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

[finalfantasy7]

Yes it will be 2-0 SA

 

[finalfantasy7]

Rain will save them along with a good defensive performance by India

 

[jnaveen1980]

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.

.
They lost a test in case you forgot. India completely owned them at Sydney. Infact they had an opportunity to enforce follow on.

 

[jnaveen1980]

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.

SA was never an ATG side never will be one. They will continue to be slightly above average. That's about it. THey had several chances. Even now they can be one. But they will lose overseas test or barely manage a draw.

 

[FreePalestine]

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.

Yes I agree with you on Amla. He had been fading for a while, but hoping he is getting into a groove. Love watching that guy bat in his first pomp.

India are a good side. Some quality bats in there. And Hardik, though looks a fool, seems to have a lot of talent and offers new balance for India. The performance of their bowling attack is obviously key.

 

[Usman Chadda]

SA was never an ATG side never will be one. They will continue to be slightly above average. That's about it. THey had several chances. Even now they can be one. But they will lose overseas test or barely manage a draw.

South Africa were very good in India until 2015. Not sure where this HTB tag comes in for the Proteas. They have arguably been the most consistent side away from home. An Indian fan belittling other teams' performances overseas is funny. You have barely been better than a side as pathetic as Pakistan away from home, forget about South Africa.

 

[soso_killer]

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.

You shouldn't be a betting man. The OP showed you staggering numbers. Yeah sure Rabada is not a finished article yet, but in these conditions he can unleash hell. Call him the Prince that was promised if you will.

 

[soso_killer]

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

Yep, prior to 2015 it was 5 all in India with a couple of draws or so. I guess the administrators didn't like those numbers.
South Africa has always competed in India, not just in sessions but by results as well.
In ODI's and Tests India struggled in SA. I think SA has more Test wins in India than India has won in SA in both Tests and ODI's

 

[soso_killer]

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.

Good convincing yourself that. Lol, chasing 400 in Australia is boring. The greatest nation to have ever played the game.

 

[Bewal Express]

You shouldn't be a betting man. The OP showed you staggering numbers. Yeah sure Rabada is not a finished article yet, but in these conditions he can unleash hell. Call him the Prince that was promised if you will.

I cant argue with the stats but i do know my cricket. For my money he has struggled since the NZ tour, he struggled in England with his rhythm, seam and length. There is also no doubt that he has the wherewithal to be good again, but if the Rabada bowls against Ind, like he did in England he will struggle.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Good convincing yourself that. Lol, chasing 400 in Australia is boring. The greatest nation to have ever played the game.

Explain why they never became like 2000 Aussie side. They had pollock batting at 9. hey had Donald, Ntini, Kallis, Smith. When Australia was on top in the 12 tests they played Australia won 10 SA won 1 home and away. They are not aggressive like Australia. Even against India last year from the jaws of defeat they managd to escape and even had a chance to win. But they abandoned the chase even with 3 wickets in hand. They beat these Asian sides, weak Windies side. but they falter against teams that are used to similar conditions. Even when Australia was in the rebuilding phase SA didn't exactly annihilate them with white wash.

 

[Chrish]

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.

Welcome back buddy

 

[soso_killer]

Explain why they never became like 2000 Aussie side. They had pollock batting at 9. hey had Donald, Ntini, Kallis, Smith. When Australia was on top in the 12 tests they played Australia won 10 SA won 1 home and away. They are not aggressive like Australia. Even against India last year from the jaws of defeat they managd to escape and even had a chance to win. But they abandoned the chase even with 3 wickets in hand. They beat these Asian sides, weak Windies side. but they falter against teams that are used to similar conditions. Even when Australia was in the rebuilding phase SA didn't exactly annihilate them with white wash.

Lol, how many ATG teams have we had in the history of the game?

