*Official* India in South Africa

[Vroomfondel]

By that same rationale, Harby should have clean-up in the first test as well, since he got 4 for 10 here. Clearly a slightly different wicket.

Well, if you saw Bhajji's spell yesterday, you would agree that that there was good pressure applied at the other end by Zaheer. Without that pressure, I don't think Bhajji would have been as effective.

We had 3 muppets and a bowler for the first test. A fully fit Zaheer would have made a huge difference. I am not sure how you can argue any differently after watching SA's first innings.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Problem with that is you restrict yourselves to not touring either country for their festive period.

Give and take. January is festive season for us too. Why do we always end up doing the travelling?

 

[Cevno]

India having a poor record doesn't mean it's a bad pitch though. The toss plays a big role in Bangalore yes, but then again it's always good to win the toss in India so it shouldn't' matter much. I've only been watching cricket seriously from the 06 Champs trophy till now. So I'm only going by the tests I've seen since then on these particular pitches. If I'm not wrong we have only played in Bangalore against the Aussies 08/10 and both were good matches. The one in 08 was definitely not a "boring draw". In fact we had to bat out the whole day to save the test, Australia weren't good enough to get us out. In the recent test in 2010 we saw it helped everyone. There was swing on offer when it was overcast, there was reverse swing and spin. But if you batted well you could get runs also. I don't understand how it's any slower than most other wickets in India tbh. Agreed with the rest of your post.

That illustrates my point.
Even if you go back to the Pakistan match before that one where they had to bat out the whole day ,it is easy to just not get out there.

It is tough both to score runs in terms of stroke play,also at the same time it is tough for bowlers to take wickets quickly. It is what i call a "dead wicket"


Compare that test in 2008 to the next test at Mohali .
At Bangalore the scoring rate was at average was 3 per over approximately.
While 1190 runs were scored and 30 wickets fell in the whole five days.

Now in the next test at Mohali ,1246 runs were scored at a RPO of near to 3.5.
And at the same time 33 wickets fell in less than full 5 days.

So more runs and more wickets in a lesser time makes for more entertaining cricket.

 

[Cevno]

More to do with the inept BCCI not factoring in climate patterns in their scheduling more than the wicket itself. Chennai is one of the best pitches in the world. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you don't schedule matches there in the November-December period.

Chennai actually had its own fixed annual test in earlier. Cricket season in India is October-March, and Calcutta (?) and Chennai generally hosted the New Years Test and Pongal Test respectively. Perhaps its time to follow SA's lead and bring back a fixed home schedule.

I agree with your point that we should not schedule in October -December there .

I guess March is the best period to play there or Jan?

There are still chances of raining there in Jan to march or affecting pitch preparations like with the SA test,but they are reduced.

It's a great pitch though.

 

[G.I.Joe]

I agree with your point that we should not schedule in October -December there .

I guess March is the best period to play there or Jan?

Yeah, Cevno, HB/Shri are in a better position to confirm, but AFAIK, January is the best time - its nice and cool, little to no rain, Pongal time, and further away than Feb/Mar from the Board examinations for the kids.

 

[Cevno]

Give and take. January is festive season for us too. Why do we always end up doing the travelling?

It is in the South though ,not the North.

And they generally Schedule series in October -November to coincide with Diwali and Durga Puja.

The problem is that when they schedule series in november to december/january they cannot usually play in the northern stadiums ,where the light fades very early and the day time is too small.
And also is really cold. As was the case with India -England match at Mohali in 2008 in december.

Tbf,to them in alternate years they do schedule series in December/January too.

 

[Zinzan]

Fact is, you said India's bowlers would struggle to take wickets. They just bowled out SA in home conditions for 130-odd. Should admit when you are mistaken just like I did in the first test tbf.

I certainly didn't think they'd knock SA over for less than 200 in an innings, so they've done well there. The key will be whether they can do it in the 2nd dig too & get the 20 wickets required.

 

[Jono]

I've woken up more pessimistic than I was when I went to bed at stumps at 2am or so last night.

Think we'll set them 230 or so and they'll chase it down relatively comfortably.

I think obviously VVS and Pujara are important. But Dhoni has been playing miniature captain's knocks in the last 3 innings. He's in good form, and I reckon he could be incredibly vital for India.

 

[shankar]

Give and take. January is festive season for us too. Why do we always end up doing the travelling?

It's pretty much always the festive season for us though isn't it?

 

[Contra]

That illustrates my point.
Even if you go back to the Pakistan match before that one where they had to bat out the whole day ,it is easy to just not get out there.

It is tough both to score runs in terms of stroke play,also at the same time it is tough for bowlers to take wickets quickly. It is what i call a "dead wicket"


Compare that test in 2008 to the next test at Mohali .
At Bangalore the scoring rate was at average was 3 per over approximately.
While 1190 runs were scored and 30 wickets fell in the whole five days.

