Is India using the Sri Lanka series as preparation for the South Africa series?

[Princejain191]

I recently read that pitch at Eden Gardens could not be distinguished from the outfield and it is expected that not much will change for the match against SL.

While Eden Gardens has been fast bowling friendly for the past year and so, is it India's tactic to prepare such pitches at all the three test match venues to prepare for the series against SA?

The rest of the test matches are in Nagpur and Delhi, which generally produce low bouncy pitches, would it be possible to get a good bouncy seaming track there too? India should win against SL on all types of pitches, so that wouldn't be a problem.

Not the worst tactic (if it is one) if India is to prepare against an international side for the series against SA. Also, India will hardly get to warm-up in SA.

Discuss.

 

[LastManstanding]

Good decision if its true. Its likely we will not get much time to acclimatize and we might have to make do with a solitary two day warm up match before the first test against SA. We should prepare bouncy tracks to prepare for SA tests and rest all our test regulars for the ODIs against Lankans and instead think about sending them to SA earlier to better prepare for what will be the biggest test for our players in the last two years.

 

[zain7077]

No matter how much India prepare they will get humiliated by SA.

Markram
Elgar
Amla
Du Plessis
ABD
Bavuma
De Kock
Philander
Rabada
Morkel
Steyn

 

[Benchwarmer]

Good move.Plus it nullifies Sri Lanka's strength.That sweep in UAE must have made India wary of their spin attack.

 

[Princejain191]

Good move.Plus it nullifies Sri Lanka's strength.That sweep in UAE must have made India wary of their spin attack.

I don't think India would have been wary of SL after their last series. Bored, yes. Wary, definitely no.

 

[Princejain191]

Good decision if its true. Its likely we will not get much time to acclimatize and we might have to make do with a solitary two day warm up match before the first test against SA. We should prepare bouncy tracks to prepare for SA tests and rest all our test regulars for the ODIs against Lankans and instead think about sending them to SA earlier to better prepare for what will be the biggest test for our players in the last two years.

But can tracks be prepared like that? Against their nature? This could very well be just an Eden gardens thing.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

No matter how much India prepare they will get humiliated by SA.

Markram
Elgar
Amla
Du Plessis
ABD
Bavuma
De Kock
Philander
Rabada
Morkel
Steyn

In game of cricket you never know.

One inspirational spell by an Indian pacer. One bad session by SA batsmen. And they can get 1 WIN.

But yea, it will be SA all the way, in the end.

 

[Princejain191]

In game of cricket you never know.

One inspirational spell by an Indian pacer. One bad session by SA batsmen. And they can get 1 WIN.

But yea, it will be SA all the way, in the end.

We have bowlers who can take 20 wickets this time, whatever the end scoreline is, I am sure we won't get rolled over. Should be a good series tbh, never felt so optimistic about an Indian away tour (in Eng, SA or Aus)

 

[WengerOut]

I think SA will prepare surfaces with true bounce . They have the bowlers then to take 20 wickets while Jaddu or Ashwin will be Cannon fodders.

 

[Saffer_XIII]

No matter how much India prepare they will get humiliated by SA.

Markram
Elgar
Amla
Du Plessis
ABD
Bavuma
De Kock
Philander
Rabada
Morkel
Steyn

Bavuma out. Maharaj in. Never a good thing to go into a test without a spinner and 3 out of the 4 fast bowlers have just returned from injuries.

 

[RamLakhan]

In winter it is possible to get pitches (especially in the early morning) with some bounce and movement especially if they leave some grass... It will be nice tactics (double benefit - You can beat Sri Lanka easier than on turning/flat tracks + Preparation for SA tour)

 

[Sidilicious]

I dont like this idea of India using a Sri Lanka series to prepare for an SA tour. Its situations like these when you get overconfident that the game comes to bite you in the back.

Get overconfident, start preparing like you've already won the series, and we will face the same fate Pakistan faced against SL not even 1 month back.

I really hope that is not the case, and the Eden gardens is just a ground that help seamers now. Just as it did against NZ.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I think SA will prepare surfaces with true bounce . They have the bowlers then to take 20 wickets while Jaddu or Ashwin will be Cannon fodders.

