Sehwag vs Steyn "Steyn hopes for lively pitches against India"

[vamos_rafa]

can anyone tell me when did our current set of batsmen encounter a seamer friendly track with good set of opposition pace bowlers the last time? :hmmm: i hope its not too long or our batmsen may well be taken by surprise

2007 England tour. England had a decent attack with Anderson,Sidebottom and Tremlett. Anderson in particular did trouble Sachin a bit.

[Chandan]

I can remember very few Tests in the last 2 years where India has won when Sehwag has not pummeled the bowler. He his currently what Ponting was 2003-2008, Sachin was 1997-2003 and Richards was 1975-1985. He is quite simply a man that can win a Test on his own. In that, currently, he stands alone. The only one who is close is Pieterson. Please don't take this as any slight towards Sachin or the other greats. But it is amazing that when Sachin is having the season he is, that anyone can be overshadowing him. The Centre of Gravity in the Indian line up has changed and in his article Dale Steyn acknowledges this.

The most recent test win was this : http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/engine/match/464527.html Even at Mohali Sewag had hardly performed, just a click above 50 in the 1st inning. But he was playing with a niggle in both these tests. I hope that niggle has healed completely for the SA tour. We need every player to be fully fit, especially the bowlers!

[vamos_rafa]

And how many of test you can point me to where Sehwag got out in the first 10 overs and were bundled out cheaply??? Comeon' date=' even though Sehwag is our triumph card, we have equally good 4 more players. When we need to bat 90 overs to save the game, we dont see sehwag batting through the innings. So my point is, Dale Steyn may or may not get Sehwag and others out but just because Sehwag fails, doesnot warrant failure of others. Thats all I am saying. Whether you or Steyn disagree with it does not change that fact. The other 4 put big price on their wkt.[/quote'] Exactly and one more thing. Of all the great things that Sehwag has been doing he still needs to prove his worth in the 2nd innings. I am a Sehwag fan myself but the fact remains that when it comes down to 2nd innings its people like Dravid, Laxman and Sachin that count.

[vvvslaxman]

Steyn vs Sehwag Sehwag has faced 153 deliveries from Steyn scored 148 runs losing his wicket 4 times to him. This is despite he was in terrible form during last SA visit.

[saneindian]

This is slowly hotting up. And perhaps for the first time in all these years, as a fan I have a good feeling about this tour and our chances in SA. The batsmen are in form (gauti coming back to form is a HUGE plus for us), bowlers too are looking in good rhythm. Hopefully we can spend the next 5-6 days in SA preparing ourselves well , having all the strategies in plan and formulate proper game plans. Something within me tells me we are going to nail this one somehow.

[dr_tooley]

And how many of test you can point me to where Sehwag got out in the first 10 overs and were bundled out cheaply??? Comeon' date=' even though Sehwag is our triumph card, we have equally good 4 more players. When we need to bat 90 overs to save the game, we dont see sehwag batting through the innings. So my point is, Dale Steyn may or may not get Sehwag and others out but just because Sehwag fails, doesnot warrant failure of others. Thats all I am saying. Whether you or Steyn disagree with it does not change that fact. The other 4 put big price on their wkt.[/quote'] My point is not that India can not win without Sehwag. You are absolutely correct that they have some fine players. Some Hall of Fame players. However what they clearly illlustrated in the recent series against NZ is that rest of the batting line finds it hard to score at enough of a tempo to put the opposition under pressure. In that series although India regularly put up 400+ totals with ease, they were done at such a pedestrian pace that NZ - a mediocre side by any measure - found it easy to get draws. By the 3rd Test Players like Sachin had quite clearly realized this and tried to pick up the pace. Sehwag has an impact on the opposition Captain I have rarely seem. I remember watching the Second Test against SL this year. SL had scored 642 for 4d. In most normal situations this would have allowed Sangakkara to site an attacking field at least until India got to 300. Not vs Sehwag. He splayed around the SL bowling so badly that by time India had got to 60, Sangakkara started to spread his field. Steyn likewise is a remarkable player. Single handedly took England apart in SA in the tour earlier this year. And that's not to mention the Test in Nagpur. Steyn vs Sehwag. The ultimate gladatorial contest. Mano e mano. There will be blood!

[DomainK]

There is a lot more to India than Sehwag and there is a lot more to SA than Steyn. When two teams of this strength take on each other, it's usually far more than just two players up against each other.

[putrevus]

There is a lot more to India than Sehwag and there is a lot more to SA than Steyn. When two teams of this strength take on each other' date=' it's usually far more than just two players up against each other.[/quote'] yes that is true but the psychological advantage gained either by Steyn or Sehwag is so huge and it will go a long way in determining the outcome of the series. Steyn is Smith go to man and if he is handled well by Sehwag it gives so much confidence to the Indian middle order.

