Pretty interesting how the Smith/Boucher injuries have indirectly caused us to flop so badly. If Smith hadnt been injured then JP wouldnt have been in a position to drop the catch and Sehwag would have been gone and had Boucher been in the stumping would have been taken.
The saffers are struggling because they collapsed from 218/1 to 296 all out, had feck all to do with Boucher's absence or Smith's injury - they were 218/1 in spite of Smith failing.
Maybe it would be tighter if Boucher was behind the stumps, but this is getting on for 200+ lead which it wouldn't be if the saffers had scored the 400-500 you would expect from a score of 218/1. Plenty of the dismissals were tame to say the least, caught in the crease LBW, Amla playing a loose shot, De Villiers stupidly run out. Call this a par 400 pitch and South Africa were well short.
There is maybe a case for having brought in a specialist keeper, Kallis covers the fifth bowling slot so it isn't like the side needed a batsman-keeper. That's not to say you're right to blame the injuries, just that South Africa had a problem they fixed with an extreme solution that arguably wasn't necessary.
And the bigger worry is the form of Prince and Duminy with the bat, only two of the XI made more than 12 runs whereas only two of India's batsmen so far have made less than 25. England normally get roasted not making enough runs in India (,Sri Lanka, or Pakistan)
Owzat added 2 Minutes and 47 Seconds later...
Anyone explain to me how India can get slaughtered in the 1st Test yet a win here would keep them top of the rankings?!?!