*Official* South Africa in India, Sep/Oct 2019

[Bahseph]

Rabada being used as he should. Makes the first Test tactics even more puzzling.

 

[Spark]

Nortje looks so much like Pattinson when he bowls.

 

[Starfighter]

Nortje looks so much like Pattinson when he bowls.

They've managed to have him around for years and he's kept his pace and not gotten injured every year though.

 

[harsh.ag]

Nortje may look like Pattinson, but he bowls like Mitch Johnson.

 

[Heboric]

The boys need a triple strike with the new ball to get back in the game

 

[Heboric]

Not a great day for us, just dont go anywhere near a casino

 

[StephenZA]

Another poor day in the subcontinent for SA. Some more luck would be good. Better tactics and bowling would be better.

 

[CricAddict]

Another poor day in the subcontinent for SA. Some more luck would be good. Better tactics and bowling would be better.

Just being unlucky. SA needs a captain who can win the toss. The conditions this test were quite in favor of the team batting first.

 

[StephenZA]

Just being unlucky. SA needs a captain who can win the toss. The conditions this test were quite in favor of the team batting first.

Not winning the toss sucks. But the overall tactics have been poor. To defensive much to early.

 

[Tom Flint]

Do India ever not get to bat first at home? Every series is ruined by them batting first every game and piling on the runs. They do it very well mind you

 

[vcs]

Do India ever not get to bat first at home? Every series is ruined by them batting first every game and piling on the runs. They do it very well mind you

They lost the toss and fielded first 7/9 times in their last two series against England and Australia at home.

 

[h_hurricane]

Do India ever not get to bat first at home? Every series is ruined by them batting first every game and piling on the runs. They do it very well mind you

England in fact won the toss in 4 out of 5 tests when they visited India last time. On a few occasions, they even batted first on flat pitches, piled on 400+ runs and still ended up losing.

Kohli has in fact lost a bit more tosses than won in his captaincy. 24 vs 26. In home tests though, he has won 14 and lost 9.

 

[OverratedSanity]

England kept opting to bowl first for some reason

 

[OverratedSanity]

I know it's a different pitch and all, but it did feel like rabada could've done a bit more in the first test if he was used better like he was today. He doesn't need too much help from the pitch to cause problems and Faf is silly to underestimate him. Especially considering the spin options aren't very good anyway.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Indian fans have also become very spoilt as well in the last few years, Rahane would have been considered perfectly acceptable, even excellent, if we were in the '90s, but we aren't.

He averaged low 30s for well over two full years. He'd probably be in danger of being dropped even in the 90s tbh. Love the guy but he's seriously fortunate to have been given such a long rope.

 

[h_hurricane]

In an ideal world, Rahane should have played all overseas tests and Rohit all home tests in the last 5 years. Rahane,other than a couple of memorable knocks, has been largely below par at home(has also been below par abroad the last 2 years).

Interesting that Rohit has played only 11 home tests and 18 away tests.

 

[MrPrez]

I'd just like to highlight that Muthusamy seems like a pointless selection if he's going to bowl just 8 overs in practically a full day's play.

Might as well get a couple more out of Elgar/Markram and play Hamza.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'd just like to highlight that Muthusamy seems like a pointless selection if he's going to bowl just 8 overs in practically a full day's play.

Might as well get a couple more out of Elgar/Markram and play Hamza.

I was going to say this earlier too, but to be fair if SA ended up bowling on day 5 he might have ended up bowling the second most overs. I'm prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt on it being a Day 1 thing that they didn't necessarily select their team around (especially since they lost the toss).

 

[Prince EWS]

Nortje looks so much like Pattinson when he bowls.

Haha yeah I remember thinking this the very first time I saw him bowl too. Think it only two me two balls to think "wow, Patto"

 

[MrPrez]

I was going to say this earlier too, but to be fair if SA ended up bowling on day 5 he might have ended up bowling the second most overs. I'm prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt on it being a Day 1 thing that they didn't necessarily select their team around (especially since they lost the toss).

If you're picking for day you just pick Piedt, since he's an actual offensive threat.