India tour of South Africa.

zing

Zingle balls
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
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Starts on December 5th, with a 3 ODI series.

First test starts on December 18th. 2 tests.

Test squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kolhi, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha

ODI squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina,Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane ,Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra

Great squads, as always from this selection panel, except for the presence of Ishant.

The squads are too big, though, for a 2 test series..
 
This is how we should line up-

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Rahne
Sharma
Dhoni
Kumar
Shami
Yadav
Khan

Spin is not gonna make an impact in SA against Amla, Kallis and ABD. All good players of spin.

But I suspect it will be

Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Sharma
Jadeja
Dhoni
Ashwin
Kumar
Shami
Ishant
 
Vijay
Dhawan
Pujara
Kohli
Sharma
Dhoni
Ashwin
Zak
Shami
Kumar

These ten should be confirmed IMO. The only one spot of consideration is that if they'll play Rahane or Jadeja. I'll go with Jadeja.
 
They should've picked Rishi Dhawan though.
 
I would think Jadeja's bowling would be ineffective in SA, as his batting.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's inability to bowl after 10 overs doesn't fill me with confidence.

I would prefer: Vijay, Dhawan, Pujara, Kohli, Rohit, Rahane, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zaheer, Shami, Yadav
 
Think Dhoni and Fletcher has shown many a times that they don't trust Rahane. I can't see him playing in SA. Bit pleased about what they're doing with Yadav, making him a test match bowler.

Shami, Zak and Yadav/Kumar isn't a bad pace bowling attack IMO.
 
1-1. We aren't a poor team by any stretch of imagination. This South Africa team may do well initially, but we'll catch up.
 
catch up? Second test is in Durban. I know we've won there in the past, but that was with different players in the batting line-up..
 
I'm concerned about our opening. Vijay and Dhawan aren't good enough IMO.

Middle order looks in good shape. Pace attack looks good and Ashwin is bowling well these days.
 
KM said:
I'm concerned about our opening. Vijay and Dhawan aren't good enough IMO.

Middle order looks in good shape. Pace attack looks good and Ashwin is bowling well these days.
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Exactly. Look, I'm not saying it'll be a cakewalk. But it will be an even contest. I fully expect India to put up a solid fight.
 
Lot of players will be playing test in SA for first time. In fact majority of the team. That will be crucial. Our bowling might look promising on paper but SA's with Steyn, Morkel and Philander in their backyard is easily couple of levels above. At the moment, I will rate their batting better as well, particularly in SA.
Will be very surprised if India can get anything out of the series, unless pitches are made batting friendly to attract more crowd to make up for the loss suffered due to cut-short tour and attract more Indians.
 
I also think that this RSA team is hyped too much They're formidable as hell. But they're doable.

EDIT: Doable in a can be defeated way
 
KM said:
I'm concerned about our opening. Vijay and Dhawan aren't good enough IMO.

Middle order looks in good shape. Pace attack looks good and Ashwin is bowling well these days.
Click to expand...

I am not sure how middle order looks in good shape. May be on paper but otherwise none of them are proven in those conditions. I would be surprised if we score more than 200 twice
 
Interval Level said:
I also think that this RSA team is hyped too much They're formidable as hell. But they're doable.

EDIT: Doable in a can be defeated way
Click to expand...

Oh.. they are no Oz of late 90s/early 00s. Mentally way weaker and even has more chinks in armour. But they are much stronger than us and significantly so when you factor in that they are an established side and we are a young one.
 
crappycraperson said:
Oh.. they are no Oz of late 90s/early 00s. Mentally way weaker and even has more chinks in armour. But they are much stronger than us and significantly so when you factor in that they are an established side and we are a young one.
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We're mentally stronger than them. I can't explain it in a way it makes sense. But I think a few good sessions and those mental chinks will start appearing.

I understand where you'll are coming from. But I just think this India side has something special about it to make a fist of it.
 
crappycraperson said:
I am not sure how middle order looks in good shape. May be on paper but otherwise none of them are proven in those conditions. I would be surprised if we score more than 200 twice
Click to expand...


They have the right technique to counter those South African pitches. Kohli, Rohit and Pujara are perfectly capable of handling any type of stuff IMO.
 
We will see. Even someone like Dravid mostly struggled in his first tour to places like Oz and SA
 
I think some of you are hyping our players a lot when they haven't yet played there in tests! They have promise, sure, but let them actually play and prove there first, in testing conditions, against best pace attack in the world.
 
Interval Level said:
I also think that this RSA team is hyped too much They're formidable as hell. But they're doable.

EDIT: Doable in a can be defeated way
Click to expand...

Yes but by us? I doubt that. If we win it should be deemed an upset IMO. Maybe I am a tad harsh but the 8-0 is not completely out of memory yet.

Vijay and Dhawan opening against Steyn is a ticking time bomb. I'd love to see Pujara, Virat and Rohit stamp their authority. But for that we need to see out the new ball. SA don't do much with the old ball and that is when we can capitalize given we have not collapsed at the start. I hope that's the instructions for Vijay and Dhawan that no matter what stay on the pitch for as long as possible.

I actually hope they prepare a proper greentop, as it has a chance of backfiring if the likes of Shami and Zaheer exploit that.
 
I'll be happy if we can keep this to 1-0. Drawing one will be considerable progress. I don't think we have enough in our bowling to get 20 wickets. Especially against a batting line-up containing Smith, Amla, Kallis and De Villiers
 
Red-Indian said:
I'll be happy if we can keep this to 1-0. Drawing one will be considerable progress. I don't think we have enough in our bowling to get 20 wickets. Especially against a batting line-up containing Smith, Amla, Kallis and De Villiers
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We are going to get hammered IMO.
 
Don't care if we get hammered. Absolutely can't wait for it.

Will finally know what the new top 5 are made of. And possibly Rahane.
 
zing said:
Don't care if we get hammered. Absolutely can't wait for it.

Will finally know what the new top 5 are made of. And possibly Rahane.
Click to expand...


Doubt Rahane will play. Virat now has to step up and prove that he really is a top class test batsman.
 
Am pretty sure Rahane is going to play. We aren't going to turn up in SA with 5 specialist batsmen and Dhoni. That would be a disaster, considering the way Dhoni plays overseas.
 
zing said:
Don't care if we get hammered. Absolutely can't wait for it.

Will finally know what the new top 5 are made of. And possibly Rahane.
Click to expand...


Absolutely.
 
zing said:
Don't care if we get hammered. Absolutely can't wait for it.

Will finally know what the new top 5 are made of. And possibly Rahane.
Click to expand...


Think it'l be too early to judge them and people shouldnt have a go just because they fail there. Up against the best pace bowling attack atm and none of them have proper experience in these conditions.

I dont think we'l even put up a fight in either of the tests but hopefully the boys learn a thing or 2.
 
First series in a long time I've been excited about and it's only 5 games. Such a waste.
 
You were saying..

The odi team has some of cricket's best ever flat track bullies in it.

Am not sure about rohit Sharma but the rest..
 
Typical. BCCI expect us to waltz into SA and adapt straight away without any practice games. Thank god the ODI's are first.
 
Did not see the first innings. How on earth did they rack up 360 on this? So much bounce for the quicks.
 
zing said:
Did not see the first innings. How on earth did they rack up 360 on this? So much bounce for the quicks.
Click to expand...


The last ten overs were carnage. I don't think we'll ever manage to get this lot to bowl a proper yorker.
 
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