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

[Paki007]

So Finally a sad end matches is called off oh boy i wasted my whole day for a called off match

 

[SaiSrini]

2-2 now. Good series with both teams fighting it out well. Cricinfo says there are thunderstorms forecast for the 5th game as well (at Centurion). If that game is also washed out, it will be yet another drawn series between these two teams (we have seen drawn series in ODI's before for these two sides quite often)

 

[Paki007]

someone please bribe the weather guy

 

[Params7]

I ****ing hate rain. LET THERE BE NO RAIN FOR THE FINAL

 

[angryangy]

This match is almost OVER!!! I knew Yusuf would flop this match. It was expected. He wont keep on succeeding with the game he has.

A bit harsh! Is he the only one who has to score runs? Where's the "I knew Sharma, Patel, Yuvraj, Raina and Dhoni would flop this match" post?

I know he's not the darling of the side, but I would have thought a match-winning performance would cut him slack for at least one match, especially with everyone bar Kohli being sub-par.

 

[shravi]

Kohli is destined for greatness. He's just so good. Get him in the test squad, I say. He's got the technique to succeed on bowler friendly pitches.

 

[SaiSrini]

Kohli is destined for greatness. He's just so good. Get him in the test squad, I say. He's got the technique to succeed on bowler friendly pitches.

He should very soon make it to the test side. I didnt know how he would fare in challenging conditions against hostile bowlers, but if he can stand up to Steyn/Morkel, he is just really good.

 

[LongLegs?]

Kohli. WAG. I'll rage if he isn't in the starting eleven for the first game of the World Cup.

And, yeah, should probably be the next batsman to get a chance in the Test team.

 

[stefan]

2-2 now. Good series with both teams fighting it out well. Cricinfo says there are thunderstorms forecast for the 5th game as well (at Centurion). If that game is also washed out, it will be yet another drawn series between these two teams (we have seen drawn series in ODI's before for these two sides quite often)

Thunderstorms only come in the afternoon, there will be enough overs bowled for a match.

Hopefully SA batsmen click for once in the series. Been way too inconsistent.

 

[Cricketman]

Agreed with Kohli talk. As of now he is a sure starter over Raina for me. Could push Yuvi for a spot too.

 

[Valaskjalf]

Thunderstorms only come in the afternoon, there will be enough overs bowled for a match.

Hopefully SA batsmen click for once in the series. Been way too inconsistent.

Yup, Im really hoping we can play to our potential for once. This must be the longest tail we've had in recent memory - Botha isnt hopeless with the bat but bringing him in at 7 is a worry. I suspect with Kallis returning for the WC he will fill his regular slot and the rest of the line-up just moves one spot down with Parnell given the boot.

Parnell has always been expensive, but made up for it by his wicket-taking ability....somehow that killer instinct has disappeared and he is simply a liability. Taking 1/121 in 3 matches simply isnt good enough, if he can't perform on our pitches then he will have a nightmare in India. I suppose they included him in the WC squad merely as a backup for Steyn/Morkel/Lopsy or as protection for one of them in the preliminary games against the smaller teams. Personally I would have gone for Albie, who can fill a dual purpose and he will be very handy down the order (if he's in form) on those flat tracks in India.

Also wondering about how Tahir will be drafted once selected in the WC starting line-up. Botha is looking shoddy, averaging 52 @5.00 rpo isnt what you want from your frontline spinner. The whole cloak and dagger approach CSA is following with Tahir is also a bit of a worry....Very few people, players included, have ever seen him bowl in a match and Im a bit worried that this "trump card" thing CSA is going for might just royally backfire. He better be as good as he claims to be (seems like a bit of a cocky fellow) otherwise we might again be left with Duminy ending up as the "go-to-spinner" with Tahir simply making up the numbers.

Not sure what to think of this Ingram guy either. Averaging 13 this series at SR of 57, he must be thanking the stars that performances like that could guarantee him a spot in the side.

Faf du Plessis is looking fine though. Very composed and level-headed. This was the first time Ive seen him (I cant follow much local cricket) and he showed the older guys how its done. Definite WC started for me and with his leg-spin he could make up a couple of overs if one of the mainline bowlers have a bad day.