Anyway I'll try and answer a silly question as best as I can. South Africa have never been an ATG side because we never had a balanced XI, we've never glued a great side together. We've had great players who papered our weaknesses.
Let me explain: When Ntini emerged in the early 2000s Pollok was pretty much done as a strike bowler, his knees were gone. He became the modern day Philander but fitter and taller. Meaning he could still be effective, a strike bowler he was not. Donald was pretty much done as a bowler as well, Australia destroyed him in the 2002 tour, Pollok was injured.
We didn't have any batting to speak of in the 90's, bowling was very strong though.
Every time a great/good player emerges one senior figure is a year or two from retiring if not past his peak.
When G. Smith emerged we had a solid opening pair, then Kirsten retires soon after.
It took three years for Amla, AB and Steyn to find their feet at international level, it was after 2007 that they came of age. Morkel was erratic as he still is today. Philander was a long time away from Test cricket at this stage, he was considered more as a lower order bat who can bowl a bit.
He concentrated on his bowling after and improved season after season until the selectors couldn't ignore him anymore. They introduced him a year too late IMHO. Because he completed that team. It was the fab 4 Smith, Amla, Kallis and AB carrying passengers. The rest was on Steyn's hands. Finally Steyn had a partner who could take five-fors regularly (even if it's argued in certain conditions, even then when he's not taking wickets he kept things tight and allowed Steyn to be rested properly). It's no coincidence that SA were more dominant between 2011-2014, the emergence of Vern. Unfortunately yet again we ran out of time to build a great team as Kallis and Smith had to go.

What is frustrating is that history is repeating itself. Not only do we have Steyn and Philander together, Rabada emerges but guess what happens? Steyn becomes ravaged by injuries when he already has a few years left in him. It is infuriating, I think they've only played 3 Tests as a trio.
QdK emerges, AB takes a sabbatical. We desperately needed quick runs down the order in England.
Makram is looking solid as well. So our opening positions look like they are sorted for the foreseeable future with Elgar and Makram. Guess what though, yep Amla, Faf and AB are retiring next year 2019 (after the World Cup or after our home season, but retiring they are).
We won't have a middle order to speak of.
Every time we plug a gap, another one emerges either through injury or retirement. We will never have a great side.

In 10 years time I'll probably have a similar conversation with some else, "how did a side with Rabada, Steyn and Vern not dominate? " Well they can't seem to play together.
Makram
Elgar
Amla
Faf
AB
QdK
Philander
Maharaj
Rabada
Steyn
Morkel
That's a solid team, problem is half of it is retiring, with the bonus of either being ravaged by injuries or past its peak. So we can't build a team around these guys.

Australia got all these guys together, more or less in the same age group meaning they peaked together as well and added along the way too. That is why they were so dominant. With South Africa a youngster emerges, within a year a senior figure retires. We have good or great players along the way, but they carry passengers.

 

[soso_killer]

Welcome back buddy

Thanks mate, been a while.

 

[Ab Fan]

SA was never an ATG side never will be one. They will continue to be slightly above average. That's about it. THey had several chances. Even now they can be one. But they will lose overseas test or barely manage a draw.

You are spouting absolute rubbish.Ask anyone -SA were ATG side between 2011-2014. They won series away in Eng, Aus, NZ, SL and drew in India and SL. India could never beat SA and Aus away.

If a side who has dominated away is not ATG, then I dont know which side is ATG. By that logic, India will never become an ATG side because they have never won much away forget dominating sides across all conditions.

 

[Ab Fan]

Yep, prior to 2015 it was 5 all in India with a couple of draws or so. I guess the administrators didn't like those numbers.
South Africa has always competed in India, not just in sessions but by results as well.
In ODI's and Tests India struggled in SA. I think SA has more Test wins in India than India has won in SA in both Tests and ODI's

And some people are saying that SA never was an ATG side and were never as good as India are today. Talk about hypocrisy.

 

[Ab Fan]

SA was never an ATG side never will be one. They will continue to be slightly above average. That's about it. THey had several chances. Even now they can be one. But they will lose overseas test or barely manage a draw.

