South Africa [335 & 258] beat India [307 & 151] by 135 runs to win series & take 2-0 series lead

[DuckMaster]

I really hope Rohit is never seen around the Test team despite the "heroics". Won't happen with Bhagwan Kohli and Cheerleader Shastri at the helm though.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Great knock Rohit bhai.

Congrats on playing the 3rd test.

[MENTION=141165]jagatk[/MENTION]

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Must say - you don't get a bigger choker than SAF. They have still 150 at hand and that fielding position 4 minutes before lunch ........ wonder, if the target was 220....

This series was there for taking with proper preparation, planning and efforts.

We are now staring at a whitewashed now.

 

[Madplayer]

Rohit the top scorer as i predicted yesterday.

 

[MMHS]

For that shot in last over before lunch, Sharma ji needs to carry drinks next time.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Who said this? I'd like to have a word with them.

Were they Internet heroes or commentators and ex-players?

LOL, I'm just rubbing it in I've read some crazy things on here.

 

[troodon]

Rohit is dumb to keep playing the pull shot with a fielder stationed down there.

Hope he gets dropped permanently from Test Squad.

 

[DuckMaster]

This series was there for taking with proper preparation, planning and efforts.

We are now staring at a whitewashed now.

There was meticulous preparation, planning and efforts. The Kohli-Shastri way. Bottomline is... India has been annihilated.

 

[Sam99]

Rohit the top scorer as i predicted yesterday.

Ah where is that guy who betted his house for it?

 

[Savage]

I guarantee Steve Smith would have scored century on this very pitch. He is definitely miles ahead of Kohli in test cricket both as a captain and as a batsman

There Shouldn't be any comparison.

ATM Smith is clearly best batsmen in the world.Only Some "delusional" Kohli fans would think otherwise.

 

[troodon]

This series was there for taking with proper preparation, planning and efforts.

We are now staring at a whitewashed now.

It’s ok.

Every team is ghar ka sher.

 

[DuckMaster]

Showed "intent". Chased down half the runs. Brilliant. Slow claps!!!

 

[Madplayer]

Ah where is that guy who betted his house for it?

[MENTION=113824]Nikhil_cric[/MENTION]

We need answers. Lets do the paper work

 

[letme alone]

yar lunch ker lo

 

[Aman]

140 run victory is big.

 

[Xoib]

Batting was constantly chopped and changed. No one apart from kohli has a secure spot. Think about it. Not a single batsman.

Team management declined BCCI offer to fly out test players early to SA.

Complete botch up job.

And then catch dropped.

I think we dropped around 10 catches this test alone (including simple, sharp, misjudgement chances).

I actually have been appaled by lack of discipline by Indian batsmen here they have batted like how Pakistan bats overseas there scorecards make them look better then what they have achieved 3/4 times they have been 80 odd for 7 and have been propped up by tail showing resistance. Its been disappointing to see since I believe this has been India's best overseas bowling effort I have ever seen but the batting just were not there to compete.

If batsmen don't lift their game bowlers might also loose motivation to keep running in.

 

[DHONI_FAN]

Wonder what Kohli has to say about this match?

 

[DHONI_FAN]

I actually have been appaled by lack of discipline by Indian batsmen here they have batted like how Pakistan bats overseas there scorecards make them look better then what they have achieved 3/4 times they have been 80 odd for 7 and have been propped up by tail showing resistance. Its been disappointing to see since I believe this has been India's best overseas bowling effort I have ever seen but the batting just were not there to compete.

If batsmen don't lift their game bowlers might also loose motivation to keep running in.

Very true. Our bowlers will definitely feel cheated.

 

[Slog]

This Indian batting lineup may be talented but certainly are lacking in mental strength

 

[R Shahid]

All over
Ngidi u beauty

 

[Xoib]

140 run victory is big.

yeah India has competed well at times but it has been a comfortable series win

 

[Suleiman]

Road to #1 begins for South Africa.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I actually have been appaled by lack of discipline by Indian batsmen here they have batted like how Pakistan bats overseas there scorecards make them look better then what they have achieved 3/4 times they have been 80 odd for 7 and have been propped up by tail showing resistance. Its been disappointing to see since I believe this has been India's best overseas bowling effort I have ever seen but the batting just were not there to compete.

