hatja_tau Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 ^^ i doubt it.. Kallis came in @ 3 down without fielding too..
goose Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 If Gambhir can't bat till further down the order we might as well revamp the enitre line-up. Pujara Dravid Sehwag Tendulkar Dhoni Gambhir Laxman Harbhajan
Laaloo Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I have a feeling dravid will open and pujara will come at number 3
urbestfriend Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 There is no chance of India winning this game! Saffers control this game. Question is can India save this game? ten cricket experts believe that 85% SA win , 15% India draw. I think Indians have to bat well and sensibly to save this game.
hatja_tau Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 I think a draw shouldn't be that hard.. howz the weather for tomorrow btw?
vayuu1 Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Chalo niklo is sthreas se bahar. 'YOU GUYS CALL YOURSELF INDIAN CRICKET FANS.. i believe you definatley should have followed our cricket from past 10 years or so, yet to think like that. IF THERE IS ANY LINE UP.. THEN IT'S INDIA'S COME ON INDIA..Exactly:--D
vayuu1 Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 i think my avatar has to do good and contribute:pray:
saneindian Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Since Gambhir suffered the elbow injury in the ongoing test (ike Kallis), he can come out to bat at his usual position.
yoda Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 A draw resulting in a squared series is as good as a win in this situation for us. If we can win that would be like icing on the cake.
Ram Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Lets try to look at this rationally, putting aside all the over exuberant optimism on one side and the doomsday predictions on the other. Is 340 a realistic possibility on day 5? What are the things in favor of us? - Academy award winning batting line-up, starting with that man Virender at the top. If he fires, there’s no saying what is possible. And we don’t even have to get to the rest - A pitch that is still reasonably batting friendly – If the last 4 South Africans wickets could 200 runs in just under 60 overs, then the pitch definitely does not hold demons in it, at least not yet. - Absence of Kallis in the bowling line-up – Lets not forget, South Africa don’t have the luxury of 4 paceman. The trio of Steyn/Morkel/Tsotsobe will still be feeling the pinch from bowling nearly 30 overs each in the first innings. The fatigue will work in our favor, especially if the pacers don’t get wickets in their first spell. What are the things against us? - DALE STEYN, nuff said. - Pressure of day 5 test match cricket – We have seen so many times now, how the trials and tribulations of day 5 test match cricket has produced some spectacular collapses. No one knows yet why that happens, but history never fails to repeat itself. So, even if we get off to a rollicking start and score 200-2 in 55 overs, South Africa will still not count themselves out of the game. - Gambhir’s injury – In a high-scoring run-chase like this, he’s a key player. In fact, Gautam, with his scrappy batting and feisty nature is built for situations like this. If his injury inhibits him, that’s a big blow. - Paul Harris/Defensive fields – Anytime Graeme Smith feels we’re getting too close, he’s going to go ultra-defensive and have Harris bowl a good 2 feet outside leg-stump. Scoring in excess of 4, 4.5 RPO in those circumstances, without taking unreasonable risks, is next to impossible. - Tail-end batting – We have batting till no.8, but our numbers 9, 10 and 11 cannot be relied upon, especially in run-scoring situation. Keeping these things in mind, it is almost implausible to even imagine an Indian win. If anything, we will do well to ward off the Saffie bowling for one full day and come out with a draw.
Ram Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 For us to have even a remote chance of pulling this off, we need 2 picture perfect sessions to begin the day. We absolutely cannot lose more than 1, at the VERY worst, 2 wickets in the first session. If anything, the 2nd session has to be even better than the first – preferably with no wickets lost and more runs scored. With the way the light has shaped up in the evenings so far, it would be unreasonable to expect more than 85-86 overs in the day’s play. And if we do manage to get off to a great start (highly unlikely), Smith will do everything in his powers to slow the innings down. The key thing to observe tomorrow is – what is the attitude that India will bring into the day? Will they chose to begin cautiously and assess the situation as the day progresses, or will they adopt a safety first approach and go for a draw first? Because to get anywhere close to 340, we have to show intent from ball 1. There’s no room for lackluster periods of play where we score 40 runs off 15 overs. All batsmen, from 1 through 8, must be on the same page. Not to sound banal, but I think the key tomorrow is going to be Sehwag. His wicket is going to dictate our strategy completely tomorrow. He needs to bring us within 200 runs off the target before he gets out. Then the ensuing batsmen will at least have a semblance of chance. Else, if he gets out early, that is essentially it for us. We will shut shop and play out for a draw, even If his wicket falls in the first over of the day.
