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

[srbhkshk]

While I agree on the whole, this group of Indian bowlers is considerably better than any group Kallis faced - if not individually, then at least the way they hunt in packs.

Kallis faced Australia.

 

[Dendarii]

How Rilee Rossouw is missed

Would he have really made a difference?

 

[_00_deathscar]

Kallis faced Australia.

Yes, but this Indian team is even more dominant at home than that Australian team ever was.

If someone can point me to a better year period, that would be great, but for now:
Australia 1996-2002: P38 W28 L3 D7
India 2012-2019: P32 W25 L1 D5

Edit: By the way, I specifically meant Indian attack...but since you brought up Australia, just thought I'd also still point out that while on paper, this Indian attack isn't going to make it to an ATG XI world team, its dominance at home is unmatched in (recent) history.

 

[ma1978]

Kallis was also a once in a generation batsman. One of the 20 greatest of all time.

SA will be back. The pace bowling I too good, but it will take time, experience and new leadership. I'd like to see KG as captain and Markram as vice captain. Hamza looks excellent as well

 

[vcs]

Australia between 1999-2007 probably only lost two matches at home - one to India and England each.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Australia between 1999-2007 probably only lost two matches at home - one to India and England each.

India are about the same since the England series loss in 2012. Pune 2017 is the solitary loss.

 

[Chrish]

While I agree on the whole, this group of Indian bowlers is considerably better than any group Kallis faced - if not individually, then at least the way they hunt in packs.

Indian attack at home was something else; even during those days. Guys like Kumble, Srinath and co were more than handful for any team barring SA.

In fact SA during those days were the best touring side to India even ahead of great Aussie team.

 

[StephenZA]

Remember those old days where Kallis used to play at SR of 30-40s completely grinding out the Indian bowlers and SA won the series.

Remember the days when Kallis was called a selfish batsmen who only played for his record...

 

[Chrish]

Remember the days when Kallis was called a selfish batsmen who only played for his record...

Admittingly I am guilty of doing that (well not calling him selfish but boring to watch etc.). How silly of me!

 

[vcs]

India are about the same since the England series loss in 2012. Pune 2017 is the solitary loss.

Yeah India's home record definitely rivals that of that ATG Australian team. They did draw a couple of series at home in that period (NZ 2001 - rain affected and then India in 2003). India have been pretty much perfect.

 

[Anil]

south africa has never lost like this to us before, have they? this is a suprisingly abject surrender from them...no?

 

[Slifer]

Yeah India's home record definitely rivals that of that ATG Australian team. They did draw a couple of series at home in that period (NZ 2001 - rain affected and then India in 2003). India have been pretty much perfect.

Hmmm India in pretty rare company atm and tbh I don't see any team winning even a single test there for a while.

For historical comparison I believe Australia went undefeated in a test series at home between 1992 and 2007.

WI went 22 years (1973 to 1995) unbeaten at home. Also, WI went 10 years without losing a test at home (1978 to 1988). As a matter of fact, WI lost one test at home in the 1980s.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Indian attack at home was something else; even during those days. Guys like Kumble, Srinath and co were more than handful for any team barring SA.

In fact SA during those days were the best touring side to India even ahead of great Aussie team.

India have always had the 'tigers at home' moniker, but that usually meant winning a 3 match series 2-1 or 1-0 and a 5 match series 3-1...not winning a 3 match series 3-0 and a 5 match series 5-0 which is more or less what this Indian team is currently doing*. Apart from that solitary Pune loss (and Australia in general were competitive at least), the other draws that I recall which were weather affected, likely would have ended up with Indian wins too.

And again, this isn't just winning a test by 4 wickets or whatever - look at the margin of wins. This team dominates at home like no team before has - Indian or otherwise.

For the record, the same 1996-2002 period which I picked for Australia, India's record in that period was:
P31 W15 L7 D9

That's a HUGE difference to India 2012 onwards, playing approximately the same number of tests but with 10 more wins, only 1 loss etc...

 

[_00_deathscar]

Hmmm India in pretty rare company atm and tbh I don't see any team winning even a single test there for a while.

For historical comparison I believe Australia went undefeated in a test series at home between 1992 and 2007.

WI went 22 years (1973 to 1995) unbeaten at home. Also, WI went 10 years without losing a test at home (1978 to 1988). As a matter of fact, WI lost one test at home in the 1980s.

On the overall point, I think India have now amassed more consecutive/undefeated test series wins (11) than Australia (10) and West Indies (10)

On the bolded point, yes that is indeed correct - however, there were a lot of draws:
P30 W18 L1 D11

India since 2012 has a 78% winning record (the Aus 1996-2002 side had a 72% record). If someone knows or can recall a 'better' period for Australia that would be great to compare or if they ever surpassed 78% for approximately ~30-40 matches.

Edit: Just seen the earlier post from vcs - 1999-2007, Australia: P52 W44 L2 D7
Pretty incredible - 83% win rate

 

[silentstriker]

Well yes, obviously Kallis would have done a lot better than any of these guys this series. But the Indian bowlers have been bowling lines where you have to play. That’s been a huge difference. You CAN’T leave.

 

[Cruxdude]

Does Prithvi Shaw come back into the team now that his ban is over? Think he might be in for a long wait.

 

[Bahnz]

They lost to SL at home before this so idk, I think they’re pretty bad right now.

Yeah, I tend to agree. They've been on the slide since Steyn broke down in 2015, but the last 18 months - with the retirement of Morkel and eventually Steyn, the collapse of Amla's run-making capabilities, the fading of young talents like de Kock and Markram and the persistence with substandard cricketers like Bavuma has left SA looking like a pretty ordinary side. By SA standards of course.

 

[Daemon]

de Villiers was the single biggest loss. If he was around and Amla didn’t decline they’d still be alright.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

How Rilee Rossouw is missed

Nope, bloke possesses all the intellectual wattage of a plank of wood. Don't think he's even remotely capable of knuckling down and playing defensively

 

[GotSpin]

Yeah India's home record definitely rivals that of that ATG Australian team. They did draw a couple of series at home in that period (NZ 2001 - rain affected and then India in 2003). India have been pretty much perfect.

They’ve seriously dicked South Africa this series but India’s home record is helped in that any of the other teams that should enjoy such similar conditions are absolute rubbish/not allowed to play.