Between 2006-2014, SA didnt lost a single away series. If this is not becoming dominant and being an ATG side, then I am sorry no one can ever convince you on any thing.

 

[Robert]

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

Not really. The pitch was very green on day one when India batted. England were taken by surprise by the long lush grass, having been given several dry crusty wickets that helped nobody. They bowled too short.

By day two the strong sun had killed the grass and the wicket turned into a pancake. On day five England looked to bat out time, but Ishant bowled aggressively and forced some silly errors by the batsmen.

 

[soso_killer]

And some people are saying that SA never was an ATG side and were never as good as India are today. Talk about hypocrisy.

I don't think they were though, an ATG side must have more than 3 years of excellence. That side ran out of time.

They were a very good side though, in any era outside of Bradman's Australia, Great Windies, SA of the 70's, Australia of the 90's and early 2000's they'd be the best team in the world without doubt. Perhaps not great, but very good.

 

[Varun]

By day two the strong sun had killed the grass and the wicket turned into a pancake. On day five England looked to bat out time, but Ishant bowled aggressively and forced some silly errors by the batsmen.

Keep in mind that Day 2 was when England batted. And I wouldn't credit Ishant too much, the English batsmen looked like they were still scarred from their experiences against Mitchell Johnson over the winter.

 

[Ab Fan]

I don't think they were though, an ATG side must have more than 3 years of excellence. That side ran out of time.

They were a very good side though, in any era outside of Bradman's Australia, Great Windies, SA of the 70's, Australia of the 90's and early 2000's they'd be the best team in the world without doubt. Perhaps not great, but very good.

SA never lost a single series away from home between 2006-2014 . I dont know if this performance isn't of an ATG side calibre then what it is. And surprising this is coming from you. You are setting very high bar for ATG sides. Do you think any side aside from Australian or Windies would be considered ATG if you dont consider this side as ATG?

Batting: Smith, Amla, Kallis, ABD, Boucher
Bowlers: Steyn, Philander, Morkel

 

[soso_killer]

SA never lost a single series away from home between 2006-2014 . I dont know if this performance isn't of an ATG side calibre then what it is. And surprising this is coming from you. You are setting very high bar for ATG sides. Do you think any side aside from Australian or Windies would be considered ATG if you dont consider this side as ATG?

Batting: Smith, Amla, Kallis, ABD, Boucher
Bowlers: Steyn, Philander, Morkel

Like I said that was a very good side. But they ran out of time. They had too many passengers to be great.
Kallis, Smith, Amla, Steyn and Philander are excellent players. Others were too inconsistent, Morkel has what? 5 5-fors in over 70 Tests. That's not good enough.

Philander was introduced a season too late. The drawn series against England 2009 sums up that team, they were almost there but not quite. We really needed the scalp of Australia and England.

Yes it can be argued England tour SA once every 5 years or so, there was no return series after the no. 1 battle was won in England. The team they beat in 2015/6 was different from the number one side that won in England. But in 2009 we were making excuses about injuries, when do these excuses stop? We dominated England in any case in three matches out of 4 and managed to draw.
Okay Australia tour during the dry season when our pitches aren't as juicy as earlier in the summer which suits them, but these are the teams you need to beat at home. Excuses aside.

That was an excellent side, "great" they certainly weren't. In 2002 we were ranked as the number one side in the world headed for Australia. Ponting wasn't happy about it. But you know what they did? They beat us black and blue. No excuses about the weather, dry season, injuries or the galaxy. Great teams simply win.

 

[soso_killer]

There's nothing wrong with being a very good team. Let's compare Barcelona of 2008/9-2012 to the Real Madrid side that won back to back UCL titles and three times in four years.

That Barca side IMHO is one of If not the greatest club side there has ever been. 70% ball possession against the top European teams is unheard of, not just meaningless possession but creating numerous chances.

The Real Madrid of the past three/four season are an excellent side too. But they are not great IMO, they've got no pattern of play or blueprint to follow.