[DomainK]

yes that is true but the psychological advantage gained either by Steyn or Sehwag is so huge and it will go a long way in determining the outcome of the series. Steyn is Smith go to man and if he is handled well by Sehwag it gives so much confidence to the Indian middle order.

The psychological difference may look big to us fans, but the batsmen following Sehwag are each a match winner capable of series turning knocks. While a Sehwag century can definitely make a lot of damage to SA, Sehwag's fall may not affect the rest of the Indian batting line up as we seem to think. Dravid, Tandulkar and Laxman are much too confident, skilled and experienced to be discouraged by a single wicket. It's not like the 90s where the whole team used to panic on Sachin's wicket. So, yes, Steyn and Sehwag are important players in this series and the confrontation will be hair raising, but the result of that confrontation will not influence the result of the series as much as everyone seem to believe. It will decide who gets the early advantage though.

[Sachin=GOD]

Everytime there's such a series, it gets labelled as Sehwag vs Steyn or Sachin vs Warne or Dravid vs Anderson etc etc but a series is much more than that and although both of these players can definitely turn the match on their own on any given day, both the teams have other players who are extremely good and they will be only slightly affected if either Sehwag or Steyn fail.

[putrevus]

The psychological difference may look big to us fans, but the batsmen following Sehwag are each a match winner capable of series turning knocks. While a Sehwag century can definitely make a lot of damage to SA, Sehwag's fall may not affect the rest of the Indian batting line up as we seem to think. Dravid, Tandulkar and Laxman are much too confident, skilled and experienced to be discouraged by a single wicket. It's not like the 90s where the whole team used to panic on Sachin's wicket. So, yes, Steyn and Sehwag are important players in this series and the confrontation will be hair raising, but the result of that confrontation will not influence the result of the series as much as everyone seem to believe. It will decide who gets the early advantage though.

It is not just for fans look the comments made by their Coach after Sehwag battered them in Kolkata. Corrie van Zyl, the South Africa coach, has said Virender Sehwag's aggressive batting and the vociferous crowd at Eden Gardens unnerved his bowlers in Kolkata. That Sehwag factor is so vital for Indian team and it gives others so much confidence going into bat they know if Sehwag is there for any length of time good India will end up with good score. We are seeing how much Aussies are missing their opening pair of Hayden and Langer, Of course it works both ways Sehwag knowing he has strong middle order to back him up in case he fails but his impact is also immense.

[Deleted_User_1]

Anal rape starts on Dec 16. When the Indian team returns from the tour, they will all have to visit the proctologist. Are there any good ones in India? He is probably counting his good fortunes!! :D

[Andy]

Anal rape starts on Dec 16. When the Indian team returns from the tour' date=' they will all have to visit the proctologist. Are there any good ones in India? He is probably counting his good fortunes!! :D[/quote'] :two_thumbs_up:

[Sachin=GOD]

Anal rape starts on Dec 16. When the Indian team returns from the tour' date=' they will all have to visit the proctologist. Are there any good ones in India? He is probably counting his good fortunes!! :D[/quote'] India will either win the test series or it will be a draw :two_thumbs_up:

[Deleted_User_1]

India will either win the test series or it will be a draw :two_thumbs_up:

Indians will either take it up the a** or down the throat....the choice is theirs. Oh the horror!

[fineleg]

danda is here for the SA series!

[fineleg]

Everytime there's such a series' date=' it gets labelled as[b'] Sehwag vs Steyn or Sachin vs Warne or Dravid vs Anderson etc etc but a series is much more than that

Agreed, its media popcorn NeoCricket did "Mission Domination" slogan for the Ind-NZ Test series and NZ almost pulled a win in the Test-1 LOL!

[vvvslaxman]

Everytime there's such a series' date=' it gets labelled as Sehwag vs Steyn or Sachin vs Warne or Dravid vs Anderson etc etc but a series is much more than that and although both of these players can definitely turn the match on their own on any given day, both the teams have other players who are extremely good and they will be only slightly affected if either Sehwag or Steyn fail.[/quote'] IN Pakistan's case it is usually Younis khan vs Malik, Afridi vs Malik, Akmals vs PCB :cantstop:

[Nirvanam]

Indians will either take it up the a** or down the throat....the choice is theirs. Oh the horror!

danda toh tere andar gusne wala hai, dandaroy!

[Sachin=GOD]

IN Pakistan's case it is usually Younis khan vs Malik' date=' Afridi vs Malik, Akmals vs PCB :cantstop:[/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: