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.

Proteas might've just suffered the knockout blow.

Morne has been roughening up the Indian batsmen and has bowled fast.

Steyn needs to up his game here. Looking unthreatening thus far.

Gerry, Steyn was just beginning to up his pace seriously and getting the ball to move at a high speed. But if Morkel is indisposed, perhaps Steyn has to temper down a bit as he might have to bowl more overs. Or perhaps he'd think of finishing the Indians off in a couple of furious spells........

Re: Morkel
generally we have been at the receiving end of bad luck, most notably Zaheer breaking down in the opening test vs. Eng...... unfortunate for SA...it will be a lucky break for India...evening out some past bad lucks

Morkel's gone for a scan.

msp83 wrote:Gerry, Steyn was just beginning to up his pace seriously and getting the ball to move at a high speed. But if Morkel is indisposed, perhaps Steyn has to temper down a bit as he might have to bowl more overs. Or perhaps he'd think of finishing the Indians off in a couple of furious spells........

Steyn's rhythm looks a little off in this match TBH MSP.

He's getting swing from the hand, not the usual last swing. The Indians have played him well and most importantly due to the swing from the hand, they have left a lot more balls than is normally possible as Steyn's bowling.

If Morkel's out of the series we've got a problem.

Kleinveldt and Tsotsobe aren't Test quality.

de Lange's back injury isn't healing properly.

Kyle Abbott seems to have slipped of the radar

Kallis and Philander bowling well, Vijay and Pujara not looking very comfortable.

Gerry SA wrote:If Morkel's out of the series we've got a problem.

Kleinveldt and Tsotsobe aren't Test quality.

de Lange's back injury isn't healing properly.

Kyle Abbott seems to have slipped of the radar

How about Chris Morris?

Pujara very nearly run-out for the 2nd time in the match. Has to be careful here.

msp83 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:If Morkel's out of the series we've got a problem.

Kleinveldt and Tsotsobe aren't Test quality.

de Lange's back injury isn't healing properly.

Kyle Abbott seems to have slipped of the radar

How about Chris Morris?

He's injured mate

Gerry SA wrote:

msp83 wrote:Gerry, Steyn was just beginning to up his pace seriously and getting the ball to move at a high speed. But if Morkel is indisposed, perhaps Steyn has to temper down a bit as he might have to bowl more overs. Or perhaps he'd think of finishing the Indians off in a couple of furious spells........

Steyn's rhythm looks a little off in this match TBH MSP.

He's getting swing from the hand, not the usual last swing. The Indians have played him well and most importantly due to the swing from the hand, they have left a lot more balls than is normally possible as Steyn's bowling.

Steyn hasn't looked at his very best in this match though he hasn't bowled badly. A steyn at 75 % can be a serious trouble for India though they've managed alright so far.! The Indians would hope he would recapture his very best form during the Australian series.......

Gerry SA wrote:

msp83 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:If Morkel's out of the series we've got a problem.

Kleinveldt and Tsotsobe aren't Test quality.

de Lange's back injury isn't healing properly.

Kyle Abbott seems to have slipped of the radar

How about Chris Morris?

He's injured mate

Who else could then be considered?

Parnell and McLaren are around the ODI squad, will they get a look in?

the pitch is a very very difficult one to bat on...if the bowlers are pitching in the right areas.

and hence Rahane's 47 in the first inning was worth a hundred......
a 40 odd from Vijay will be worth in gold

msp83 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:

msp83 wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:If Morkel's out of the series we've got a problem.

Kleinveldt and Tsotsobe aren't Test quality.

de Lange's back injury isn't healing properly.

Kyle Abbott seems to have slipped of the radar

How about Chris Morris?

He's injured mate

Who else could then be considered?

I'd like Ryan McLaren to get a second Test cap.

He's been outstanding in ODIs this year. He's pretty fast 138-141 kph. He can bat and he's an excellent fielder.

Parnell isn't a Test bowler IMO.

Dale Steyn into his 11th over. Philander has bowled 8 and Kallis 5 already.

A few overthrows, a few byes, and another near run-out for Pujara. A bit of serious action all of a sudden.
India 60-1.

Pujara without a neetly hit boundary of Philander, takes the overall lead to hundred.

The South Africans are getting their direct hits in regularly. The Indian batsmen should be careful with the running.

Imran Tahir trying to help the Indians increase their RR here.

Starts with a shocking full tosses.

9 off his first over...

Vijav and Pujara are trying very hard to give SA a run out   

Imran Tahir taken off after just the one over. Jacques Kallis is back on.

it was a very good inning from Vijay.....unfortunate it is always to be caught down the leg-side..
This inning was though a strong evidence of his temperament and the technique when he applies himsefl

On the evidence of this he goes to NZ.

