***Official*** India in South Africa 2017/18

[Dendarii]

It is possible that Morris would get in to play at 7 but the Zim game they played Philander at 7 even with Phehlukwayo in the team as an all-rounder.

Phehlukwayo might not have been picked as an all-rounder in that game, but rather as a replacement for Steyn. Gibson is talking about Steyn lacking game time, and since he left Zimbabwe's warm-up game early to join the squad, the only way for him to have got the necessary game time would have been for him to play the test. So I think the intention may have been for Steyn to play as part of a four-man pace attack, and when he couldn't they went with Phehlukwayo for quota reasons rather than Oliver (who's a more natural replacement for Steyn) or the extra batsman in De Bruyn.

 

[Tec15]

Cricinfo now confirms it

Fit Steyn all but out of Newlands Test, says Gibson - ESPNcricinfo

Looks like the headline has been changed. Talk about sensationalist fake news from crapinfo.

 

[Tec15]

Also, if Gibson seriously suggests playing Morris as an "all-rounder" instead of Steyn he should be sacked on the spot. Reminds me of the time when Ryan Mclaren was played as an "all-rounder" against Australia in 2014 and how that worked out brilliantly. Morris would simply be fodder with ball while failing with the bat if he was selected and I can hardly think of a bigger self inflicted wound than selecting him ahead of Steyn or indeed any other front line bowler. Seriously eff this garbage preference for no hoping all rounders. If your "all-rounders" don't merit selection ahead of specialists don't try to fit them in ffs.

Couple this with reports of the Newlands pitch being slow and possibly favouring India and it's bad news all round.

 

[Woodster]

I think it's common sense, if South Africa field a five-man attack, which would be inclusive of an all-rounder, then Steyn plays, if they go with a four-man attack and a specialist batsman, such as Bavuma, at six then maybe it's wise for Steyn to sit it out. That's not to say he's not regarded as the still the best bowler they have, just that the workload may be too much in a four-man attack and should he breakdown that leaves SA extremely short of options during the Test.

I'm sure it'll all depend on the pitch come Friday.

 

[Shri]

My boy Kuldeep is a handsome guy. ...you check out his new hairstyle?

No and I don't intend to unless the new hairdo involves a paper bag.

 

[Stefan9]

Looks like the headline has been changed. Talk about sensationalist fake news from crapinfo.

Speaking of crapinfo, why are previewing this series just from an india perspective. Each day another preview of how india should counter said SA player. It's almost as bad as Firdose writing...

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

No and I don't intend to unless the new hairdo involves a paper bag.

Cynic

 

[cnerd123]

If SA go in 6-5 it favours India, by giving their bowlers less to do. If it's a flat pitch they're going to score big, 4 or 5 bowlers, and if the pitch has some life in it then the 5th bowler will be underused whilst the batting lineup is weaker.

I'd play Morris too if I was in SA's shoes. And who do you drop from Philander/More/Rabada to fit Steyn in?

 

[Gnske]

I'd be okay with leaving Steyn out if he was playing an FC fixture or something to get back to full tilt, but this is weird.

He won't be more ready with an extra week under his belt.

 

[Gob]

I'd be okay with leaving Steyn out if he was playing an FC fixture or something to get back to full tilt, but this is weird.

He won't be more ready with an extra week under his belt.

He'd be playing some three day game

 

[Spark]

Speaking of crapinfo, why are previewing this series just from an india perspective. Each day another preview of how india should counter said SA player. It's almost as bad as Firdose writing...

Gotta appeal to their readership, I guess

 

[Woodster]

I'd be okay with leaving Steyn out if he was playing an FC fixture or something to get back to full tilt, but this is weird.

He won't be more ready with an extra week under his belt.

It’s more precautionary though, it’s surely a risk for SA playing him in a three-man pace attack? They want the protection of an extra bowler, I get that.

 

[Dendarii]

I think it's common sense, if South Africa field a five-man attack, which would be inclusive of an all-rounder, then Steyn plays, if they go with a four-man attack and a specialist batsman, such as Bavuma, at six then maybe it's wise for Steyn to sit it out. That's not to say he's not regarded as the still the best bowler they have, just that the workload may be too much in a four-man attack and should he breakdown that leaves SA extremely short of options during the Test.

Agreed. People seem to have taken this quote by Gibson to mean that Steyn definitely won't be playing - "I don't think if we were to pick a three-man seam attack plus a spinner that you would want to put him in that three-man attack, in case something happens and that leaves the team vulnerable if he can't finish the game."

But they've ignored this one, which suggests that they won't necessarily go with just three quicks and therefore there is still the possibility that he'll play - “Down here on the coast, the wicket tends to dry out quickly so you might play an extra bowler here." (for some reason Cricinfo has "extra bowler [allrounder] here.")

 

[Tec15]

There's no point in leaving Steyn out and playing Morris in his place, because Morris is not a good enough batsman for number 7. Philander is as good or even better batsman as Morris, so the only thing playing him accomplishes is to weaken the bowling lineup without strengthening the batting in any way. It's the worst of both worlds.

 

[Woodster]

There's no point in leaving Steyn out and playing Morris in his place, because Morris is not a good enough batsman for number 7. Philander is as good or even better batsman as Morris, so the only thing playing him accomplishes is to weaken the bowling lineup without strengthening the batting in any way. It's the worst of both worlds.

If Philander plays and bats at seven, Steyn plays, if Morris plays and bats at seven, I'd imagine Steyn will still play. I can't imagine they will go with Morris over Philander.

 

[NUFAN]

Ashwin should bat ahead of Saha

I quite like Saha ahead of Ashwin on more lively wickets against good attacks.

 

[Pratters]

We will be lucky if we are not swept. It's crazy we have no acclimitisation time.

 

[GRAB]

I quite like Saha ahead of Ashwin on more lively wickets against good attacks.

Saha and Jadeja averaged in the 40s in 2017; Ashwin averaged 17. I don't think his batting is in form enough to push him UP the order at this point...

 

[SeamUp]

Update on pitch prep

Cape Town's worst drought in decades may take some of the sting out of the Newlands pitch for the first test between South Africa and India, starting on Friday.

There was a covering of green grass on the match surface when both teams practised on Tuesday, bringing a smile to the face of South African coach Ottis Gibson.

But groundsman Evan Flint said the grass was thin and that the weather conditions had made it difficult to produce the seam-friendly surface which the home side would like.

There was some unseasonal light rain on Sunday and Monday – about four-and-half millimetres in total – but not enough to break the prolonged drought.

"It made conditions a bit quicker," said Flint

Flint has had to use borehole water and has been restricted to watering the outfield only twice a week, which means the playing area is drier under the surface than usual.

"I think if the fast bowlers bowl well enough, there will be something in it for them," said Flint. But he did not expect conditions would give a lot of assistance to South Africa’s pace attack.

"It depends on who adapts quicker on the day – it is not necessarily favouring anyone," said Flint.

 

[ImpatientLime]

astonished that so many are in favour of that ludicrously long south african tail.