This team can do it

[satishg]

from 130/6 to 340, that really hurts :(( I think we will draw this one, i have that belief in our batters but winning is quite out of our reach. We just gave 80 runs too many, anyway a drawn series would be a good reflection on how the 2 teams have played. So i wont be disappointed with that result.

[The Outsider]

We would do well to get out with a draw from this one, and a drawn series to boot. That's a pretty good result in a country where we have been traditionally poor and against Kallis and Steyn in the form that they have been. Factor in our missing Zaheer in the first test and being caught on a damp wicket at the wrong time, and it's a very good result. The only thing which might prompt a change in thinking of the team would be if Sehwag plays one those innings he usually plays in the first innings, sending the bowling into disarray, and getting the team to 200/2 in 45-50 overs. Chances of that happening are about as much as hell freezing over, given all the odds stacked up against such a scenario. Hopefully Dravid and Pujara can make some worthwhile contributions, specially Dravid, as it would do no justice for a man of his abilities to have another poor away tour. Hopefully, Pujara won't have to bat. We managed to draw pretty comfortably 10 years back with Dasgupta and Dravid at Port Elizabeth against Pollock, Ntini, Hayward, Kallis, Klusner, and Boje, albeit on a slower pitch : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63952.html But overall that attack was more varied and potent than what we will face tomorrow.

[Anakin]

There is no team that can win this game against steyn and morkel, i'll be very pleased with a draw.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

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.

u could buy sehwag runs @ 43 with the ball doing less in the air than it did on day 3, it could be a nice bet. wicket is a bit up and down tho, and that will be a problem in the morning. if he had to walk out there in the afternoon, i'd take that in a flash

[goose]

Is 340 really THAT more ambitious than 300 or even 285? Perhaps SA batting as long as they did is a blessing in disguise. If India are 80/4 tomorrow we'll all be grateful for not getting SA out for 275.

[Sooda]

^I guess any difference is mostly psychological. More than anything SA not declaring earlier is a huge blessing a VERy surprising one I think. 300 was more than enough and Steyn could have had a go at trying to get a few wickets today if they gave us 10 or so awkward overs to negotiate. If no GG I imagine Dravid might have opened, could have been pretty bad. The fact that they batted all day does make it better for us. Of course thats the impact a mashaAllah batting line up has on opposing captains...

[coffee_rules]

We managed to draw pretty comfortably 10 years back with Dasgupta and Dravid at Port Elizabeth against Pollock, Ntini, Hayward, Kallis, Klusner, and Boje, albeit on a slower pitch : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63952.html But overall that attack was more varied and potent than what we will face tomorrow.

Ah! The Mike Denness test.

[ViruRulez]

Hope Veeru clicks .. it is his due time .. if Veeru stays only till lunch tomorrow and he plays his natural game then we should be in a strong position .. come of Veeru :cheer:

[flamy]

Ya, it is simple. Sehwag stays, we win. No, we draw.

[apeeman]

how about opening with sachin and gambhir and bring shewag two down or something. That way shewag can start playing after we take away the new ball and has a better chance of staying longer. There is a risk of loosing sach and gambhir early but given that these were two guys who played out the new ball really well, we can get them to try and do the same

[fineleg]

how about opening with sachin and gambhir and bring shewag two down or something. That way shewag can start playing after we take away the new ball and has a better chance of staying longer. There is a risk of loosing sach and gambhir early but given that these were two guys who played out the new ball really well, we can get them to try and do the same

Putting SRT there is a risk. We may need him to play out overs after Lunch and Tea. I'd rather open with Dravid and Gambhir if at all we need to protect Sehwag from the new ball. (As it is, anyway Dravid may be out there in the middle within first few overs). Even though Dravid does not like to open, it is one way to see the first 12 overs that Dale+Morne will bowl and get the shine off the new ball a bit.

[gaurav92]

We would do well to get out with a draw from this one, and a drawn series to boot. That's a pretty good result in a country where we have been traditionally poor and against Kallis and Steyn in the form that they have been. Factor in our missing Zaheer in the first test and being caught on a damp wicket at the wrong time, and it's a very good result. The only thing which might prompt a change in thinking of the team would be if Sehwag plays one those innings he usually plays in the first innings, sending the bowling into disarray, and getting the team to 200/2 in 45-50 overs. Chances of that happening are about as much as hell freezing over, given all the odds stacked up against such a scenario. Hopefully Dravid and Pujara can make some worthwhile contributions, specially Dravid, as it would do no justice for a man of his abilities to have another poor away tour. Hopefully, Pujara won't have to bat. We managed to draw pretty comfortably 10 years back with Dasgupta and Dravid at Port Elizabeth against Pollock, Ntini, Hayward, Kallis, Klusner, and Boje, albeit on a slower pitch : http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63952.html But overall that attack was more varied and potent than what we will face tomorrow.

Yes I agree that it is almost equal to impossible to get that target, but having said that, Sehwag firing in the second innings and getting India upto to 200/2 in 40-45 overs @ 4.5 an over will just give the perfect platform for other guys to bat out and win this remarkably.Its easier said that done though, the early morning moisture, the serious pace of Steyn and Morkel in the initial hour o the day will be a tester.SO 10 members in the team will be thinking of a draw as the best possible outcome for India.

[gaurav92]

Putting SRT there is a risk. We may need him to play out overs after Lunch and Tea. I'd rather open with Dravid and Gambhir if at all we need to protect Sehwag from the new ball. (As it is, anyway Dravid may be out there in the middle within first few overs). Even though Dravid does not like to open, it is one way to see the first 12 overs that Dale+Morne will bowl and get the shine off the new ball a bit.

I strongly disagree there finey. Sehwag should open no matter what IMO, not just because he will pave the way for us, with his blitzkrieg batting, and the start he gives will decide the outcome of this game, but also because of the simple fact that runs will hold the key here.We can't depend on just blocking every ball, as there will be some unplayable deliveries wherein chances of getting wickets are more and that can happen to any batsman. Also, SAF will attack, and the best way to get fielders out of the attacking positions is to score boundaries and who better than Sehwag to demolish the bowlers all round the park ? So for me it has to be Sehwag opening the batting as we can't win this with a negative approach by sending somebody like a Dravid who isn't in the best of forms, up the order to face the new ball, given that he hasn't done anything off late to be considered as a safe option.And in fact he has been out chasing some balls outside his off stump, just concerns me a little too.