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

[vcs]

The worst possible pitch from the Indian POV would be one which assists the quicks, but still makes them work hard for their wickets with a low margin for error for bad balls. Wouldn't mind another pitch like this one (or one with even more movement) at all.

 

[GotSpin]

the posters wanting to drop the keeper for a batsmen who mayyyy score 20-30 runs more. Jesus guys. So bad

 

[Motorwada]

The worst possible pitch from the Indian POV would be one which assists the quicks, but still makes them work hard for their wickets with a low margin for error for bad balls. Wouldn't mind another pitch like this one (or one with even more movement) at all.

Yup with Rahane/Rohit and KL/Dhawan straight swaps. Thing is on these pitches one good innings and you win. AB here. Laxman in Durban in 2010 etc. Also SA batting is relatively weak nowadays (Eng tour for example plus even some collapses in NZ etc) and our pace bowling is pretty good so we give ourselves the best chances in these straight shootouts.

 

[SeamUp]

Pitches up country will be harder (bounce) and quicker.

Think there will be swing at Wanderers (seam too but mainly with new ball unless its a green top) which I am more than happy about because inconsistent seam like in this test at Newlands is deadly dangerous in my opinion and this was happening with an old ball.

 

[GotSpin]

I feel like hard and bouncy pitches will favour SA quite heavily. Swing is a bit of a lottery sometimes

 

[Stefan9]

Centurion should be quick. We have been having some very hot days, 35 degrees for the last week . So should be nice and hard.

Pitch does tend to crack up as the game goes on. Shamsi has had quite a bit of success this season, not sure if that has been the pitches or batsman unable to read wrist spin.

I don't there will be as much movement as newlands but it will be faster.

 

[StephenZA]

I don't expect to see a lot of swing, but I expect to see grass on the wickets that will at the very least give seam with the new ball. Will be interesting if SA can get the reverse swing going again with the older ball. And bounce lots and lots of bounce...

 

[SeamUp]

Centurion should be quick. We have been having some very hot days, 35 degrees for the last week . So should be nice and hard.

Pitch does tend to crack up as the game goes on. Shamsi has had quite a bit of success this season, not sure if that has been the pitches or batsman unable to read wrist spin.

I don't there will be as much movement as newlands but it will be faster.

Defo.

Think you have to play a spinner at Centurion because if you get in and comfortable against the bounce run scoring can be very easy. Unless there are no intentions of that Batting last with the cracks is so hard there. Defo bat first wicket even though it will do a bit to start.

We've lost only 2 tests in 21 years there and one was that Cronje 1 innings test v England.

Philander 22 wkts at 16.95
Morkel 28 wkts at 25.57
Rabada 18 wkts @ 14.44
Steyn 56 wkts @ 17.13

 

[SeamUp]

Crazy looking at the margins of victory at Centurion in tests over recent years. Even when we lost to Australia thanks to Mitch Bitch's brilliance of hitting the wicket hard with inconsistent and steep bounce.

So many wins by innings or 200+ runs.

Cricket Records | SuperSport Park, Centurion | / | Records | Test matches | Match results | ESPNcricinfo

 

[Burgey]

He didn't get out because of the 'outside off' issue though. In the 1st innings, Morkel go the ball to rise and if you haven't played that kind of bounce for the last 2 years and then walk in to a test match without adequate preparation, you're not going to adjust very easily.
In the second innings, Philander drew him across by taking the ball away, and then got one to come back in. That's high quality bowling.

That’s not mental either

 

[Burgey]

Yeah but who is the sixth specialist batsman? Ashwin himself is better than all the candidates. Plus a spinner/Hardik is necessary to manage the main 3 pacers workloads by bowling filler overs.

If you’re on a deck like that you don’t need four quicks. If you have three good ones they’ll get it done.

 

[Heboric]

Wish I hadn't been working. Looks like I missed quite a day!

I don't think he should, but I have a feeling Phehlukwayo will play next game... Or else we need to overcompensate "quota-wise" in the T20I's / ODI's...

It was an awesome day to be at the ground yesterday, nice crowd, nice atmosphere.

Yeah I was surprised at the team selection because of the numbers... I heard Firdose fainted when the team was announced. I thought I saw Bavuma bowling before the day started, maybe thats a sign.

 

[Black_Warrior]

I love Gibson

Gibson wants four quicks throughout home summer - ESPNcricinfo

 

[Stefan9]

Nice interview. Very positive from Ottis.

 

[weldone]

I love Gibson

Gibson wants four quicks throughout home summer - ESPNcricinfo

I hope he includes the all-rounder (Morris/Phehlukwayo) in that count.

 

[Bahseph]

I hope he includes the all-rounder (Morris/Phehlukwayo) in that count.

What I've gathered from Gibson is that he is a Morris fan. I fully expect him to be playing the next game. Listening to Kepler Wessels yesterday, he seemed to want Lucky to play due to consistency of selection. Interesting times.

 

[weldone]

What I've gathered from Gibson is that he is a Morris fan. I fully expect him to be playing the next game. Listening to Kepler Wessels yesterday, he seemed to want Lucky to play due to consistency of selection. Interesting times.

SA probably needs Morris' batting more than Lucky's bowling.

 

[SeamUp]

Phehlukwayo released to play for the Dolphins in Paarl tomorrow vs the Cobras.

 

[Top Cat]

If we get a green mamba at Centurion, how about this combination for the India XI?? KL Rahul in seems a done deal to be honest. Question then is how many bowlers do we need: 4 or 5? And can Hardik be part of a 4 man bowling attack. Do we even need Ashwin? I think Hardik is going to play for sure so then the question is whether we keep 3 pacemen, Hardik and Ashwin or...we have 2 fast bowlers, Hardik and Ash...or remove Ashwin from the XI.

Also, as much as I like Saha I think he's even less reliable than Ashwin and Bhuvi in these conditions. Parthiv might not be a bad shout. I think the keeper's quality is less important keeping back on bouncy pitches than standing up to spinners on a dustbowl. In his early years Parthiv was poor but that was keeping up to Kumble...he's got a lot better and the spinner is unlikely to bowl too many overs.

1. KL Rahul
2. Vijay
3. Pujara
4. Kohli
5. Rahane
6. Rohit
7. Hardik
8. Parthiv
9. Bhuvi
10. Shami
11. Bumrah/Ishant

 

[cnerd123]

A Parthiv Patel recall takes the cake for most bizarre selection idea of the thread so far

But hey if the Tim Paine selection can work then why not.