Discussing the 2nd test between India and SA at Kolkata, 2010

[zubinpepsi]

Instead of starting at 8:57am as scheduled, play got underway only at 10:30 on Wednesday morning. "When we arrived, we could have got play in," Kirsten said, when asked about the time lost. "It was disappointing not to be on the field. That's the way it is. We can't fight the weather. It would have been handy to have 50 overs today. We've just got to get on with it and use the time available to us." Had it not been for the bowlers' run-ups being soft underfoot because of inadequate cover overnight, play could have resumed earlier, but Kirsten refused to be drawn into any controversy. "It was disappointing not to have had more time this morning" was as much as he would say. "We were off the field for an hour-and-a-half this morning. But that's not for me to take up. Just the way it is."

[coffee_rules]

We feel we can bat out tomorrow: Kallis http://cricket.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/17/we-feel-we-can-bat-out-tomorrow-kallis.htm Jacques KallisSouth Africa's [ Images ] veteran batsman Jacques Kallis [ Images ] believes that his team would fightback from the dead and bat out a draw on the final day of the second and final Test in Kolkata [ Images ]. The Proteas finished a rain-restricted fourth day on which a little more than a third of the overs could be bowled on 115-3 for an overall deficit of 232 runs with 98 overs left to play. Crucially the Proteas have lost three key wickets including Kallis but the batting hero of the tour, Hashim Amla [ Images ] (49 not out) is still at the crease in partnership with Ashwell Prince [ Images ]. "Hashim has been in great form so obviously he needs to keep that going and I know that he is hungry to do that," commented Kallis. "It is also a great time for JP and Ashwell to turn it around. What better time to do it than on an important day like this? They have done it on occasions like this before and they can turn it around. Tomorrow is a day for heroes." Kallis said it is important for the rest of the team to learn the lessons that Amla had taught on this tour. "The biggest lesson of all is when you are in good form not to give it away. He is mentally a very strong player and he has excellent powers of concentration. He knows his game plan very well and he has executed it brilliantly. There are some valuable lessons there for all players around the world." Kallis remains upbeat that the Proteas could bat out the day, particularly if they continued to play positively and put India [ Images ] under pressure by wiping out their overall lead. "We feel we can bat out tomorrow, just take it a ball at a time and be positive. The wicket is still very good for batting. There is a little bit of turn but not as much as you normally come across on day five on the sub-continent. "There is not much there for the seamers either so certainly as far as batting conditions are concerned it is a good wicket to play on. There is a little bit more bounce for Harbhajan than there was at Nagpur. It is probably slightly quicker but there is not a lot of turn. We have played spinners well in the past and there is no reason why we can't do it again tomorrow," he added. If the Proteas can get through for a draw they will regain the No. 1 ranking on the ICC [ Images ] Test rankings, a position they held briefly from the time Australia [ Images ] lost the Ashes in England [ Images ] until India took it away by winning their recent home series against Sri Lanka [ Images ]. One worry for India is that their bowling spearhead, Zaheer Khan [ Images ], spent time off the field on Wednesday and his fitness to bowl a significant number of overs will be important. Harish Kotian in Kolkata ------------------------------------- We have Mishra, Bhajji. Sehwag and Tendulkar can turn it around too. Should be able to wrap it around. What do you guys think?

[punjabi_khota]

I say if we get in 40-50 overs, they will be done and dusted with.

[Sachinism]

Mr. Kallis I think you know the rain is coming and therefore you're making cocky statements

[Clarke]

Amla/AB are the only two that can survive .. based on current form and ability against quality spin, all the others are more or less sitting ducks, unless we bowl really poorly are r fked due to bad light, there are no Onions in this bengali fish/duck recipe.

[gaurav92]

I say if we have around 50-60 overs for the day, we will bow lyou out.Anything more will be a bonus :D

[gaurav92]

We lost about 20 crucial overs there, we would have got 2 more wickets and have opened the 5th day for the Saffie tail t osurvive, which would have made the game in our hands :wall:

[Clarke]

:WTF: Typical babudom/incompetence :angry_smile:

[dial_100]

Yup. minimum 50. I hope ground staff and babus do good job of getting the ground in good condition. Wet condition may see that ball wont turn as much. But pitch in itself will start turning post lunch. So Bhajj and Mishr...got get 'em all. B->. We are certainly winning this one.

[akshayxyz]

Given the luck factor - looks like its SA's time now. But I hope Kallis's big mouth comment gets proven wrong like others' before the start of this test.

[azanian]

The key wicket for India Amla. This has fantastic concentration power and has the ability to save South Africa. Mishra holds the key for India

[achilles]

Wow. I didn't know the weather God's were active on ICF and need to be told via threads when they should provide rain and when not :hehe: j/k

[achilles]

Difficult for us to pull off this game and even if we do, I think it may well be by a whisker, given the rain clouds crowding up the sky.

[saneindian]

A friend watching the game live at Eden told me that there was a rumour going around the club house (where he's seated for the test) that if at all there is even a slight drizzle tonight, all efforts will be made to ensure further delay to the game tomorrow morning. Maybe a conspiracy theory but he also said that when the today's play was called off(4 PM), soon after that sun came out and there was good light till about 5.45 in the evening. Dpnt know what the officials were doing there. If the light is good enough, go out and play rather than twiddling your thumb in the pavillions and sipping on hot coffee.

[zubinpepsi]

I dont think we can win this one.. sad..

[zubinpepsi]

^^ calling off the game at 4pm is ridiculous when there was no heavy rain... but why wud they act like that?? dalmiya taking revenge u mean?

[Punisher]

Hope the rain stays away! Usually its the Madras weather that ruins good Indian matches :finger:

[Karan114]

A friend watching the game live at Eden told me that there was a rumour going around the club house (where he's seated for the test) that if at all there is even a slight drizzle tonight, all efforts will be made to ensure further delay to the game tomorrow morning. Maybe a conspiracy theory but he also said that when the today's play was called off(4 PM), soon after that sun came out and there was good light till about 5.45 in the evening. Dpnt know what the officials were doing there. If the light is good enough, go out and play rather than twiddling your thumb in the pavillions and sipping on hot coffee.

Damn...we can forget about this game now.

[ludhianvi]

I find it very strange when the bowler's run-up areas are not covered when there is a drizzle at some grounds. It is one of the reason that the match is delayed and at times the match being called off because of dangerous conditions for the bowlers. If one has has invested so much in building a cricket stadium, why not cover the entire ground unless there is some reason I am missing? This really baffles me.

[saneindian]

Another thing is most of our old stadiums haven't upgraded their drainage systems for decades. But then is the BCCI really bothered about such issues?