*Official* India in South Africa

[fezzie]

great test, lot of milestones.

congrats to sachin tendulkar on his 50th ton. Great player, great record.

But the highlight for me was Kallis' record, for his 201*, Jacques Kallis was awarded the man of the match award for the 21st time in a test match.


simply the best ...Kallis.

 

[Furball]

But Joni, the point is, it is as much a function of how good/not good your team mates were than it is of the brilliance of the said batsman alone... It's all relative to how good the other batsmen were in your side, which is NOT something that should decide a player V player comparison when the players are from different sides...

The only person doing a player v player comparison is you. You've completely missed the point I was making.

 

[Briony]

I must confess that I didn't think he had it in him to play well in South Africa. Kudos to him for proving me wrong; same goes for Gautham Gambhir.

After day one it was not exactly a difficult pitch by SA standards though. Looked much flatter than Perth. Looked pretty flat as pitches go. And the lack of support for Steyn and Morkel really hinders the SA attack. Surely Parnell might get a go in Durban.

 

[centurymaker]

After day one it was not exactly a difficult pitch by SA standards though. Looked much flatter than Perth. Looked pretty flat as pitches go. And the lack of support for Steyn and Morkel really hinders the SA attack. Surely Parnell might get a go in Durban.

That impression of yours might have something to do with the indian pop-gun attack bowling pies on it. imo it was a good test wicket- had something in it for the bowlers throughout- even harris got some assistance on day 4.

 

[Sanz]

How many of you think Tendulkar will play 200 Tests, he played 175 now.

 

[centurymaker]

How many of you think Tendulkar will play 200 Tests, he played 175 now.

20 more tests imo. I think he'll retire early 2012.

 

[kingkallis]

So when we lose this series, will the saffies take over the top spot in tests?

Nope, they wont.

 

[centurymaker]

Nope, they wont.

unfair isn't it!!!
ICC need to adjust the ratings according to the home and away matches that the teams play.

 

[kingjulian]

I don't really see why India is constantly criticized for their away performance even now.

The have now won in West Indies and England. They have won in New Zealand and drawn in Srilanka. They don't play in Pakistan. Which leaves Australia and South Africa.

This is their record against Australia. Which other team has a better record than this against them?

That leaves just South Africa. So the way i see it, as long as they are able to draw this series, they should be given some slack. Even if they lose 2-1, i would say there is not a big deal in it between 1 and 2. Which was clear even before the start of the series. India is not a clear number one. No body is, at this point. So they deserve to hold on to that number 1 status till someone challenges them.

 

[ankitj]

I must confess that I didn't think he had it in him to play well in South Africa. Kudos to him for proving me wrong; same goes for Gautham Gambhir.

I remember that he played some intelligent knocks last time around in SA too. Despite his ugly style, I always expect him to make crucial contributions. For last 18 months or so, he seemed out of sorts, seemingly applying himself a little less due to captaincy burden. But glad to see this knock.

 

[Blaze 18]

After day one it was not exactly a difficult pitch by SA standards though. Looked much flatter than Perth. Looked pretty flat as pitches go. And the lack of support for Steyn and Morkel really hinders the SA attack. Surely Parnell might get a go in Durban.

Wasn't he smashing Dale Steyn around with ease ? Yeah, the pitch did flatten out, but it had something in it for the bowlers throughout the match. Even on day one he looked okay, actually. He looked the most comfortable of all Indian batsmen bar Tendulkar.

 

[M0rphin3]

I must confess that I didn't think he had it in him to play well in South Africa. Kudos to him for proving me wrong; same goes for Gautham Gambhir.

I don't really like Dhoni's batting in tests, when he connects, it races away in a flash and all that, but he's always looked like giving his wicket away. Even in this innings IIRC he was beaten/nearly got out for atleast 5 or 6 times. Taking nothing away from him though, this is right up there in his top 3 knocks list.

 

[Blaze 18]

How many of you think Tendulkar will play 200 Tests, he played 175 now.

I reckon he will retire in late 2012/early 2013. How many test matches do India play over the next two years ?

 

[M0rphin3]

Wasn't he smashing Dale Steyn around with ease ? Yeah, the pitch did flatten out, but it had something in it for the bowlers throughout the match. Even on day one he looked okay, actually. He looked the most comfortable of all Indian batsmen bar Tendulkar.

Oh come on man, just one boundary off dale steyn And while I agree that Pitch was not dead like Pakistani wickets. but still it was much easier to bat on except the odd delivery which has the extra bounce/kept low.

 

[Blaze 18]

I don't really like Dhoni's batting in tests, when he connects, it races away in a flash and all that, but he's always looked like giving his wicket away. Even in this innings IIRC he was beaten/nearly got out for atleast 5 or 6 times. Taking nothing away from him though, this is right up there in his top 3 knocks list.

You could say the same about Virender Sehwag, but I see your point.

 

[Blaze 18]

Oh come on man, just one boundary off dale steyn And while I agree that Pitch was not dead like Pakistani wickets. but still it was much easier to bat on except the odd delivery which has the extra bounce/kept low.

My mistake, that was Jacques Kallis.

 

[M0rphin3]

You could say the same about Virender Sehwag, but I see your point.

Nah Blaze, I can recall plenty of times where Sehwag played nearly chanceless innings. Yeah it looks ugly when he gets out, but that's not same with playing a mistimed drive/beating the bat several times/nearly getting lbw etc.

 

[M0rphin3]

My mistake, that was Jacques Kallis.

Yeah, that backfoot defense which went for 4 was probably one of his better shots, liked it

 

[Blaze 18]

Yeah, that backfoot defense which went for 4 was probably one of his better shots, liked it

Kallis' expression after that shot was worth a million dollars

 

[Blaze 18]

Nah Blaze, I can recall plenty of times where Sehwag played nearly chanceless innings. Yeah it looks ugly when he gets out, but that's not same with playing a mistimed drive/beating the bat several times/nearly getting lbw etc.

I was so annoyed at the manner in which he got out in both innings; a hundred was there for the taking in the second dig. As for your point about him not giving chances - I am not too sure about that. He does seem to give a chance or two early in his innings virtually every single time.