***Official*** India in South Africa

[Jono]

Unlucky for SA.

 

[Dravid]

For some reason draw still comfortably favourite on Bet365.

The light, the rain.

 

[Jono]

16.4 Pollock to Laxman, no run, on the stumps defended away. Both the batsmen are yet to complain about light to the umpires. If Javed Miandad was there, surely, he would have acted as if it was pitch dark! You got to be street smart! The light has gone a bit dark here in the last four or five minutes

LOL Cricinfo.

 

[adharcric]

Unlucky for SA.

India are usually on the wrong side of rain. We have a history of getting screwed by weather. This will be a first if we can pull off a draw thanks to bad light and/or rain.

 

[adharcric]

Ntini has been brilliant today, easily among the top 5 fast bowlers in the world IMO.

On another note, pathetic shot selection by Jaffer. He should still play at Cape Town with Gambhir.

 

[Jono]

India are usually on the wrong side of rain. We have a history of getting screwed by weather. This will be a first if we can pull off a draw thanks to bad light and/or rain.

Don't worry I'm fully aware. Chennai 2004 vs. Aus, vs. WI earlier this year etc., but still if I was a SA fan I'd be shattered.

 

[adharcric]

Don't worry I'm fully aware. Chennai 2004 vs. Aus, vs. WI earlier this year etc., but still if I was a SA fan I'd be shattered.

So would I. You're an India fan though, no need to worry about them.

 

[Dravid]

Don't worry I'm fully aware. Chennai 2004 vs. Aus, vs. WI earlier this year etc., but still if I was a SA fan I'd be shattered.

Yeah, but I am a bit upset by how the Saf reacted. On day 1 they were fine with going inside when Prince was on 98 and bad light was offered. Yesterday Indians go in and look at Smiths face. It doesn't work that way, just because you are on the brink of victory doesn't mean that the batsman don't have the right to take bad light.


If the batsman didn't take light on day 1, I would understand, but saf did take light on day 1, and when Indians took the light they are standing in the field making faces.

 

[Jono]

Update: 11.15 local time Keith Lane, our man at the ground, says "With very little wind around the ground the chances of the low cloud being blown away is very slim. There is also rain in the area which makes the prospects of prolonged play almost impossible. At the moment the gloomy conditions will keep the players off the field for a while yet. We do however have Ganguly out in the middle, walking from crease to crease it what apparently seems to be an attempt to get his eyes adjusted to the conditions."

Can't be easy out there, especially facing an on-song Ntini.

 

[Jono]

Oh, here come the rains.

 

[Prince EWS]

The whole light situation is disgraceful IMO. I think it is just part of the general conditions that the game is played in, like a deteriorating pitch or a slow outfield. I can understand coming off for rain because it really is nearly impossible to play proper cricket in it, but the light situation really irks me. Just turn the lights on and get on with it.

 

[adharcric]

Yeah, but I am a bit upset by how the Saf reacted. On day 1 they were fine with going inside when Prince was on 98 and bad light was offered. Yesterday Indians go in and look at Smiths face. It doesn't work that way, just because you are on the brink of victory doesn't mean that the batsman don't have the right to take bad light.


If the batsman didn't take light on day 1, I would understand, but saf did take light on day 1, and when Indians took the light they are standing in the field making faces.

Dude, everyone (including you) would react the same way Smith did in that position.
Perhaps some would hide their feelings better than others, but every fielding captian would be angry and every batsman in the middle would be delighted in that situation.

 

[Dravid]

Dude, everyone (including you) would react the same way Smith did in that position.
Perhaps some would hide their feelings better than others, but every fielding captian would be angry and every batsman in the middle would be delighted in that situation.

I get that but he has to realize it's not always going to work his way. Like I said, I would have understood if the Safs didn't take light on day 1, and then India took light yesterday. But the fact that they did, and then they make faces about India taking light..I don't like that.

 

[Jono]

Really, who cares what face Smith puts on?

 

[adharcric]

I get that but he has to realize it's not always going to work his way. Like I said, I would have understood if the Safs didn't take light on day 1, and then India took light yesterday. But the fact that they did, and then they make faces about India taking light..I don't like that.

Bad light will reduce his chances of victory so it's only natural for Smith to be enraged. Is it unfair on him? No. Nothing wrong with him being annoyed though.
As Jono said, who cares? As long as it keeps raining and we pull off a draw, Smith can make all the faces he wants to.

 

[Dravid]

Ganguly is also an idiot

 

[adharcric]

Jaffer, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly, Dhoni, Kumble, Zaheer, Sreesanth, Munaf at Cape Town. Dead set IMO.

Thoughts on Dhoni? He should be given the 3rd test but he is perilously close to being dropped for Karthik in my book.

 

[Dravid]

Oh my god that almost went onto the stumps.


Please don't play shots I'm begging you!

 

[adharcric]

Bloody hell, it stopped raining and they started play?

 

[James90]

No-one ****s me like Ganguly. He's the worst guy.