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

[Daemon]

I for one am very excited to have Pratters back on board for this series

 

[Black_Warrior]

^ Yeah same here

 

[Victor Ian]

I'm looking forward to this series. You all know I secretly like India. Bring on a few Kohl 100s and a couple of Ashwin 5fors and i'll be so happy I'll publicly bag them again for making No1 further from Australia's grasp.

 

[Victor Ian]

My wife won't know what's hit her. She barely tolerates me watching 8 hours per day and now I have 16 to piss her off.

 

[Black_Warrior]

This is why I was so mad when BCCI postponed this series. I love it when Australia and South Africa host test matches at the same time because once you have Stumps in one, the other one starts. One of my most cherished memories of cricket watching was in 2010 when two exciting Test series were taking place at the same time - the Ashes and India-SA.

That was before I had a day job and it was just cricket all day. Start the day with Cook/KP show followed by Tendulkar/Kallis masterclass

 

[Woodster]

So, which way do we think the respective teams are going to go ? Will SA go with six specialist batsmen or 5 ? And will India go with six batsman or 5 and Pandya as the all-rounder ?

 

[Tom Flint]

My wife won't know what's hit her. She barely tolerates me watching 8 hours per day and now I have 16 to piss her off.

I've had the tv in the bedroom on almost mute and the brightness down to black and white just so i could watch the ashes through the night in bed all winter??

 

[Black_Warrior]

So, which way do we think the respective teams are going to go ? Will SA go with six specialist batsmen or 5 ? And will India go with six batsman or 5 and Pandya as the all-rounder ?

I think South Africa will go with 6-4-1.

Makram
Elgar
Amla
AB
Du Plessis
Bavuma
De Kock
Philander
Morkel
Rabada
Maharaj

India will go with 5-5-1

Vijay
Dhawan/Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pandya
Ashwin
Saha
Bhuvi
Ishant/Yadav
Shami

 

[Woodster]

I think South Africa will go with 6-4-1.

Makram
Elgar
Amla
AB
Du Plessis
Bavuma
De Kock
Philander
Morkel
Rabada
Maharaj

India will go with 5-5-1

Vijay
Dhawan/Rahul
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pandya
Ashwin
Saha
Bhuvi
Ishant/Yadav
Shami

Yes I'm inclined to agree on the South Africa side, I think that will be the balance and we will have to wait for Steyn's return. I think if the pitch does look like it might have a bit of something in it, and with all the talk about the live grass on the pitch, it does suggest there should be enough happening, then that extra batsman makes sense and it's going to be a lof of hard work for India to get through that top seven.

As for India, as much as I enjoy watching Rohit Sharma bat, this does look a more exciting and positive selection if they include Pandya. Going to be bery interesting to see how he goes, if selected, with both bat and ball.

 

[Tom Flint]

Cant see dhawan or ishant playing.
Yadav is too far into kohli's clique to be left out. But tbf has bowled well the last couple years so deserves his spot.

 

[Tom Flint]

S.a are a great team, best young bowler in the world, best keeper bat, best bowler of the generation (albeit not fit lol), atg in AB, arguably an atg in amla and a seamer that averages less than 19 in home conditions.
And no major weak links in the rest of the positions either. Wont be backing an indian victory in any of the matches

 

[CricAddict]

I believe it will be the reverse. India goes with 6-4-1 and SA with 5-5-1. India will be happy with a draw in the first test. Faf wants revenge and will be more aggressive. Also Kohli-Rohit love and SA's love for an all-rounder.

 

[CricAddict]

Cricinfo says Umesh, Rahul and Jadeja confirmed to sit out. So only decision is between Rohit and Hardik.

 

[Stefan9]

SA should go:
Elgar
Markram
Amla
Ab
Faf
Qdk
Philander
Kg
Steyn
Morkel

Its the best balance. Faf today claimed Dale is bowling as well as ever. If thats the case he has to play.

 

[Woodster]

SA should go:
Elgar
Markram
Amla
Ab
Faf
Qdk
Philander
Kg
Steyn
Morkel

Its the best balance. Faf today claimed Dale is bowling as well as ever. If thats the case he has to play.

The best balance ??? It only has 10 players!

 

[Stefan9]

The best balance ??? It only has 10 players!

Dam forgot keshav.

 

[Dendarii]

Interesting comment from here: https://www.supersport.com/cricket/south-africa-v-india-201718/news/180102/Neils_Diary_SA_home_season_week_2

Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj and Dale Steyn have all been conspicuous by the amount of time they have spent batting over the last two days. Rabada, in particular, has been working closely with batting coach Dale Benkenstein.

While that's obviously far from conclusive evidence, the bowlers focusing on their batting certainly suggests that South Africa are going to go with five bowlers. In particular, there wouldn't be too much point in Steyn putting in extra work on his batting if they weren't seriously considering playing him.

 

[GRAB]

Saturday's tix booked! Quite full! (Not used to booking tickets - St George's / Buffalo Park are never sold out!)

 

[Tec15]

Interesting comment from here: https://www.supersport.com/cricket/south-africa-v-india-201718/news/180102/Neils_Diary_SA_home_season_week_2



While that's obviously far from conclusive evidence, the bowlers focusing on their batting certainly suggests that South Africa are going to go with five bowlers. In particular, there wouldn't be too much point in Steyn putting in extra work on his batting if they weren't seriously considering playing him.

That's some welcome good news. Hopefully means no Morris selection.

 

[Pratters]

I believe it will be the reverse. India goes with 6-4-1 and SA with 5-5-1. India will be happy with a draw in the first test. Faf wants revenge and will be more aggressive. Also Kohli-Rohit love and SA's love for an all-rounder.

Yeah, would make far more sense for us to go with six batsmen in the first test.