Can India avoid a 0-3 whitewash in South Africa?

[Varun]

As the thread title says.

We've been playing the likes of Lanka for forever so a touchdown in Steyn-land might be a rude jolt. What's more, we've been conned into thinking that Rohit Sharma is a test batsman, and Hardik Pandya is an all rounder par excellence.

Everything is going to fall apart in 3...2...

 

[badsha001]

Rabada will be the key... Steyn past his expiry date.

 

[shaz619]

Think they can potentially draw the series, bowling is a lot stronger compared to past teams

 

[BaankeJi]

India were not whitewashed even with a weaker team. It is a question of whether India can win the series or not.

 

[pakistani pride]

Steyn hasnt played a test for ages.
I guess it will have to come from a young Rabada supported by Morkel and Philander.

Mostly there are flat tracks nowadays.
I guess 2-1 but wouldnt be surprised with a drawn series.

 

[MenInG]

As the thread title says.

We've been playing the likes of Lanka for forever so a touchdown in Steyn-land might be a rude jolt. What's more, we've been conned into thinking that Rohit Sharma is a test batsman, and Hardik Pandya is an all rounder par excellence.

Everything is going to fall apart in 3...2...

Indian batting is far superior in Tests - I dont think they will allow SA to dominate.

 

[Mobashir]

Indian batting is far superior in Tests - I dont think they will allow SA to dominate.

Elgar - Dhawan
Markram - Vijay
Amla - Pujara
Abdv - Kohli
Faf - Rahane
QdK - Saha

How is India far superior?

 

[Sam99]

If south africa makes green pitches india has no chance to win/draw a match but if there is flat decks/dry pitches i guess india can draw/win 1 test match.

 

[Varun]

If south africa makes green pitches india has no chance to win/draw a match but if there is flat decks/dry pitches i guess india can draw/win 1 test match.

It's about time this myth got busted. Green pitches are the only kind where the likes of Ishant get some teeth. Those have contributed to some of our rare away wins:

www.espncricinfo.com/series/13027/s...-2nd-Test-india-tour-of-south-africa-2010-11/

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...2nd-investec-test-india-tour-of-england-2014/

Whereas if the pitch is concrete, we have this:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...-1st-test-india-tour-of-south-africa-2013-14/

 

[JattMaula]

Indian batting is far superior in Tests.

Not in South African conditions.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Winning more sessions in SA against them is one of the hardest thing for subcontinent teams. Even if they manage to win 3 sessions in a row they only come back to lose 3 sessions in a row most likely in the form of second innings collapse. I can't recall when we ever did well in both innings against SA in SA. Probably never. Odd times they beat SA was when India bowled them out for a very low score.

 

[Extra_Cover]

I see India winning or atleast drawing this series out, there are various reasons for that.

1. India is a team on a high and will be carrying the momentum of invincibles into this test series.
2. Indian team is younger/fitter/more determined than their counterparts
3. Captain Kohli

 

[Pete Rose]

either a drawn series or 2-1 either way

 

[Saksham]

I think India will have to play extremely bad cricket or South Africa will have to be total ruthless for this kind of result . The ideal scenario is 2 - 1 in favour of South Africa . India's batting looks very good but they will have to make runs as a unit to make an impact . Pujara, Rahane and Kohli had a fantastic series in 2013 . Vijay, Rohit and Dhawan failed in the previous tour . This will be the first experience of KL Rahul in South Africa so it will be tough facing brand new kookaburra ball against Steyn, Morkel, Rabada and Philander . The bowling attack looks good on paper . Umesh Yadav is the quickest but he is extremely inconsistent in terms of accuracy . Mohammad Shami has sheer talent but is prone to injuries . If he breaks down it will be tough for India . Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the best bowler with the new ball in hand having the ability to bowl both ways . He can make life difficult for Elgar and Quinton De Kock . Ishant Sharma is the most experienced guy in this team but he has to take responsibility as a leader . So it will be an exciting series where we have to dominate in every department to even think of beating them in their own backyard . Let's wait and watch and hope for the best .

