India in South Africa 2013

First topic message reminder :

The BCCI have picked the test squad for South Africa well in advance, so the debates can also start well in time.

Duty281 wrote:Nothing quite says disappointing like a series between the no.1 and no.2 teams in the world, one of whom has the best fast-bowling attack in the world, where there are only 2 tests and a meagre crowd turn-out.

Come on South Africa.

Jo'Burg is never going to be a sell out in the run up to Christmas.

Considering the venues where changed when India reduced the amount of matches they wanted to play on this tour.

Virat Kohli reaches his half-century.
India 97-2.

The hundred up now, 101-2. Kohli on 55, Pujara on 23.

The game is brilliantly balanced after 40 overs, India 101/2.

Tahir looking vastly out of his depth here.

It's one thing bullying Pakistan. It's another thing trying to look half decent against these Indians....

Kohli's 50 has been a top effort.

Whenever he has got his line right, Morne Morkel has really troubled the batsmen. But Imran Tahir has to get his length right very quickly.

Awful run out for Pujara.

Oh disaster for India, Cheteshwar Pujara is run-out in an ugly mix-up with Kohli.

Just a gift for South Africa when India were starting to ascertain control.

Where an in experienced batting lineup is to face the strongest bowling attack of the world, these gifts matters a lot. I hope there will be no more like this from India.

Its 150 up. Common India try for 400+.

Lose shot from Rohit. This was not needed. Bowl going outside off, knicked and caught.

Poor shot from Rohit. India are playing well enough, especially Kohli, but keep losing wickets at key times. SA have never let them get on top.

India has never lost a test match here at Johannesburg. India played 3 won 1 Drawn 2.

Ajinkya Rahane, I don't know what sort of game his fate is playing with him. He played his first test match on the ever turning Kotla, Delhi and the very next game he is playing in one of the bouncy pitches of SA and that too against some of the most fierce bowling attacks. A 50 will also prove his credibility. All the Best Rahane.

He's being helped out from some absolute filth from Tahir at the moment...

A very good session for India. Unfortunate they lost Rohit just before Tea. Kohli is still there. I will surely praise the Indians so far, because they have shown some patience. I know it's difficult when there is no Rahul, no Laxman and no Tendy to support the middle order, still this team has managed so much, really deserves back patting. 94 runs scored in 28 overs. SA bowlers have really bowled well.

JDizzle wrote:He's being helped out from some absolute filth from Tahir at the moment...

     well this will give him some confidence before facing Steyn and Philander.

afternoon lads. it's a fantastic day out here at the Bullring. India have done alright, although the two sessions have been fairly split. The wicket looks a tad flat, in comparison to the general Wanderers deck. AB has been getting a lot of balls at his shins, which isn't how the Wanderers generally plays. Kohli has played pretty well, he had a few lucky moments in the beginning, but he's going good right now.

honors even, although if the Proteas can nip two before the new ball, we definitely will want to get them for 280-300

India 164-4 at tea.
Again, even session I'd say. This certainly is not a 500 pitch, so a score of 350--400 should be pretty good. If Rahane and Kohli can bat for most of the final session then India could go a long way towards that score. But if the SA bowlers can nip one of these 2 early in the next session, they'll be into Dhoni and the lower order and can think of restricting India to something around 250.
Both the wickets that India lost were the result of some pretty poor cricket from India. Kohli was totally responsible for the Pujara run-out, and it was a pathetic shot from the man with the Sound Technique and bagful of Potential!.

Kohli able to leave a few from Steyn, have a feeling Steyn is setting Kohli up in the 90s. Watchout, Virat!.

Kohli in 90's now. SA bowlers are testing Virat's patience.

The scoring is considerably restricted after tea, the 7 overs in the session producing only 9 runs.

Hundred for Kohli, his 5th in tests, 2nd overseas!.

Well played Virat.   

Not sure about bringing Duminy on the ease him to it though!

Now to make it a big one.

100 for Virat. One of the best 100 by this young man. Congrats.
But he has to bat longer here.

Kohli tended to throw it away after reaching his hundred, his highest so far is 116, India need him to carry on as far as possible if they have to put up a competitive score.

That's his 5th Test hundred, yet only a best of 116. Time to take that beyond the 150 mark! (edit: As I see msp has just pointed out)

Important period of play here though, 16 overs to the new ball. SA will want at least one of these out before the new ball comes.

JDizzle wrote:Well played Virat.    

Not sure about bringing Duminy on the ease him to it though!

Now to make it a big one.

Perhaps Smith would have been hoping that Kohli would do something rash after those quiet overs from Steyn and throw his wicket away. Perhaps bringing Kallis on would have been a better choice.
But Imran Tahir's inability to keep things quite is forcing Smith's hands, the Indians usually play spin well, but Tahir hasn't really bowled well at all.

These new breed of Indian batsmen look pretty talented.

Obviously Kohli's a class act.

