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

[icyman]

I disagree, middle order would be the key for us. We want more stability in SA, so Gambhir and middle order gonna do that. Also Sehwag's role will be very crucial in making some quick runs but it's better not to expect much from him in SA. He can't move his feet.

He gives us a flying start and we put the Saffers under pressure. He doesn't and the rest will just play ultra-defensively. The same middle-order played very defensively against NZL recently,expect them to do the same in RSA as well.

As for Umesh Yadav- like all new fast bowlers, he will tour South Africa to admire the scenic beauty of the country. That is all.

 

[pcfan123]

Yea Yadav is far from being express. There are very few genuine express bowlers. I wouldn't even consider Dale Steyn as express or M Aamer for that matter.

To me express bowlers are the ones who try to take their wickets with pace. Relying on the batsman to make a mistake because the ball came on too quickly. In international cricket that fine line seems to be 95 mph and above. That speed seems to trouble just about all batsman.

Those 5 extra miles an hour are a world of difference. Most batsmen play 90 quite easily (hell some guys at my club even play low-mid 80s and look decent).

 

[AkshayS]

He gives us a flying start and we put the Saffers under pressure. He doesn't and the rest will just play ultra-defensively. The same middle-order played very defensively against NZL recently,expect them to do the same in RSA as well.

Well I said the same thing but Sehwag won't gonna bat us for sessions in critical situations ( SA conditions). I just said that he is very crucial at the top for a flying start.

 

[sami ullah khan]

^Well if he can bowl at 150 KPH, he should play the first test tbh. Thats what would have happened if he was playing for Pakistan.

 

[AkshayS]

Yadav can get a chance ahead of Sree-Ishant-Unadkat in 2nd or third test if they fail miserably in the 1st one. I'm expecting him to play atleast one test.

AkshayS added 1 Minutes and 26 Seconds later...

^Well if he can bowl at 150 KPH, he should play the first test tbh. Thats what would have happened if he was playing for Pakistan.

I'm damn sure he won't play 1st test ahead of Sree-Ishant because both showed form in recent times.

 

[pcfan123]

Sreesanth is to fast bowlers what Hauritz is to spinners. Just get rid of the hack and give Yadav a go.

 

[sami ullah khan]

Yea Yadav is far from being express. There are very few genuine express bowlers. I wouldn't even consider Dale Steyn as express or M Aamer for that matter.

To me express bowlers are the ones who try to take their wickets with pace. Relying on the batsman to make a mistake because the ball came on too quickly. In international cricket that fine line seems to be 95 mph and above. That speed seems to trouble just about all batsman.

Those 5 extra miles an hour are a world of difference. Most batsmen play 90 quite easily (hell some guys at my club even play low-mid 80s and look decent).

I totally agree. 94-95 MPH should be the benchmark for genuine pace. Only bowler that regularly does that now a days is Shaun Tait. I have not seen enough to Kemar Roach to make an opinion about his pace.

 

[pcfan123]

nah Roach is not express. His pace is also dropping every series.

 

[sami ullah khan]

Also to add to Yadav discussion, I think indian bowers are not given the license to bowl flat out fast. Thats what ruined Ishant. A fast bowlers should not be made to bowl line and length. Thats not his strength. If he is forced to bowl with control and measure, he ends up losing his pace. Wasim and Waqar always said that Imran Khan asked them to bowl fast and not worry about runs or anything.

 

[icyman]

I have honestly lost touch of the countless 'so-called' fast bowlers that India has produced in the recent past. We seem to have a factory ruining the pacers.

The problem with Yadav would be that he will go flat out in the First Test that he plays and won't be able to pick up any wickets. The selectors will then drop him for the Second one. India are more likely to get Ishant and Sree in the line-up.

 

[pcfan123]

Atul Sharma anyone?

 

[stefan]

The big thing is that India's best batsmen have been in SA for quite some time now, trying to fix just that. Whether they succeed is yet to be seen, though they have a better chance now that they're wethered for the conditions.

Big difference between nets practice and facing in a game. India didn't even have one practice game.

 

[used2bcool]

I don't know what the big deal is with the extra pace - if you're real quick but spraying it all over the place, it gets you nowhere. Remember Brett Lee when he first started or Mitch Johnson as he is now. I think lots of pace but lack of direction is not threatening enough in Tests. That's probably part of the reason why Tait has success in limited overs international cricket but not in tests.

Talking about Waqar and Wasim - yes Waqar tended to spray it around but he also had killer swing. From my earliest memories of Wasim, I don't remember him missing his lengths or line too much.

I kind of agree with the Indian approach to pace bowling - with or without genuine pace, your best chance of taking test wickets is accuracy and bowling consistently in good areas. If you can swing or seam it, even better.

 

[TumTum]

Big difference between nets practice and facing in a game. India didn't even have one practice game.

Good point.

TumTum added 5 Minutes and 26 Seconds later...

In SA conditions can change quickly and weather is a huge factor. For India to win the series, luck has to be with them so they get cloud cover when they bowl and sunshine when they bat.

 

[AkshayS]

It's still better to reach SA earlier, it will help them to adjust.
Also Van Zyl says CL experience won't help India but I think it would.