Dhawan is the one who has looked more circumspect with his technique to both short and pitched up deliveries

Vijay, in his 2nd coming as an opener, has been very willing to take his time against good bowling at the top. He did it in both innings here, couldn't make a score in the first innings and a promising effort was cut off in rather unfortunate way, a strangle down the leg side. But 39 on this pitch is a decent effort, and he should certainly go to NZ and remain first choice opener for that tour as well. As for Dhawan, this is his first test away from India, I'd give him a proper run before taking a call on his place.

Aha!!. We have some fun here, AB de Villiers is having a bowl!, Hashim Amla has taken the gloves. Pujara and Kohli wouldn't want to do anything silly here.

India go to tea at 109-2, an overall lead of 145.
India would want Pujara and Kohli to carry on, South Africa would be hoping for a session like the one India had yesterday evening.

If India can just see off this next spell from Steyn and Philander post tea, they'll be in a great position

India 138-2, Pujara has brought up his half-century, he's on 51 and Kohli on 18.

Fantastic application by India and now the runs are starting to flow.

Tahir drops a return catch from Pujara, not an easy one but should have been taken. Pujara was on 51 and India on 139.

India have done very well...unexpectedly so...but the job is only half done....they should not get too ahead of themselves.....keep nailing SA down further and further....inch by inch instead of trying to jump several feet at the same time.

by the end of Day Indian lead would be about 270........
somehow they need to bat until lunch tommorow...I know am am asking for more and more....but Indians really need to choke SA out of the match here

Philander has beaten Kohli a couple of times in his last over. The ball is doing a few things for Big Vern at the moment. Kohli and Pujara have to see this spell from him through.

wheels are coming off for SA.....as Pujara and Kohli have gone at over 5.5RPO for the last 10 overs......

may also been an indication of the pitch easing out...so a bigger cushion for runs will be needed by India.

What a position for India now. Lead of 212, only 2 down, the new ball 26 overs away - cash in time!

*Duty281 looks way too far ahead*

And if India win this series 2-0, they'll only be a point off no.1.

Oh let's get this one over first!

smashed 14 runs in an over...the good thing with Indian batsmen is that they are all ODI and T20 specialists and know how to turn it on.....when weaker bowlers are in.

SA need someone to deliver an inspirational spell...else at this rate by end of day......match will be out of their grasp

Duty281 wrote:What a position for India now. Lead of 212, only 2 down, the new ball 26 overs away - cash in time!

*Duty281 looks way too far ahead*

And if India win this series 2-0, they'll only be a point off no.1.

Oh let's get this one over first!

I am not looking so far...and I'd rather let the battle-ground for No.1 slot be the English terrains.....again

Still another hour and a bit left of this today. India will be 300+ in the lead.

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:What a position for India now. Lead of 212, only 2 down, the new ball 26 overs away - cash in time!

*Duty281 looks way too far ahead*

And if India win this series 2-0, they'll only be a point off no.1.

Oh let's get this one over first!

I am not looking so far...and I'd rather let the battle-ground for No.1 slot be the English terrains.....again

Hopefully England will be back to their 2010/2011 best for that series - not the pale shadow that England have been for 2012/2013.

Hundred for Pujara!.

Well done Pujara.

Morkel has a ligament tear, and will be out for the rest of this test and probably the next one as well.

India 255-2. Pujara on 126, Kohli on 57. Another 8 overs remaining in the day.

How good is Pujara. In the short time i've seen him all i've seen him do is score hundreds. Looks such an assured player, leaves well, defends well, knows when to put his foot down. Outstanding player.

India 264-2, the lead reaches 300.

Just over 4 overs remaining in the day's play. The new ball is also near. Pujara and Kohli cutting out all risks, it would be great for India if they both are there to counter the new ball and early morning conditions tomorrow.

Stumps on day 3, and India end the day at 284-2. Pujara on 135, Kohli on 77. An emphatic day for India.
This game has seen a few twists and turns already, so I won't rule South Africa out as yet. The highest successful chase at the Wanderers has been 310, and the highest 4th innings total is 351. India are leading by 320.
The New ball available in 2 overs on day 4 and the bowlers can try and make use of the early morning conditions. The Indians need to carry on the good work they did against the new ball so far, leave as much as possible, and after they see off Steyn and Philander with the new ball, they can put their foot down. But If Steyn and Philander can take out 3 or 4 wickets with the new ball, they can hope of restricting India to around 400, and with time on hand , they can open up different possibilities.
As the track seems to have lost a bit of life and as the ball is not yet doing anything for the spinners, India shouldn't relax, they should look to put on 450 at least on the board so that they can feel safe.

fantastic partnership from these two....Kohli's innings here has really impressed me..he's played a much more of a measured innings, and adds another dimension to his all ready impressive game.

Question is - How brave are India? When will they declare?

I think that'll go down as India's day just

With Morkel most likely out for the next game, Rory Kleinvdelt, is most likely going to replace him...which severely weakens the attack more..