*Official* India in South Africa

[taipan1]

The last time Sachin hit 100 against SA, I guess there was a result too!

Did we win that one as well?

 

[Blaze 18]

Rain all day tomorrow pleeeeease....

x 2

x 3

Haha, it would be great if that happens, eh ? Payback for 3rd Test: South Africa v India at Johannesburg, Jan 16-20, 1997 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo


Not too likely to happen, though - Pretoria Irene-10-day Extended Weather Forecasts - in.weather.com


If only MS Dhoni had stuck around for another fifteen minutes, India would have had a realistic chance of saving the game. Still, India can take a lot of positives from this game. They lost their best bowler to injury (only world-class bowler, perhaps) before the start of game, after which MS Dhoni lost yet another toss. That meant South African bowlers had the best of the conditions - not taking credit away from the South African bowlers; they bowled extremely well.

It was always going to be an uphill task after that. India didn't help themselves at all by bowling tripe - the pitch definitely had something in it, it is just that the Indian bowlers were not good enough to make use of what was on offer; unimaginative captaincy didn't help India's cause either. The way the batsmen fought back in the second innings means there is still hope, hope that India may still gone on to win the series. For them to do that though, they will need to do three things :

1) Say au revoir to Suresh Raina, get in C.Pujara or Murali Vijay.

2) Bring back Zaheer Khan in place of Unadkat - what does the dude do anyway ? No pace, no movement, no nothing.

3) Ask Harbhajan Singh to watch a few clips of Paul Harris bowling to the Indian batsmen.

 

[smash84]

Haha, it would be great if that happens, eh ? Payback for 3rd Test: South Africa v India at Johannesburg, Jan 16-20, 1997 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo


Not too likely to happen, though - Pretoria Irene-10-day Extended Weather Forecasts - in.weather.com


If only MS Dhoni had stuck around for another fifteen minutes, India would have had a realistic chance of saving the game. Still, India can take a lot of positives from this game. They lost their best bowler to injury (only world-class bowler, perhaps) before the start of game, after which MS Dhoni lost yet another toss. That meant South African bowlers had the best of the conditions - not taking credit away from the South African bowlers; they bowled extremely well.

It was always going to be an uphill task after that. India didn't help themselves at all by bowling tripe - the pitch definitely had something in it, it is just that the Indian bowlers were not good enough to make use of what was on offer; unimaginative captaincy didn't help India's cause either. The way the batsmen fought back in the second innings means there is still hope, hope that India may still gone on to win the series. For them to do that though, they will need to do three things :

1) Say au revoir to Suresh Raina, get in C.Pujara or Murali Vijay.

2) Bring back Zaheer Khan in place of Unadkat - what does the dude do anyway ? No pace, no movement, no nothing.

3) Ask Harbhajan Singh to watch a few clips of Paul Harris bowling to the Indian batsmen.

raina got out as if he was giving catching practice. Why is that guy in the team????

 

[taipan1]

Zaheer Khan

Overall 261@31.22
In SA 13@38.61

 

[Blaze 18]

raina got out as if he was giving catching practice. Why is that guy in the team????

He was only picked as a stop-gap replacement for Yuvraj Singh during the Sri Lankan series. The dude ended up getting a crucial century on debut - India would have lost that series if they had lost that test, and India were in trouble when he walked in to bat. That said, he should never have been picked for this series. It is clear that he cannot play the short-ball to save his life. It beats me why he was picked over more technically accomplished batsmen like C.Pujara, Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay.

 

[vcs]

He was only picked as a stop-gap replacement for Yuvraj Singh during the Sri Lankan series. The dude ended up getting a crucial century on debut - India would have lost that series if they had lost that test, and India were in trouble when he walked in to bat. That said, he should never have been picked for this series. It is clear that he cannot play the short-ball to save his life. It beats me why he was picked over more technically accomplished batsmen like C.Pujara, Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay.

Yeah, Raina should always get some credit for his crucial knocks in SL, but my God, the guy is way way out of his depth over here.

 

[Dissector]

Personally I would be happy if India can draw the series 1-1. A series win is now probably out of reach but clawing back a win should be possible if Zaheer comes back and Dhoni can win some fricking tosses.

