*Official* India in South Africa

[Contra]

India still not out of the game I feel. Sehwag could do something crazy, Tendulkar might score runs again, Laxman always bails India out of tough circumstances, among other things.

What it probably does mean is that they aren't indisputably the #1 side in the world.

I don't think they ever were tbh. India were never dominant#1.. but we were the most consistent.

Really dissapointed by the fact that we let SA off the hook. Kallis is unreal. I'm genuinely starting to get worried that he might surpass Sach in the most amount of test runs and centuries.

I'm hoping for an India draw now. Unless Sehwag wants to treat us

 

[centurymaker]

I don't think they ever were tbh. India were never dominant#1.. but we were the most consistent.

Really dissapointed by the fact that we let SA off the hook. Kallis is unreal. I'm genuinely starting to get worried that he might surpass Sach in the most amount of test runs and centuries.

I'm hoping for an India draw now. Unless Sehwag wants to treat us

Very unlikely tbh. SA don't play another test till September and who knows what sort of form he'll be in by then.

 

[Contra]

Very unlikely tbh. SA don't play another test till September and who knows what sort of form he'll be in by then.

Yeah I suppose that's the only question mark even I had ealier because I'm not sure SA play as much tests as India. This year is huge for India. We have what 8-9 tests?

 

[TT Boy]

Loving the armchair critics calling Smith a “*****”. Like **** anyone (excluding internet warriors) would have declared on 270 when you only have 1 strike bowler (Morne doesn’t do 4th innings) and the ball is turning, keeping low, spitting out of the rough and you don’t have a spinner. India has only batted more than 90 overs twice in this series, so that’s more than enough time and statistically it favours the seamers in the morning not the afternoon at Newlands.

 

[TT Boy]

Graeme Smith and MS Dhoni

Pathetic.

Bring back Fleming and Vaughan.

Why? Would they have declared on 270?

 

[centurymaker]

Yeah I suppose that's the only question mark even I had ealier because I'm not sure SA play as much tests as India. This year is huge for India. We have what 8-9 tests?

Actually SA play as many tests as India if not more. It's just that there's alot of other things happening this year.

India tour WI & England,
and then WI tour India, followed by tour of Aus so thats alot of cricket.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Loving the armchair critics calling Smith a “*****”. Like **** anyone (excluding internet warriors) would have declared on 270 when you only have 1 strike bowler (Morne doesn’t do 4th innings) and the ball is turning, keeping low, spitting out of the rough and you don’t have a spinner. India has only batted more than 90 overs twice in this series, so that’s more than enough time and statistically it favours the seamers in the morning not the afternoon at Newlands.

I'm not saying that he should have declared on 270, but at about 310-320, and given themselves five or so overs that night. It also means that they have a good 16 overs or so with the second new ball.

To be fair, if they are making up time in the morning tomorrow and it's a 98 over day, it takes that out of the equation a little bit.

 

[centurymaker]

I'm not saying that he should have declared on 270, but at about 310-320, and given themselves five or so overs that night. It also means that they have a good 16 overs or so with the second new ball.

To be fair, if they are making up time in the morning tomorrow and it's a 98 over day, it takes that out of the equation a little bit.

nah 90 overs max tomorrow.

 

[Teja.]

We should start stonewalling to save our arses as soon as Sehwag goes off cheap, which he most likely will, IMHO. I'd have happily taken a draw before the series tbh, It's just so ****ing annoying that we come agonizingly close and then **** everything up.

 

[Arjun]

Pujara at three might come useful. He's largely had a terrible series, but one huge innings (and he gets them quick in good form) will make him a hero. If they play out for a draw, they'll be in even more trouble, as we've seen opposition fielding sides crush them at such a time. Dravid may come in at five or six, leaving a slightly more in-form top five to chase down the total.

Let it look like the South Africans caused a draw, more than the Indians aiming for one.

 

[MrIncredible]

This match is perfectly poised for the little master, to take it home for India.

India, i say go for it. If Sehwag and Gambhir can last good 20 overs or so with the score around 70 or 80 odd, then match on IMO.

 

[GotSpin]

Can Gambhir even bat

 

[Teja.]

South Africa v India: Gambhir to bat in second innings, but is ruled out of ODI series | Cricket News | South Africa v India | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Prince EWS]

Can Gambhir even bat

Burgey to reply.

 

[kingkallis]

I also think we will go for it. The first session will decide the game.

 

[M0rphin3]

Steyn to pick at most 2 wickets on this spiceless wicket. Tsotsobe & Harris (WACs) to leak runs.

Smith to regret for being a dickhead and not playing Botha.

 

[Bun]

If Gambhir can't bat, I think India should surprise the oppostion by opening with Sachin and Sehwag.

 

[Dissector]

To be perfectly honest, while Dhoni's captaincy deserves criticism let's not forget that he has had to work with what is an average attack unless Zaheer is fully fit which he wasn't this time. That probably explains his defensive mindset though it doesn't excuse it. Overall he has done a decent job of coaxing 20 wickets out of an attack which frequently looks incapable of that task.

Yesterday he had the following to work with:
a) a half-fit Zaheer
b)Sreesanth: an average bowler who occasionally fires
c)Ishant: below test-class and rarely fires
d)Harbhajan: a decent bowler who did more than his share and was tiring
e) No Sehwag (apparently) and Sachin who hasn't bowled much recently

It's utterly remarkable how far this attack has taken us over the last couple of years but realistically it is going to fail horrendously every now and then and that's what happened. For the future we need to drop Ishant and try to groom another quick bowler who is at least average. And we need to always have a fifth bowling option. If Sehwag can't do it, either Sachin has to practice his bowling much more or we need to pick no.6 with bowling in mind (though not Raina).

 

[TT Boy]

Steyn to pick at most 2 wickets on this spiceless wicket. Tsotsobe & Harris (WACs) to leak runs.

Smith to regret for being a dickhead and not playing Botha.

Again, what are you talking about? You posted a couple days ago that South Africa were bowling crud that after stringing 15 overs together where India scored all of 20 runs and now the wicket is apparently a road and Smith is selecting the playing XI...

And aside from being a rocket, what does WAC mean?

 

[centurymaker]

If Gambhir can't bat, I think India should surprise the oppostion by opening with Sachin and Sehwag.

dream on.
has never happened and will never happen. India will be playing for a draw!!