I'm by no means comparing SA to Real Madrid, the point I'm trying to make is that a team can be very good to excellent without being great. That's not a slight or anything. We have to remember great players/teams are great for a reason, they are far and few in between. Going 8 years undefeated was a magnificent feat, not the Windies nor the Windies achieved. Just like the great Barca side never won back to back UCL titles. It's nothing to be scoffed.

SA had a very good side that would compete against any team in any era, but I just don't think they were Great. The Australians were renowned for their attacking brand of cricket, and the sheer brilliance and swag of individual players such as Warne. The Windies for the fear they invoked by their pace quartet.
What is South Africa's blueprint? Resilience? Adaptability?
Admirable qualities, don't think they are enough to make a great side.

 

[UN talkz]

2-1 or 2-0
India has got some decent batsmen this time around who are capable of playing in SA conditions.

 

[Robert]

Keep in mind that Day 2 was when England batted. And I wouldn't credit Ishant too much, the English batsmen looked like they were still scarred from their experiences against Mitchell Johnson over the winter.

Yes, the grass was dead after day one and both England innings were on the pancake. So I was impressed by Ishant.

The England side was rebuilding - no Trott. no KP, no Swann, no Monty, Prior about to finish too.

India batted on the green mamba of day one and did Ok. Traditionally they do here, as Gavaskar, Vengsarker, Azhar, Tendulkar, Kapil all played County stints and got used to seam movement.

 

[Ab Fan]

Like I said that was a very good side. But they ran out of time. They had too many passengers to be great.
Kallis, Smith, Amla, Steyn and Philander are excellent players. Others were too inconsistent, Morkel has what? 5 5-fors in over 70 Tests. That's not good enough.

Philander was introduced a season too late. The drawn series against England 2009 sums up that team, they were almost there but not quite. We really needed the scalp of Australia and England.

Yes it can be argued England tour SA once every 5 years or so, there was no return series after the no. 1 battle was won in England. The team they beat in 2015/6 was different from the number one side that won in England. But in 2009 we were making excuses about injuries, when do these excuses stop? We dominated England in any case in three matches out of 4 and managed to draw.
Okay Australia tour during the dry season when our pitches aren't as juicy as earlier in the summer which suits them, but these are the teams you need to beat at home. Excuses aside.

That was an excellent side, "great" they certainly weren't. In 2002 we were ranked as the number one side in the world headed for Australia. Ponting wasn't happy about it. But you know what they did? They beat us black and blue. No excuses about the weather, dry season, injuries or the galaxy. Great teams simply win.

I am not comparing this side to great Australian side or the Windies of 70s but a side can be still considered an ATG side if he has won everywhere and hasn't lost any away series for a long period of 8 years. <B>These are telling stats.</B>

These days teams are HTBs. They lose most of their away matches and in very poor fashion at times. If a team which hasn't lost a single away series for a long period of 8 years, then calling them just a good side is really under-appreciating them. Even the great Australian side lost in India 2001 and England 2005.

As for the South African side before 2007, they were just a team great on papers but not too strong mentally. Someone like Pollock played second fiddle all his career to the likes of Donald and even later on to Ntini who was great but not ATG bowler. There is a reason why they were beaten black and blue by Australians home and away and even England. They won against weaker India in India in 1998.

Would you consider Indian side of 2000-09 or the present one as ATG side?

 

[Ab Fan]

The context of discussion was when @jnaveen was claiming that SA side ( not taking the 70s ones) were never as great as Indian side at their peak. I was arguing against that.

I would like [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] to make a point on that because that was the context and not whether SA were ever a great side or not. He is setting very high bar for a great side.

 

[soso_killer]

I am not comparing this side to great Australian side or the Windies of 70s but a side can be still considered an ATG side if he has won everywhere and hasn't lost any away series for a long period of 8 years. <B>These are telling stats.</B>

These days teams are HTBs. They lose most of their away matches and in very poor fashion at times. If a team which hasn't lost a single away series for a long period of 8 years, then calling them just a good side is really under-appreciating them. Even the great Australian side lost in India 2001 and England 2005.

