*Official* South Africa in India, Sep/Oct 2019

[TT Boy]

Don't underestimate this South African tailend though. So far this series they've been objectively better than their top 5... and that includes a Dean Elgar 150.

Muthusamy is a lock for a 100 ball 20. Will end up facing the most balls by a South African in the series and will get dropped with a test batting average over 50 without ever making a 50.

 

[ataraxia]

Muthusamy is a lock for a 100 ball 20. Will end up facing the most balls by a South African in the series and will get dropped with a test batting average over 50 without ever making a 50.

That 49* will haunt him forever... Doubt he'll even have an average.

 

[TT Boy]

?

Got the stream muted, so, he may have been hanging around to check the no ball or something but he was bowled, there was no indication the keeper touched the bails and he looked like he was waiting for the umpire to put the bails back on so he can resume batting.

 

[StephenZA]

Got the stream muted, so, he may have been hanging around to check the no ball or something but he was bowled, there was no indication the keeper touched the bails and he looked like he was waiting for the umpire to put the bails back on so he can resume batting.

He was just a bit bemused of what had happened, he did not realise the ball had clipped the stumps. He appeared unsure if they had appealed for a catch and the keeper had taken the bails off? When the square leg umpire put his finger up showing he had been bowled he went off.

 

[StephenZA]

Scary to think that none of the top 6 SA batsmen have an average above 45+ two above 40 (Faf and Markram) rest all below 40.

 

[StephenZA]

What is really rubbing salt into wounds is Firdose is back writing.

 

[Bolo.]

I don't know why I hoped this series would be competitive.

Everyone hoped it would be competitive. Expecting it to be so is another matter. My expectations, low as they were, didn't come close to this horror show though.

 

[ataraxia]

Scary to think that none of the top 6 SA batsmen have an average above 45+ two above 40 (Faf and Markram) rest all below 40.

Counting Nortje?

QDK is an interesting one, averaging 39.8 in Tests (with Elgar's 39.7 barely missing your cutoff) and averaging over 45 in ODIs. Bavuma averages over 80 in ODIs but small sample size ofc.

You're a bit mean...

 

[Bahseph]

A very good point being made by Neil Mckenzie in the studio. In this lineup Faf is our best batsman,but in a truly world class batting line up he would be at number 6. He has never consistently posted big scores. For us to compete with India literally everyone in the top 7 had to perform above their career norm. The team just isn't good enough at the moment.

 

[Bahseph]

What is really rubbing salt into wounds is Firdose is back writing.

Worst part of the series isn't it? Haha.

 

[StephenZA]

Counting Nortje?

QDK is an interesting one, averaging 39.8 in Tests (with Elgar's 39.7 barely missing your cutoff) and averaging over 45 in ODIs. Bavuma averages over 80 in ODIs but small sample size ofc.

You're a bit mean...

Don't give a **** about LO record when talking about Test cricket. Talking top 6.

Long term QDK should end up with an avg closer to 45 if he stays as wicket keeper. Markram has ability to get to 50+... needs to sort out his spin bowling problems though.

 

[ataraxia]

A very good point being made by Neil Mckenzie in the studio. In this lineup Faf is our best batsman,but in a truly world class batting line up he would be at number 6. He has never consistently posted big scores. For us to compete with India literally everyone in the top 7 had to perform above their career norm. The team just isn't good enough at the moment.

Indeed. Comparing the two batting lineups you find Vihari and Rahane averaging very similar to du plessis, which is not a very good sign for SA.

 

[Bahseph]

That's a gutsy call,but the correct one.

 

[ataraxia]

Don't give a **** about LO record when talking about Test cricket. Talking top 6.

Long term QDK should end up with an avg closer to 45 if he stays as wicket keeper. Markram has ability to get to 50+... needs to sort out his spin bowling problems though.

Meaning as nightwatchman. IMO if you can average high in LA cricket then you should average somewhere around or above that in FC.

TBH I'm surprised Elgar isn't averaging higher. Still more than adequate for an opening batsman though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Wow that's a huge moment in Test cricket.

Well done Nigel Llong.

 

[StephenZA]

Good umpiring that.

 

[ataraxia]

And South Africa's fourth best batsman currently gets out, averaging a semi-Bradman.

 

[weldone]

Credit where it's due - Nigel Llong is having a great day

 

[StephenZA]

Disturbing listening to Smith talk about Bavuma as a potential captain long term, when Bavuma's should not even feel confident of keeping his spot in the team.

 

[mackembhoy]

Is this world test championship designed to help India win?

Absolutely bonkers this 120 points spread out amongst the entire series, I swear India play more 2 or 3 match series and then obviously less 5 match series than England/Australia. They will have 4 wins from 4 and deserve to be top but not based on the points system.

But England have to now go to New Zealand and play a 2 match series for no reason. Even if either England or Aus had won all 5 they'd have been playing catch-up