Discussing the final ODI, Ind vs SA in India, at Ahmadabad

[cowboysfan]

australia B >india india c>saffers?

[The Outsider]

I had mentioned this during the ODIs against Australia as well - there is just way too much talk about B and C teams. In formats like ODIs and T20s it serves to advantage on many occasions to have fresher legs and approach in the side with players keen on performing and cementing their spots over some who might be suffering from drudgery and overdose. It matters in test cricket, though.

[coffee_rules]

Funny that nobody mentions it aloud in CI or elsewhere. But :punter: won it in India, everybody and their uncles were jumping up and down about Aus missing it's main players.

[diegovegaz]

our bench is more focussed/determined to perform, whenever they get a chance they are good enough to beat the proteas

[vvvslaxman]

SA will play their B team today. It will be a contest between future teams of SA and India.

[Ultimate_Game]

not sure.SA team was missing thier captain.that makes lot of difference.

And India was missing Zaheer Khan. Zaheer would have accounted for Smith if Smith were around. India is a much better odi unit than SA at the moment - especially in Indian conditions.

[Sachinism]

SA will play their B team today. It will be a contest between future teams of SA and India.

I think they'll stick to a strongish side, they will probably wanna give their players more chance to get used to Indian conditions for the WC like how Aus wanted a 7match series so they could get used to the conditions

[vvvslaxman]

australia B >india india c>saffers?

Actually India had a better chance to beat Australian team iwth familiar bowlers than unfamiliar bowlers. It takes a couple of matches to gauge a decent bowler. Even against Mitch Johnson we struggled in the first outing. That actually worked for Australia than against them.

[champ]

a bit cocky some of the statements though .. a few close wins have hidden the eminent flaws ...

[Ultimate_Game]

a bit cocky some of the statements though .. a few close wins have hidden the eminent flaws ...

Don't think so. In subcontinent saffers will struggle to beat indians since they have a one-dimensional pace attack. Other than Steyn all the other bowlers bowl at a similar pace and Steyn's extra pace comes in handy on flat pitches. If SA is serious about winning the world cup they have to add more variety to their attack. In fact if I were a South African selector I would play Harris in the team - after all he can't do worse than parnell or Langveldt on Indian pitches plus he would add variety to their attack. Batting wise India is more than a match for saffers - with or without Smith.

[someone]

Discussing the final ODI, Ind vs SA in India, at Ahmadabad South Africa B team is enough for India? I would say that would also be true if the series was played in South Africa. Give others respect and then expect to receive respect. Few wins and No.1 do not make us the best ever team and do not start comparing us with the Aussies 1999-2007.

[Feed]

Nayar at NCA for rehab More... Nayar at NCA for rehab Bangalore: Abhishek Nayar, who was part of the Indian squad for the first two ODIs in the current series against South Africa, reported to the National Cricket Academy here on Friday for a rehabilitation stint. The Mumbai all-rounder is nursing a wrist injury and is expected to be at the academy for a few days.

[yoda]

guess that answers why he was dropped from the squad for the 3rd ODI.

[achilles]

Get well soon Abhi :--D

[fineleg]

Folks were abusing Cheeka en masse! I guess this is why AN was omitted.

[h4te]

Folks were abusing Cheeka en masse! I guess this is why AN was omitted.

don't worry, now we can come back to abusing you. :bumsmack:

[Texan]

Folks were abusing Cheeka en masse! I guess this is why AN was omitted.

How would one know when nothing is published in the media. And the reason nothing is published is bcos of the ridiculous BCCI policy of banning selectors from speaking to the media.

[Ultimate_Game]

Why do our players get injured so often and that too at a crucial time? First fatso Rohit Sharma got injured 15 mins before a test match and now Nayar gets injured just about when he was to get a game. Add to this injuries to yuvraj when he sprained his ankle a couple of years back and now he tore wrist ligaments. Sad thing is that these injuries were not even related to cricket or incurred while playing a game. I don't know what these guys do but whatever it is, they should stop doing it.

[Feed]

Won't judge bench strength by one match: Kirsten India coach Gary Kirsten said that he will not judge his team's bench strength on the basis of performance in just one game after the depleted hosts went down to South Africa in the inconsequential third and final ODI in Ahmedabad on Saturday. More... Won't judge bench strength by one match: Kirsten February 28, 2010 16:17 IST India coach Gary Kirsten said that he will not judge his team's bench strength on the basis of performance in just one game after the depleted hosts went down to South Africa in the inconsequential third and final ODI in Ahmedabad on Saturday. "It's difficult to judge the bench strength by one game. I see it as an opportunity for the younger players but you cannot judge them by one performance," Kirsten said after the hosts were beaten by 90 runs. With the series already in their pocket, India went into the tie without seven regulars and were unable to chase down the huge target of 365 to fold up for 275 in 44.3 overs. Kirsten explained that with India recently winning every series but the reserve players have not had enough exposure at international level. "We want to win every series and this does not give opportunities for the younger players to get the exposure. But this was a good learning experience for them," said the former South Africa opener. Kirsten felt the match turned South Africa's way when Proteas captain Jacques Kallis (104), and AB de Villiers (102) plundered the Indian bowling towards the end. "The turning point was when de Villiers, who played exceptionally well, and Kallis who played the sheet-anchor role, added 100 runs in the last seven overs. They had plenty of wickets in hand," he pointed out. Kallis and de Villiers' third wicket partnership worth 173 in just 102 balls lifted the visitors from 192 for two to the ground-high total that exceeded India's previous best of 325 for five made against the West Indies in 2002. Looking ahead, Kirsten said that as far as the batting was concerned he was satisfied with the talent available but have to work on the bowling combination. "From a batting perspective I'm excited by the talent but we don't yet have a settled bowling combination with nine or 10 seamers in the running," he said.

[Feed]

We missed Zaheer, Nehra in 3rd ODI: Dhoni After succumbing to a 90-run defeat against South Africa in the third ODI, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that his side missed the services of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. More... We missed Zaheer, Nehra: Dhoni February 28, 2010 16:48 IST After succumbing to a 90-run defeat against South Africa in the third ODI, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that his side missed the services of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. "The three fast bowlers that we played, their strength was not change of pace. If we had somebody like Ashish Nehra or Zaheer, things would have been different," Dhoni said after the match. "The kind of start they got, 340 would have been a decent total to restrict them to. We have done well over the season, there have been injuries, we have missed key players, if you look at everything, we have done really well. "Our bowling has improved in bits and pieces we have done well. Youngsters are doing well. May be in one year we will also put up the best fielding side in the world," he added. His South African counterpart Jacques Kallis said that they are a much better side then what the result of the three match series suggests. "We know we are a lot better than we have played in the series. If we play to our strength, we are a very good one-day side," Kallis said. "AB played a really special knock, taking the total from 300 to 360. We will all take a lot with us from here, we will be a lot better cricketers," he added. Man-of-the-Match A B de Villiers, who slammed a sizzling 102 off 59 balls to help South Africa post 365 for two, said he was happy the series ended on a positive note. "It's always nice coming to India, we have been pretty up and down in the series, but ending up on a high note is pleasing," he said. "Loots (Bosman) and Hashim (Amla) set a good foundation, and gave me the freedom to express myself in the end. I always love playing in Ahmedabad. Definitely becoming my favourite ground," added De Villiers.