If India play both Jaddu/Ashwin in SA* then they deserve to be whitewashed by innings defeats in each game. Not to mention it will be highly unfair to Indian pacers in the squad.


*Same way Pak deserved to lose in UAE after playing all pacers.

 

[Varun]

If this is indeed the case, it's going to backfire spectacularly.

However it's better than nothing I suppose. Playing some games against Lanka at home is still superior to going to SA early and playing a B-grade domestic team there, even if the eventual conditions are closer.

 

[Sidilicious]

If this is indeed the case, it's going to backfire spectacularly.

However it's better than nothing I suppose. Playing some games against Lanka at home is still superior to going to SA early and playing a B-grade domestic team there, even if the eventual conditions are closer.

If it is the case, then I we would deserve to lose.

But I feel that the Eden Gardens pitch has become one for seamer and swing bowlers. If thats the pitch characteristics, then I don't have a problem.

 

[Varun]

If it is the case, then I we would deserve to lose.

But I feel that the Eden Gardens pitch has become one for seamer and swing bowlers. If thats the pitch characteristics, then I don't have a problem.

It's been the case of late across formats to be fair. Here's the last test played there:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/10716/scorecard/1030215/India-vs-New-Zealand-2nd-Test

 

[rashmin]

No matter how much India prepare they will get humiliated by SA.

Markram
Elgar
Amla
Du Plessis
ABD
Bavuma
De Kock
Philander
Rabada
Morkel
Steyn

Thanks for your wishes!!!! It means that they should not prepare at all???

 

[kingusama92]

It's quite hard to simulate SA pitches due to their extravagant bounce.

 

[Princejain191]

It's quite hard to simulate SA pitches due to their extravagant bounce.

True. But won't be surprised if we see a track with good bounce next, Indian pitches can be surprising. Dharamshala had amazing bounce vs. Australia.

And tbf, this pitch was hard and had good bounce, just that SL bowlers are too slow, except Lakmal. Saha was taking a lot of balls on chest height.

Also, I think this team has more problems with the seam and swing, they can adjust to the bounce. This is as good a prep as we can get.

 

[jnaveen1980]

There was lot of lateral movement early on. Sure it could be used to counter Vernon Philander who jags the ball both ways.

 

[CricFan2012]

Of coarse it was, they want to win the South Africa series abroad, don't care about Sri Lanka games

 

[90MPH]

Green pitches are not the norm in SA - maybe on the first morning.

It's the bounce and pace - and to be fair Indian batsman in the past have coped well.

I think actually it will be down to how good their bowling will be and if they can bundle SA for lowish scores.

 

[giri26]

I think it was not the intention and it was just a coincidence. It might have been due to the weather in Kolkata where it was raining a lot. I don't think the curators or BCCI did it on purpose.

 

[R0H1T]

Interestingly enough had Pandya played in this test series, we could've won the first test. Seeing how Kohli has little to no confidence in his (previously) two no.1 ranked test bowlers in the team I see the experiment as a huge failure. Why play him in the LO series against NZ, or even SL, if you are looking at him with an eye towards SA tour?

I see Shastri's planning has failed miserably, hopefully Virat can pick the pieces up when we tour SA. We'll need him at 110% delivering with the bat & the cap!

 

[WengerOut]

Interestingly enough had Pandya played in this test series, we could've won the first test. Seeing how Kohli has little to no confidence in his (previously) two no.1 ranked test bowlers in the team I see the experiment as a huge failure. Why play him in the LO series against NZ, or even SL, if you are looking at him with an eye towards SA tour?

I see Shastri's planning has failed miserably, hopefully Virat can pick the pieces up when we tour SA. We'll need him at 110% delivering with the bat & the cap!

India is very lucky to be in the current situation despite the main protagonists being , lets say ,not very competent as far as management is concerned.

1) Ravi Shastri is just all talk without any iota of intelligent input. Ready made phrases like 'Go for the kill' , 'Take the bull by its horns' , 'Afraid of none' etc are the only indications that he exists.

2) Virat Kohli is just a one trick pony captain. Just attack, attack and attack. A good captain should be flexible enough. If there is a need to defend , you have to.

3) Rahane is good captaincy material but not reliable with the bat.