 

[todfod 11]

the question should have been the other way round actually? can south africa save the series in homeland

 

[Hasan123]

Of course they can. They have a very good batting line up. Also the Indian bowling is much improved. They have done well in Asia and in some favourable conditions they can do damage to South Africa.

 

[leatherface58]

Ashwin needs to step up and perform. I don't expect a performance like in subcontinent but he needs to be better than he was in Australia or South Africa last time around. Win or lose, the series should be fun because Kohli always attacks which sometimes costs him matches but also results in wins which would otherwise be draws. I expect a 1-1 or 1-0 result in South Africa's favor.

 

[PakLFC]

India has a powerful batting nonetheless the bouncy conditions will be very testing for them. Due to their powerful batting a whitewash can be avoided.

 

[EliteCynical]

Insane Stat Alert - Team India Heads up.

Kagiso Rabada in SA
Matches - 11
Wickets - 64
Average - 17.6
SR - 27.9
5 wicket hauls - 6
10 wicket hauls - 3

(To put things in perspective, Only Steyn has 3 ten-fors in SA in 46 games)

��������������

 

[EliteCynical]

Ashwin needs to step up and perform. I don't expect a performance like in subcontinent but he needs to be better than he was in Australia or South Africa last time around. Win or lose, the series should be fun because Kohli always attacks which sometimes costs him matches but also results in wins which would otherwise be draws. I expect a 1-1 or 1-0 result in South Africa's favor.

Could not agree more. India failing to defend 450 in Jo'burg was the worst result for India and especially him because MSD was hoping his premier spinner could get some wickets on a fifth day track.

I believe he is in a much better space than that now, so let's see.

Personally I feel winning the series may be very very tough for India. I would be happy with a 1-1 or 1-0 to SA

 

[EliteCynical]

From an indian perspective, the refreshing thing to see is the fitness of the team. This could possibly be the fittest Indian team ever to go abroad. That would mean quicks are in good shape to bowl long spell without bowling too many loose balls. That may probably help Ashwin as well, IMO

I am worried about the batting. Rohit/Pandya at 6, Ashwin at 7, Saha at 8 could expose India.

 

[JattMaula]

Could not agree more. India failing to defend 450 in Jo'burg was the worst result for India and especially him because MSD was hoping his premier spinner could get some wickets on a fifth day track.

I believe he is in a much better space than that now, so let's see.

Personally I feel winning the series may be very very tough for India. I would be happy with a 1-1 or 1-0 to SA

SA chased 450? When? I remember they running out of time.

 

[Bewal Express]

Insane Stat Alert - Team India Heads up.

Kagiso Rabada in SA
Matches - 11
Wickets - 64
Average - 17.6
SR - 27.9
5 wicket hauls - 6
10 wicket hauls - 3

(To put things in perspective, Only Steyn has 3 ten-fors in SA in 46 games)

��������������

For my money Rabada is struggling- both his rhythm and length have been off. Ind will never have a better chance than this against an ageing Saffer team.

 

[Chrish]

Dhawan has no place outside of Asia IMO but he is impossible to drop due to his recent run. He can be Usman Khawaja for Indian team in horses for the courses role but it's unlikely to happen after 1st test.

 

[Chrish]

And Faf has demanded ultra-quick wickets for the Indian team and slow seaming English-type wickets for Australian team. Whether curator complies or not remains to be seen.

Reckon he will get what he wants against India at least considering what they were served in India.

 

[Pete Rose]

And Faf has demanded ultra-quick wickets for the Indian team and slow seaming English-type wickets for Australian team. Whether curator complies or not remains to be seen.

Reckon he will get what he wants against India at least considering what they were served in India.

not sure. without pandering to conrtoversy, i think most boards understand the value of a five day match against india in terms of broadcast revenue. unless they lose the first test match, i think they will sporting pithces

 

[Chrish]

not sure. without pandering to conrtoversy, i think most boards understand the value of a five day match against india in terms of broadcast revenue. unless they lose the first test match, i think they will sporting pithces

Other than Australia, all other sides have had the right combination sporting vs flat wickets in recent memory.

