***Official*** India in South Africa

[TT Boy]

Amazing his downfall considering how good a partnership he had with Kirsten at the top of the innings back in the day.

For sure but his a player who throughout his career has had the same technical issues with his game but with age your hand eye coordination is doubtlessly going to lessen. This is not a new phenomenal Gibbs is facing, its just that his not player he was once, on a road different story of course.

Laxman and Sehwag are very similar players in that they have pretty static or limited techniques but their fantastic eyes or in Laxman’s case wrist more than make up for those deficiencies. Wouldn’t be surprised if Sehwag was washed up time his thirtieth birthday came round also.

 

[Dravid]

http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/rsavind/content/story/273388.html

Good idea, and it's two days so the players won't get tired.

 

[Jono]

SA media reporting Smith dropping down the order?

This reminds me so much of England's tour to South Africa. Surely mentally you're in trouble if you're the skipper and you have to drop down the order in test cricket because of your poor form (or more accurately, poor technique).

I can't imagine how one could face the opposition captain after doing that, and I suggest he'll get a few harsh words from the Indians when he comes out to bat in the middle order (if that happens).

 

[silentstriker]

I think it might just spur him into form, it happens sometimes. Anyway, if Munaf is healthy, he will be in for VRV one feels.

The only other change I might make is Gambhir for Jaffer, assuming Gambhir plays and does well in the two day match.

 

[adharcric]

For sure but his a player who throughout his career has had the same technical issues with his game but with age your hand eye coordination is doubtlessly going to lessen. This is not a new phenomenal Gibbs is facing, its just that his not player he was once, on a road different story of course.

Laxman and Sehwag are very similar players in that they have pretty static or limited techniques but their fantastic eyes or in Laxman’s case wrist more than make up for those deficiencies. Wouldn’t be surprised if Sehwag wasn’t washed up time his thirtieth birthday came round also.

Definitely Sehwag, but not so much Laxman. IMO he has a pretty decent technique but also the fantastic wrists which give him an additional avenue and sometimes lead to him going for one outside off early on. Sehwag really doesn't have any technique whatsoever - all hand-eye coordination.

 

[adharcric]

I think it might just spur him into form, it happens sometimes. Anyway, if Munaf is healthy, he will be in for VRV one feels.

The only other change I might make is Gambhir for Jaffer, assuming Gambhir plays and does well in the two day match.

Hopefully Gambhir gets a shot in the two-day match, because the opening slot is a big issue for us right now. We can rest Laxman or Tendulkar in that match.
We should also play Karthik to have him ready for the 3rd test if necessary.

Jaffer
Gambhir
Dravid*
Sehwag
Ganguly
Dhoni
Karthik
Pathan
Kumble
VRV
Munaf

Dravid needs to make sure Ganguly gets a few spells in so we have a fifth bowling option at Durban.

 

[silentstriker]

Should play Harbhajan instead of Kumble in the two day match. I'm really not worried about Kumble losing form. Dravid should be given a rest, considering his fingers are still injured.

 

[Raghav]

Indians Big Chokers

Don't put lot of expectations on Indian Cricket Team after their comprehensive win over SAF. They are big chokers.

Did you remember that they won against AUS in 2005 in the 1st test and then lost in their other tests badly. They main weakness is their over confidence. The other weakness is that Indian media creats lot of hype when India win and bash them when they lose it.

Don't worry Smith! You will be on top in the remaining test matches.

All the best Proteas!

 

[Dasa]

Did you remember that they won against AUS in 2005 in the 1st test and then lost in their other tests badly.

If you're talking about Australia in India in 04, India won the final Test after losing two of the previous three. If you're talking about India in Australia 03/04, India won one Test and Australia won one to draw the series 1-1.

 

[adharcric]

Should play Harbhajan instead of Kumble in the two day match. I'm really not worried about Kumble losing form. Dravid should be given a rest, considering his fingers are still injured.

Right, Harbhajan over Kumble there. Dravid might want to spend some more time out in the middle because he didn't get too many runs in the first test.

 

[silentstriker]

Don't put lot of expectations on Indian Cricket Team after their comprehensive win over SAF. They are big chokers.