PS: And who on earth decided to play 2 condition dependent spinners on a green track when they voluntarily asked for such a track !!

 

[Sidilicious]

India is very lucky to be in the current situation despite the main protagonists being , lets say ,not very competent as far as management is concerned.

1) Ravi Shastri is just all talk without any iota of intelligent input. Ready made phrases like 'Go for the kill' , 'Take the bull by its horns' , 'Afraid of none' etc are the only indications that he exists.

2) Virat Kohli is just a one trick pony captain. Just attack, attack and attack. A good captain should be flexible enough. If there is a need to defend , you have to.

3) Rahane is good captaincy material but not reliable with the bat.

PS: And who on earth decided to play 2 condition dependent spinners on a green track when they voluntarily asked for such a track !!

I don't think they expected the rain to be so much. And had the rain abated the help provided to the seamers would have been slightly less and the game would have gone into day 4 and 5 (in terms of the number of overs. lasted less than 3 days in terms of overs) and thats when we would have needed 2 spinners.

In terms of player strategy, they weren't too wrong.

But I do agree with you in terms of Ravi Shastri. He is just a big cheerleader and does not add any technical or strategic expertise.

As for captaincy, Virat hasn't faced a difficult series yet. And a captain can only improve from a few failures. I still think he can improve as a captain during the overseas tours.

 

[WengerOut]

I don't think they expected the rain to be so much. And had the rain abated the help provided to the seamers would have been slightly less and the game would have gone into day 4 and 5 (in terms of the number of overs. lasted less than 3 days in terms of overs) and thats when we would have needed 2 spinners.

In terms of player strategy, they weren't too wrong.

But I do agree with you in terms of Ravi Shastri. He is just a big cheerleader and does not add any technical or strategic expertise.

As for captaincy, Virat hasn't faced a difficult series yet. And a captain can only improve from a few failures. I still think he can improve as a captain during the overseas tours.

According to the team management ,it is a practice for SA series. One spinner is fine. But 2 !!!!! . And i think it should be Jadeja in the lineup to dry up runs. Ashwin will be decimated if picked.

 

[Dingolfy]

Interestingly enough had Pandya played in this test series, we could've won the first test. Seeing how Kohli has little to no confidence in his (previously) two no.1 ranked test bowlers in the team I see the experiment as a huge failure. Why play him in the LO series against NZ, or even SL, if you are looking at him with an eye towards SA tour?

I see Shastri's planning has failed miserably, hopefully Virat can pick the pieces up when we tour SA. We'll need him at 110% delivering with the bat & the cap!

How? He is neither a good enough batsman to survive Lakmal's bowling in the first innings nor a bowler who can swing or seam.Above all, he himself requested a break to BCCI and not the other way around.

 

[jnaveen1980]

How? He is neither a good enough batsman to survive Lakmal's bowling in the first innings nor a bowler who can swing or seam.Above all, he himself requested a break to BCCI and not the other way around.

He would have bowled far better than Umesh.

 

[Bilal7]

Yes, clearly. It also seems to be working and will ensure that the Indians are well prepared to play cricket in South Africa. Expecting a close series and some great entertainment.

 

[Princejain191]

Yes, clearly. It also seems to be working and will ensure that the Indians are well prepared to play cricket in South Africa. Expecting a close series and some great entertainment.

Yeah, seems like a smart move. Lets hope we get a close series and good cricket pitches.

 

[WengerOut]

I think SA would be smart and produce a surface with true bounce and no unfair advantage to bowlers. They have bowlers then to take 20 wickets while Indian bowlers will be harmless.

 

[JattMaula]

They clearly are.

Bhuvi being replaced by a batting all rounder who can bowl decent medium pace for second test. So India wants to to test 4 pacers(3+1) and one spinner strategy next. Ashwin will sit out imo.

 

[Abdullah719]

India prepare quick tracks as SA tour looms

Nagpur - Captain Virat Kohli on Thursday said India had demanded fast, green-topped wickets for the Test series against Sri Lanka to prepare for their tour of South Africa.

The hosts laid out a green pitch in the opening Test in Kolkata, and Nagpur is also expected to favour the fast bowlers in the second Test starting Friday.

