Well played India - Test tour to South Africa

[vaibhav_delhi]

131 for 6 to 341 all out, has been a massive KLPD. But well played to both india and SA for a riveting series regardless of the result.

[ZodiaC]

Many here blame Dhoni for defensive captaincy' date=' 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...[/quote'] Harbhajan bowled very well yesterday, one of his most vicious spells in the recent memory. Kallis had to play reverse sweep to counter the turn, and that was perhaps an encouraging sight for any captain. Keeping men on the boundary for that shot (when kallis hadn't even scored a 50) was ridiculous. Only 6 boundaries were hit off harbhajan's 120 on a turning track do I need to explain more?

[CoverDrive]

I would agree that we have done enough to justify that we are deserved No. 1 and a very good team. We have really stretched the Home team with some players at their very best (Steyn, Kallis, Amla) and with some bit of more luck we could easily have wrapped this series. I am proud of the team and lets go today with a positive intent. I want to see a fight and a good match and would mind getting defeated going for a win.

[DomainK]

I agree. We have done well. A few practice matches could have done good, but too late to even talk about that.

[Sid]

I agree,definately well played India,just need to draw this last test ,a drawn series will be a good achievement

[rkt.india]

Harbhajan bowled very well yesterday' date=' one of his most vicious spells in the recent memory. Kallis had to play reverse sweep to counter the turn, and that was perhaps an encouraging sight for any captain. Keeping men on the boundary for that shot (when kallis hadn't even scored a 50) was ridiculous. Only 6 boundaries were hit off harbhajan's 120 on a turning track do I need to explain more?[/quote'] because fielders were set on boundary thats why he went for less fours..but the main thing is he could not trouble Kallis much or u can say Kallis played him better and there was no support from the other end...he alone would not have taken all 10 wickets..look at other bowlers...i had no hopes from Ishant, but I expected better effort from Zaheer and he was just making fun of our bowling by bowling 115 ks...that was ridiculously irritating....he had taken a good rest till then and he came back after a long time and bowled garbage stuff......he should retire from tests if he cannot last for 5 days of tests and give his 100%...its as simple as that....

[Ramzz]

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.

I like the fact that the series is going down to the last day, we have fought hard...just feel as if we took the foot of the paddle just before the finish line. Series win in SA don't come easy, just frustrating and annoying as to why Dhoni was so defensive in his field placements. He reads all the cricket news on cricinfo, I am sure he will read all about it. Anyways, if I am proved wrong by our batsmen then I would be the happiest Indian cricket fan.

[cowboysfan]

I am more than happy with a 1-1 result(if we hang on).Its apparent that we wouldnt have lost the first match iif we didnt lose the toss,that to me is the reason the south africans won the test.

[goose]

Kallis and Steyn, two all time greats, threw their very best punches and SA were still found wanting on their home turf. They played like the second best side in the world. 1-1 is a fine result for India and answers a few critics.

[flamy]

I wanted a series win :((

[goose]

I wanted a series win :((

Yeh me too but I'm glad we have 4 tests against an increasingly smug England coming up. We will need to find another seam option before then though.

[Fontaine]

It's been a great tour. 1. For all the naysayers mouthing off that Indian batsmen wouldn't be able to handle the bouncy tracks etc it's pretty clear how well our batsmen have done. We faced the best new ball bowlers in the world in their backyard on their type of pitches and batting pretty well. That's a huge plus considering how England were dominated recently in the one ashes test where there was that kind of bounce and pace. 2. Bhajji's bowling really improved in this tour. It was great to see Bhajji bowl with genuine drift and loop. He was landing the ball accurately in the right areas and consistently troubled the batsmen. It's a very good sign and hope it continues for him. Sree improved slightly although still showed a lot of inconsistency and mental problems. Maybe he learns valueable lessons this time and puts the team ahead of his own personal issues. 3. Fielding and catching has been great. Dravid getting the record for catches, SRT getting his 50/51st tons, Gambhir batting well against the best bowlers in alien conditions to him etc. Really the only negatives in this tour have been Raina's continuing poor form and Ishant's toothless bowling.

[Sooda]

Nice OP, yes indeed. Well played team India.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

crap result for india. SA will be happier. india will once again rue their inability to close out the games from a position of strength. we couldnt do it at cape town in 2006 when batting in the 3rd innings, and this time it was our bowling that couldnt do it in the 3rd innings. sucks for india, they are a much better team and should have won. i'm sure tendulkar and co. will feel the same way

[kabira]

^No don't agree..SA had lucky toss in first game and as well as second game... Donald just concedes, India are better team than SA and deserves No. 1 team :)

[akshayxyz]

Draw is only fair result - as neither of the team went for the kill, in those key moments. For win/loss result to be there, one of the two has to unleash attacking weapons, if both are fighting with shields, no one is gonna die.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

^No don't agree..SA had lucky toss in first game and as well as second game... Donald just concedes, India are better team than SA and deserves No. 1 team :)

exactly india are a BETTER TEAM and should have won this damn series. hence the disappointment

[rkt.india]

India should have won this test but for one good effort hour if indian fast bowlers could have put on the fourth day when boucher came in to the crease...that still irritates me..they lost another chance of winning a series in SA......that was golden chance for them...dont know what will be the structure of our batting line up when we next tour SA......

[ravishingravi]

Agree with OP. I think India is the only team that could have won this match. They have made all of us proud. however do regret the fact that they missed the opportunity yesterday with some poor captaincy and lacklustred bowling.

[kabira]

India should have won this test but for one good effort hour if indian fast bowlers could have put on the fourth day when boucher came in to the crease...that still irritates me..they lost another chance of winning a series in SA......that was golden chance for them...dont know what will be the structure of our batting line up when we next tour SA......

Even great SA seamers are not getting wickets and that too on last day..that too with attacking field..so may may be pitch has lost the bit especially with old ball