As for the South African side before 2007, they were just a team great on papers but not too strong mentally. Someone like Pollock played second fiddle all his career to the likes of Donald and even later on to Ntini who was great but not ATG bowler. There is a reason why they were beaten black and blue by Australians home and away and even England. They won against weaker India in India in 1998.

Would you consider Indian side of 2000-09 or the present one as ATG side?

Neither Indian team was great, the 2000-09 team was solid though. I guess we will debate back and forth as to what is a great side. I'm happy to move on.

 

[soso_killer]

The context of discussion was when @jnaveen was claiming that SA side ( not taking the 70s ones) were never as great as Indian side at their peak. I was arguing against that.

I would like [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] to make a point on that because that was the context and not whether SA were ever a great side or not. He is setting very high bar for a great side.

South Africa was the best performing team between 2007-2014, no question about that. Their dominance came once Vern came to the fold 2011. By then it was too late to be great.

 

[Mp812]

Steyn is returning from injury and most likely will break down
If he does not I am pretty sure he won't be as potent as before.
That leaves rabada and philander both of them require green track. But the bhuvi and shami can exploit too.
Batting wise villiers returning after a one year gap and hitting form instantly is very unlikely .

 

[CanadianG00se]

Steyn is returning from injury and most likely will break down
If he does not I am pretty sure he won't be as potent as before.
That leaves rabada and philander both of them require green track. But the bhuvi and shami can exploit too.
Batting wise villiers returning after a one year gap and hitting form instantly is very unlikely .

Bro you're discounting SA too much. And you're also forgetting its Morkel who have always been troubling India. If pitch have pace and bounce then Morkel will be the biggest threat.
Really hoping for an exciting series.

 

[BaankeJi]

SA will never be weak. That too at home.

 

[jnaveen1980]

The context of discussion was when @jnaveen was claiming that SA side ( not taking the 70s ones) were never as great as Indian side at their peak. I was arguing against that.

I would like [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] to make a point on that because that was the context and not whether SA were ever a great side or not. He is setting very high bar for a great side.

Then you missed the context. I was talking about Australia. India was never a world beater. I never claimed that. I merely said India put up a better fight against world beaters than South Africa during the same time frame. This was inspite of the fact SA had a gun team, used similar type of ball, used to similar type of conditions. I never claimed India was a gun team

 

[Usman Chadda]

Steyn is returning from injury and most likely will break down
If he does not I am pretty sure he won't be as potent as before.
That leaves rabada and philander both of them require green track. But the bhuvi and shami can exploit too.
Batting wise villiers returning after a one year gap and hitting form instantly is very unlikely .

Rabada requires a green track to be successful? Man the amount of rubbish I've read in this thread so far is amazing. You are talking about one of the best all-round bowlers in world cricket today, who is better than all your pacers combined. Have some respect.

 

[giri26]

India will not be whitewashed and this will be a close series.

 

[soso_killer]

Then you missed the context. I was talking about Australia. India was never a world beater. I never claimed that. I merely said India put up a better fight against world beaters than South Africa during the same time frame. This was inspite of the fact SA had a gun team, used similar type of ball, used to similar type of conditions. I never claimed India was a gun team

Australia never rested their best bowlers against us.
We had the better of the 06 series in Australia which led to SA winning in 08. Inexperience and rain led to us losing the series 2-0.

 

[soso_killer]

SA will never be weak. That too at home.

Half the team is retiring next year, 2019/2020 season. It would be the best time to tour for Asian sides. Amla, Steyn, AB, Faf, Morkel (who's already looking at County deals, he's been a great servant. No grudges on my behalf) and probably Vernon.
What is South Africa's itinerary next year?

 

[Mp812]

Test matches : 2-8 Win-loss record for India in South Africa - the best among the four Asian teams in South Africa. The first of their two wins in South Africa came in Johannesburg in 2006 when they beat the hosts by 123 runs. The second one was in the second Test in Durban in 2010 when they overcame the hosts by 87 runs after losing the first by an innings margin

 

[troodon]

India will be able to either draw or win 1 Test.

