Rubbish. No one has made above 40 because they have all batted terribly. There have maybe been 3 good balls this whole game (Pujara second innings, Vilas and Harmer). Rest has just been atrocious batting vs some high quality bowling from Morkel, Ashwin, Jadeja and co.
No **** sherlock, i never knew that. Except that's not what i meant. I meant that winning on these sorts of tracks that fall short of just being called 'doctored' is not really going to tell us much about the merit of either our bowling or batting department. Ashwin and Jadeja looking like Murali here doesn't mean they're that good because it's flattering even the ordinary SAF spinners. Like it or not, the psychological aspect of playing on a bunsen does have an effect in causing uncharacteristic dismissals from many batsmen who rightly fall back on aggression than patience.
Look at how Pujara plays his defence. He comes down the track every occasion he can and not to smash it into the stands. And if it is short, you go back.. Premeditating the sweep is hardly the solution.
Yeah. I hope people realise these are professional cricketers. They are playing unconventionally as they won't last playing the 'proper' cricket much. The thinking is that 'let's try and make a quick 40 because that's the maximum I can muster here.'
AGAIN. Vijay Pujara and AB have made runs on these pitches by playing perfectly normally.
I will say again.. I do not think that this pitch is any more unfair on SA than on India. India just have better resources to use a pitch that favours them.... I have no problem with this. My problem is I don't think this is a good quality international test match pitch. Just like when I complain that a rugby surface should not be shredded during the scrum. Can you imagine Wimbeldon being played on a grass surface that was totally uneven... they would be rioting in the streets.
I notice Indian batsmen playing shots to Tahir so that he gets a 5 for and stays in the team for the final match....
That is a strawman.
Or you could just leave the balls outside off and spinning away from you alone, play late and with soft hands in defence, and just put the bad balls away?
Nobody thinks Ashwin is as good as Murali. People who look at averages as the be all and end all of cricket analysis are not just doing a good job of it anyways.
Actually, if you go back the last pages I have not mentioned the pitch until this last final post... wanted to but have not mentioned it... others have been arguing...
South Afri-waahhh
No. Only the dumb ones who don't have the ability and the temperament have done that.
All three have been incredible. Particularly, I have been more impressed by Vijay than I have ever been. I do share the Vijay love.
You obviously haven't checked the scorecards - 30 wickets have fallen for 483 runs at an average of just over 16
Not just SA either. Guys like Pratters social and King Pietersen who evidently haven't watched a ball of the test have come in here to pass judgement on the pitch. Atleast stphndbsn has followed the test and is in a position to have an actual opinion.
Worse use of stats since CaptainGrumpy