 

[EliteCynical]

SA chased 450? When? I remember they running out of time.

I mean they couldnt defend it to win the test. They came every close and chose not to chase it and played out a draw.. Game was all but sealed. Thank god for a Rahane direct hit.

 

[EliteCynical]

For my money Rabada is struggling- both his rhythm and length have been off. Ind will never have a better chance than this against an ageing Saffer team.

Nah. The bounce he would get, would force people like Kohli and Dhawan to play hook shots and get caught. The game vs Zim was one off.

 

[EliteCynical]

Dhawan has no place outside of Asia IMO but he is impossible to drop due to his recent run. He can be Usman Khawaja for Indian team in horses for the courses role but it's unlikely to happen after 1st test.

People keep saying that, but he almost won India a test in Nz against Boult and Southee by scoring a century in 4th innings. India lost the test by 40 odd runs

 

[JattMaula]

Nah. The bounce he would get, would force people like Kohli and Dhawan to play hook shots and get caught. The game vs Zim was one off.

Never seen kholi play a hook shot.

 

[giri26]

India have never been whitewashed in SA. We have managed to draw or win at least one test in All our tours.

1991/92 - lost 1 test drew the others
1996 - Lost 2 tests and almost won the third, if not for the bad light and Cullinan.
2001/02 - Lost 1 and drew the second (third test was unofficial one)
2006/07 - Won the first test and lost the 2 subsequent ones, bowled SA out for 84 in the first test, Sreesanth took 5/40.
2010/11 - Drew the series (India's best performance in SA)
2013/14 - Went with a young team dominated the first test only to have a meltdown on the last day. Lost the second.

So I am sure India will not be whitewashed. India has performed the best in the last 10 years in SA and NZ. If Indian bowling holds up, they might surprise SA in this series. The pace bowling is the key, if they are not able to take the lead, India will have no chance against the SA batting.

 

[Sadevdesai]

With Kohli as their Captain, they may surprise .... themselves !!!! I don’t put anything past this guy .... an absolute devotee of the game. I am sure he wants to play SA tomorrow ..... should be a real treat for neutral fans to watch these Teams knock heads !!!

 

[KingKhanWC]

Its not really green tops as they will help Indian bowlers too but fast and bouncy wickets which will give Saffers a big advantage.

Steyn is back and will be wanting to perform. Rabada can only improve his form and Morkel is looking very dangerous again.

Should be a cracking series. Im backing SA to win 2-0

 

[Sherlock]

I honestly can see India coming on top in the Tests. This SA side still comes up short when pressured, and India can take advantage of that.

 

[dauntless]

Nope they can't!! HTBs are going to be humiliated but Indian fans are hoping to win the series LOL!! This ain't gonna happen. Go boys destroy them like no tomorrow!!

 

[jnaveen1980]

I honestly can see India coming on top in the Tests. This SA side still comes up short when pressured, and India can take advantage of that.

THey go ultra defensive when they are under pressure. Other than that they are always a top Test side at home.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Nope they can't!! HTBs are going to be humiliated but Indian fans are hoping to win the series LOL!! This ain't gonna happen. Go boys destroy them like no tomorrow!!

That makes SA HTBs as well as they were humiliated in India.

 

[another drop catch]

Question should be can South Africa avoid white wash

 

[Sin Nombre]

Green tops - India wins series 2-1

Flat decks (like Oz) - SA wins series 1-0

Bouncy fast wickets - All matches have results, either India 2-1 or SA 2-1 or 3-0

If I was SA, I would stay away from the "revenge" talk and prepare flat Australian pitches. Easiest way to ensure a home win.

 

[CanadianG00se]

That makes SA HTBs as well as they were humiliated in India.