2-0 or 2-1 to SA.

Key for India is to avoid collapse at any cost. India has to make sure they always score at least 300-350 every time they bat.

I am not worried about bowling this time. Our bowling is solid. Not on par with SA. But pretty good. BK/Shami/Ishant/Ashwin/Jaddu/Yadav are solid group of bowlers.

My worry is batting. Rahane should be dropped if he fails in the first 2 innings he plays. If the pitch is flat, I am tempted to play Rohit in place of Rahane. The middle and lower order of Rahane/Saha/Ashwin is not inspiring much confidence. They need to score at least 100 runs between them for India to have a good series.

 

[New Yorker]

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...

India could well win, why not?

 

[hadi123]

I think if they lose the toss again in the 3rd match it will be a 3-0 whitewash.

 

[Varun]

Would like to bat first in the third dig.

Both tests we've gotten to a stage where the fourth innings total can be chased but is not.

 

[DHONI_FAN]

Would like to bat first in the third dig.

Both tests we've gotten to a stage where the fourth innings total can be chased but is not.

If we bat first, we will lose by an innings.

 

[MoJoJoJo]

3-0 coming up..

 

[MMHS]

On a typical J'burg track, SAF will bat effectively once - be batting first or 2nd. That ground is at 2000 metre altitude and at one point had 89% black clay content in wicket - widest I have seen 2cm crack right along 6" wide of off stick line on good length spot. On such track Morne, Rabada & this Lungi kid ........ If he is fit, I feel KR is going to be the MoM .

 

[Sam99]

Kohli is avg captain. His aura in team is too high as well. If he can drop Rahane & kick kumble as coach then he deserves to be sacked as captain before its too late.

 

[Tyler Durden]

This Indian team didn't play like a No. 1 Test Team. Inconsistent and timid openers, incompetent captain, worst-than-a-schoolboy-wicket keeper, Rohit the great, Once in a blue-moon Hardik, Ishant the spinner. Is this an international Team at all? We deserve this humiliation for pathetic team selection. Kohli might be the ruler of Indian cricket, but he's the most undeserving canditate to resprent India as a Captain.

 

[Major]

Question should be can South Africa avoid white wash

k

now lets go back to the initial question posted in the thread

 

[ethan hunt]

Southafrican batting lacks depth as we saw in england .
India should be dissapointed with their performance in this series .

 

[RamLakhan]

Kohli is avg captain. His aura in team is too high as well. If he can drop Rahane & kick kumble as coach then he deserves to be sacked as captain before its too late.

Absolutely right. He behaves worse than a school kid, indiscipline and bad manners. He (and his buddies) thoroughly deserved school-like disciplinary actions of Kumble. He behaves like a third-rated brat when he says things like that g***d on the field and he plays with them in IPL (keep such things at least within dressing room). He loses all the respect of his batting-skills if he behaves like this and leads the team like this. I always said he should be sacked from captaincy very soon. If Rahane had not led the last test match, we would have lost/drew Test Series against Australia (at home!) And that useless Shastri should stick to commentary box!

 

[DHONI_FAN]

Absolutely right. He behaves worse than a school kid, indiscipline and bad manners. He (and his buddies) thoroughly deserved school-like disciplinary actions of Kumble. He behaves like a third-rated brat when he says things like that g***d on the field and he plays with them in IPL (keep such things at least within dressing room). He loses all the respect of his batting-skills if he behaves like this and leads the team like this. I always said he should be sacked from captaincy very soon. If Rahane had not led the last test match, we would have lost/drew Test Series against Australia (at home!) And that useless Shastri should stick to commentary box!

Well said.. But who will make it happen?

 

[Sam99]

Well said.. But who will make it happen?

At the moment no one can because that's the aura kohli has that even ganguly and sachin can't stop him right now.