saneindian Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Comeon Viru. We need you to bat for 2 sessions tomorrow.
goose Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 For us to have even a remote chance of pulling this off, we need 2 picture perfect sessions to begin the day. We absolutely cannot lose more than 1, at the VERY worst, 2 wickets in the first session. If anything, the 2nd session has to be even better than the first – preferably with no wickets lost and more runs scored. With the way the light has shaped up in the evenings so far, it would be unreasonable to expect more than 85-86 overs in the day’s play. And if we do manage to get off to a great start (highly unlikely), Smith will do everything in his powers to slow the innings down. The key thing to observe tomorrow is – what is the attitude that India will bring into the day? Will they chose to begin cautiously and assess the situation as the day progresses, or will they adopt a safety first approach and go for a draw first? Because to get anywhere close to 340, we have to show intent from ball 1. There’s no room for lackluster periods of play where we score 40 runs off 15 overs. All batsmen, from 1 through 8, must be on the same page. Not to sound banal, but I think the key tomorrow is going to be Sehwag. His wicket is going to dictate our strategy completely tomorrow. He needs to bring us within 200 runs off the target before he gets out. Then the ensuing batsmen will at least have a semblance of chance. Else, if he gets out early, that is essentially it for us. We will shut shop and play out for a draw, even If his wicket falls in the first over of the day. In that case should we be opening with Sehwag on a new ball, new morning wicket? Sehwag's only ton in SA (on debut) came down the order.
Ram Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 In that case should we be opening with Sehwag on a new ball' date=' new morning wicket? Sehwag's only ton in SA (on debut) came down the order.[/quote'] That’s a good point, but what is the alternative? Irrespective of the likelihood of that happening, Sehwag firing at the top is our ONLY chance of even getting within arms length of the target. We’re not going to chase down 340 after being 150/2 off 55 overs, that’s just not happening. The way I see it, the allure of a drawn test match series in South Africa seems way more enticing than the prospect of an unlikely and massively risky run-chase against a very good pace bowling attack on day 5. If you’re say Sachin/VVS/Dravid, what would you want? To be able to bow out with dignity of a drawn series in what is possibly your last South African tour, or go for an unlikely win and risk another heart-breaking loss?
Laaloo Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Go Hard or Go home I'd rather we play attacking cricket and come up short than just play tuk tuk for a draw. Come on BOYS :isalute:
Manny_Pacquiao Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 i dont think india will even be thinking about the win they will just play it session by session. if they get through the new ball and get to lunch with only a wicket or two down, then they can think about whether they want to go for it or not. but damage control will definitely be a priority gambhir spent the whole day with his arm in a brace, so india are practically 1 wicket down already. i cant imagine him scoring runs with that injury, their bowlers will just target that arm right from the first ball
King Tendulkar Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Unless sehwag goes bannanas and does something epic we have no chance. If he gets out early then bat for draw
Bumper Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 A diff bowling attack and yes, 340 is not such a distant dream. But given the clinical efficiency of Steyn and Morkel, India would do well to survive the day. 340 is just too much. You have to bat aggressively for three sessions. You can do that only if all your batsmen are fit & on form. Gambhir has a finger injury, Dravid and Pujara are walking wickets. Can't expect the tail to hang around for more than 20 overs. That leaves approx 70 overs for SRT, Sehwag & Laxman to negotiate. We have to bat like mad men scoring at 4 an over the whole day. I dont see that happening. India will look to see off the new ball in the first hour. If successful, Sehwag will start playing his shots. If he gets out before India reaches 100 (very likely), we will shut shop & look to survive the rest of the day. India IMO will either be 190 all out or finish the day at 240/7. I'll be shocked if India wins tomorrow. PS: Even the dare devil of ICF (King Tendulkar) does not think win is a possibility. That puts the optimism of MTC in perspective.
goose Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Sehwag's utility is not just winning games. A significant knock from him down the order can also help us draw. Anyway all a bit hypothetical.
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