India Tour of South Africa

I think we're doing a disservice to the players and the team. They've played exceptionally well over the last few years and are feared by other test playing nations.

The problem is every home countries fix pitches to their players' strengths.
 
Same old story for India isn't it. Great spinners but lack the fast bowler to beat the top sides overseas.

India are a bit like England - deadly in their home conditions but one-dimensional overseas. Surprised they haven't found a top-class fast bowler by now tbh.
 
JohnnyKills said:
Same old story for India isn't it. Great spinners but lack the fast bowler to beat the top sides overseas.

India are a bit like England - deadly in their home conditions but one-dimensional overseas. Surprised they haven't found a top-class fast bowler by now tbh.
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Shami is a decent nut. I think their seam attack has done really well so far. Been the batting that has been letting them down.
 
freeurmind said:
Shami is a decent nut. I think their seam attack has done really well so far. Been the batting that has been letting them down.
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Yeah he's a good bowler, but he's not a world-class bowler like a Starc or a Steyn. If India had just one of those they'd probably be the best side in the world.
 
JohnnyKills said:
Same old story for India isn't it. Great spinners but lack the fast bowler to beat the top sides overseas.

India are a bit like England - deadly in their home conditions but one-dimensional overseas. Surprised they haven't found a top-class fast bowler by now tbh.
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Yeah but this series they've taken 20 wickets as required in each test and arguably kept their team in it. The batsmen, 2 individual innings apart, have been terrible in shot selection and execution. I think India have had two problems in this series, firstly they were not prepared sufficiently for the South African pitches and secondly Kohli is allowed to operate with far too much autonomy. As great a player as Kohli is he needs be careful in letting his aggressive personality blind his decision making, he cannot drop players on a whim and they should really play an extra specialist batsman away from home especially against the 4 man pace attack they are facing.
 
ArmchairCritic said:
Yeah but this series they've taken 20 wickets as required in each test and arguably kept their team in it. The batsmen, 2 individual innings apart, have been terrible in shot selection and execution. I think India have had two problems in this series, firstly they were not prepared sufficiently for the South African pitches and secondly Kohli is allowed to operate with far too much autonomy. As great a player as Kohli is he needs be careful in letting his aggressive personality blind his decision making, he cannot drop players on a whim and they should really play an extra specialist batsman away from home especially against the 4 man pace attack they are facing.
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Can't argue with any of this tbh.

Kohli seems too exciteable to me, like a cricket equivalent of Jurgen Klopp.

When India play at home he can play three spinners and they will blow away teams from outside the sub-continent. But away from home he needs to improve his captaincy. Let's see how he goes in England, maybe he's learned some lessons.

Personally I would pick a pace attack of Umesh, Arun and Shami. That would give you the pace you need.
 
Red_Beans said:
Graeme Smith is a bellend. Was a bellend when playing, was a bellend when captaining and now is a bellend of a pundit
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Yeah what would the man who has won the most tests as captain in the entire history of test cricket know about captaincy!
 
ArmchairCritic said:
Yeah what would the man who has won the most tests as captain in the entire history of test cricket know about captaincy!
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Having a good cricket career doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a good pundit.

By that logic Martin Keown, Paul Merson's opinions should be well respected.

I don't agree with him btw but think Kohli and Shastri aren't a good combination at all. Need someone more calmer as a coach.
 
Did anyone actually read what Smith said?

In the aftermath some silly selection decisions and two defeats, not much you can disagree with.
 
Rohit and Ashwin dropped it seems. Rahane and Bhuvi in is the rumored lineup.
 
Smith is right in that Kohli seems untouchable. Is there anyone in that dressing room who would dare disagree with him? Was probably better when Dhoni was around. Need to see more from the likes of Ashwin, Pujara and Rohit in terms of leadership. I don't think there are many good Test captains knocking around atm, Root, Smith, Williamson and Faf all often make questionable decisions.

On another note, only SA respond to having a weak batting-lineup by including another seamer. De Bruyn should have played here. Phehlukwayo is a decent player but he's not Test quality.
 
Plays five seamers and decides to bat first. #justkohlithings
 
Stupid decision to bat first IMO. Ball is moving about and we could have done some damage to SA's top order like the first test
 
If we get over 200 on this pitch, then it's a match winning score IMO. Will be horrendous to bat fourth on this pitch.
 
Proving that he is right up there with Steven Smith as the best on this planet. Good innings on a difficult wicket.
 
Pujara better score big otherwise this is one of the most stupid innings that he is playing like always. Tired of him just staying in the crease without scoring runs. He is no dravid to make up and score big (hope I am wrong).

Counterattacking cricket is one way by which we can do well in abroad. Someone needs to have a chat with pujara.
 
India need a win. Pujara needs to up his game. This is not the last day playing to save a test match.
 
Feels like most decisions (umpires call) have gone against India. A little unlucky in that aspect. 200 looks like a very competitive total.
 
harshad said:
What's the hurry. We are still on the first day. Would happily take 180-200 for 3 at stumps on day 1.
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You can bet your house that SA will attack if theyre under the cosh. Pujara is far too defensive and only looks good if he cashes in at some point. Getting 40 off 200 is pretty shit.
 
Rahane didn't look out on naked eye. I dunno how the umpire gave it out.
 
I think Pujara is doing the right thing. Putting a high price on his wicket on this pitch is good test cricket
 
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