Na, “HTBs” are only labelled to batsmen from India. Batsmen from other countries are top notch and can bat on any surface against any bowling lineup.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Green tops - India wins series 2-1

Flat decks (like Oz) - SA wins series 1-0

Bouncy fast wickets - All matches have results, either India 2-1 or SA 2-1 or 3-0

If I was SA, I would stay away from the "revenge" talk and prepare flat Australian pitches. Easiest way to ensure a home win.

You are over-estimating Indian bowling attacks. They'll have to bowl their heart out to get 20 wickets.

Mohammad Shami aside, rest of bowlers will suffer IMO.

As a Pakistani fan, I want Saffers to win (obviously) but I also want a competitive series. Hopefully, India won't disappoint us all .

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Can India avoid a 0-3 whitewash in South Africa?

Of coure they can. They must play a pace heavy attack. Never select Ishant Sharma (is he in the squad?) and always play Pujara / Rahane. Go for the win, never aim for draw.

 

[hadi123]

Possibly but not playing a warm up match in SA could be a big negative for India.

 

[FreePalestine]

Na, “HTBs” are only labelled to batsmen from India. Batsmen from other countries are top notch and can bat on any surface against any bowling lineup.

I think SA have one of the best away records in the game... whereas India have a pretty poor one. If India had given the saffers decent pitches in India, then SA would have been very difficult to stop.

 

[FreePalestine]

I had a quick think about this. Let's do a player by player

1. Dean Elgar vs Dhawan / KL Rahul = Elgar
2. Aiden Markhan vs Murali Vijayy = Vijay because Makham is inexperienced, but could well outscore Vijay
3. Amla vs Pujara = Pujara on current form
4. ABD vs Kohli = ABD in home conditions
5. Faf vs Rahane = Faf
6. Bavuma vs Pandya = Bavuma (purely as a batsman)
7. Saha vs De Cock = De Cock
8. Ashwin vs Maharaj = Maharaj in SA, a place where Ashwin is yet to take a test wicket.
9. Philander vs Buvi = Philander
10. Shami vs Rabada = Rabada
11. Sharma vs Morkel = Morkel


By my count, India win 2 out of 11 of these head to heads! OK, maybe some fans will want to give Kohli upper hand over De Villiers and Rahane over Du Plessis, although I am not convinced. Even then you have a max of 4 out of 11 and I am certainly expecting SA to outbowl India completely. Dale Steyn cannot get into their side! He would be spearheading India's bowling lineup without a doubt, even at his age.

 

[soso_killer]

Ashwin needs to step up and perform. I don't expect a performance like in subcontinent but he needs to be better than he was in Australia or South Africa last time around. Win or lose, the series should be fun because Kohli always attacks which sometimes costs him matches but also results in wins which would otherwise be draws. I expect a 1-1 or 1-0 result in South Africa's favor.

Two matches will be played in the highveld. 1-0 result either way is highly unlikely. From what I've heard the Cape Town pitch will be given a bit of juice as well (even though we've had a dry season). The series will be won 2-1. Our pitches are too dangerous, varied and unpredictable for a 3-0 score line.

 

[soso_killer]

I had a quick think about this. Let's do a player by player

1. Dean Elgar vs Dhawan / KL Rahul = Elgar
2. Aiden Markhan vs Murali Vijayy = Vijay because Makham is inexperienced, but could well outscore Vijay
3. Amla vs Pujara = Pujara on current form
4. ABD vs Kohli = ABD in home conditions
5. Faf vs Rahane = Faf
6. Bavuma vs Pandya = Bavuma (purely as a batsman)
7. Saha vs De Cock = De Cock
8. Ashwin vs Maharaj = Maharaj in SA, a place where Ashwin is yet to take a test wicket.
9. Philander vs Buvi = Philander
10. Shami vs Rabada = Rabada
11. Sharma vs Morkel = Morkel


By my count, India win 2 out of 11 of these head to heads! OK, maybe some fans will want to give Kohli upper hand over De Villiers and Rahane over Du Plessis, although I am not convinced. Even then you have a max of 4 out of 11 and I am certainly expecting SA to outbowl India completely. Dale Steyn cannot get into their side! He would be spearheading India's bowling lineup without a doubt, even at his age.

