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

[cnerd123]

It is pretty telling that all 3 games so far have been won by the side batting first, and involved run chases that started well but fizzled out in the end.

 

[smash84]

india are playing well just not finishing things off.

 

[viriya]

Again for some reason, not feeling that bad about this loss. Think teams are still getting used to the 5 men in the boundary during the last 10 rule and that is why I am willing to give them a bit more time on this.

Yea I think people are underestimating how much the rule changes affect the totals.. I doubt we will see 400+ scores regularly anytime soon. I think 270 is the new 300.

 

[cnerd123]

Yea I think people are underestimating how much the rule changes affect the totals.. I doubt we will see 400+ scores regularly anytime soon.I think 270 is the new 300.

IE, the old 270

 

[ankitj]

Failing to chase 270 after being only two down after 40 overs is a bit abysmal still. Kohli and Dhoni badly struggling to connect bat with ball is the main reason we lost IMO.

If indeed 270 is the new 300, that's great.

 

[Spark]

Yeah the new regs seem to have found the right balance. Even the domestic ODs in Australia have moved back a lot from previous years.

 

[Jono]

I know this means nothing to you ****s, but I went to bed knowing there was a huge chance we'd lose that. Only because betting agencies seem to not understand that its harder to get runs in the last 10 overs than it used to be.

We are becoming worse chasers than South Africa. Putrid.

 

[Spark]

I know this means nothing to you ****s, but I went to bed knowing there was a huge chance we'd lose that. Only because betting agencies seem to not understand that its harder to get runs in the last 10 overs than it used to be.

We are becoming worse chasers than South Africa. Putrid.

big call there

 

[Jono]

Haha.

My updated list of people with CW Google alerts:

- Post about Bevan vs. Dhoni or Warne vs. Murali - Ikki
- Post about Ian Bell - Furball
- Post about Saffers being **** chasers - Spark

 

[Black_Warrior]

So that's 3 ducks in a row for Raina right?

 

[honestbharani]

Maybe we should try this side for the next match:


Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
MSD
Rayudu
Raina
Binny
Axar
Bhajji
Mishy
Bhuvi



And BTW, its raining this morning here at Chennai. Forecast is a lil iffy too.

 

[Jono]

Dhoni wahhhing about pitch slowing down in the 2nd innings. Man you're playing at home. Cop it.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Lovely to see such a great return to form for Suresh Raina.

 

[aussie]

From a neutral perspective as others have said in media, I like the look of S Africa T20 set-up with De Villiers opening and A Morkel back. Maybe if Morkel was showing good enough form before 50 overs world cup this year, his recall then would have given them the proper 5th bowler balance they were missing ,that might just have brought them world cup glory.

In so many tournaments over the years once has looked at S Africa over the years at thought they were tournament favourites, but i think they might have again stumbled on a XI that could go all the way in T20 world-cup, not withstanding what sort of team West Indies pick for example.

Also looking ahead to the main course, the test series - its well known history that since India became a force at home in the 70s the few teams that have won series IND - WI 74, 84, AUS 2004, S Africa 2000, ENG 76, 85, 2012 - all except ENG 2012 did so with the fast bowlers playing a leading role.

Early clues from the T20 and few ODIs tells me S Africa have artillery to replicate what Hansie Cronje's 2000 team did.


Also why have India been trying Binny as an all-rounder? Ha its been quite humorous viewing.

Back in the days when IND selectors tried Irfan Pathan as an all-rounder that made some sense because he came in with some hype and had some potential.

But Binny is worse that some of garbage county all-rounders England used between Botham retirement and the emergence of Flintoff - so its kind of shocking he is still being persisted with in any format.

 

[artvandalay]

Yea our success in the test series depends almost entirely on how much Ashwin can trouble them. If they nullify that threat well then Steyn being able to reverse the old ball will mean quite a few situations like the Nagpur one where he got 10 wickets in a test. Won't matter that their spin bowling stocks arent great.

Also I feel Steyn should think of retiring from LOI cricket soon to prolong his test career, has always been good without ever being great in this format of the game. Someone like Abbott or De Lange should replace him in the near future.

 

[Daemon]

Ashwin and Ishant injury (and ban) means they'll be going into their respective first tests fairly undercooked

 

[cnerd123]

Ishant was getting decent gametime for Delhi before injury, so he should be okay.

 

[Stapel]

Failing to chase 270 after being only two down after 40 overs is a bit abysmal still. Kohli and Dhoni badly struggling to connect bat with ball is the main reason we lost IMO.

If indeed 270 is the new 300, that's great.

When Kohli & Dhoni had got to a fifty partnership, things looked really, eally rosy for India. But from that point (after over 30 or so), a dozen quiet overs with neither wickets nor boundaries followed. It's beyond me how a batting pair of MSD & VK can be slowed down after adding 50, without anything to it. It just happened. The match simply turned around, without anything special happening.

 

[Jono]

No doubt Saffers bowled well in game 1 and 2, but India's batting between 30th and 40th over with wickets in hand in both matches has been not just below par, its been downright woeful. Its like we think we have Klusener coming in at 7 or something.

 

[Pratters]

Maybe we should try this side for the next match:


Rohit
Rahane
Kohli
MSD
Rayudu
Raina
Binny
Axar
Bhajji
Mishy
Bhuvi



And BTW, its raining this morning here at Chennai. Forecast is a lil iffy too.

I like that side. Every passing week, I am less happy with Dhawan. Rahane can play in the team only if he bats higher up the order. He will occupy some overs, hopefully.