, arguing that his poor tour of Australia (both Tests and ODIs) proved he was either out of form, not cut out for the conditions or likely both. While I actually believe both of things to be true, to drop him based on them would've ignored the strength of his ODI record and his proven ability in this format on the international stage.

On the flip side, stats junkies would've dropped Rahane, sorting his poor List A and and ODI record. This would've ignored his undoubted improvement as a batsman over the last year, including in one day cricket, and his suitability to the conditions.

The beneficiary of dropping either of these players would've been Rayudu -- someone who has neither a great technique nor a great record, but who doesn't have the high-profile weakness under either criterion that Rahane and Dhawan each do in one.

Most people, including the Indian selectors, lie somewhere in the middle of those ideological extremes and advocate a mixed selection policy. I've seen both of the above arguments on CW though, and advocates of each have pointed to the supposed 'inconsistency' of selecting both. Used multi-faceted criteria is not inconsistent, however; it merely recognised that each player has his own unique case for selection.

I loathe to ever use one game as proof of everything, but Rayudu is completely incapable of playing either of the innings we saw on display today IMO; not just unlikely to.

On the flip side to India's selection vindication, South Africa have hopefully learned that McLaren having a bad series against Australia did not suddenly mean he was a worse option than Parnell. That was a terrible selection that has been shown up for what it was today.

Yeah, I am eating a humble pie. I wanted Dhawan dropped. But dude hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[Contra]

This isn't Pakistan who made our bowling look better than it was. SA would back themselves to get it I think.

Yes and this isn't Adelaide either, bigger ground and it just comes down to bowling reasonably well, SA are light a batsmen and there's gonna be scoreboard pressure. Will SA back themselves? For sure, but if you offered me 307 at the start I would have taken it.

 

[Athlai]

Yes and this isn't Adelaide either, bigger ground and it just comes down to bowling reasonably well, SA are light a batsmen and there's gonna be scoreboard pressure. Will SA back themselves? For sure, but if you offered me 307 at the start I would have taken it.

Still have better icing than India.

 

[viriya]

Yea part of the reason Ind got to 307 was because Parnell was overbowled due to Philander's absence. Indian bowlers aren't great but they are at least Parnell level imo.

 

[Zinzan]

See most of the bookies have SA slight favourites at $1.80 vs. India's $2.00 & a few have it split at $1.91 each.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Yeah, I am eating a humble pie. I wanted Dhawan dropped. But dude hindsight is always 20/20.

Not really hindsight though. Most said Dhawan can't be dropped from ODIs

 

[ankitj]

India running one batsman short in this line up. Missing Yuvraj, the all rounder, who gave extra depth to batting in last world cup.

 

[MrPrez]

I still struggle to understand how Parnell is even near the Proteas selectors' thoughts. I genuinely believe that Duminy is straight up a better bowler than Parnell - rather than plonking Parnell at 7 (where he is subpar with the bat, and is just generally subpar with the ball) I'd have rather have seen Duminy at 6/7 and Berhardien at the other. And I don't exactly rate Berhardien.

 

[Jimbo the giant]

I dont know if its been said but no team has ever chased 300 successfully at the MCG in a ODI

 

[Contra]

Still have better icing than India.

Lets see if they make a good enough cake to begin with. Honestly if India can't defend this then I don't see much hope in the quarters. Indian fans are being completely unrealistic if they think that Indian bats will get 330+ every single match.

 

[Swingpanzee]

Yes and this isn't Adelaide either, bigger ground and it just comes down to bowling reasonably well, SA are light a batsmen and there's gonna be scoreboard pressure. Will SA back themselves? For sure, but if you offered me 307 at the start I would have taken it.

SA are short of Philander who isn't that good an ODI batsman anyway. Plus the outfield is lightning quick here - India need wickets and can't simply rely on limiting the run rate. There will be pressure on the Saffa batsmen ofc but I think they should win this

 

[Salamuddin]

308 isn't that big a score on this pitch imo, if SA don't **** up they will win this.

Would be a hell of a chase if they did it. 308 would be one of the highest run chases ever at the MCG (if not the highest ?).

 

[Contra]

SA are short of Philander who isn't that good an ODI batsman anyway. Plus the outfield is lightning quick here - India need wickets and can't simply rely on limiting the run rate. There will be pressure on the Saffa batsmen ofc but I think they should win this

Right and I think India will win this, I think its completely 50/50 at this point. Just a matter of who you back.

 

[MrPrez]

Would be a hell of a chase if they did it. 308 would be one of the highest run chases ever at the MCG (if not the highest ?).

It would also be one of the most likely matches a score of 308 would be changed - the SA batting line-up has numerous batsmen who can win matches on their own, and the Indian bowling line up is... questionable.

 

[Teja.]

We could have scored more but full credit to Steyn and co. here. There isn't an international team in the world who could've managed 340 from the 40th over against this level of death bowling.

320 should've happened though,

 

[Athlai]

Would be a hell of a chase if they did it. 308 would be one of the highest run chases ever at the MCG (if not the highest ?).

Isn't Australia defending it.

 

[Swingpanzee]

It would also be one of the most likely matches a score of 308 would be changed - the SA batting line-up has numerous batsmen who can win matches on their own, and the Indian bowling line up is... questionable.

questionable word choice, would have gone for something more blunt like 'crap'.

 

[OverratedSanity]

It's a world cup group game, guys. SA are winning this.

 

[MrPrez]

That said I back India to win this.

Also, any idea how bad Philander's injury is? Lord help us if he's out for a few games and has to be replaced at number 8 by *shudders* Parnell.

 

[SkyBlue]

Dhawan although failing in technique is still good enough for the one-day format.The records speak for itself.He averages the best among Indian batsmen against SA in ODI's if we're to use SA as a benchmark here for instance.

The dispute is if he is good enough for tests,and i firmly believe he isnt.He has obvious flaws imo and not surprised to see get exposed in both England and Australia.If KL Rahul keeps continuing his steady development,Dhawan's days in the test squad are numbered.