Did you remember that they won against AUS in 2005 in the 1st test and then lost in their other tests badly. They main weakness is their over confidence. The other weakness is that Indian media creats lot of hype when India win and bash them when they lose it.

Don't worry Smith! You will be on top in the remaining test matches.

All the best Proteas!

Not that I am disputing the well deserved choker tag, but that usually applies to the ODI outfit. In the tests, when they lose away from home, they are generally outclassed. At home, their record would be envied by virtually anyone bar Australia.

 

[silentstriker]

Right, Harbhajan over Kumble there. Dravid might want to spend some more time out in the middle because he didn't get too many runs in the first test.

Yea, but his fingers are pretty badly hurt. The doctor said he shouldn't field at slips. I think he ought to just focus on getting himself back to 100%. I would play Laxman instead.

 

[adharcric]

Yea, but his fingers are pretty badly hurt. The doctor said he shouldn't field at slips. I think he ought to just focus on getting himself back to 100%. I would play Laxman instead.

Sure that works too. Laxman can captain the side in that case.

 

[marc71178]

SA media reporting Smith dropping down the order?

Shades of 2 years ago.

I did wonder if it were significant that he didn't take the first ball in the second innings of the last game - at least Freddie leads from the front!!!

 

[vic_orthdox]

Shades of 2 years ago.

I did wonder if it were significant that he didn't take the first ball in the second innings of the last game - at least Freddie leads from the front!!!

Does Smith always take first ball or something?

 

[marc71178]

Only 11 out of 78 times opening has he not done so...

 

[kvemuri]

Not that I am disputing the well deserved choker tag, but that usually applies to the ODI outfit. In the tests, when they lose away from home, they are generally outclassed. At home, their record would be envied by virtually anyone bar Australia.

Well thats the reason I gotta agree with Raghav...its too early to celebrate one win, although hopefully this boosts the team's morale and we see more positive cricket in this series, but I just hope we don't go into a defensive frame of mind..which they usually do and get thumped in the series.

 

[Jono]

Don't put lot of expectations on Indian Cricket Team after their comprehensive win over SAF. They are big chokers.

Did you remember that they won against AUS in 2005 in the 1st test and then lost in their other tests badly. They main weakness is their over confidence. The other weakness is that Indian media creats lot of hype when India win and bash them when they lose it.

Have you ever seen a more inaccurate post?

They choked against Australia in tests? When have they been 1-0 up and gone on to LOSE the series?

And we didn't play test cricket vs. Aus in 2005.

Just so many errors. But your overall point is correct, India haven't won this series yet so we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. But I'll tell you what, better to be 1-0 up and on top of the world then 0-1 down and having possible both your opening batsman hiding in the middle order in the next game.

 

[Dasa]

Not that I am disputing the well deserved choker tag, but that usually applies to the ODI outfit. In the tests, when they lose away from home, they are generally outclassed. At home, their record would be envied by virtually anyone bar Australia.

Your post got me thinking about India's away record in recent times....something quite surprising came out of it - India has a better record in terms of Test matches won/lost than any team bar Australia in the 2000s (before anyone says it, every team has it's record boosted a bit by wins in Zimbabwe/Bangladesh):
____________P___W___L___D
India -------------39-----14----13----12
Pakistan--------33-----12----13-----8
Sri Lanka-------32-----10----15-----7
England--------42------14----16----12
South Africa--40------13----15----12
New Zealand--27------7-----10----10
West Indies---41-------5----29-----7

Australia-------38------26------8----4

It doesn't mean that much, but it does show that India haven't been easy-beats away from home from a while and have done a reasonable job. The stereotype of India being rubbish away from home and brilliant at home is a bit misplaced I think.
Also shows how far ahead of everyone else Australia has been as well.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Shades of 2 years ago.

I did wonder if it were significant that he didn't take the first ball in the second innings of the last game - at least Freddie leads from the front!!!

By putting a nightwatchsman ahead of him because he was ****ting bricks to face McGrath?

I think its a good move to put Smith down the order. Looks completely hopeless at the top at this point in time, and maybe a stint at four or five may help him regain some touch.