But pujara looked a high class player, until VK ran him out.

Rahane, I've never been convinced by this kid, but he's looked very assured and times the ball beautifully.

IMO, Rahane should be batting above Rohit. As Rohit is too loose and he's often out wafting outside off pole.

Just just short!!!!!!!!!!!

True, Kallis has already bowled 8 overs too, he won't want to bowl too many more today. Imran Tahir proving to be the strange pick that everyone thought it might turn out to be.

Rahane looking in a little bit of trouble against Morkel, needs to keep battling and not give it away.

Morkel continues to bowl well and trouble the batsmen, Rahane just bottom-edging one and the ball bouncing over the stumps.......

Gerry SA wrote:These new breed of Indian batsmen look pretty talented.

Obviously Kohli's a class act.

But pujara looked a high class player, until VK ran him out.

Rahane, I've never been convinced by this kid, but he's looked very assured and times the ball beautifully.

IMO, Rahane should be batting above Rohit. As Rohit is too loose and he's often out wafting outside off pole.

Man probably you have not seen Rahane Batting. He has class similar to that of Dravid.

msp83 wrote:Morkel continues to bowl well and trouble the batsmen, Rahane just bottom-edging one and the ball bouncing over the stumps.......

I feel giving the ball to Duminy when Kohli was in 90's was a bad step. They missed putting him in pressure.

Steyn and Philander bowled well, but Morkel has been the best of the lot today. Hasn't given anything away, got Vijay to edge behind and given plenty of trouble to the rest.

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:These new breed of Indian batsmen look pretty talented.

Obviously Kohli's a class act.

But pujara looked a high class player, until VK ran him out.

Rahane, I've never been convinced by this kid, but he's looked very assured and times the ball beautifully.

IMO, Rahane should be batting above Rohit. As Rohit is too loose and he's often out wafting outside off pole.

Man probably you have not seen Rahane Batting. He has class similar to that of Dravid.

Kumar, that's a massive call at this stage of Rahane's career. He is a good batsman, has solid foundations to his game, but lets not put him in the Dravid class as yet, there is a very, very long way to go there.

Big Jacques is on now.

And he beats Kohli with one that swung considerably.

msp83 wrote:

subhranshu.kumar.5 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:These new breed of Indian batsmen look pretty talented.

Obviously Kohli's a class act.

But pujara looked a high class player, until VK ran him out.

Rahane, I've never been convinced by this kid, but he's looked very assured and times the ball beautifully.

IMO, Rahane should be batting above Rohit. As Rohit is too loose and he's often out wafting outside off pole.

Man probably you have not seen Rahane Batting. He has class similar to that of Dravid.

Kumar, that's a massive call at this stage of Rahane's career. He is a good batsman, has solid foundations to his game, but lets not put him in the Dravid class as yet, there is a very, very long way to go there.

I agree msp, It was bit to early. But I always remember Dravid whenever I see Rahane batting.

The 200 up for India. Duminy leaking runs here, India 207-4.

word around the bullring is that Imran Tahir has a rotator cuff injury. For a leg-spinner that's a pretty bad injury,maybe he should have been rested

Kallis has struck, a loose shot from Kohli and is caught by Duminy at covers. And a massive wicket at the right time for South Africa, just about 4 overs for the new ball, the day has been even so far, this is South Africa's chance to take ownership.

Smith has brought Morne back on.
Not sure MS has the defense to survive primarily on that, think controlled attack is the best way to go about for the Indian captain.

MS has brutalized a cut of Morkel for 4, he took one on the body before that. Keep attacking sensibly MS!.

India 227-5 after 80 overs, the new ball is available.
Dale Steyn's on.

Vernon Philander sharing the new ball duties with Steyn. Though Smith should have given an over or 2 to Morkel there, he was bowling a very good spell just before the new ball arrived and didn't bowl too many in that.

Important partnership this for India. They'll be keen to make it to the close with these two together. That'd give them a chance of pushing for 350 or over. Lose one now, and they could be skittles for less than 300.

I did not watch but only followed text commentaries......and it seems Pujara, and Rahane have come out with credits...and Kohli Brilliant......after a hundred in Aus on pacy bouncy pitch...he does it here again.....2 hundreds in about 3 overseas tests.....very good.


Vijay, Rohit and especially Dhawan...need to do more....Dhawan..cannot just "take them on"...he needs to blend aggression with caution and be more selective.

So far India has fought very very hard on foreign turf and hung on with parity.....and if they cross 300 on a pitch like this with no practice.....I would be satisfied.

twice India has looked like gaining ascendany.......but were pushed back by tragic run out of Pujara and Kohli's dismissal after 100

JDizzle wrote:Important partnership this for India. They'll be keen to make it to the close with these two together. That'd give them a chance of pushing for 350 or over. Lose one now, and they could be skittles for less than 300.

300 would be satisfactory for me for reasons mentioned in my last post...and we have the bowling to exploit the condtitons