Pujara is not better than Amla in SA conditions.

 

[soso_killer]

That makes SA HTBs as well as they were humiliated in India.

SA has lost two away series in the last 10 years.

 

[soso_killer]

I honestly can see India coming on top in the Tests. This SA side still comes up short when pressured, and India can take advantage of that.

I'm not sure you're in the right thread.

 

[Proactive_]

Hilarious that the situation is so dire that people are questioning whether the "No.1" team would even be able to draw one game in an away series or not. Sums up the reputation of this Indian team in comparison to some of the other great No.1 teams of the past. I remember it used to be a great achievement to take a Test off the great Australian team even on home soil, let alone away. Here we have an Indian team going to SA with Bhuvneshwar Kumar of all people as one of the main pacemen and a spray gun in Yadav as another. Pray to God that Shami stays fit throughout the series otherwise this would be a massacre like no other in the cricketing world.

 

[CanadianG00se]

I think SA have one of the best away records in the game... whereas India have a pretty poor one. If India had given the saffers decent pitches in India, then SA would have been very difficult to stop.

So when SA prepared greenest pitches against us in 2000s it was all fair and square and sporting pitches, and we dished out spinning tracks and all of sudden everyone cries. In my view as long as pitch doesnt pose a threat to players safety its all acceptable.
Dont get me wrong, more than SA fans/players/media its the Pakistani contingent thats crying about pitches served to them. Tbh i do want SA to prepare greenest pitches as possible as it will also give us more chances of winning the test than on flat surfaces. And as far SA side being unstoppable in India, what a joke. They were like minnows in India, heck SL provided much better challenge to India than mighty SAFFAS. No team and i really mean no team ATM can challenge India in India that includes Pakistan.

As far as best touring side, sure they are best touring side, but they are also equally poor at home losing series to England and Australia for numerous times whereas India have only lost two series in last 17 years.

Lets face it every team are minnows when they are playing in unfamiliar territory be it India or SA or Australia or England... but the hate Indian team/players get is mind boggling.

 

[CanadianG00se]

SA has lost two away series in the last 10 years.

And how many have they lost at home?? I really lost tracked... Ponting’s Aussies always gave u Phainty even in ur home LOL.

 

[CanadianG00se]

I had a quick think about this. Let's do a player by player

1. Dean Elgar vs Dhawan / KL Rahul = Elgar
2. Aiden Markhan vs Murali Vijayy = Vijay because Makham is inexperienced, but could well outscore Vijay
3. Amla vs Pujara = Pujara on current form
4. ABD vs Kohli = ABD in home conditions
5. Faf vs Rahane = Faf
6. Bavuma vs Pandya = Bavuma (purely as a batsman)
7. Saha vs De Cock = De Cock
8. Ashwin vs Maharaj = Maharaj in SA, a place where Ashwin is yet to take a test wicket.
9. Philander vs Buvi = Philander
10. Shami vs Rabada = Rabada
11. Sharma vs Morkel = Morkel


By my count, India win 2 out of 11 of these head to heads! OK, maybe some fans will want to give Kohli upper hand over De Villiers and Rahane over Du Plessis, although I am not convinced. Even then you have a max of 4 out of 11 and I am certainly expecting SA to outbowl India completely. Dale Steyn cannot get into their side! He would be spearheading India's bowling lineup without a doubt, even at his age.

Amla is better than Pujara anywhere except spining tracks. On spinning tracks Pujara is legend. Coming to your player vs player review its actually fair considering its palyed in SA they obviously have an advantage and will start as massive favourites. However, Id not write off Indian team and would expect them to give some tough fight to SA. My series prediction is 2-0 or 3-0 in favour of SA.

