***Official*** India in South Africa

[Dravid]

...and you know this for a fact how? improving the batting yes, but not giving a crap about the bowling? he was always crappy in tests except against the minnows and in one dayers, he was doing very well as a bowler even after the surprise promotions to one-drop started...i don't know why his bowling is crappy in both versions right now but i don't think chappell telling him to concentrate on his batting and forget his bowling is what's going on....

It's because he is a new ball bowler, and by not giving him the new ball, you don't give a crap about his bowling.

 

[Jono]

Zaheer is in such good form its amazing.

 

[adharcric]

India's bowling in the second innings will be crucial. Hopefully they bowl well as a unit but the key aspect is Pathan's bowling. He really needs to turn in a good spell here - hopefully three wickets at least. I don't want him playing as a fifth bowler and he's not currently good enough with the ball to play as a fourth bowler.

 

[Dravid]

Best Indian Pace bowler for a while now. RSAF 8/1

 

[Nishant]

India's bowling in the second innings will be crucial. Hopefully they bowl well as a unit but the key aspect is Pathan's bowling. He really needs to turn in a good spell here - hopefully three wickets at least. I don't want him playing as a fifth bowler and he's not currently good enough with the ball to play as a fourth bowler.

Exactly! Pathan should be treated as a bowler as that is his job! Opening the batting.....

 

[Dravid]

I seriously hate Greg with passion for not giving Pathan the new ball

 

[marc71178]

Are u telling me a person who gets 5 scores of less than 10 in ODIs will go on to get 5 scores of above 50 in the test matches? A bowler that is wicketless for a whole one day series will go on to get 10 wicket hauls? That is not possible!

Are you telling that sides can win Test series in SA extremely convincingly then get thrashed in the ODI series 6-1 or something?

Or they can outplay the Australians for 4 Tests in a row but look hopeless in ODIs?

 

[marc71178]

I seriously hate Greg with passion for not giving Pathan the new ball

But surely your best bowlers should have it, try and get maximum benefit from it.

 

[Dravid]

But surely your best bowlers should have it, try and get maximum benefit from it.

No, your best new ball bowler should have it, which would be Irfan. Otherwise Kumble would open the bowling, because he's he best bowler in the side.

 

[Dravid]

21.3 Pathan to Kemp, FOUR, Another one!Overpitched and Kemp dispenses it through the cover region.
21.2 Pathan to Kemp, FOUR, shorter this time and Kemp nearly chops onto this stumps via the inside edge, this time the ball evades everything and sneaks away for four to fine leg
21.1 Pathan to Kemp, FOUR, rank half volley outside off stump and Kemp drives excellently through cover for four

See, this is why he shouldn't bowl with the old ball.

 

[TT Boy]

Fifty run partnership for VB and Kempie of only five overs, hammering the Indians here. Though there is still a long way to go, another 180 odd runs needed for victory with only one more batsman left.

 

[TT Boy]

Second fifty of the game for VB, was given a life by Sachin but has played two very encouraging counter attacking knocks.

 

[silentstriker]

See, this is why he shouldn't bowl

Yea.

 

[Dravid]

Yea.

Wrong.

 

[silentstriker]

Wrong.

Sorry, but its completely correct. His average his hideous when taking out the minnows.

In Australia: 66.50
In India: 44.76
In Pakistan: 41.40
In West Indies: 46.50

 

[marc71178]

No, your best new ball bowler should have it, which would be Irfan. Otherwise Kumble would open the bowling, because he's he best bowler in the side.

How exactly is Pathan your best new ball bowler in first class or Test cricket?

Does his mid-40 average not suggest otherwise?

 

[nightprowler10]

Dravid, your best new ball bowler isn't worth anything if he can't bowl well with the old ball as well. Remember Karachi?

 

[Turbinator]

Dravid, your best new ball bowler isn't worth anything if he can't bowl well with the old ball as well. Remember Karachi?

He is if he can continue contributing with the bat as he has for the past few months...

 

[Nate]

Was just watching Sport Center and they had videos from this mornings training session before the match and Greg and Ganguly seemed to be getting along pretty well. They were talking joking around and Greg was also bowling to him in the nets.

Chappell pitch map -

Still thought this deserved a comment.

 

[Anil]

It's because he is a new ball bowler, and by not giving him the new ball, you don't give a crap about his bowling.

...and it's chappell who's not giving him the new ball, not the captain on the field? how do you figure that? even if the captain and the coach together has taken such a decision, there are other bowlers in the mix, much better bowlers than pathan, like munaf, sreesanth, zaheer(when he bowls to potential), the whole team doesn't and shouldn't revolve around pathan(he isn't anywhere near good enough a bowler for that), if pathan needs to adjust, he needs to adjust....