Well played India - Test tour to South Africa

[The Outsider]

Regardless the result tomorrow, it's time for some perspective. Congratulations to the Indian team for a spirited performance during the series. Some bad luck and injury to Zaheer meant that we could not come out of the Centurion test with a draw. Perhaps 250 or so in the first innings and Zaheer's presence could have ensured that. But, nonetheless the fightback in the second innings was credible. They carried it over to put up a decent total in extremely trying conditions at Durban, and followed to knock over South Africa. Laxman was class in the test, a batting masterpiece to savor. Zaheer bowled splendidly. The win at Durban would rank right up there with the most significant wins of the Indian test team. Carrying over to Cape Town, they were in with a good chance to win for most of the test match. The cricket from South Africa has been splendid as well, and matched equally well by India. Despite the tremendous form of Steyn and Kallis, India did not buckle down. True, it could have been better. But South Africa are a formidable team with really good players bound to show their class as well. Specially at home and venues like Centurion and Cape Town where they have ridiculously strong records. Not many teams can come and beat India at places like Kotla and Mohali either. Someone or the other makes use of home advantages to pull the team out of trouble. South Africa did the same, but were matched step for step in the series. With the final day approaching, an Indian win is unlikely, but regardless a draw or a loss here this was a fighting series and a very strong performance by the team as a whole. Some players did not perform to their levels, but guys like Tendulkar, Laxman, and Zaheer made up for them. With no test cricket for a few months anywhere around the world (except the Pakistan-NZ series) it has been a fitting finale before the hiatus into the World Cup.

[Anakin]

Agree :two_thumbs_up:

[Rajiv]

I am restless, can't see it ball by ball - will wake up and fast forward to see what happened. Gaya to Gaya, I still hope we could have a deep potent bowling attack, someone like Steyn We have the batting to draw it but its all about nerves

[kabira]

You can see how much SAcan respect us..they did not even declare at 300...LOL Even though Smith has Steyn and Morkel..he was not comfortable with the total. The fitting end will be 1-1... hope for best.

[Cricketics]

Yes, overall we have fought well and I hope the fight is shown even tomorrow. The series result qwould be decided on the last day of the series, which what perhaps every test fan would crave for. Really an amazing series this has been to follow.

[Ramzz]

I am sorry, but a series win or at least a draw should be achievable for India. Losing again 2-1 when we had them by the throat would be heart breaking. I don't expect Dhoni to learn from his defensive captaincy mistakes, makes me wonder if the coach and support staff give any real time input when he makes blunders such as these. Not bringing on Bhajji when Boucher walked in was an unforgivable crime. Let's hope to see Viru and Dravid finally contributing in the series when it matters.

[Roshanrocks]

i totally agree witht he outsider :nice:

[Laaloo]

:(( Can't digest this :(( 10 ****ing minutes away from a draw at Durban in 06. One ****ing partnership killed us in Cape Town 06. And now Dhoni's ****ing captaincy aided with some toothless bowling might have cost us a series win :((

[ZodiaC]

You can see how much SAcan respect us..they did not even declare at 300...LOL Even though Smith has Steyn and Morkel..he was not comfortable with the total.

Smith won't declare even if it's bangladesh.

[gaurav92]

Well I will be really disappointed if we lose this Test.We were in a winning position yesterday but threw it away with some ordinary field placements and negative lines.I mean, having a long on for the premier spin bowler in your side is unimaginable. Since this thread is not to discuss the flaws by Team India, I would say that I will be happy if we draw but if we manage to lose, I will be really disappointed, just because of the fact that, we fought back really well at Durban and this Test too, and don't want to lose again to SAF :(

[ZodiaC]

Honestly, I'm very happy with our batsmen's performance in SA. But to think that we were this close for a relatively comfortable victory and let it slip away, really annoys me. Really. We had every ****ing thing going for us. So close yet so far :((

[gaurav92]

:(( Can't digest this :(( 10 ****ing minutes away from a draw at Durban in 06. One ****ing partnership killed us in Cape Town 06. And now Dhoni's ****ing captaincy aided with some toothless bowling might have cost us a series win :((

Yeah that was shocker :((

[kabira]

You guys are blaming our bowlers..but may be pitch becomes easier to bat, there is less spit when bowl gets old?? may be thats why bhajji was not so threatening??

[The Rock]

You guys are blaming our bowlers..but may be pitch becomes easier to bat' date=' there is less spit when bowl gets old?? may be thats why bhajji was not so threatening??[/quote'] Pitch became easier to bat? Does grass grow out of the wicket suddenly when Steyn's bowling? :giggle: The fact is that our slow-medium bowlers wasted the new ball both times by bowling crap. Not to mention Dhoni's amazing captaincy...

[gaurav92]

You guys are blaming our bowlers..but may be pitch becomes easier to bat' date=' there is less spit when bowl gets old?? may be thats why bhajji was not so threatening??[/quote'] Agree.But there is no track defense against bowling on the padline or bowling short and wide, is it ?

[jf1gp_1]

Barring the first day of 1st test India played absolutely fantastic cricket; infact SA are the ones who have to play catch up with us atleast in the last two test. SA are a great side and played high quality cricket and to be fair if experts feel they should be No 1 side then they arent wrong, this is a tough team to beat.

[kabira]

Pitch became easier to bat? Does grass grow out of the wicket suddenly when Steyn's bowling? :giggle: The fact is that our slow-medium bowlers wasted the new ball both times by bowling crap. Not to mention Dhoni's amazing captaincy...

Learn to read what I said.. I said may be...Steyn is better bowler and in form..He is going to pose problem. He did pose problem even in Centurion 2nd innings..But lets see how much purchase he can get with old ball.

[rkt.india]

Many here blame Dhoni for defensive captaincy, yeah he could have attacked more, but could have he done, 130/6 and who would have been thinking that they will score 211 more....no captain can set an attacking field if the bowlers are not consistent... Ishant was horrible to watch...Sreeshant bowling short pitch balls when field was not even set for that...Zaheer was bowling at 115ks at which speed whatever swing or seam u get its difficult to get any batsman out...bhajji tried his best..but Kallis played him very well...our fast bowlers were not good enough because they lacked fitness to bowl long spells or bowl consistently in right areas...

[urbestfriend]

Well played indeed. Only letdown was our bowlers. Except one or two good spell from Sree,Zak and a good spell from Bhajji in third test third day morning session, there is nothing to speak about.

[fineleg]

I am sorry, but a series win or at least a draw should be achievable for India. Losing again 2-1 when we had them by the throat would be heart breaking.

I agree Ramzz. Losing SA series 2-1, we've been there done that. Nothing new about that. We won a Test in SA before too. If we are #1 ranked team and have a super batting lineup, we need to bat out 3 sessions for a Draw. Then with series leveled 1-1, we can say Well Played India and SA. The pitch is not crazy, they should still be able to hold fort for 3 sessions at least. It will require a lot of application, focus and good skills, and this batting lineup needs to display that on Day-5. And that includes on Mr. Virender Sehwag too - high time he shows focus and application in this critical series, rather than just try to hit out or get out. If we cannot bat out 3 sessions with this batting lineup (though GG has niggles, Jacques too played with pain), then we havent really been able to play better than in prior series' in SA. Yes, there are specific areas where we have improved, but we need to have a 1-1 scoreline at least.