***Official*** South Africa in India

[honestbharani]

Steyn is a hero if he could make India bowler short for 2nd inngs

Edit: Everything settles now.. Sreesanth to face another ball from Steyn

mate, you must be an idiot of the highest proportions to wish that someone should get physically injured, juz because you happen to hate the cricket team he plays for.



And I like to think you are not, so plz don't continue that way.

 

[Craig]

mate, you must be an idiot of the highest proportions to wish that someone should get physically injured, juz because you happen to hate the cricket team he plays for.



And I like to think you are not, so plz don't continue that way.

AWTA.

Can a mod come in and tell Raghav to pull his/her head in?

Meanwhile Graeme Smith is taking the India's bowling attack to the cleaners, so he must be looking at the prospect of having a chance of winnings this game. If I were Kumble (and obviously I'm not) and this keeps on going, I'd be tempted to bring myself or Harbhajan on.

 

[Manee]

Sreesanth and RP Singh have started awfully. They need to pick it up lest the lead be eradicated quickly.

News is that Ishant Sharma has been declared fit for selection in the second Test.

 

[Black_Warrior]

wow and absolutely fantastic comeback from South Africa... With India at 480/1...i thought this match was as dead as the pitch..but thats a superb turnaround....Steyn and Ntini have shown character...

I still predict a draw but its a less boring draw :P

 

[Protean]

What the hell is Smith doing? He is flashing at everything, really not what is needed.

 

[sideshowtim]

What the hell is Smith doing? He is flashing at everything, really not what is needed.

That's actually pretty much what is needed in order for South Africa to have a shot at winning. I applaud Smith for playing positively. I hope Dravid is taking some notes.

 

[Protean]

That's actually pretty much what is needed in order for South Africa to have a shot at winning. I applaud Smith for playing positively. I hope Dravid is taking some notes.

Yeah? There is a difference between being positive and just looking like going out. He was really fishing at some of those.

 

[Craig]

1 slip and a gully with the new ball?

Sorry I don't rate Kumble's captaincy that highly, because he is one to go defensive too early, they still have a lead and if Smith is flashing at everything, then I reckon you have a chance of getting a wicket. And if a bowler is getting an edge and even if goes through the slips, then it is a moral victory for mine.

 

[biased indian]

That's actually pretty much what is needed in order for South Africa to have a shot at winning. I applaud Smith for playing positively. I hope Dravid is taking some notes.

 

[Googenheim]

Sehwag provided a masterclass on how to play spin in India. I hope Ponting was taking notes.

 

[adharcric]

Just bring on the spin ...

 

[sideshowtim]

Sehwag provided a masterclass on how to play spin in India. I hope Ponting was taking notes.

So do I.

 

[Manee]

This is shocking stuff from the opening bowlers. They are both down at around 130kph with no sort of consistency. At this sort of pace, they need to provide some sort of other dimension to differentiate them from the Praveen Kumars or Irfan Pathans who provide better accuracy. There is an art to bowling on flat pitches and it relies on probing the corridor on a fullish length, not bowling erratically with no pace.

Bring on the spinners!

 

[adharcric]

RP Singh looks so utterly harmless right now. I'd seriously consider VRV for the next match if Ishant isn't fit. Pathan is an option but I'm not sure how effective he can be on flat pitches.

 

[Manee]

RP Singh looks so utterly harmless right now. I'd seriously consider VRV for the next match if Ishant isn't fit. Pathan is an option but I'm not sure how effective he can be on flat pitches.

Ishant has been declared fit.

 

[honestbharani]

wonder if an attack of Ishant, Sreesanth and Pathan will serve us better. Ahmedabad must be pretty flat too...


But then again, Chepauk is generally a result pitch and if those guys served up this kind of pitch, the blokes at Motera may just serve a real result pitch.

 

[adharcric]

Ishant and Sreesanth then.

 

[Manee]

Ishant and Sreesanth then.

But is Sreesanth much better? The highlights I saw of him in the first innings looked good, but he has looked similarly toothless in his first 4 overs. Steyn showed that reverse swing is an effective form of attack on these abrasive pitches, so maybe Munaf Patel would be a good option. It is a shame that our only exponent of reverse swing comes with such a risk attached.

 

[Protean]

Ganguly nearly getting the breakthrough. Looking better than the openers.

 

[Protean]

Smith gone!