South Africa's tour of India - October/December 2015

[Abhil]

I think these matches are fixed and result are coming with mutual consent of both teams.From the pitches its clear that they are not prepared well or they are prepared like this to put SA in trouble against spinners.There is no fun in watching such lame game and there is no point in winning series like this.Kohli is an asswhole who want to be on front of paper for everything in cricket.I think there is a lot of things going on i can smell that.This is not the way cricket is played.Too much greed is not good.BCCI is out of its mind.

 

[namin96]

So everything he's already done means nothing if he doesn't manage to save this match? Even if he doesn't save this match, he will remain the best batsman in the world. That's a fact. And where was Kohli during those matches? Oh, wait, i remember, he was struggling too. If you think Kohli's more fun to watch, then that's your personal opinion, and you're entitled to have one, but a lot of people might disagree with you. I do.

Well most people certainly make it feel like AB is like the best batsman of all time not just today. Also, the only reason people are saying AB is better than Kohli is because AB has been around for a longer time, but just think about those numbers I posted. Kohli age 27: 34 international 100s and AB age 31: 44 international 100s. Now yes I admit that AB has played more match winning and match saving knocks in tests compared to Kohli. In ODIs though I believe Kohli is the real deal currently even though he has had a poor 2015 by his standards.

 

[namin96]

Kohli was a bit of an embarrassment against the moving ball in England. AB is way better when considering all conditions.

My top 10 based on all conditions

1. AB de Villiers
2. Kane Williamson
3. Joe Root
4. Steve Smith
5. Hashim Amla
6. David Warner
7. Virat Kohli
8. Alastair Cook
9. Younus Khan
10. Ross Taylor

If people are just holding that england tour against Kohli then I don't believe they are looking at the whole picture. He's scored everywhere else and basically conquered each country he's went to except England. I've got no doubt that he will really settle the score with Anderson the next time he faces him in England during a test series. Now Steve Smith and David Warner ahead of Kohli!? David Warner has been pathetic in India he can't play against spin and how about Steve Smith? Just cause Steve Smith hit like 4 hundreds against a pretty bad Indian bowling attack last year in Australia people including you are saying he's world class and ahead of Kohli? I'm not really sure about Root either because he really hasn't done anything in India.

 

[namin96]

I see this has turned into a kohli vs abd debate. Now when someone from England says kohli is not that great ... i get it ... kohli had such a poor tour there its hard to imagine anyway who saw him there would say that is special.

However as someone who has followed kohli a lot more closely than just one tour kohli more often than not has brought it on the big tours. He had a 100 and a 96 on the tour to SA in two tests ... He has an unbeaten 100 and a 67 in his two tests in NZ ... and four hundreds in four tests in Australia. For a subcontinent batsman these are the toughest tours.

He also has a 100 and a near hundred on the SL tour to help India win a series in SL after 23 years.

I refuse to believe that a case of any kind can be made against a person having these kind do of numbers on difficult away tours not being a top bracket batsman.

just that his tour to England was so bad that it butchered his average.

Kohl is a top bracket batsman ... even so Williamson ABD and to some extent Root I would rate ahead of him ... not anyone else though.

Nice explanation. You can't just hold that Eng tour against Kohli. He's performed everywhere else. I would probably have Kohli ahead of Root though.

 

[bigred]

If people are just holding that england tour against Kohli then I don't believe they are looking at the whole picture. He's scored everywhere else and basically conquered each country he's went to except England. I've got no doubt that he will really settle the score with Anderson the next time he faces him in England during a test series. Now Steve Smith and David Warner ahead of Kohli!? David Warner has been pathetic in India he can't play against spin and how about Steve Smith? Just cause Steve Smith hit like 4 hundreds against a pretty bad Indian bowling attack last year in Australia people including you are saying he's world class and ahead of Kohli? I'm not really sure about Root either because he really hasn't done anything in India.

I think Smith has done a bit better than score a few hundreds against India. Any old batsman can score a ton against India. He's been brilliant for 18 months.

Root made his debut in India in what I think was the last test of the series. He scored runs in that test. Subsequently he's done very well in UAE. He's one of the best players if spin in the world.

Kohli probably will get the better of Anderson when he's 38. Man against man when they were both in their prime, Anderson made him look like a clown home and away. Man against boy. When he starts playing the swinging ball with some sort of clue, I'll re-evaluate.

 

[Markkkkk]

Well most people certainly make it feel like AB is like the best batsman of all time not just today. Also, the only reason people are saying AB is better than Kohli is because AB has been around for a longer time, but just think about those numbers I posted. Kohli age 27: 34 international 100s and AB age 31: 44 international 100s. Now yes I admit that AB has played more match winning and match saving knocks in tests compared to Kohli. In ODIs though I believe Kohli is the real deal currently even though he has had a poor 2015 by his standards.

I agree people praise AB too much as I'll be the first to get annoyed by it but AB is ahead of Kolhi by along way. If your looking at their stats look at their averages and such. Also AB at the start of his career wasn't great but he improved a lot in the last 5-6 years. I mean I'm sure a ton of people have scored more centuries then Bradman but it would laughable to say they are better...

 

[namin96]

I think Smith has done a bit better than score a few hundreds against India. Any old batsman can score a ton against India. He's been brilliant for 18 months.

Root made his debut in India in what I think was the last test of the series. He scored runs in that test. Subsequently he's done very well in UAE. He's one of the best players if spin in the world.