 

[ankitj]

These Dhoni 90's are frustrating. How many does he have now? about 10?

 

[vcs]

This was a brilliant innings TBF. If even with his unorthodox/dodgy technique, he can bat positively against this attack, the likes of Raina should be taking lessons.

 

[ankitj]

This was a brilliant innings TBF. If even with his unorthodox/dodgy technique, he can bat positively against this attack, the likes of Raina should be taking lessons.

Dhoni is a much better batsman than he looks. He plays intelligently and scores some useful runs against good attacks too. I remember on last tour to South Africa too he played some intelligent knocks (not sure it was in tests or ODIs)

Technique is of course overrated. A Dhoni will look ugly even when he middles. A Raina will look better even if he is beaten all ends up. But it doesn't matter a bit if Dhoni can stand up against SA pace bowlers in SA.

 

[kingjulian]

I was expecting Steyn to crank up the pace and have a go under fading light. Dhoni should have let that bouncer go or taken a body blow. A couple more overs and India would have had a real chance of fighting for a draw.

But to be very honest. They have not bowled well enough to deserve anything. The batting collapse was understandable - without taking much credit away from Steyn and Morkell, there were some excuses that could be made for the Indian batsmen. Like lack of tour matches, losing the toss on a very damp wicket etc etc. They have even managed to claw their way back a bit in the second innings. But India should have definitely taken more than 4 wickets and letting SA score at that rate was criminal. SA won't have a chance of a result in this game, if they had scored slower. You didn't need significantly better bowlers to achieve that. It was poor captaincy, poor fielding and horrible bowling for two days. I don't see how a draw would be a fair result.

Pujara for Raina would be a definite improvement for the batting unit that has already proved that they can take on the SA bowlers. Also good to see Sehwag and Gambir get some runs on the board.

 

[Cevno]

Because most of them do. No pressure?

So there was not pressure today?

 

[M0rphin3]

This was a brilliant innings TBF. If even with his unorthodox/dodgy technique, he can bat positively against this attack, the likes of Raina should be taking lessons.

Won't call it brilliant tbh, but still very good.

 

[vcs]

Before I go to sleep, my prediction for the day is that both these batsman will get to 100, but SA will pick up a bagful of wickets before COP, one of the centurions will remain not out and my guess is Tendulkar.

Pretty close.

 

[Blaze 18]

I was expecting Steyn to crank up the pace and have a go under fading light. Dhoni should have let that bouncer go or taken a body blow. A couple more overs and India would have had a real chance of fighting for a draw.

But to be very honest. They have not bowled well enough to deserve anything. The batting collapse was understandable - without taking much credit away from Steyn and Morkell, there were some excuses that could be made for the Indian batsmen. Like lack of tour matches, losing the toss on a very damp wicket etc etc. They have even managed to claw their way back a bit in the second innings. But India should have definitely taken more than 4 wickets and letting SA score at that rate was criminal. SA won't have a chance of a result in this game, if they had scored slower. You didn't need significantly better bowlers to achieve that. It was poor captaincy, poor fielding and horrible bowling for two days. I don't see how a draw would be a fair result.

Pujara for Raina would be a definite improvement for the batting unit that has already proved that they can take on the SA bowlers. Also good to see Sehwag and Gambir get some runs on the board.

Very succinctly put.

 

[Blaze 18]

Personally I would be happy if India can draw the series 1-1. A series win is now probably out of reach but clawing back a win should be possible if Zaheer comes back and Dhoni can win some fricking tosses.

Yeah, it is hard to see India winning the series from here. It is precisely why the first match of a three test series is so crucial - lose one and there is little chance of a comeback. I can't see the series ending in a draw ; all three matches will have results (assuming there is no rain).

 

[Himannv]

Pretty close.

Yeah, excepting that Dhoni didn't score a century, thats spot on.

 

[smash84]

Very succinctly put.

what is the rain forecast for tomorrow???

 

[vcs]

I wish they didn't have Super Sopper and all this newfangled ****.

 

[Blaze 18]

what is the rain forecast for tomorrow???

Pretoria Irene-10-day Extended Weather Forecasts - in.weather.com