 

[Sin Nombre]

You are over-estimating Indian bowling attacks. They'll have to bowl their heart out to get 20 wickets.

Mohammad Shami aside, rest of bowlers will suffer IMO.

As a Pakistani fan, I want Saffers to win (obviously) but I also want a competitive series. Hopefully, India won't disappoint us all .

Sreesanth destroyed a better SA batting lineup on a green top.

No modern batsmen is competent on those.

It is similar to the first 2 test matches between India and Australia in 2017. Rank turners are a batting lottery.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Assuming a greentop

I had a quick think about this. Let's do a player by player

1. Dean Elgar vs Dhawan / KL Rahul = Rahul
2. Aiden Markhan vs Murali Vijayy = Vijay
3. Amla vs Pujara = Amla
4. ABD vs Kohli = Tie
5. Faf vs Rahane = Tie
6. Bavuma vs Rohit = Tie
7. Saha vs De Kock = De Kock
8. Jadeja vs Maharaj = Jadeja
9. Philander vs Bhuvi = Philander
10. Shami vs Rabada = Tie
11. Sharma vs Morkel = Morkel

4 for SA, 3 for India and 4 ties.

On a flat Cape Town, I would take Rabada and Elgar over Dhawan (who would play instead of Rahul) and Amla/Pujara would be a tie which would make it 6-2 in favour of SA.

 

[soso_killer]

And how many have they lost at home?? I really lost tracked... Ponting’s Aussies always gave u Phainty even in ur home LOL.

What does that have to do with the OP?
The post insinuated SA were Home Track Bullies having lost just two away series in a decade. Who has a better record than?
And I'm pretty sure we've given Australia a pretty good hiding in their den as well. I'm struggling to see relevance to be honest.

 

[soso_killer]

So when SA prepared greenest pitches against us in 2000s it was all fair and square and sporting pitches, and we dished out spinning tracks and all of sudden everyone cries. In my view as long as pitch doesnt pose a threat to players safety its all acceptable.
Dont get me wrong, more than SA fans/players/media its the Pakistani contingent thats crying about pitches served to them. Tbh i do want SA to prepare greenest pitches as possible as it will also give us more chances of winning the test than on flat surfaces. And as far SA side being unstoppable in India, what a joke. They were like minnows in India, heck SL provided much better challenge to India than mighty SAFFAS. No team and i really mean no team ATM can challenge India in India that includes Pakistan.

As far as best touring side, sure they are best touring side, but they are also equally poor at home losing series to England and Australia for numerous times whereas India have only lost two series in last 17 years.

Lets face it every team are minnows when they are playing in unfamiliar territory be it India or SA or Australia or England... but the hate Indian team/players get is mind boggling.

Lol, South Africa have always prepared South African pitches. The word "green wicket" gets thrown around without any context. SA scored runs on those very same pitches. India couldn't buy a run in their own backyard, producing the worst home performance in any decade.
Everyone had a problem with those pitches not just Pakistan fans, don't twist facts for a better narrative.
England and Australia most be "poor" sides at home too having lost to SA on "numerous" occasions. SA recently won a series in Lanka where Australia was thrashed 3-0, but hey facts and narratives make for strange bed fellows.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Hilarious that the situation is so dire that people are questioning whether the "No.1" team would even be able to draw one game in an away series or not. Sums up the reputation of this Indian team in comparison to some of the other great No.1 teams of the past. I remember it used to be a great achievement to take a Test off the great Australian team even on home soil, let alone away. Here we have an Indian team going to SA with Bhuvneshwar Kumar of all people as one of the main pacemen and a spray gun in Yadav as another. Pray to God that Shami stays fit throughout the series otherwise this would be a massacre like no other in the cricketing world.

THere are very few ATG teams in history. 1980 WI, 1930 Australia, 2000 Australia. In this era lot of teams do well only at home. Granted SA does okay in most places. But they also go their shi* canned in India. SA has some of their ATG players. You cannot quiet say the same about India. They are good. But they are nowhere near the past Indian team. As far as no.1 team goes, that is the way it has been for the last few years. This doesn't apply just to India. All no.1 teams these days falter badly at some place.

