Best team since Waugh/ Ponting’s Australia?

[Tec15]

So you are saying Smith's SA can beat a team only when they are crap. Then they shouldn't be included in great sides.

Nope. I was just reacting to the claim that the win against Dhoni's team in 2013/14 didn't count because the team was composed of "babies". Unless, you think that team, which basically consisted of the Kohli team that is now being bigged up as the "greatest" was crap.

 

[Xix2565]

Nope. I was just reacting to the claim that the win against Dhoni's team in 2013/14 didn't count because the team was composed of "babies". Unless, you think that team, which basically consisted of the Kohli team that is now being bigged up as the "greatest" was crap.

Well considering it's not picked as the starting point of Kohli's India which people consider to begin from 2015 here, this is tangential to the point.

 

[cricketsavant]

Like a lot of people here, the answer is obviously the various teams that played under Graeme Smith. They were made up of great individual cricketers: Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB, Steyn, Boucher...all would rate among the list of ATG cricketers, I'm probably forgetting some names too.

 

[Xix2565]

Like a lot of people here, the answer is obviously the various teams that played under Graeme Smith. They were made up of great individual cricketers: Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB, Steyn, Boucher...all would rate among the list of ATG cricketers, I'm probably forgetting some names too.

Firstly, it isn't obvious since there's been a debate on that. Secondly, great players =/= great team, let alone how you're classifying great players (which by your logic would apply to quite a bit of Kohli's India).

 

[cricketsavant]

Firstly, it isn't obvious since there's been a debate on that. Secondly, great players =/= great team, let alone how you're classifying great players (which by your logic would apply to quite a bit of Kohli's India).

Ah ok, you are just an Indian troll. Every thread, "but India is best".

Please don't quote me again.

 

[Xix2565]

Ah ok, you are just an Indian troll. Every thread, "but India is best".

Please don't quote me again.

? If you could do more than flip out at simple questions and being asked to elaborate your points when they are very questionable, it would be nice.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Like a lot of people here, the answer is obviously the various teams that played under Graeme Smith. They were made up of great individual cricketers: Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB, Steyn, Boucher...all would rate among the list of ATG cricketers, I'm probably forgetting some names too.

Boucher is overrated af. Was a pretty average keeper and a decent enough bat for a keeper but nothing special. Just fortunate to play so many games.

 

[Chrish]

Big game tomorrow. If we win, it will secure our legacy IMO. If we end up loosing, it would definitely hurt our position in such discussions..

 

[subshakerz]

Big game tomorrow. If we win, it will secure our legacy IMO. If we end up loosing, it would definitely hurt our position in such discussions..

Personally, India beating this raw SA team wouldnt convince me that they are a better than Smith's SA but I would agree it would fill in the gaps in their record to make it favorably comparable to theirs.

 

[Chrish]

Personally, India beating this raw SA team wouldnt convince me that they are a better than Smith's SA but I would agree it would fill in the gaps in their record to make it favorably comparable to theirs.

It’s sort of mental block tbh. It’s my personal opinion but India wouldn’t have won in Australia first time if Smith and Warner were playing. And they wouldn’t have won 2nd time had they not won once before then. But having won once there in the absence of Smith/ Warner, it game them confidence; like they have already done it once and so can they can do it again. They already overcame that mental block. They have to do the same in SA.

Having said that, current SA side may be raw, but they aren’t necessarily weak. Their bowling is top notch. And their batsman are able to score 50s on a good day (which is often time more than enough in SA in low scoring games).

 

[TheJediBrah]

I don't know what to think of SA right now. Part of me thinks they look pretty weak, and they are almost certainly the weakest they've been in my lifetime. But on the other hand SA are always a competitive unit, whether it's cricket or rugby, they're never easy-beats.

 

[subshakerz]

It’s sort of mental block tbh. It’s my personal opinion but India wouldn’t have won in Australia first time if Smith and Warner were playing. And they wouldn’t have won 2nd time had they not won once before then. But having won once there in the absence of Smith/ Warner, it game them confidence; like they have already done it once and so can they can do it again. They already overcame that mental block. They have to do the same in SA.

Having said that, current SA side may be raw, but they aren’t necessarily weak. Their bowling is top notch. And their batsman are able to score 50s on a good day (which is often time more than enough in SA in low scoring games).

Their batting is weak and inexperienced though while their bowling has been off radar but is dangerous in these conditions.

This SA side has lost to Sri Lanka and England recently at home and that was when Philander was still around. I dont think this Indian team should be happy with anything less than winning.

 

[GotSpin]

This is a ****ing shocking saffer side in comparison to anything they’ve produced since readmission. If India can’t win this test, then forget about it.

 

[subshakerz]

Its sad to see a side that boasted four worldclass batsmen at a time to now being one that I struggle to see making even 300 at home.

 

[OverratedSanity]

SA's best batsman (arguably) retired after the first test. If India cant beat SA here, they'll never win. I've always had my doubts, because Asian batsmen never make runs in SA and we've come here with our worst performing middle order in 50 years.

 

[subshakerz]

SA's best batsman (arguably) retired after the first test. If India cant beat SA here, they'll never win. I've always had my doubts, because Asian batsmen never make runs in SA and we've come here with our worst performing middle order in 50 years.

India came close in 2006 and 2010.

 

[_00_deathscar]

Its sad to see a side that boasted four worldclass batsmen at a time to now being one that I struggle to see making even 300 at home.

Not sure if this is about South Africa or India…

 

[Chrish]

Regardless of the outcome of current game, this series has shown glaring flaws of Indian batting.. Top class bowling attack can only carry so much weight.

Not good enough to be considered best side since Waugh’s Aus IMO.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Glaring FLAWS? It's a foul, gaping ANUS after a ten-year stint in jail. It's GOATSE reborn in 2022.

 

[Slifer]

Its sad to see a side that boasted four worldclass batsmen at a time to now being one that I struggle to see making even 300 at home.

West indies?? Oh sorry you meant RSA. I get the two confused so often....