But anyway, my starting 11 would be the following:

Smith
van Wyk
Amla
Kallis
De Villiers
Duminy
Du Plessis
Botha/Tahir
Steyn
Morkel
Tsotsobe

Pretty straightforward...the Botha/Tahir situation is a bit wonky. Who knows, perhaps they will play both of them on some of those slow/turning tracks in place of Lopsy/De Plessis. The latter choice would significantly lengthen our tail though, so that might be an issue.

 

[MUFC1987]

You'd think that South Africa would have one of the better setups bowler wise for this World Cup. Steyn and Morkel with Kallis as the third seamer and then two from Botha/Peterson/Tahir to fill the main bowler slots, with du Plessis and Duminy throwing in a few overs of spin, or plenty if the conditions suit.

 

[War]

Yup, Im really hoping we can play to our potential for once. This must be the longest tail we've had in recent memory - Botha isnt hopeless with the bat but bringing him in at 7 is a worry. I suspect with Kallis returning for the WC he will fill his regular slot and the rest of the line-up just moves one spot down with Parnell given the boot.

Parnell has always been expensive, but made up for it by his wicket-taking ability....somehow that killer instinct has disappeared and he is simply a liability. Taking 1/121 in 3 matches simply isnt good enough, if he can't perform on our pitches then he will have a nightmare in India. I suppose they included him in the WC squad merely as a backup for Steyn/Morkel/Lopsy or as protection for one of them in the preliminary games against the smaller teams. Personally I would have gone for Albie, who can fill a dual purpose and he will be very handy down the order (if he's in form) on those flat tracks in India.

Also wondering about how Tahir will be drafted once selected in the WC starting line-up. Botha is looking shoddy, averaging 52 @5.00 rpo isnt what you want from your frontline spinner. The whole cloak and dagger approach CSA is following with Tahir is also a bit of a worry....Very few people, players included, have ever seen him bowl in a match and Im a bit worried that this "trump card" thing CSA is going for might just royally backfire. He better be as good as he claims to be (seems like a bit of a cocky fellow) otherwise we might again be left with Duminy ending up as the "go-to-spinner" with Tahir simply making up the numbers.

Not sure what to think of this Ingram guy either. Averaging 13 this series at SR of 57, he must be thanking the stars that performances like that could guarantee him a spot in the side.

Faf du Plessis is looking fine though. Very composed and level-headed. This was the first time Ive seen him (I cant follow much local cricket) and he showed the older guys how its done. Definite WC started for me and with his leg-spin he could make up a couple of overs if one of the mainline bowlers have a bad day.

But anyway, my starting 11 would be the following:

Smith
van Wyk
Amla
Kallis
De Villiers
Duminy
Du Plessis
Botha/Tahir
Steyn
Morkel
Tsotsobe

Pretty straightforward...the Botha/Tahir situation is a bit wonky. Who knows, perhaps they will play both of them on some of those slow/turning tracks in place of Lopsy/De Plessis. The latter choice would significantly lengthen our tail though, so that might be an issue.

As i mentioned before with all the target/quota selection that are still going on. The # 7 spot is a big issue for SA along with the back-up seam attack to Steyn/Morkel/Tsotsobe.

In place of Parnell, Peterson especially. I think Van Der Wath & Van der Merve definately would be better picks.

A Morkel would be great. But i guess he didn't help himself with his inconsistent international form.

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Kohli. WAG. I'll rage if he isn't in the starting eleven for the first game of the World Cup.

And, yeah, should probably be the next batsman to get a chance in the Test team.

Ye he should definitely be replacing Dravid for your teams next test match in the Caribbean.

 

[STLIndian]

With the form he is in right now, Kohli is must for the starting XI in the WC.

I wouldn't mind taking out Yuvraj or Gambhir at all (or playing 7 specialists).

 

[SaiSrini]

Sehwag
Sachin
Gambhir
Kohli
Dhoni
Raina
Yusuf/Yuvraj
Harbhajan
Zaheer
Praveen
Ashwin/Munaf

The 7th batsman and the 4th bowler options are the trickiest ones. IMO, I would pick between Yusuf or Yuvraj and not touch the rest. Kohli should be the lynchpin and should bat at the crucial No.4. As far as bowlers, pick Ashwin over Munaf if the conditions are too spin heavy. If not, just go with Bhajji as the lone spinner and have Raina, Yusuf/Yuvraj backup Harbhajan. I think this is my World Cup XI FINAL.