 

[dauntless]

LOL at the guy saying south Africa is HTB.South Africa has best record while travelling away from home in last decade or so.But whatever makes you happy.
#no mercy
Destroy them

 

[Indiafan]

If south africa makes green pitches india has no chance to win/draw a match but if there is flat decks/dry pitches i guess india can draw/win 1 test match.

funny because all our past successes (series win in england, nz, etc and series draw in Australia, SA, ETC) have been on green pitches and most of our whitewashes have happened on flat pitches where opposition scored over 450

 

[Indiafan]

Hilarious that the situation is so dire that people are questioning whether the "No.1" team would even be able to draw one game in an away series or not. Sums up the reputation of this Indian team in comparison to some of the other great No.1 teams of the past. I remember it used to be a great achievement to take a Test off the great Australian team even on home soil, let alone away. Here we have an Indian team going to SA with Bhuvneshwar Kumar of all people as one of the main pacemen and a spray gun in Yadav as another. Pray to God that Shami stays fit throughout the series otherwise this would be a massacre like no other in the cricketing world.

bhuvneswar is a gun bowler in tests and averages around 26 as opposed to.someone like Amir averaging 32. Are you confusing his ODI record with his test?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Should be a very competitive series as long as India adjust to S.A conditions quickly. The S.A batting does have a bit more stability to it then past series so they should put up decent totals. Its then down to Indian batsmen to dig and match those totals. Can see S.A win ning the series 1-0 with a couple of drawn tests.

 

[soso_killer]

Should be a very competitive series as long as India adjust to S.A conditions quickly. The S.A batting does have a bit more stability to it then past series so they should put up decent totals. Its then down to Indian batsmen to dig and match those totals. Can see S.A win ning the series 1-0 with a couple of drawn tests.

There'll be results in Jo'burg and Tshwane. Draws are rare at the highveld, 2-0 or 2-1 to the winning team .

 

[shariqnoor]

I'm going to go for 2-0 to India. Yep. 2-0.

 

[jnaveen1980]

There is a reason why SA never became ATG test team inspite of having abundant good players. They are basically mentally very very defensive. Sure their fast bowlers bowl with their tail up when there is help on the offer. But moment they are pushed back they go on the defensive. I remember sometime in the mid 2000s from the very first day of first test of a series they were playing for a draw. They bored us to death. Very conservative mindset despite being blessed with ATG bowlers/batsmen and outstanding fielding unit. This happens when the opposition has a slight upperhand. That is the only way you can win some sessions against them. If their fast bowlers are in rhythm nothing can stop them. They can annihilate you. India should find a way to push them there. It will be very very hard. But that is what they should be hoping for.

 

[Ab Fan]

THere are very few ATG teams in history. 1980 WI, 1930 Australia, 2000 Australia. In this era lot of teams do well only at home. Granted SA does okay in most places. But they also go their shi* canned in India. SA has some of their ATG players. You cannot quiet say the same about India. They are good. But they are nowhere near the past Indian team. As far as no.1 team goes, that is the way it has been for the last few years. This doesn't apply just to India. All no.1 teams these days falter badly at some place.

SA have done well in India in 2008 and 2010 and were poor only in 2015.

 

[Ab Fan]

Anything but SA are HTBs LOL.

Between 2011-2014, SA were ATG test teams who didnt lost anywhere away from home.