Kohli probably will get the better of Anderson when he's 38. Man against man when they were both in their prime, Anderson made him look like a clown home and away. Man against boy. When he starts playing the swinging ball with some sort of clue, I'll re-evaluate.

Tendulkar struggled against Anderson at times too. Anderson got him what like 9 times?

 

[namin96]

I agree people praise AB too much as I'll be the first to get annoyed by it but AB is ahead of Kolhi by along way. If your looking at their stats look at their averages and such. Also AB at the start of his career wasn't great but he improved a lot in the last 5-6 years. I mean I'm sure a ton of people have scored more centuries then Bradman but it would laughable to say they are better...

I think in the end people will see Kohli as the better batsman when both AB and Kohli have retired.

 

[aditya123]

Forget the best batsman in the world, Kohli is`nt even the most valuable batsman in the Indian test side. I would stick my neck out and say that Vijay and Rahane have been better batsmen than Kohli in the aforementioned overseas tours of SA,NZ, England and Australia.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I think in the end people will see Kohli as the better batsman when both AB and Kohli have retired.

Sorry, but you're absolutely blinded by stats. Kohli will obviously have more hundreds considering he bats top 3-4 in every format. Plus, he's been making runs for fun in ODI's.

I will just say this- AB vs Kohli in ODI's? They're both equally consistent but AB is more destructive. AB vs Kohli in Tests? I don't think Virat is in the bracket yet. Let's not kid ourselves, de Villiers has also kept wickets for a long long time.

I'll stick my neck out and say that while Tendulkar was like a hero to me and while his numbers are enormous, MS Dhoni is an equally valuable ODI player. In an all time list, I wouldn't be able to separate them. Just like that, Kohli's tons are more, but dig this stat since you like them- AB de Villiers has the same average as Kohli in ODI's, but his strike rate is up there with Afridi and Sehwag. Kohli's isn't. That's a huge deal. AB can bat at 3 and he can finish an innings. Kohli doesn't have that versatality, yet.

@PokerAce - Surprised you rate Root and Kohli in the same bracket. I'd put Kohli and Smith as joint best all round batsman. Williamson in tests.

 

[SaiSrini]

If India were doing this kind of insane blocking, they would have been crucified for this. Well....... can't say further! If test cricket can allow this kind of boredom, maybe it deserves to die. There is no point for SAF to save this test, having already lost the series. But they take this route. But when India do it, the world take up cudgels and criticize to the fullest.

Amla with his captaincy is making Dhoni, the test captain, look like a legend. Thanks to Amla!

Great innings from Rahane. He has already cemented his place earlier, but now he is rapidly moving towards establishing himself as a modern day legend. All he needs now is a few really challenging double hundreds (and maybe a triple hundred) and he can book himself a place among the elites. And the great thing about him is, as a personality he is very similar to the greats India have produced in recent times (e.g. Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman). The same soft, humble and calm personality that epitomised these greats.

ABD vs Kohli - ABD easily as of now. Kohli is good, but he is not as invincible looking as ABD has looked in recent times. Kohli has looked weak many times. Rahane v ABD would be a more competitive comparison right now.

 

[shravi]

1- Amla, ABD, Williamson
2- Root (#1 in this tier), Smith, Rahane, Kohli, Younis
3- Warner, Cook, Mathews, Taylor, Vijay

again, just my opinion.

i think Kohli can move up to that top tier in the next few years, but he is not quite there at this moment. rahane, and even vijay, are more reliable than him right now, though they might not be as talented or capable. their application is much better. hopefully it is just a matter of time though.

 

[_Sam_]

If India were doing this kind of insane blocking, they would have been crucified for this. Well....... can't say further! If test cricket can allow this kind of boredom, maybe it deserves to die. There is no point for SAF to save this test, having already lost the series. But they take this route. But when India do it, the world take up cudgels and criticize to the fullest.

Amla with his captaincy is making Dhoni, the test captain, look like a legend. Thanks to Amla!

Great innings from Rahane. He has already cemented his place earlier, but now he is rapidly moving towards establishing himself as a modern day legend. All he needs now is a few really challenging double hundreds (and maybe a triple hundred) and he can book himself a place among the elites. And the great thing about him is, as a personality he is very similar to the greats India have produced in recent times (e.g. Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman). The same soft, humble and calm personality that epitomised these greats.

ABD vs Kohli - ABD easily as of now. Kohli is good, but he is not as invincible looking as ABD has looked in recent times. Kohli has looked weak many times. Rahane v ABD would be a more competitive comparison right now.

What... You're suggesting South Africa should just give up and slog because they've already lost the series...?

 

[stefan]

If India were doing this kind of insane blocking, they would have been crucified for this. Well....... can't say further! If test cricket can allow this kind of boredom, maybe it deserves to die. There is no point for SAF to save this test, having already lost the series.
.

There is actually a point to saving this test. If SA lose 2-0 they lose less ranking points then losing 3-0. Also if they save this test they go into the england series in a much better frame of mind then having lost 3-0, it might be small but it still matters.

If you didn't want boring cricket then maybe kohli should have set an attainable target, he chose not to so SA will play the only way they can given the circumstance.

I find it fascinating personally.

 

[SaiSrini]

What... You're suggesting South Africa should just give up and slog because they've already lost the series...?

I did not say they should slog. From what I hear, they are leaving even deliveries which they can score a single of. What explains Amla scoring 23 off 200+ balls? They don't need to slog, but this kind of a blockathon is highly abnormal even by 90's test standards.