 

[lehen]

This is India's worst batting record (TOP7) in last 41 years outside Asia. One thing I see is that now even the bowlers who have bowled better than their SA counterparts (minus the support from Catchers) will wilt and break down in the 3rd test.we will lose the last test in 2.5 days and this time even the bowlers will not perform

 

[Bilal7]

India got an Asian wicket at Centurion but hopefully they get the true Highveld experience at Jo'Burg.

Bat first? Sure, go ahead.

 

[Varun]

India got an Asian wicket at Centurion but hopefully they get the true Highveld experience at Jo'Burg.

As shown by Ashwin's stellar 1/78 performance on Day 4, with the sole wicket being that of the number 11 making his debut.

 

[style_guru]

From Indian fan's perspective, an Indian win in the last test would be a much needed healing touch.

But for the long term benefit of Indian cricket, they should lose the next test, along with upcoming ODI series as well.

I know it's blasphemy but if Kohli doesn't mends his ways, he must be dropped. Make Rahane the captain for next 3-4 years, & by that time, Prithvi Shaw should be groomed to take up the role.

Shastri should be thrown away from the team at the velocity of a tracer bullet, to keep it simple.

 

[Bilal7]

As shown by Ashwin's stellar 1/78 performance on Day 4, with the sole wicket being that of the number 11 making his debut.

Why is this mentality of Ashwin always performing on Asian wickets so prevalent in India?

He averaged around 30 against England at home, did he not? Why can't he have an one-day here? Besides, since when did Ashwin become the indicator for what a pitch is like? Did you not read any of the narrative around the pitch from the most reputable cricket sites?

So many questions, only one answer.

 

[Bilal7]

From Indian fan's perspective, an Indian win in the last test would be a much needed healing touch.

But for the long term benefit of Indian cricket, they should lose the next test, along with upcoming ODI series as well.

I know it's blasphemy but if Kohli doesn't mends his ways, he must be dropped. Make Rahane the captain for next 3-4 years, & by that time, Prithvi Shaw should be groomed to take up the role.

Shastri should be thrown away from the team at the velocity of a tracer bullet, to keep it simple.

This Indian team will be much stronger after the end of their overseas cycle. You don't get tough getting easy victories at home and in Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

 

[style_guru]

This Indian team is much stronger than what the results reflect till now. It's about the stubborn & illogical approach of the team management.
1) They arrive late for the series, just because they have to attend Kaptaan's wedding reception.
2) They forego their only practice match, just because kaptaan-coach feel it's not worth it.
3) They drop their one of the most successful batsman overseas to include someone who is a known bottler in tests.
4) They then drop their best pacer to accommodate a spray gun, just because they feel he would get more bounce.
5) They exclude KL Rahul for Dhawan, whose technique against short ball is not much better than Raina/Yuvraj.
6) First they drop players to accommodate their blue eyed boys, than when those lads fail, they continue with more baffling changes. I can go on about the nonsense decisions they have taken, one after another.

Who the hell Kohli thinks he is, that he would succeed in SA, by not playing a single warm up match? Is this a picnic trip to Disney land? The practice is optional, the selection is based on instincts, but the talk is as if his team are WI of 70's.

I can see further humiliation but would not mind it. Kumble's curse will bring this kid down soon.

 

[Saurav]

As shown by Ashwin's stellar 1/78 performance on Day 4, with the sole wicket being that of the number 11 making his debut.

Ashwin was poor in 2nd innings,pitch assisted spin as much it can in SA

 

[Amjid Javed]

India could now lose this series 3-0 and to be fair to them in 80% of both games they have been competitive, neither game has been a cake walk for S.A but a 3-0 scoreline loss might not reflect that in parts India have been fairly decent in this test series.

 

[Hasan123]

I predicted South Africa to win this series but I thought this was India's best chance of winning a test series in South Africa. There batting had players approaching there peak and in decent form. Also had a good bowling attack that could do damage in favourable conditions. But South Africa have won the key moments and ABD has really stepped up in pressure moments. Also India's selection has cost them.