Now in the next test at Mohali ,1246 runs were scored at a RPO of near to 3.5.
And at the same time 33 wickets fell in less than full 5 days.

So more runs and more wickets in a lesser time makes for more entertaining cricket.

It's tough because there is enough in it for all the bowlers to challenge the batsmen. And wickets can definitely come in a hurry. In that same test in 08 we were 232/7 before Bhajji and Zak saved us. Even in the test in 2010 we lost 5 wickets for about 17 odd runs. It was a pitch where both teams competed and Aussies won the toss which helped them as well.

In the Mohali test Australia were blown away because we got the ball to reverse in 10 odd overs compared to the Aussies who took 70 odd overs to reverse it. If they had got it to reverse earlier then we would have also scored slowly. For me both are good wickets. The only difference is in one match (Bangalore) both bowling attacks showed up but in the other (Mohali) only ours did.

 

[Jono]

Fun little stat.

England's bowling attack in the Ashes has collectively bowled 475.2 overs so far, and given away 5 no-balls.

Ishant Sharma gave away 7 in just 9 overs in South Africa's first innings.

So disgraceful. Will likely cost us the match in the 4th dig.

Also, if Sree bowls poorly and leaks runs, gifting SA a win, surely you will dump him Teja?

 

[G.I.Joe]

It is in the South though ,not the North.

And they generally Schedule series in October -November to coincide with Diwali and Durga Puja.

The problem is that when they schedule series in november to december/january they cannot usually play in the northern stadiums ,where the light fades very early and the day time is too small.
And also is really cold. As was the case with India -England match at Mohali in 2008 in december.

Tbf,to them in alternate years they do schedule series in December/January too.

Scheduling series only on Oct-Nov rules out Chennai, though, which is why it traditionally held Tests in January. I don't really think the cold is as much a factor in the north as the early morning fog is. Indian winters are no more colder than English summers anyway. The ideal thing to do would of course be to schedule October-December tests in the northern and central centres, and December-February tests in the western and southern centres, with a degree of overlap. I don't think Kolkata or Chennai would complain about hosting two tests in the season. This frees up the March-April slot for the IPL, and the rest of the year for overseas tours to the Northern hemisphere countries. SA and Aus would just have to agree to a reciprocal arrangement for bilateral tours. I know Australia plays the spoilt child hoarding all the candy, but surely the BCCI should try and talk it out.

Votebank politics plays a huge role, but still I'm sure it'd be possible to accomodate all parties in such an arrangement.

 

[G.I.Joe]

It's pretty much always the festive season for us though isn't it?

Festive season that doesn't coincide with blazing hot summer or rain, that is

 

[Athlai]

India were inexplicably paying $4.50 to win when SA were 4 down for bugger all, I'm an idiot for not jumping on it.

 

[Jono]

India were inexplicably paying $4.50 to win when SA were 4 down for bugger all, I'm an idiot for not jumping on it.

Haha I saw that.

Tbh SA were paying $1.63 and I almost jumped on that to hedge my bets as an Indian fan.

Glad I waited till SA were paying $3.15

 

[R_D]

Jus thinking had this been an Indian pitch, what the responses would've been

Pitch has been doctored..

Pitch not fit for test cricket..

ICC would release statement saying they'll be looking into the condition of the pitch... etc etc

 

[Cevno]

Pitch has been doctored..

Pitch not fit for test cricket..

ICC would release statement saying they'll be looking into the condition of the pitch... etc etc

So True..

 

[R_D]

I've woken up more pessimistic than I was when I went to bed at stumps at 2am or so last night.

Think we'll set them 230 or so and they'll chase it down relatively comfortably.

I think obviously VVS and Pujara are important. But Dhoni has been playing miniature captain's knocks in the last 3 innings. He's in good form, and I reckon he could be incredibly vital for India.

I keep thinking this match is going bit like 3rd test of the previous test series in SA... Indian batsman screwed up like this last time as well.

Laxman the key man..

I'm really liking the look of Pujara... even if he doesn't score much today... he should be persisted with. Will turn out to be a good solid batsman for India.

 

[Shri]

Yeah Pujara to 6 and Kohli to 3 in the line up when Dravid retires. Or the other way around. I don't know.

 

[Cevno]

Yeah Pujara to 6 and Kohli to 3 in the line up when Dravid retires. Or the other way around. I don't know.

Rahane, Badri, Kohli and perhaps Sharma will be vying for the spot when Dravid retires.

If Badri gets picked then he should go at 3.

If the other 3 get picked then Pujara should bat at 3 with the other one at 6 as they all are more aggresive or atleast can be in terms of explosive hitting too batting with the tail.