***Official*** India in South Africa 2017/18

[SeamUp]

Dale Steyn will most probably go past Shaun Pollock as our all-time leading test wicket-taker vs Zimbabwe but if not it should be here.

Yup, excited about Steyn's return.

I reckon he has a possibility of playing 29 more tests but it will probably be unlikely he plays all of them.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I'm in no position to outright disagree with your assertion of course, but 29 tests? Love Dale and his passion for the game but geez, - don't think he'll get remotely close to that. So hope that I can look back at this post in 3 years time and be proved wrong.

 

[SeamUp]

I'm in no position to outright disagree with your assertion of course, but 29 tests? Love Dale and his passion for the game but geez, - don't think he'll get remotely close to that. So hope that I can look back at this post in 3 years time and be proved wrong.

Yeah it is unlikely but possible. To me there is 29 tests before I reckon the 32,33, 34 year-olds in the SA team retire.

Steyn playing all 29 is probably less likely because they will manage his work load but if no re-occurrence happens with his shoulder everything else will be fine because he is probably one of the fittest blokes around. Whether it is surfing, walking his dog and fishing - he is doing it every day he can so he keeps busy.

This is our test schedule. I reckon they will want to end with a marquee series after the world cup.

Home : Zimbabwe (1)
Home : India (3)
Home : Australia (4)

Away : Sri Lanka (3)

Home : Zimbabwe (1)
Home : Pakistan (3)
Home : Sri Lanka (3)

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2019

Away : Zimbabwe (2)
Away : India (4)

Home : England (5)

 

[Pup Clarke]

So excited - this series genuinely has everything! 2 quality pace attacks, match-winning spinners on either side and some outrageously good batsman to watch. And Dale and AB of course

 

[OverratedSanity]

Man this series is going to be the bomb. Good thing it will start in January because it was going to easily overshadow the one-sided 5-0 Ashes going on now.

India's pace attack is the best we've seen in years, perhaps decades. Right behind Australia/South Africa, maybe on par with England (a tad better maybe when considering the 3rd and 4th seamers). Shami, Umesh and Bhuvi should be the first choice. I know Umesh has splayed it in the past but he has been excellent in the last year. Bowled some tidy spells against England and Australia. He can do a Sreesanth 06.

And most importantly, the eventual return of the greatest fast bowler of our times. It's been so long now. Yeah sure Rabada is amazing and Philander takes wickets but there's only one King Dale.

This is easily the best pace attack India have ever had imo.

Thats also not saying much though.

 

[SeamUp]

I think India will probably consider Ishant for his bounce especially with the 3 pitches being played on.

 

[Burner]

I really hope this series is as electric as it promises to be on paper. A lot of India's chances ride on Shami imo. I rate him higher than the other choices but he has a knack of getting injured every other match.

 

[Dendarii]

Steyn playing all 29 is probably less likely because they will manage his work load but if no re-occurrence happens with his shoulder everything else will be fine because he is probably one of the fittest blokes around. Whether it is surfing, walking his dog and fishing - he is doing it every day he can so he keeps busy.

He might want to reconsider that one following Philander's recent injury...

 

[SeamUp]

He might want to reconsider that one following Philander's recent injury...

Especially as it's becoming a jinx if you include Quinny's innocuous injury too...

 

[Dendarii]

Especially as it's becoming a jinx if you include Quinny's innocuous injury too...

Indeed. Although don't both Philander and De Kock own more than one dog from which their injuries resulted? Maybe Cricket SA need to consider putting a limit on dog ownership.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Yeah it is unlikely but possible. To me there is 29 tests before I reckon the 32,33, 34 year-olds in the SA team retire.

Steyn playing all 29 is probably less likely because they will manage his work load but if no re-occurrence happens with his shoulder everything else will be fine because he is probably one of the fittest blokes around. Whether it is surfing, walking his dog and fishing - he is doing it every day he can so he keeps busy.

This is our test schedule. I reckon they will want to end with a marquee series after the world cup.

I'm actually a lot more hopeful that he can play at least a majority of those games as long as he is fully recovered from this injury. Throughout his career, he has been extremely fit and quite injury free which is why he never had any major injury scares until 2015. Missed a game here and there but overall, you never saw him out of the game for months. His body is generally quite strong and equipped for fast bowling.

His one major injury is what kept him out for 2 years but I'm hoping it's not a thing of the past. If that is the case, hopefully he can play for another 2-3 years.

 

[CricAddict]

So excited - this series genuinely has everything! 2 quality pace attacks, match-winning spinners on either side and some outrageously good batsman to watch. And Dale and AB of course

The only thing I would say both teams lack is a good all-rounder.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Hardik ****ing Pandya man. What the hell are you talking about? Guy was rested against Sri Lanka just for these overseas tours of 2018.

 

[Daemon]

Don't have that many hopes for Hardik, will be viewing everything positive he does as a bonus.

 

[harsh.ag]

Will be glorious if he scores some runs.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Hopefully he bops Steyn over long on to give us our first series win in SA.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Pandya may or may not be the standout player in this series and he's only just started test cricket but I think he has a very high ceiling. Has all the ingredients of a solid all rounder and with player management and fitness that is a key focus of this management, he we will be looked after unlike Kapil Dev.

 

[Spark]

Something amazing/hilarious/both always tends to happen in this series. Very much looking forward to it.

 

[Stefan9]

Indeed. Although don't both Philander and De Kock own more than one dog from which their injuries resulted? Maybe Cricket SA need to consider putting a limit on dog ownership.

Dale also has two. One golden retriever and one border collie. They feature on a lot of his Instagram vids.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Steyn's Instagram is basically just Dogs-Fishing-Surfing-Dogs repeated endlessly.