***Official*** South Africa in India 2015

[OverratedSanity]

Dhoni WAFG

 

[weldone]

Only Dhoni can do this.

 

[Pratters]

Told you guys we would win.

 

[honestbharani]

MSD's presser guys? Was quality...


He said he would love to bat 4 and he wanted to enjoy his ODI cricket more once he retired from tests. But then he looks at this team and thinks there is absolutely no one who can bat at those numbers. And if after playing so much ODI cricket, I can't do it, how can I ask youngsters who have not even played half that many games to do it. Gotta love his unselfish attitude towards cricket. HE may not be the best strategist and he may make weird decisions but boy do I hate the ****s who question his motives. We are ****ing lucky to have such a great player play for us.


Also he weighed in beautifully on the Rahane-Kohli 3-4 conundrum and mentioned he would love to bat Kohli at 3 and himself at 4 but he sees them and Raina as the most experienced batsmen in the line up who can bat in both moods - the repair job as well as the hit out. So he backs them to bat 4,5 and 6 and let the younger Rahane settle in at 3 as he bats with a lot more freedom at that slot. I dont personally agree with continuing to deny Kohli the best chance to bat as long as possible but at least it is good to see that he is thinking the same way at the back of his mind.

 

[duffer]

Told you guys we would win.

Yep, fair do's

 

[harsh.ag]

Maybe this could work:

Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
Dhoni
Dhawan
Raina

 

[Burner]

I don't think Dhawan is the type of batsman who can hit out at word-go... From what I've seen he needs more time to settle in than even Rahane..

 

[harsh.ag]

I don't think Dhawan is the type of batsman who can hit out at word-go... From what I've seen he needs more time to settle in than even Rahane..

Maybe, but as long as we are trying out combinations, perhaps this one should be given a go, as it gets our two best batsmen at their ideal positions. Dhawan can definitely hit out, and perhaps he will adapt quickly.

 

[honestbharani]

The best combination would be:

Dhawan
Rahane
Kohli
Dhoni
Rohit
Raina



There are few bigger and better hitters than Rohit and Raina and with MSD, Rohit and Raina powering the middle order we will have most bases covered. Unfortunately, Rohit has done such ridiculous stuff as an ODI opener that it is almost impossible to ask him to bat 5.

 

[Burner]

Why are SA not getting AB in early? Surely they would want their best batsman to play more delivers? Should send him down at 3 or 4 imo.

 

[Burner]

The best combination would be:

Dhawan
Rahane
Kohli
Dhoni
Rohit
Raina



There are few bigger and better hitters than Rohit and Raina and with MSD, Rohit and Raina powering the middle order we will have most bases covered. Unfortunately, Rohit has done such ridiculous stuff as an ODI opener that it is almost impossible to ask him to bat 5.

I think this will work better than what Harsh suggested, but when you go back to your point about Rohit being a ridiculous opener, the current order will have to do.

 

[Niall]

Maybe, but as long as we are trying out combinations, perhaps this one should be given a go, as it gets our two best batsmen at their ideal positions. Dhawan can definitely hit out, and perhaps he will adapt quickly.

Why not try somebody young out and try to bed them for the next few years in the middle order? Gurkeerat Singh, Hooda, or Pandya a look instead though?

 

[Burner]

Dhoni has lost nothing. He's only 34 not 50. This was how he always played and this is actually the only time I see him fail in a last over in an ODI so I can't hold it against him. In the next few games Dhoni will hit a number of sixes and everything will be back to routine..

Dayum, I am good..

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

What is the secret of fortune teller Pratters?

 

[weldone]

Maybe this could work:

Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
Dhoni
Dhawan
Raina

The best combination would be:

Dhawan
Rahane
Kohli
Dhoni
Rohit
Raina



There are few bigger and better hitters than Rohit and Raina and with MSD, Rohit and Raina powering the middle order we will have most bases covered. Unfortunately, Rohit has done such ridiculous stuff as an ODI opener that it is almost impossible to ask him to bat 5.

The best combination is this one:
Dhawan
Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
Dhoni
Raina
i.e., the current one

I've been saying this from before the World Cup. Thank God Dhoni has got this idea at least now.

 

[Spark]

SA really are a terrible chasing side.

 

[weldone]

SA really are a terrible chasing side.

They chased down 200 in the first T20.

 

[Black_Warrior]

SA really are a terrible chasing side.

Duminy's avg when chasing 32 as opposed to 43 batting first
Amla's avg when chasing 43 as opposed to 60 batting first
Du Plessis 42 and 34
Miller's avg 17 and 44
Behardian avg 15 and 38
De Villiers avg 56 and 51

I think this also explains South Africa's first round WC games against India and Pakistan...

Miller and Behardian batting at 6 and 7 when chasing and averaging those numbers puts a ton of pressure on De Villiers and to an extent Amla and Du Plessis at the top.

These positions can make or break a game when chasing and that's SA's weakest link. This also explains why Amla and Du Plessis seem to be in a hurry when chasing because they are aware of these numbers.

 

[Pratters]

What is the secret of fortune teller Pratters?

Watching a lot of cricket, I guess. It wasn't the smallest ground and India had a decent attack. 250 isn't the smallest target when you think about it. Thought sa won't be able to make the required runs.

 

[Spark]

They chased down 200 in the first T20.

They also chased down 414 and almost chased 450 in a Test match not too long ago as well. It's equally relevant (i.e. not at all relevant) to their terrible record in chasing ODI scores in the mid-to-high 200s range. They'd barely successfully done it at all in the year before the WC.

And re: the earlier comment about this being an explanation for their WC losses, yep. Major reason I never really thought they'd win.