What say about Kohli ji's 5th stump ****ery?
This is such a difficult one... Philander would probably have replaced Harmer, and Steyn, Rabada,,, both of whom bowled really well. The useless one was Tahir, who probably would have played anyway. Not saying they would not have made a difference just not quite as clear cut...
I'm a big Tahir fan, but I think we need to realise Test cricket is not for him.
He bowled pretty well in the first Test, but nothing amazing, and hasn't bowled great in this Test so far. Didn't wipe out the tail in this innings either.
Unfortunately for SA none of the above are really good enough, (Leie maybe)... right now, outside sub-continent we have Duminy and Elgar to hold up an end, Harmer or Piedt if we really need the one spin option. Otherwise you are looking at Steyn, Morkel, Philander, Rabada as our first choice for the next, hopefully, 3 to 4 yrs. Tahir is in this team atm almost purely because we are in India.
Not so much hate as realism, he is just not good enough but we have nothing better and need the variety. He is just to inconsistent, I was worried about him, then he bowled well (without being amazing). I then think he should play and he bowls the dross he did today, then does alright again..... ultimately he gives away to many bad balls for the opportunities he creates. Outside the subcontinent he is not good enough to make the SA test team.
Yeah, the guy is already 32. Don't see him going for that much longer. I'm sure most fast bowlers go downhill once they get to that age.
I also hope you are wrong....
fingers crossed.
I understand the frustration but once the day progressed, even you should have realized that such a turner actually helps RSA, one with the reverse for guys like Morkel, and two by bringing the spinners' quality difference to the barest minimum between the two sides. Best chance for RSA to win a test here IMO. They just need one super effort with the bat and they have 2 of the best test batsmen around in Amla and ABD. Not beyond them at all.
Nohit
Damn this is the game Steyn should have played..just to troll him
disagree slightly. imo gavaskar rightly pointed out two things, firstly his shuffle across which brings him on middle and off stump, contributing to his tendency to play at balls that can be comfortably left alone. the second one is his wide stance, which is great for weight transfer onto the backfoot, but leaves him a bit vulnerable when driving.
Still a terrible shot to a full swinging ball. Big expansive drives like that to the moving ball are always going to keep the cordon interested.
Well that's how he generally plays against full swinging balls:
