Conveniently forgetting the fact that SA lost tests to India, West Indies and Pakistan during their last series in SA as well. May not have lost the series but they did lose test matches. They have been losing home tests far too often in my opinion.
Since 2006/7, they lost the first test in 2006/7 to India at Joburg, then lost a test to Pakistan at Centurion, if I`m not wrong. In the immediate next series, they even lost to the West Indies at home. Then the losses against Aus and England as well in home tests.
That is`nt an invincible home record by any means.
Or maybe it means in one or two test the opposition just played well in those individual?. Its not like the safffies where ever in serious trouble in any of those series, since they bounced back quite well & dominated & won each series quite comfortably.
aditya123 added 2 Minutes and 27 Seconds later...
I don`t buy that argument. Also, how does that explain Tait/Johnson/Lee/Clark being outbowled by RP.Singh/Ishant Sharma/Irfan Pathan and Kumble eventhough you claim it was flattish and India batted first as well. India got bowled out for a low 300ish total and Australia still gave away a first innings lead of 100+ on what you claim a flattish track. We batted first on what should have been the pitch at its freshest,
Whether you buy it is not really relevant though. Thats what happened.
AUS only played Tait since all the pre-match hype is that Perth was back to its pre 70, 80s, 90s lightning bouncy self & it tunred out to be nothing of the sort. If the cricinfo almanack report made such an assesment:
Wisden - Australia v India 2007-08
quote said:
Few foresaw this defeat, particularly while the home camp was trumpeting in the lead-up that the pitch had regained its fearsome pace and bounce of former years. It had not, but a very good cricket wicket produced four enthralling days' play.
That extra bounce that would have made Tait & Johnson lethal wasn't present. The pitch was falttish, had a bit of swing with the new-ball. In which India ended up playing & adjsuting to conditions better & faster than AUS, who went into the game expecting something else.
War added 4 Minutes and 43 Seconds later...
India have a lot to prove in this series. There are many who do not think India is worthy of number one test status. Series win in SA will shut those critics up for good.
sami ullah khan added 4 Minutes and 59 Seconds later...
Morkel is more dangerous than you might think. He bowls on an awkward length at very good pace (140-150 KPH) and will always get the bounce due to his height. Steyn is more of a swing bowler. I think India need to be wary of both these gentlemen if they expect to do well in SA. I don't know who will the third seamer be for SA. Tsotsobe might fill in but I think Indians would not mind his medium pace.
These 3 are the front runners:
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Friedel de Wet | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo
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Craig Alexander | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo
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Ryan McLaren | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo
De Wet likely to be prefered option if he proves his fitness to the SA selectors.
War added 3 Minutes and 41 Seconds later...
I will say it again. Indian batsman are more vulnerable with swinging ball rather than short pitch stuff. I would be more happy with short stuff as if batsman harden up then they can deal with it.
I'd say they are vulnerable to both. Outside of Tendy & Laxman (maybe Dravid but i still think he is passed it, NZ bowlers made him look good recently i fear deep down. Since i think he is no longer the "wall" of old) i'd back the SA quicks to own every other memeber of the top 7 in the upcoming fairly consistently.
My prediction is that if SA prepare the right pacer friendly pitches to assist Steyn/Morkel & other quicks they could very well & white wash India.