The three Sri Lanka Tests come before India, the world's top-ranked team, embark on a three-Test tour starting January in South Africa, where they have never won a Test series.

Kohli confirmed reports that team management had ordered fast pitches, instead of the traditional spin-friendly tracks, to get used to South Africa-style conditions.

"Yes, because unfortunately we get only two days before we fly to South Africa after this series is over," Kohli told reporters.

"So we have no choice but to be in game situations and think of what's coming ahead for us... As usual cramped for time, which I think we needed to assess in future as well."

Bhuvneshwar Kumar led an inspired Indian pace attack that took all of the 17 Sri Lankan wickets that fell during the rain-hit first Test, which ended in a draw.

Kohli said he wanted his players to get used to the fast and bouncy tracks that await in venues like Johannesburg and Cape Town, which will host the opening Test.

"We thought this is an ample opportunity for us to challenge ourselves, put us in a situation... As I said, we want to embrace being in difficult conditions," said Kohli.

"I am not saying everyone will go out and perform immediately but if we can feel comfortable about it after one, two or three innings everybody will come good and once you come good we will get that confidence," he said.

Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal called it a "good Test wicket" and backed his top spinner Rangana Herath to come good in Nagpur, after he went wicketless in Kolkata.

"We saw so much grass at Eden Gardens, this is much less. This looks a good Test pitch. It's a challenge for us as a team," Chandimal said.

"Of course Rangana Herath is a wily old fox. On these wickets he can be handy. We have Dilruwan (Perera) as well in our ranks."

Kohli said India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja would also be invaluable with their all-round abilities.

The spin duo have delivered 19 five-wicket hauls between them in Asia since the 2015 South Africa series, as well as valuable contributions with the bat.

"We count them as all-rounders because they have proven themselves in difficult situations and they have made important contributions for the team," he said.

"So they are not tail-enders any more, they are proper all-rounders. (Their) ranking does justice to that. It gives us good balance when we play them both."

http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/Proteas/india-prepare-quick-tracks-as-sa-tour-looms-20171123

 

[Abdullah719]

Dinesh Chandimal plays down India's dismissive tone

NEW DELHI: India's tone about Sri Lanka in the ongoing series has been quite dismissive but touring captain Dinesh Chandimal chose to overlook it on Friday on the eve of the third and final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

As the captain of the world's top-ranked Test side, Virat Kohli has termed the ongoing series as preparation for the team's more challenging tour of South Africa later this month.

Opening batsman Murali Vijay repeated the line in the pre-match news conference as India, who are 1-0 up in the series, chase a record-equalling ninth consecutive Test series triumph.

"That's up to them," Chandimal said when asked if he found the attitude of the Indian camp disrespectful.

"They are thinking about the next series but we, as a team, are thinking about this series. We're thinking about each and every game, how we can win, how we can be good as a team and stuff.

"We can't control (what India say). As a team we need to control what we can control. That's why we are looking at this series."

Sri Lanka escaped to a draw in the rain-hit series opener in Kolkata but suffered their worst Test defeat - by an innings and 239 runs - in Nagpur.

The 28-year-old lamented his misfiring top order but was optimistic they would give a better account of themselves in the final test.

"As a batting unit, we need to do well, especially in the first innings we need to put big total on the board. We need to score 350 to stay in the game," Chandimal said.

"We never won a Test game here and still I hope we can win this game."

The tourists will be without spin spearhead Rangana Herath who has been ruled out of the match with a back injury.

In contrast, India have been juggling with a problem of plenty at the top order where Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay have been vying with each other to partner fellow opener Lokesh Rahul.

Asked if the constant rivalry has led to an awkward relation in the dressing room, Vijay said: "Not really, we three are very good friends off the field and it makes it much easier. (But) Definitely it unsettles the opener, who is playing regularly."

Transparency of emotion ensures there was no bad blood between him and Dhawan, Vijay said.

"(We try to) make it easier, lighter and more fun -- talking about it openly and having a good chat over it rather than keeping it with yourself and making that person feel it," said the right-hander.

"Whatever I feel or Shikhar feels, we put it out in the open... we clear that thing and we move forward."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...dias-dismissive-tone/articleshow/61879696.cms