 

[Ab Fan]

I had a quick think about this. Let's do a player by player

1. Dean Elgar vs Dhawan / KL Rahul = Elgar
2. Aiden Markhan vs Murali Vijayy = Vijay because Makham is inexperienced, but could well outscore Vijay
3. Amla vs Pujara = Pujara on current form
4. ABD vs Kohli = ABD in home conditions
5. Faf vs Rahane = Faf
6. Bavuma vs Pandya = Bavuma (purely as a batsman)
7. Saha vs De Cock = De Cock
8. Ashwin vs Maharaj = Maharaj in SA, a place where Ashwin is yet to take a test wicket.
9. Philander vs Buvi = Philander
10. Shami vs Rabada = Rabada
11. Sharma vs Morkel = Morkel


By my count, India win 2 out of 11 of these head to heads! OK, maybe some fans will want to give Kohli upper hand over De Villiers and Rahane over Du Plessis, although I am not convinced. Even then you have a max of 4 out of 11 and I am certainly expecting SA to outbowl India completely. Dale Steyn cannot get into their side! He would be spearheading India's bowling lineup without a doubt, even at his age.

Agreed except Faf> Rahane. Also, Kohli >= AB( past his peak).

 

[jnaveen1980]

SA have done well in India in 2008 and 2010 and were poor only in 2015.

India had different captain then.

 

[Ab Fan]

India had different captain then.

They were strong sides however. It wasn't the Indian team of 90s. Tendulkar was at peak and so was Sehwag.

The great Australian side were going down and the two sides that stood up were India and South Africa at that time.

 

[jnaveen1980]

They were strong sides however. It wasn't the Indian team of 90s. Tendulkar was at peak and so was Sehwag.

The great Australian side were going down and the two sides that stood up were India and South Africa at that time.

SA never stood up against ATG Austrlaian side 2000 though. Only India did.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

The ad (revenge of 25 years) suggests that Ind will whitewash sa .

 

[Usman Chadda]

SA never stood up against ATG Austrlaian side 2000 though. Only India did.

India got smashed in the 1999-00 test series in Australia.

 

[Ab Fan]

SA never stood up against ATG Austrlaian side 2000 though. Only India did.

In the absence of McGrath and Warne.

And India started becoming competitive vs SA only post 2006.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India got smashed in the 1999-00 test series in Australia.

2000-01 series India broke the cycle of Australia's 16 wins

 

[jnaveen1980]

In the absence of McGrath and Warne.

And India started becoming competitive vs SA only post 2006.

They still had Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Gilchrist, Waugh and whole lot of other batsman. You don't lose tests because you lose Mcgrath. At best you should draw the test against India in your backyard. India dominated that test series expect for one collapse in the MCG test. But for few horrendous umpiring decisions and parthiv's drops India might have beaten Australia in Australia.

 

[Ab Fan]

They still had Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Gilchrist, Waugh and whole lot of other batsman. You don't lose tests because you lose Mcgrath. At best you should draw the test against India in your backyard. India dominated that test series expect for one collapse in the MCG test. But for few horrendous umpiring decisions and parthiv's drops India might have beaten Australia in Australia.

That series was drawn only. Your other points are irrelevant. Australia dominated in Brisbane which was rain affected which you didnt even mentioned.

Anyways, these points are irrelevant. It wasn't the point of discussion. My point is just that after the great Aussies side fell apart, the Indian and South African team were the two teams that really emerged but post the 2011 WC, Indian team fell down too because of their players coming close to retirement while at same time, SA team really took the front seat and dominated sides across everywhere till 2014 and during this time, they had an ATG side.

 

[Ab Fan]

SA never stood up against ATG Austrlaian side 2000 though. Only India did.

Ofcourse because that wasn't SA ATG side. The one which had those big names with addition of Smith, Amla and ABD were an ATG side.

 

[Ab Fan]

That series was drawn only. Your other points are irrelevant. <B>Australia dominated in Brisbane which was rain affected which you didnt even mentioned.</B>

Anyways, these points are irrelevant. It wasn't the point of discussion. My point is just that after the great Aussies side fell apart, the Indian and South African team were the two teams that really emerged but post the 2011 WC, Indian team fell down too because of their players coming close to retirement while at same time, SA team really took the front seat and dominated sides across everywhere till 2014 and during this time, they had an ATG side.

Apology. Mistake on my side.