***Official*** India in South Africa

[aussie]

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!!!

Yep, just goes to show that Smith is a real flat-track, weak attack bully. Has never made runs againts quality bowling to date in his career.

 

[R_D]

India's problem has been their inconsitency in series away from home.... hell they even showing that inconsistency at home recently. They'll win one and than lose the next.. thats been a big problem. Luckily in WI they didn't win until the last match so had nothing to lose. Hopefully it doesn't happen in SA but i wouldn't be suprised if it did.

 

[R_D]

Yep, just goes to show that Smith is a real flat-track, weak attack bully. Has never made runs againts quality bowling to date in his career.

How was that Eng attack when he hit couple of double hundred's in his debut captain series.. weren't Hoggard, Harmison and Flintoff and co in that ?

 

[honestbharani]

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.

Very interesting, Dasa. But we have had two tours of Zim and Bang there. NOt sure if all the other sides have had two tours of Zim and Bang in that time period. But still, it shows that we are improving.

 

[aussie]

How was that Eng attack when he hit couple of double hundred's in his debut captain series.. weren't Hoggard, Harmison and Flintoff and co in that ?

Hoggard didn't play in that series, Flintoff bowling was ok at best, Harmo was still wild.

Other bowlers that played included a Gough past his best, Martin Bicknell, Anderson who was brought down back to earth, Kirtley the chucker, Gilo & the wastefull Kabir Ali.

Make your own judgement on that attack..

 

[R_D]

Hoggard didn't play in that series, Flintoff bowling was ok at best, Harmo was still wild.

Other bowlers that played included a Gough past his best, Martin Bicknell, Anderson who was brought down back to earth, Kirtley the chucker, Gilo & the wastefull Kabir Ali.

Make your own judgement on that attack..

hahaha ok.. i thought Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones etc were in the team but i guess it makes sense why he was unstopable in that series now.

 

[Raghav]

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.

Hi Jono, Just now checked the history! I am sorry. It was in Dec 2003. Here it is

December 2003
Australia v India, 1st Test
4-8 Dec 2003, Brisbane Aus 323 & 284/3d
Ind 409 & 73/2 Match drawn

Australia v India, 2nd Test
12-16 Dec 2003, Adelaide Aus 556 & 196
Ind 523 & 233/6 India won by 4 wickets

Australia A v Indians
19-21 Dec 2003, Hobart Aus A 311/5d & 241/7d
Ind 245 & 66/2 Match drawn

Australia v India, 3rd Test
26-30 Dec 2003, Melbourne Ind 366 & 286
Aus 558 & 97/1 Australia won by 9 wickets

India went on to level the series after everyone expected to win easily after their second test win.

[This is my correction for my previous post]

 

[kvemuri]

India went on to level the series after everyone expected to win easily after their second test win.

[This is my correction for my previous post]

Wha..? no one expected India to win easily after they won the second test, heck no one expected India to win ANY test in that series, forget one test, we were supposed to go down 3-0 and that was supposed to be Steve Waugh's going away present, another thorough thrashing of a lacklustre Indian team down under.

But as history knows that didn't happen, albeit we ended up with a 1-1 series down under (in that time frame when Waugh's Aussies were dismantling teams at home handily) I have to admire (i still do) the resilience that Indian team showed and fought back. I seriously hope this current crop has more than that and doesn't allow SA to square or win the series.

 

[Raghav]

Agreed

 

[Nate]

Got to say how impressed I am with India`s performance after the ODI series. Couldn`t have looked more of a different side, I have really enjoyed watching them play, and with tremendous heart and spirit.

 

[marc71178]

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.

To be fair, those figures include the sub-continent, and the main comment has been based on the out of the sub-continent issue (no series wins in 20 years up to the West Indies this year is a fairly long time)

 

[marc71178]

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

The English side always use a nightwatchman in circumstances like that though.

 

[marc71178]

hahaha ok.. i thought Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones etc were in the team but i guess it makes sense why he was unstopable in that series now.

He wasn't though.

2 double tons and then he came down to Earth quite rapidly (incidentally when the aforementioned Bicknell and Kabir played was after the 2 scores)

 

[Radical Roo]

First Test, tze, tze tze.....

To the few South African supporters:

Was disheartened by the debactle in the first test between India and SA. Now with Steyn injured and other pace bowler treading water big changes are needed. I reckon the big Morne Morkel must come in so he and Ntini and perform the aggressor role with pace and big bounce. Although i like Nel's attitude and his recent improvement in pace, he is suited to One Day games as his aggressiveness is really useful in short intense play but in the longer run, his bowling drops off if he gets belted while he gets more aggressive and that in turn make his bowl even worse. A spinner must be in the side regardless of the pitch, not zat he's there to be a match winner every match but to provide variety and when pitch suits better the spinner can exploit more of the pitch and i really think the proteas should be concentrating on the development of Botha. His debut was quiet good and made immediate impact (knocking over Hussey) and is a handy lower order fighter. Drop Hibbs for Christ sake, Amla is here to take over his spot and is only 24. And for Smith, he's a future great leader but in bit of turmoil at the moment, he should bat lower down the order as the ball will be older so easier to play with, more tired bowlers and more runs on the board so he can have a bit more confidence. Number 6 will suit him as his aggresive batting can be a real bonus when he gets going, this is only for short term though, once he gets his form back he should immediately return to the opener spot. Rudolph should be the short term opener as proven he should be permanent but often overlooked. And protea fans be on the look out of Jean Symes in the next few year, i got a feeling that he will be something in a few years time cos he's only 19 at the moment. Hopefully South Africa can turn up with a similar performance like their one dayers.

 

[tendulkar]

just hope we dont give up this 1-0 lead, thats the challenge for this Indian team

 

[Choc]

It's going to be interesting to me I hope we come back and win the series

 

[TT Boy]

India currently playing a two day knock around with a KwaZulu-Natal Invitational side. Wasn’t a particularly good time for old Wasim Jaffer again who only managed to score 2 whilst Sehwag gave the the Natal guys a bit of stick before departing on 40. India were according to the last update on Cricinfo.com 64/2 with Gambhir and Dravid at the crease. Fantastic opportunity for Gautam with Jaffer’s continuous failures, one decent knock regardless of the attack he is playing could be enough for a test start at Dubran.

 

[adharcric]

Jaffer was disappointing yet again. The man who made the one-day side for his technique continues to edge deliveries to the slips.
Gambhir has really seized his opportunity and is currently playing on 60. Dravid is unbeaten on 30. Gambhir should be set for the Durban test now.

 

[Dravid]

Gambhir is in, Jaffer out for next match

 

[Turbinator]

Gambhir is in, Jaffer out for next match

Whatever doesn't matter we'll win anyhow!