***Official*** South Africa in India

[Magrat Garlick]

That's true, but at least he has shown that he is able to take wickets, if he becomes another Langeveldt, somebody that is brilliant at the depth of an innings, well we need that as well. It was his first game for his country, albeit only a warm-up match, and he took the same amount of wickets as one of our strike bowlers (Nel), at least that shows that there is talent.

I also admit that some of them have had problems with line and lenght, but it has improved a lot over the year, at the beginning of this year it really was a disgrace to watch. Pollock, even though he was still quite economical, had gone through a rough stage where he would bowl more than 5 nb in an innings, at least that has gone down dramatically...

Credit for responding so seriously.

Still think Botha's not going to be much more than a Giles or a Boje, but I agree, it's a start.

 

[Arjun]

SA's Justin Kemp will be a key player, not just for his big-hitting, but also his steady medium-pace bowling. The Indians will have to use JP Yadav, a very similar player (but a few inches shorter), the same way.

 

[Arjun]

I can't say much about Botha, but you shouldn't read too much into that performance in the practice match. That Hyderabad side was a very weak one, given that neither Laxman nor Rayudu made the side, and that team depends way too much on these two men. It's a team with a very cheap look, and they don't stand a chance even against a Mumbai academy side– not to mention, that ground in Hyderabad is very bowler-friendly. A match against Delhi or Karnataka would be more challenging.

 

[Sanz]

I dont understand why we are taking credit away from SA for beating Hyderabad which by no means is a weak Ranji team (at least not as weak as portrayed here), It is an elite team in Ranji and has beatedn teams like UP(Raina, RP Singh, Kaif, Yadav all from UP) and Punjab in the Ranji games last year. Besides If we were touring SA and one of our players (who was making his debut) ended up with 3/34, I would be very pleased with his performance no matter who the opposition was.
Not to forget that SA beat Hyderabad pretty convincingly, so the SA fans have the reason to feel good about their team's performance.

 

[jot1]

Snippie, I presume you don't have DSTv? They normally show the whole of any of our overseas games on one of the supersport channels.

 

[jack_sparrow]

I think it just shows what has often been said - in ODI's side A can beat side B on any given day (when you remove Australia, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe)

ofcourse if you have australia and bangaldesh playing each other...then you never know whats going to happen.

hahah

 

[ir0n desi]

News is South Africa have won the toss and they have selected to Field first

India went with a Batsman super sub and ended up Batting first...will be interesting to see if they actually bring him in.

South Africa - Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis,
Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp, +Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Johan
Botha (debut), Charl Langeveldt, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.
SuperSub - Justin Ontong.
India - Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj
Singh, Mohammad Kaif, +Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Ajit
Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Rudra Pratap Singh.

 

[ir0n desi]

India off to a bad start. Virender Sehwag gone first ball of the second the second over in the most common way he gets out. Playing his backfoot drive straight to the man at point. India are 1-1. Mohammed Kaif in playing is 100th ODI.

 

[pug]

4 for 2!
Kaif out

 

[ir0n desi]

Another wicket falls for India. Mohammed Kaif goes...victim of Pollock. Caught in front of the wicket. No doubt that was out. Very good ball from Pollock. Perfect length...Kaif didn't know either to go on front foot or back foot. India are 4-2 in 2.2 and the skipper is in.

 

[pug]

Another! 5 for 3!

OMG!

 

[ir0n desi]

And now India are in huge trouble. Sachin goes too...three wickets down for just five runs. Ball way outside off stump but for some reason instead of leaving it, Sachin decides to stretch out and defend it, and edges it to the keeper.

But it turns out there wasnt an edge. Hariharan showing again how bad is umpiring skills are. Last match against Sri Lanka...there was an edge off some batsman I dont remember who but it was a clear edge..I mean really clear...and it was given a wide. And now when no edge Tendulkar was given out.

I think ICC should reconsider Hariharan umpiring international matches.


India 5-3

 

[pug]

Aah. And down comes the wall. And Gambhir brought in for Kartik. Not India's day by any means.

The scorecard for India's top order reads -
1
2
1
8

35 - 4 in 11 overs.

 

[pug]

And Gambhir brought in for Kartik.

For a brief tour of the pitch.

 

[Sanz]

as usual God is back (in the pavilion) when India needed him most.

 

[pug]

as usual God is back (in the pavilion) when India needed him most.

Along with half the team.

 

[ir0n desi]

Ahem..35-5...Gambhir gone too. India is down in the hole that South Africa dug and need to climb back up. Pathan sent before Dhoni. Hopefully Pathan nd Yuvraj can get a partnership going and let Dhoni come in and finish it off.

 

[pug]

Now here's something I don't understand. Why Pathan before Dhoni? Ok, not a huge difference, but still what rationale is behind that?

 

[Sanz]

Along with half the team.

But they are mere human..

 

[parttimer]

Now here's something I don't understand. Why Pathan before Dhoni? Ok, not a huge difference, but still what rationale is behind that?

They are thinking that after a few more overs the juice will have gone out of the pitch and want to save Dhoni for that.. Prolly