Indian tour of South Africa, December-January 2010/11

[Adarsh]

I don't think I've been this agitated in a long while. I think I have to turn the tv off and come back to it in an hour's time.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I don't like Sharma and Sree in the side. They bowl the odd match-winning brilliant spell, but too much rubbish in between, and in situations like this, they will lose us the game.

Sharma especially. Atleast Sree has turned in some good spells and taken wickets this series. Ishant's been very poor. Not good enugh.

Chasing 200 is kinda out of the question now, even if they get one of these two out now and then pick out the tail quickly they're looking at 220-230.

India need to be able to chase down 300 in this 4th innings. We know Laxman and Sachin will be able to handle Steyn and co, they've done it already. MSD and Bhajji will scrap. We need another fighting innings from Gambhir, Dravid to show up, Pujara to hang in there (because he does have the technique to survive and score)...essentially everyone in the lineup will need to play well. It's doable, as long as everyone shows up.

That or a Viru masterclass.

 

[Highlander999]

Brilliant, brilliant match, and a brilliant series. One thing this match has shown is how important proper technique is in scoring runs on a pitch which offers something for the bowlers. We saw it to start with, with Kallis's innings and then yesterday with Sachin's (both were magnificent knocks) and again today we are seeing it with Kallis. All it does highlight is how the likes of Sehwag and Dhoni (watching Dhoni get out yesterday playing that shot was like watching one of the kids in the 2XI for my club playing) have really gone soft and been allowed to boost up their career's with flat Indian pitches.

One other thing though, is how well India have bowled this series. Their bowlers always come in for a lot of flack from their own fans as well, but maybe that's because they have only absolute roads to bowl on. Give them a bit of help and they can do a decent job (except maybe Sharma who is a bit iffy imo) It should be the likes of Sehwag who get put under the microscope for their lack of technique in swinging conditions, but they will go home and plunder runs on absolute roads and everyone will be so far up his arse they will forget the fact that he is been more then useless out in South Africa so far.

Still hoping for a South African win, but that's just because there is too much love of untalented sloggers from the Indian contigent and hopefully a South African win will make them realise how stupid they are

 

[Garson007]

It is seriously hot out there. I'm living on the other side of Table Mountain and it's a cool 39 degrees centigrade here.

 

[ferg512]

Brilliant, brilliant match, and a brilliant series. One thing this match has shown is how important proper technique is in scoring runs on a pitch which offers something for the bowlers. We saw it to start with, with Kallis's innings and then yesterday with Sachin's (both were magnificent knocks) and again today we are seeing it with Kallis. All it does highlight is how the likes of Sehwag and Dhoni (watching Dhoni get out yesterday playing that shot was like watching one of the kids in the 2XI for my club playing) have really gone soft and been allowed to boost up their career's with flat Indian pitches.

One other thing though, is how well India have bowled this series. Their bowlers always come in for a lot of flack from their own fans as well, but maybe that's because they have only absolute roads to bowl on. Give them a bit of help and they can do a decent job (except maybe Sharma who is a bit iffy imo) It should be the likes of Sehwag who get put under the microscope for their lack of technique in swinging conditions, but they will go home and plunder runs on absolute roads and everyone will be so far up his arse they will forget the fact that he is been more then useless out in South Africa so far.

Still hoping for a South African win, but that's just because there is too much love of untalented sloggers from the Indian contigent and hopefully a South African win will make them realise how stupid they are

Couldn't agree much more with what you have said.

 

[AkshayS]

Bowlers let it slip once again, If SA by any means will be able to plunder more than 50 runs here, India is gone.

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And Ishant is such a ████ bowler.

 

[mohit_dude10]

India need to keep them under 230-240 to have any realistic chance, cuz i don't think we would be able to chase anything over that even if we have the sachins and laxmans.. too much pressure and if we lose early wicket then gone.

Kallis and Boucher doing to us what Zak and laxman did to them

 

[relentless_rock]

We need Irfan Pathan of old very soon in this team. There is no leader of attack when Zaheer's not around. And he gets injured far too often these days.

Also sadly we might need to go back to Munaf Patel, and get him into test side in place of Ishant.

 

[AkshayS]

Also sadly we might need to go back to Munaf Patel, and get him into test side in place of Ishant.

For sure, try new blood instead of him.

 

[relentless_rock]

For sure, try new blood instead of him.

Not any more. Not atleast one of the already tried and tested fast bowlers cement their plce in side. Otherwise, we'll just keep playing around with careers of new fellows when runs will leak at both ends, and one to face the immediate axe will always be the youngster. Not a fair call that. (thinkin that by new blood you meant a youngster!)

 

[AkshayS]

Not any more. Not atleast one of the already tried and tested fast bowlers cement their plce in side. Otherwise, we'll just keep playing around with careers of new fellows when runs will leak at both ends, and one to face the immediate axe will always be the youngster. Not a fair call that. (thinkin that by new blood you meant a youngster!)

Munaf is not good, it's simple. He's better for ODIs.

And ahh ████, Ishi is back.

 

[mohit_dude10]

Instead of Munaf, RP should be given a go, was very good in England.

 

[subversive]

Dhoni may as well give his gloves to Dravid and start bowling himself, can't be any worse than Sharma

And is it just me or is Robin Jackman the most annoying non-Indian commentator ever...

 

[relentless_rock]

I too said Munaf with a heavy heart, playing him is like havin a 40 year old in side, but he keeps a tight line n length.

Also if Zak n Sree get away with bowling in 120s, I would want to see Praveen Kumar in Test side. He is a very aggressive n thinking bowler with ability to swing both ways. No mroe should we just continue to discard him because of his pace.

If you are not in 140s+ kph you are not quick enough anyways to trouble batsmen with pace, which so is the cae with our current attack.

 

[AkshayS]

Wow, Tendulkar doing the trick, it kept low and missed by Boucher who was actually expecting a short one.

Great work, now India should look to get them out under 20-30 runs.