posted Dec 7, 2006

SA squad First Test Dec 15 at Jo'burg

Graeme Smith (captain), Paul Adams,
Hashim Amla,
Nicky Boje,
Mark Boucher,
AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs,
Andrew Hall,
Jacques Kallis,
Andre Nel,
Makhaya Ntini,
Shaun Pollock,
Ashwell Prince,
Jacques Rudolph,
Dale Steyn.

I am shocked Justin Kemp does not find a place as also both the Morkel bros and Duminy

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posted Dec 7, 2006

That still is a strong selection. That said, South africa isn't an Australia or even an England - they are unlikely to have the rug pulled out from under them through complacency - yet they can be beaten.

I may sound silly in the current context, but good scores are a must to apply pressure on the SA line-up which can be shaky. The are thriving on their bowling and fielding with their batting coming in third.

India needs to be steady, no matter if it is slow and ugly, but they must put a heavy price on their wicket. An innings or two of this kind could crack the SA balloon. Patience and guts are the key.

Sachin could lead the way here. For him it is a matter of spending some time there and getting a few runs to get going. I don't care if he plays like Dravid instead of Sachin of gone folklore, he must hold out in the middle.

If he gets the first innings out of the way with credit, we could see him flowing more easily. He's never going to be like what he was, but he could be a maturer player. That first big innings is the key.

I am also looking to Laxman and Ganguly to support Sachin. They are players with the most motivation to perform today.

Dravid, if he plays the first test, is a known quantity. One c an hope that he'll try his best to keep the ball out of the wickets, especially, if he keeps the bat straight rather than angled which has seen him played-on increasingly in recent times. Comes down a bit late against pace and the angle of the bat pushes the ball in.

I'm keeping my opinions about the openers for obvious reasons. I'd expect Jaffer to come good sometime and I hope it is sooner than later. I'd like to say the same for Sehwag but I doubt if he'll play all the test matches unless he scores in the first itself.

Whatever feelings the players have about Chappell should be pushed into the dressing room closet and kept there firmly - they are playing for their country, they are playing for India, they are playing for themselves, not for Chappell. He's here today, gone tomorrow. So the boys should come together and play as one...a few bruises notwithstanding.

In case they do come back after putting up a proper fight, I can assure them, india shall look after their bruises very well indeed!

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posted Dec 7, 2006

Good summary SB, I would still stick to Jaffer over gambhir, though a left right combo at the top is tempting

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posted Dec 8, 2006

The Indian bowlers are freaking out today...106-8 SA and Harbhajan hasn't even bowled yet.

Sree - 3
Khan and VRV 2
Pathan 1

And just 23 overs bowled. At this rate the batsmen should get a good second look-in as well.

If they carry this form into tests, should be great fun.

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posted Dec 8, 2006

Jaffer gone for a blob though. Not a big fan of his. Not straight enough, especially for an opener.

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posted Dec 8, 2006

India has a serious top order problem, if rules permit they should get an additional batter, preferably an experienced grafter

SB I agree Akash Chopra or Badrinath will make excellent additions

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posted Dec 14, 2006

The news is that Irfan Pathan will not play tomorrow. Zaheer, Sree and VRV are in.

There are two aspects to this - on the one hand, the Indians have reposed faith in their existing batsmen and feel they can go in with one bat less. It also reflects their positive approach to the match - keep the wicket-taking bowlers in the team and try and win the test rather than an all-rounder who may contribute with the bat and isn't in the best bowling form.

On the other hand, I feel sorry for Irfan.

I was expecting this in a way - his scores notwithstanding. Let's admit he is having major problems with his bowling and they need to be sorted out. My question is 1) Why take him on tour then? 2)If taken and thought of as India's future, why not play him this series and discard him for good if he fails - the poor fellow wants to do well - it is obvious that he is trying everything he can - the faster pitches of SA might just help him get back into familiar swinging form.

Dropping him now is rebuffing a spirit. True, it might make him even more determined to come back a better bowler, but it was the team management that encouraged him to focus on the all-rounder's role in an emphatic way. Must be a very lonely fellow right now. Poor chap.

Harbhajan will have to sit out of the match - he is in some form but Kumble will get the nod ahead of him.

I am not too disappointed with the team and if the batsmen play sensibly we could have a good match. They have to see off the 20-30 overs of the new ball and capitalize later.

That will have to be the ploy.

This SA team's batting is vulnerable and if the batsmen support the bowlers we could see history being scripted.

Dare I hope so?

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posted Dec 14, 2006

Irfan needs to improve his primary skill taht is bowling, if he wants to be labelled as a batting all rounder like Ganguly then he has to tell the Management and be willing to even open. Maybe I can see the management reposing faith in that role in ODIs, in Tests I guess they are falling into the Giles loyalty crap annd giving Sehwag, Jaffer another shot

Personally I would have minded Pathan Sehwag opening in Tests!

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posted Dec 14, 2006

Might be too radical for even Greg Chappell, MP!

About Jaffer and Sehwag, we have to take it up from the last test series. It is sad that India is playing a test match after 6 months! Inbetween ODI's have done quite a bit of damage to everyone's skills, confidence and reputaions.

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posted Dec 26, 2006

Well after the miracle win in Jo'berg back to serious business in Test 2


India hit back with 4 wickets in final session so I would say India takes
honors for Day one marred only by a slow over rate.

A fine knock by Prince, (he reminds me of a quiet accumulator and fighter like Larry Gomes) well supported by Gibbs and Boucher (what an effort ball by SreeSanth to bowl Boucher!)

SA Ist Innings is likely to be around 300 which is par though the pitch looks like a good batting wicket. One has to see how India batting face SA bowling with a new addition in Morkel and Pollock bowling well, If Nel and Ntini also fire it will be a tough ask

India needs a lead of at least 100 to be in a safe position

India's bowlers have stuck to their task manfully, will India batters also strive hard?

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