Soth Africa's boring tactics

[ReallyCrazy]

I remember a time when South Africa were my second most fav cricket team. But of late, they have been totally boring. They have been very defensive in this tour to India and also in the previous tour of Sri Lanka. It seems as if they don't want to force a win and are happy to draw right from the first day itself. What's up with that? For example, even after losing 8 wickets in this match, they still didn't go for their shots....they were happy to bat for as much time as possible.

 

[Richard]

New Zealand applied exactly the same tactics in the subcontinent - didn't hear quite so much derision of theirs, or maybe I just wasn't listening properly.
I don't think South Africa will have done too badly if they escape from 4 consecutive Tests on the subcontinent with 3 draws and 1 loss.

 

[Neil Pickup]

South Africa aren't even trying to win matches from the off. England's approach in SL was borne out of the win being impossible, but South Africa don't seem to be aiming for a win from the off.

If you're out of the equation for a win, by all means go for the draw, but this is the opening days of a test match and you're not even trying to win it! They fully deserve to lose the series and it's annoyed me so much I'm even supporting India...

 

[KishanTeli]

Agreed with you Neil, spot on. But I support India anyway.

I think its a very poor advert for the game as well. Not many neutral fans would be watching SA bat thats for sure.

At least Sehwag is giving us some entertainment.

 

[Richard]

Look, not every game can possibly be run-fest-followed-by-collapse-followed-by-result. Which some seem to find entertaining.
Personally I'm getting thoroughly sick of getting-up at 12 and finding-out that yet again Virender Sehwag has opened the batting in Test-cricket and scored a load of runs.
I find South Africa's play far more satisfying than seeing Sehwag with runs against his name time and again.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Have you seen Sehwag bat in this series? He's been far from ordinary. Some delightful strokes, especially through the offside. If you would stop assigning judgement to a player from the outset you may be able to appreciate the game better. Yes, it is possible that Sehwag can actually play well and score runs. Same with Harmison - he can play well and score runs too.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

If you're out of the equation for a win, by all means go for the draw, but this is the opening days of a test match and you're not even trying to win it! They fully deserve to lose the series and it's annoyed me so much I'm even supporting India...

In the first Test that was the case, but in this Test I'd say it's more that India has bowled extremely well, especially the seamers. Runs certainly have not come easily.

 

[ReallyCrazy]

ummm i don't get your logic behind that. you'd rather watch a spiness SA playing for a draw from the first ball itself than virender sehwag who's trying to play positive cricket and going for a result? can you explain what's going on inside your brain?

 

[twctopcat]

Have you seen Sehwag bat in this series? He's been far from ordinary. Some delightful strokes, especially through the offside. If you would stop assigning judgement to a player from the outset you may be able to appreciate the game better. Yes, it is possible that Sehwag can actually play well and score runs. Same with Harmison - he can play well and score runs too.

Spot on, i can't get enough of the bloke, he's one of a kind.

 

[twctopcat]

ummm i don't get your logic behind that. you'd rather watch a spiness SA playing for a draw from the first ball itself than virender sehwag who's trying to play positive cricket and going for a result? can you explain what's going on inside your brain?

No-one can it seems.

 

[ReallyCrazy]

In the first Test that was the case, but in this Test I'd say it's more that India has bowled extremely well, especially the seamers. Runs certainly have not come easily.

yeah the indian pacers bowled well and the runs have not come easily.....but none of the SA batters tried anything remotely positive at any stage of the game. Sometimes, you need to take the bowlers on. Jacques Kallis especially.....he batted well for his 100 but he never tried once to up the scoring rate. They could have at least done it when they were 8 down but instead they were going for a draw.

What kind of cricket is this?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

yeah the indian pacers bowled well and the runs have not come easily.....but none of the SA batters tried anything remotely positive at any stage of the game. Sometimes, you need to take the bowlers on. Jacques Kallis especially.....he batted well for his 100 but he never tried once to up the scoring rate. They could have at least done it when they were 8 down but instead they were going for a draw.

What kind of cricket is this?

He looked like he was intent on picking up the pace when Kumble came on, but didn't go much further than that. IMO he's not in his best form. In his best form he's impossible to stop. He looks rusty to me.

 

[Richard]

Have you seen Sehwag bat in this series? He's been far from ordinary. Some delightful strokes, especially through the offside. If you would stop assigning judgement to a player from the outset you may be able to appreciate the game better. Yes, it is possible that Sehwag can actually play well and score runs. Same with Harmison - he can play well and score runs too.

No, of course I haven't seen this series, it's not being shown in The UK.
Of course it's possible that Sehwag can play well and score runs - it has happened, I watched more closely than most when it happened spectacularly at Trent Bridge in 2002.
But I'm getting sick of it happening with the regularity it's happened since the Border-Gavaskar of last winter.

 

[Richard]

Spot on, i can't get enough of the bloke, he's one of a kind.

I'll take Graeme Smith over him 500 times.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

No, of course I haven't seen this series, it's not being shown in The UK.
Of course it's possible that Sehwag can play well and score runs - it has happened, I watched more closely than most when it happened spectacularly at Trent Bridge in 2002.
But I'm getting sick of it happening with the regularity it's happened since the Border-Gavaskar of last winter.

Maybe... just maybe... he's not that bad a player?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Maybe... just maybe... he's not that bad a player?

On present form Sehwag is India's best batsman as far as I'm concerned, averages over 53 before this Test and that's with 8 Tests played against Australia and 6 against England - so that's half of his 28 Tests played against the best 2 teams in the World with only 1 inning against Zimbabwe, none against Bangladesh.

 

[Richard]

Maybe... just maybe... he's not that bad a player?

Oh, he's a good player, no doubting that - but he's nowhere near as good a Test-match opening batsman as the last 12 months (especially) have made him look.
As an opener, in my estimation, an average in the late 30s would sum him up. Averaging in the mid 50s is just massively flattering. Much as I enjoyed his savaging of Bracken and co. it owed a lot to luck and now it is just getting ridiculous - the 309, obviously, was the start of my feeling this way.
So what if the Tests were against Australia and England? Not like the attacks were anything to write home about mostly. Nor was the Australain fielding.

 

[biased indian]

I'll take Graeme Smith over him 500 times.

For what

 

[biased indian]

Oh, he's a good player, no doubting that - but he's nowhere near as good a Test-match opening batsman as the last 12 months (especially) have made him look.
As an opener, in my estimation, an average in the late 30s would sum him up. Averaging in the mid 50s is just massively flattering. Much as I enjoyed his savaging of Bracken and co. it owed a lot to luck and now it is just getting ridiculous - the 309, obviously, was the start of my feeling this way.
So what if the Tests were against Australia and England? Not like the attacks were anything to write home about mostly. Nor was the Australain fielding.

so what would u say about Gilchrist he also bats almost the similar way sehwag does and he dont have to face the best bowling attack in the world
and i know why u dont like his style of play even though i like sehwwags stly i dont like that of Gilli or flintoff

and by the way if u dont know he is ranked second best in the worldbehind dravid at the moment and if he bats like this he would be on top after this match

 

[Richard]

For what

For enjoying watching him bat, and never tiring of seeing him at the crease.