 

[Usman Chadda]

India could now lose this series 3-0 and to be fair to them in 80% of both games they have been competitive, neither game has been a cake walk for S.A but a 3-0 scoreline loss might not reflect that in parts India have been fairly decent in this test series.

So the number one team in the world should take consolation from the fact that they were decent in a few sessions, while the end of match scorecards imply they got smashed to space. No wonder cricket is going nowhere.

 

[big_gamer007]

Who cares? Series is lost now doesn’t matter if you lose 2-0 or 2-1 or 3-0.. I guess we will learn to accept and live with the fact that this generation is mediocre in sports as well hopefully next generation can be somewhat better and we can expect away series win..

Or maybe the trolls who used to say we are not good genetically are correct maybe we will always be mediocre in sports..

 

[kingusama92]

Doesn't look like it.

I'm sure the next pitch will be more "South African" in its appearance.

 

[PakLFC]

India are just good in the subcontinent. The RSA whooping has proved that they can't play in foreign conditions. Kohli played well then they collapsed after he was dismissed. They are just a one man batting side. The bowlers are no more then average, better then what they had about ten years back.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Who cares? Series is lost now doesn’t matter if you lose 2-0 or 2-1 or 3-0.. I guess we will learn to accept and live with the fact that this generation is mediocre in sports as well hopefully next generation can be somewhat better and we can expect away series win..

Or maybe the trolls who used to say we are not good genetically are correct maybe we will always be mediocre in sports..

- Very negative attitude my friend

Dude at least be glad you lot win games that are high profile (ODIs and T20s), we on the other hand can't even seem to do that (forget Away or Home test wins)

 

[giri26]

Seems like now. 3-0 coming up. Will be our first in SA.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India doesn't have enough time to recover. It will be a whitewash. They will chop and change again. Rahane will be under immense pressure to deliver. If every batsman bar Kohli is playing for their place you expect nervous batsmen making errors. This side is not confident enough to take on this SA side. Not that SA is far superior . But their bowling is world class in these conditions. They could probably beat any side in the world except other sides like Australia have enough ammunition to give it right back. They won't drop regulation catches.

 

[BakuGM]

Win or lose but at least India should put the best 11 for the game. What is mind boggling to me is they have problem with making runs not taking wickets then why they play Pandya at number 6? Does the team management truly believes that an all rounder has a chance of scoring more runs than a true batsman? This is cricket 101. I can bet a million Dollar that 8 out of 10 times a regular batsman would outscore an allrounder and if a casual fan can figure this out than how come the Indian team management doesn’t get this?

 

[Bilal7]

Win or lose but at least India should put the best 11 for the game. What is mind boggling to me is they have problem with making runs not taking wickets then why they play Pandya at number 6? Does the team management truly believes that an all rounder has a chance of scoring more runs than a true batsman? This is cricket 101. I can bet a million Dollar that 8 out of 10 times a regular batsman would outscore an allrounder and if a casual fan can figure this out than how come the Indian team management doesn’t get this?

Because said all-rounder outscored all five of the specialist batsmen in the first test, saving India from an innings defeat.

 

[BakuGM]

As I mentioned in my post one can get lucky and outscore a regular batsman but not on a consistent basis

 

[karthikc]

Yes India can avoid whitewash..if they take tickets and collect boarding pass for flying back to India

 

[karthikc]

This Indian team will be much stronger after the end of their overseas cycle. You don't get tough getting easy victories at home and in Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

True

 

[Dead Ball]

Nope, India can't avoid a whitewash.

Will be a humbling experience for captain Kohli after being home bullies for a year.

 

[RamLakhan]

At least the home & overseas series should have been interlaced (It used be like that before in previous decades). Now its all about comforts for the organizers, sponsors and even players (don't want to travel to and forth, and also to show that they are so stronger at home!) This would have shown Kohli what it is about captaining...

 

[shaz619]

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

Almost got it right, maybe if there was another test or two it could have been achieved