***Official*** India in South Africa

[James]

South Africa A v India - Benoni
16 November

1st ODI - Johannesburg
19 November

2nd ODI - Durban
22 November

3rd ODI - Cape Town
26 November

4th ODI - Port Elizabeth
29 November

Twenty20 - Johannesburg
1 December

5th ODI - Centurion
3 December

South Africa A v India - Potchefstroom
7-10 December

1st Test - Johannesburg
15-19 December

2nd Test - Durban
26-30 December

3rd Test - Cape Town
2-6 January

[silentstriker]

We are over two months away...its a bit early, isn't it? It starts around the same time as the Ashes.

Indian batting lineup in South Africa:

Jaffer: N/A
Sehwag: 2 matches @ 49.66 (Compared to 52)
Dravid: 5 matches @ 42.11 (Compared to 58)
Tendulkar: 9 matches @ 45 (Compared to 55)
Yuvraj: N/A
Kaif: N/A

So, the three mainstrays of the Indian lineup have played a few matches, but all of them below their average, whereas the new guys have not played at all. So the batting is either subpar or inexperienced in South Africa. I feel Dravid may rectify his average, but I do not hold hope for the others. Tendulkar has the experience, but he is returning from injury and on SA tracks, its a big question mark.

The pitches are very different from India, so that will also be a factor. Inexperience will be a huge thing
against them.


Now, lets look at the Indian bowling line up:

Sreesanth: N/A
Munaf: N/A
Pathan: N/A
Harbhajan: 1 match @ 56 (Compared to 29)
Kumble: 9 matches @ 35 (Compared to 28)

Well, if you thought the batting lineup was bad, you're in for a treat now. Bowling attack is even more inexperienced than the batting one. Exception of Kumble, who has played a decent amount of games there, so at least he will know what to expect.

As usual, it will be Kumble and Dravid that give us any hope. But as usual when we're dealing with overseas teams, it won't be enough. West Indies was nice, but this is a much bigger test.

For all my attacks against the inconsistent Indian batting line up (unless of course the tracks are flat, in which case the sheep become lions), it will be the bowling that will be our downfall (as usual).


My Prediction: 2-0 South Africa, though I'd love to be proven wrong.

I fear we might miraculously save one test, or maybe we'll manage to pile up the score in the first innings and thus draw the test that way. Assuming the weather plays nice, I don't see a way to win a test, let alone a series.

[AussieDominance]

oh well its here now

[James]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

We are over two months away...its a bit early, isn't it? It starts around the same time as the Ashes.

Not really, something to discuss that isn't related to English or Australian cricket, and we won't stick the thread until a few weeks prior to the start of the series.

[TT Boy]

Should be a good series and far more competitive than previous tours. India are yet to win a test match in South Africa.

[Jono]

I'm really looking forward to this. Should be great.

[honestbharani]

I hope INdia are competitive in this series.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by honestbharani

I hope INdia are competitive in this series.

I'm excited about the series, but I don't know about hope.

[Pratters]

I think this will be a good series for India. A lot of good cricket to look forward to in the coming few months.

[Jungle Jumbo]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

Indian batting lineup in South Africa:
Jaffer: N/A
Sehwag: 2 matches @ 49.66 (Compared to 52)
Dravid: 5 matches @ 42.11 (Compared to 58)
Tendulkar: 9 matches @ 45 (Compared to 55)
Yuvraj: N/A
Kaif: N/A

So, the three mainstrays of the Indian lineup have played a few matches, but all of them below their average, whereas the new guys have not played at all. So the batting is either subpar or inexperienced in South Africa. I feel Dravid may rectify his average, but I do not hold hope for the others. Tendulkar has the experience, but he is returning from injury and on SA tracks, its a big question mark.

South Africa have for the last 10 years had a decent attack, particularly on the home pitches. Sehwag is averaging two less than his career average over two matches, which is not a big enough margin for concern or a large enough sample to make a conclusion from. The South African conditions aren't really that alien to the players anyway, since it's not like a damp English may, or a hard bouncy Australian wicket.

[aussie]

Have India ever won a test in South Africa?

I reckon South Africa will win the test series 2-0 & the ODI's will go 3-2 to them as well.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by aussie

Have India ever won a test in South Africa?

I reckon South Africa will win the test series 2-0 & the ODI's will go 3-2 to them as well.

India are 0-4-5 in South Africa.


2-0 to South Africa is my guess as well. And ODI, I think 4-1 to SA.

[aussie]

I think India's ODI team is good enough to give the saffies a close series even in=f they are at full-strenght in home conditions. The ODI series could be like the 2000 ODI series when SA was in India.

[GIMH]

Saffies to take both series. The ODI series should be spectacular though.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

Saffies to take both series. The ODI series should be spectacular though.

I hope so. I don't expect the tests to be very competitive. The ODI, though I think it might br 4-1, might still be very competitive. India did well in SA in 2003, so I can hope.