India tour of South Africa - 2013/14

[abhi_jacko]

To be fair you cannot really see much into a poor batting show when you are chasing 350+. There is already an insane amount of pressure wrt the target without bringing in other factors like world class bowling attack, conditions, etc

Except YUVI all others got some sort of a start - the 2 runouts were unfortunate

 

[used2bcool]

Agreed, it's too early to have doomsday predictions, but I think we cannot get away with giving up 300-odd runs every time we bowl. The South African bowling attack is too good not to defend that score. I think a more achievable target might be in the 250-260 range. If we're letting them run up 320+ each game, we're not winning anything.

 

[War]

How did S Africa loose to Pakistan & N Zealand at home this year & are ranked 5th in ODIs? Ha

When they perform like this, which is almost the perfect game (although the bowling at times was a bit loose), as i always say you have to wonder why their ODI team, which such top proven players, doesn't dominate all their like their test team does.

They are clearly the best in the world in all formats, they just somehow need to replicate their test form across ODI's & T20 consistently & be the all conquering side like the recent AUS side was that won three consecutive world cups.

 

[Helpman]

Mate, As a Proteas supporter, I wish I knew the reason...It can be very, very frustrating!! Too happy we won tonight

 

[ricky87]

Agreed, it's too early to have doomsday predictions, but I think we cannot get away with giving up 300-odd runs every time we bowl. The South African bowling attack is too good not to defend that score. I think a more achievable target might be in the 250-260 range. If we're letting them run up 320+ each game, we're not winning anything.

That average total batting first at Johannesburg before this game was 222 is a validation of how helpless our bowling attack is.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

That average total batting first at Johannesburg before this game was 222 is a validation of how helpless our bowling attack is.

that may be true but south africa's other ODI score this year at johannesburg, against a pakistan team that troubled them, was 343. the highest scoring game of the sri lankan series last year was Johannesburg as well.

I think it's safe to assume this ground has flattened out in recent years, or at least is playing a way that south african batsmen are comfortable with now.

I still see india struggling every game, morkel and steyn looked brilliant and yuvraj and raina just don't look able to play in these conditions, but I don't think india leeked 150 runs over the par score here.

 

[stefan]

That average total batting first at Johannesburg before this game was 222 is a validation of how helpless our bowling attack is.

Average score doesn't mean much. This is the same ground where SA chased 434 vs aus. The average is brought down by some low scores from the likes of zim,ect. Wanderers is genereally a high scoring venue.

 

[SaiSrini]

I still have hope in our team. We just need to get our act right, and take time to get used to the conditions. Even though some of the players came here as part of the A team, international experience is still valued bigger. I am confident that we should get into the groove soon.

I wish some one gets injured and they bring Vijay into the ODI side. Normally I wouldn't want him to touch the ODI squad even with a 10-ft pole, but since he is a certainty to start in the tests, I want him to get some match experience in SA before the real deal (tests) starts. I am confident Pujara will get going quicker because he is technically sounder and has patience in oodles. And hope some bowler is injured so that Zak can also be used as the backup for ODI's and get match rhythm.

But I do want to say that Dhoni can fight hard with Sachin Tendulkar in staking the claim for the "best ever Indian ODI batsman". And Dhoni due to his batting spot, has won more games for India than Tendulkar. He bats brilliantly in all conditions. Hope MSD is as fit as today and as much in form as today, when the 2015 WC comes. We need him leading India into the WC, and he is our best chance at retaining the trophy for the first time ever! Dhoni when he hangs up his boots, will be hailed a 'legend' of the game purely for the way he plays the game, and for the way he conducts himself (even though his test game is not in the legendary league).

 

[Aalay]

I know I exaggerated a bit but looking at how our players played today, it would be very surprising if we win this series. I mean India can win one of the ODI matches if one of Kohli and Dhoni hits the form again but with our bowling, it is hard to see how we will defend. In tests, I don't have any doubt that we will lose 2-0 because seeing how Steyn and Morkel went today, it would be an achievement if we even manage to draw one of those test matches.

 

[War]

Mate, As a Proteas supporter, I wish I knew the reason...It can be very, very frustrating!! Too happy we won tonight

Ye the test team was having this problem recently, drawing a few test series and strangely not winning a test series at home for like 2 years IIRC. But they sorted that out & so too should the ODI team with the players at their disposal.

 

[Sahil 7]

Next match we need to make couple of changes yuvi and mohit to left out and bring Rayudu and umesh or ishant

 

[volley191]

Hey guys.. I kinda missed the first few overs of the SA bowling.. heard it was awesome.. Do any of you guys have a video of that spell from Dale steyn?? I would really love to watch that spell..

 

[sami ullah khan]

How do you not play Yadav has bamboozled me? He is the fastest Indian seamer I have watched ever. He performed brilliantly in Australia meaning he knows how to bowl in seamer friendly conditions. To play crap like Mohit in his place is a puzzle that I can't solve.
Saffers were relieved to face a week bowling outfit. It just goes to show how well Pakistanis bowled to them throughout the last couple of months. Seamers and spinner alike made them earn every run.

 

[logout20]

yup need to change the bowling lineup

 

[mrzdt]

Brilliant bowling by Steyn. The reason SA is at the top of the Test rankings is Steyn. Sure we have other good players but he is in a class of his own. There is no pace bowler in the world that comes close to him. He just consistently bowls exceptionally well.

The reason for SA struggles in ODI is twofold: one, we struggle against spin bowling. We stop hitting boundaries and the players seem to scared to lose their wickets. Wanderers was not a ground for spin so it makes us look really good. The second reason is that our bowlers don't have the same effect in ODI's as in Test cricket. It seems Steyn is improving in ODI's and so is the rest of the bowlers.

Hopefully they continue to do so.

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I really liked the team from last night. The only problem is Smith should probably fit in somewhere. Don't know who to drop though.

I would change Parnell for Philander. Their batting is about the same but Philander is definitely a better bowler.

Despite a few wides, McLaren did really well. SA needs a good bowling allrounder and he will do the job.