Strategy for Day 4

[Gambit]

Thanks to Mr.618(309x2) this game has come alive. I pray and hope that the rest of the bats Dravid included show some intent tomorrow and should aim to declare an hour after tea with a lead of around 130. RSA will not know how to approach the game and will lose wickets by plodding.

[Ram]

Pile on the misery, declare 90 mins before close of play and win this match.As simple as that.

[cochise]

Pile on the misery, declare 90 mins before close of play and win this match.As simple as that.

Overall, that about sums it up. First session to overcome deficit and build ~50 run lead (Dravid has to join partyearly in overhauling 540). Second session should be all out slaughter...if plan comes off...~200 ahead at tea...declare and attack all out. When spinners on, fieldsmen should be all around the bat.

[f.b.m]

Yeah, innings defeat or nothing. Best strategy from here on.

[talksport]

I would bat whole of tomorrow and declare 20 minutes before ....let the pitch deteriorate

[Gambit]

Batting etc till tea is fine but what I am hoping for, is quick scoring from the others. If Veeru gets out early and RD,SRT just nudge and plod with the plan for an insignificant 10 over bash before declaring, then there is no point and the test will meander to a draw. Others have to show intent.

[f.b.m]

Yeah, they need to promote Dhoni and Bhajji to annoy the opposition

[Ram]

A lot depends on the kind of onslaught that continues tomorrow. If Sehwag is there, he will ensure that every 4 and 6 of his will be body blow into the psyche of the Saffies. And the more spirit-draining hits the Saffies the get, the more they will hate being out there on the field. The more they will fear coming out to bat again. Its one thing to stand watch the opposition score 500 runs at 3.5 rpo, but a entirely different proposition to see and watch a single batsman literally destroy the every ounce of self-worth and dignity of your bowlers. We really have to hammer the Saffies, one blow after another, till they have lost the battle even before its begun. Once the Saffies are stripped of all their pride and belief, they will have niether the force, stamina or will to fight. I implore the rest of the Indian batsman, Dravid included, to score and score quickly. Its not about getting a lead and delcaring. Its about winning the match, in the next 4 hours.

[Sachinism]

attack mode bat till tea and declare

[sm332]

yeah we have basically ensured that we cant lose this match unless we somehow conjure a 50 runs for 9 wickets collapse. In which case, you have about 5 hours to bat ... target 70-75 runs an hr ... gives you a lead close to 275 and then go hunt em down

[theguyinallblue]

all depends on Kumble...and his intent of how badly he wantws result...and how he perceives the situation.. if Viru gets out early..then first target would be to get past the SA total...thats is to get 540 first.. we need to score 270 runs to get a lead of 200 runs...i think we will get it with 10-15 overs to spare on day 4..

[Bumper]

The pitch is lifeless, i doubt there will be any result. I'd say bat till one hour after tea and injure their key bowlers. Get a lead of around 200 and bowl about 10 overs to the tired Saffie openers.

[Kartikey]

I reckon they should go out to attack and completely destroy Steyn incl. Dravid.

[cochise]

Dravid was beginning to find his shots towards the end there...a couple of lovely shots...he has to do so quickly tomorrow otherwise he will retard progress.

[umpire]

wow, we are thinking now how to win this game after conceding 540 runs. Amazing innit?

[The Outsider]

Bat out 70 overs and throw it to the spinners.

[ludhianvi]

Sehwag really has to stay their and play his natural game for us to have a chance of winning the match. Just look at Dravid's strike rate of 35. A lead of atleast 250 is required. The rest of the players need to play positively. That will almost ensure a tough total for the Saffies to chase on the last day. Ha ha, almost like winning the toss.

[Parth]

You guys are saying declare about 90mins before the end of play, thats about 20 overs plus 90 equals 110, if the pitch remarkably breaks up and the ball is keeping low and spinning square, (highly unlikely) we wont be able to bowl SA out in 110 overs on this wicket.

[Predator_05]

They should be targeting a total of 750, that's 282 runs in a day as things stand at the moment. 300 in a day would be ideal, especially in these conditions. As long as Drawvid gets out early, there shouldn't be any problems. Tendulkar can score fast, and Ganguly always scores at 60 or higher. Then there's Dhoni and Harbhajan who will score at over 80 for sure. Everything has been set up for them to go out there and play their shots, so victory is very much on the cards. There will be more rough for the spinners to work with on day 5 and no matter how dead the wicket may be, batting just for the sake of survival is never easy - the defensive approach taken by SA would play right into India's hands by allowing the spinners to attack at all times.

[Ram]

I say do what we did in Kolkata, bat well into day 5, have a lead of 360-380 and give the Saffies 65 overs to play, with 5-6 men around the bat. Should be fun to watch. :D