India tour of South Africa - 2013/14

[cricket_online]

Conditions have favored India - Philander
South Africa v India, 1st Test, Johannesburg, 3rd day : Conditions have favoured India - Vernon Philander | Cricket News | South Africa v India | ESPN Cricinfo

Not our problem Philander, absolutely not our problem!!! And don't even talk up the typical conspiracy theory of the BCCI buying CSA and asking them to prepare a pitch like this!! With both boards in a tussle over Lorgat, the last thing on earth that CSA would do is instruct the groundsman to prepare an Indian pitch.

And this pitch has not been an Indian pitch at all. It has provided help to the fast bowlers by giving good pace and bounce. And yet, its good for strokemaking batsman. If a good wicket is one where the Indian batsmen always should fail, then we better start changing our mindset on what good wickets are.

Have to say am more than surprised by those comments from Philander. In a way he has thrown in the towel and is making up excuses by Day 3!!!

 

[cricketaddict]

Well bring it on bashers. Say India played on a flat track. I want to listen even one person saying this . This is what happens when we are under dogs we SURPRISE!! Also I know people will bs about BCCI bullying for pitches etc but remember still 20 wickets are needed. This is SAF's home whatever piitches they get is what they have to perform on. Well done lads!

 

[Fenil]

My only worry is, we depending too much on 3 pacers that might impact the fitness of our pacers. They should have used Ashwin bit more than heavy use of pacers who looked so good in first innings. Just couldn't believe my eyes on Ishant.

I'm sure Ashwin will be used more on the 5th day's pitch. I think the spinners will come into play from the post tea session today. I am surprised with Ishant's performance as well. He has not used the height to his benefit the way he used in the first innings, in years. To everyone talking about the injury of Morne helping India's cause, lets not forget the combo of Steyn and Philander is a deadly one and it is this combo that have taken most of the wickets for RSA in the test matches in the past few years with Morne playing second fiddle to Steyn and the batsmen like Pujara and Kohli don't have too much experience to bat in the RSA conditions. In fact, it is the first tour of RSA for Pujara with the senior team so both of them deserve the credit they have been getting.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

the main reason India have coped better than SAF is SAF bowled wide far too often and relied on the bouncer to shake things up. the only question they asked of india was 'can you be disciplined enough not to waft at things and not panic at a bouncer?'.

and pujara, vijay to an extent, rahane and kohli evidently could.

india came out and bowled full at the stumps, all in all just playing better cricket, the pitch wasn't playing like a deadly green top but there was good carry and movement in the air, a proper test wicket.

 

[playkid12]

Is anyone else starting to feel more confident when Ojha bowls over Ashwin? Both are good bowlers, but I feel like Ashwin tries way too many things (esp recently), while Ojha bowls within himself.

I'm not sure what stopping before bowling the ball really accomplishes. It works in gully cricket, but it's backfired a few times on him.

I see Ashwin as more talented, but Ojha as possibly the more intelligent of the two.

 

[shravi]

I don't understand how it has taken Zak 13 years of international cricket to realize that he can't be grossly unfit and overweight. Surely this is something every professional sportsman knows...

 

[Aalay]

Is anyone else starting to feel more confident when Ojha bowls over Ashwin? Both are good bowlers, but I feel like Ashwin tries way too many things (esp recently), while Ojha bowls within himself.

I'm not sure what stopping before bowling the ball really accomplishes. It works in gully cricket, but it's backfired a few times on him.

I see Ashwin as more talented, but Ojha as possibly the more intelligent of the two.

I agree, we should at least give a chance to Ojha overseas. He becomes a totally different bowler when he gets some bounce form the surface. If you see his stats in last 2 test matches in Mumbai where there is better bounce than rest of the Indian wickets, he has done very well. Against England in 2012, he got a 5-fer and than against WI recently he had 10 wickets in the match. We will not have the luxury of Ashwin's batting but I feel Ojha deserves a chance overseas.

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Poor batting from Dhoni, he should have really started attacking right after lunch.

 

[AngryPixel]

lol, Zaheer trying to protect Ishant by playing the perfect front foot defense and running on the 4th ball of the over.

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I don't understand how it has taken Zak 13 years of international cricket to realize that he can't be grossly unfit and overweight. Surely this is something every professional sportsman knows...

Just imagine how good he would have been in his younger days if he was so dedicated to fitness then. could have swung the ball at high 140's with this fitness in his younger days.

 

[Aalay]

Time for some fun with Zaheer and Ishant

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First six of the match by Zaheer Khan

 

[scratch978]

SIX, What a shot! That's the first six of the match. Tossed up full and Zaheer just stays in the crease to thump it inside out over extra cover. Superbly done.

 

[AngryPixel]

A cameo fifty from Zaheer would be an icing on the cake and some salt on the wounds of SAF

 

[scratch978]

The Indian dressing room is out in numbers at the balcony and enjoying this show from the tail.

 

[Aalay]

Imran Tahir gets a wicket, stand up and applaud the champion.

 

[scratch978]

South Africa seem to have opted for the heavy roller. We can draw parallels to the way they've been rolled over by India so far. Pujara and Kohli stuck it out with a massive stand to ensure India finished with a sizeable lead.
South Africa were hampered by the loss of Morkel. Their woes were doubled with Steyn suffering his worst run of form in a long time.

 

[shravi]

Imran Tahir gets a wicket, stand up and applaud the champion.

At least he didn't do his stupid celebration.