India to play South Africa in once off T20

[SeamUp]

In a one-off Twenty20 international match India will take on South Africa to honor the 150 years of Indian settlement in the African country. The match will be played on March 30 in Johannesburg just before the IPL.

 

[Quaggas]

Neat, but how about a one-off test instead, to match the 150 year history?!

 

[turnstyle]

Neat, but how about a one-off test instead, to match the 150 year history?!

Not the no.1 test team anymore. Duh!

 

[Furball]

Does this count as a revenge series?

 

[silentstriker]

Yes

 

[ganeshran]

Wasnt it to honour Kallis and Ntini?

 

[Arjun]

This is an exhibition match, and should be treated as such. Keep Sehwag, Gambhir, Dhoni, Tendulkar, Zaheer, Ashwin and the likes away from this game. Let them rest and spend time with their families. The team should, however, be picked on performances in the SMAT trophy, as also players who have had little international action. They can go in with Saha, Uthappa, Sreenath Aravind, Yo Mahesh, Anand Rajan, and also a comeback window for Amit Mishra, and also a chance for both Pathans. A new-look Indian team for T20Is should make it here, ideally.

 

[Bonnie Prince C]

This is an exhibition match, and should be treated as such. Keep Sehwag, Gambhir, Dhoni, Tendulkar, Zaheer, Ashwin and the likes away from this game. Let them rest and spend time with their families. The team should, however, be picked on performances in the SMAT trophy, as also players who have had little international action. They can go in with Saha, Uthappa, Sreenath Aravind, Yo Mahesh, Anand Rajan, and also a comeback window for Amit Mishra, and also a chance for both Pathans. A new-look Indian team for T20Is should make it here, ideally.

While I can see the reasoning for doing something like this. If India are just going to bring across an A standard side rather than a proper team it will kill most of the interest in the match.

 

[Arjun]

While I can see the reasoning for doing something like this. If India are just going to bring across an A standard side rather than a proper team it will kill most of the interest in the match.

The South Africans themselves field very different teams for T20Is from their regular Test/ODI teams- in the last T20I series, they played without Smith, Kallis, Boucher, Steyn and Alviro, all Test regulars. I wouldn't be surprised if they play an even lesser side for this event. It's about Kallis, more than the rest.

Besides, given the problems the Indians face due to too much cricket, too much touring and too much IPL, they're better off resting their leads and giving the T20 domestic blokes a chance. It makes more cricketing sense.

But it seems they don't have much of it. They've sent an overworked, struggling side with minor changes for the event. No point picking Dhoni, Gambhir, Raina, Jadeja, Ashwin, Praveen and Vinay after this tour. Most of them are not even good enough for T20 or just don't fit in there.

I mean, what's wrong with this alternative side? Saha and Irfan opening, Yusuf to follow, then Rohit, Surya Yadav, Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, Sid Chitnis, Valthaty, and three made-for-T20 bowlers- Aravind, Yo Mahesh and Rahul Sharma. Fresh alternative from the worn out Dhonis, Kohlis, Rainas, Gambhirs and that Jadeja.

The main draw will be Yusuf Pathan. He'll be the only one that matters in T20.

 

[noriko2200]

Will Boucher there in the squad for England ?

Mark boucher is going to retire from Cricket after playing against England in this year.

see this,
Cricket - Game Of Love And Unity: Mark Boucher to say goodbye

 

[Arjun]

One week to go, not that it matters. Will India fly to South Africa directly? Already India's domestic T20 tournament is on, and Baroda are in the knockouts already.

Already IPL bosses are fretting and fuming.

 

[TT Boy]

South African squad.

Johan Botha (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Rusty Theron, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne van Wyk, Dane Vilas.

 

[Arjun]

Why can't India pick a separate T20I side like that? Makes more sense for these overworked players. Plenty of T20 specialists are there in India, active in the SMAT, and sometimes in the IPL. They need a chance, or more.

 

[smash84]

yeah.......awta

 

[gvenkat]

What if it rains? They travel across the Indian ocean for nothing?

 

[Cevno]

What if it rains? They travel across the Indian ocean for nothing?

!

Good prediction, though at least they had some sort of match.

 

[Cevno]

Btw, surprised there has been no comments for this match here.

Would have been a good tight game had it not rained. Gambhir was batting extremely well.

On a sidenote now, Manoj Tiwary has had 3 tours now starting from Australia,Bangladesh and now South Africa without playing a game. Must be a expert towel boy by now.