If batsmen don't lift their game bowlers might also loose motivation to keep running in.

Yeah awful awful batting.

Our top order barring Kohli should be ashamed.

 

[Slog]

Does the margin of defeat matter as far as ranking points allotment is concerned?

 

[MMHS]

This series was there for taking with proper preparation, planning and efforts.

We are now staring at a whitewashed now.

This SAF side is surprisingly weak, than it looks, but their key players raised game on time. IND might not get a wicket like this again in next 3 away series.

 

[DHONI_FAN]

Look at the swag of Indian players after losing the match. Haha.. Especially that Murali Vijay

 

[Proactive_]

Worst No.1 ranked team ever.

 

[MMHS]

Lungi should get the MoM

 

[troodon]

Not really a difficult pitch to bat on.

India never believed they can chase this. Negative and timid approach and some brainless run outs and shots have sealed india’s fate in this Test.

Deserves to be humiliated. Vijay/Rahul are useless. Sets the tone at the top with their defeatist mentality. Pujara has fallen in love with runouts. Sharma should stick to Odi’s. Pandya can only play this only one way he knows. Poor Parthiv.

If I have to put the blame on the biggest reason for the loss, it’s got to be the openers for India. Simply put too much pressure on the rest of the batting lineup.

Vijay can retire. He cannot score runs. He blocks some 20 balls and finally throws it away. Rahul has become a Tailender. Lost all his confidence. He needs to go back to domestic cricket.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Does the margin of defeat matter as far as ranking points allotment is concerned?

No. We should hand over the mace to south africa and come back home.

 

[Madplayer]

Saffers now have the new Kaali aandhi

 

[Slog]

Worst No.1 ranked team ever.

Not sure about that

#1 has always been a bit of a poisoned chalice since the great Aussie side lost it

I think since 2009/10 (whenever Aussies lost it) only Saffers held it for a considerable time period with a round of overseas tours

 

[MoJoJoJo]

congrats india! the golden era begins

 

[aniket1911]

I think, fielding has been the major difference between the two teams, in India the Indian team is so overpowered that such things don't matter much but overseas you are toast without the possession of proper fielding unit.

 

[Slog]

This was as good a pitch as India will ever get in SA.

It has to be a mental block regarding playing in SENA

I am convinced if the same pitch was magically transported to India, Saffers would have been trounced here

 

[DHONI_FAN]

Commies rubbing it on by calling India no. 1 side continuously... Lol

 

[Proactive_]

Not sure about that

#1 has always been a bit of a poisoned chalice since the great Aussie side lost it

I think since 2009/10 (whenever Aussies lost it) only Saffers held it for a considerable time period with a round of overseas tours

There is not a single batsman who is a proven overseas player. ( The one guy who is, is sitting on the bench).

Barely one fast bowler (Shami) who is genuinely world class, and that too just.

Non existent WK Batsman.

HTB lead spinner.

This is a dreadful Test team.

 

[pillionrider]

at some Pakistani PPers trying hard to salvage some joy out of their pain here.

 

[dauntless]

Yes!! Yes!! Yes!! Mila hisaab!!??? Yes!! So happy we won!!

 

[Usman Chadda]

India got smashed on a wicket more suited to them than South Africa. This is a cause for concern, unless they are happy getting humiliated abroad and battering teams at home. This test team comes across as mentally weak.

 

[dauntless]

No it's not over yet!!hopefully a bouncy pitch they prepare for 3rd test and indians would be more humiliated in the next match

 

[troodon]

India got smashed on a wicket more suited to them than South Africa. This is a cause for concern, unless they are happy getting humiliated abroad and battering teams at home. This test team comes across as mentally weak.

Match is held in SA. So it must be impossible to win irrespective of the nature of the pitch.

 

[dauntless]

HTBs HTBs HTBs written all over the place

 

[Ab Fan]

Indian openers and Pujara's run outs turned out to be a disappointment.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Match is held in SA. So it must be impossible to win irrespective of the nature of the pitch.

I hope that's sarcasm. For the first time ever, India's bowling attack has bowled very well. The batting performance is one of the worst ever though. Without Pandya and Kohli's individual contributions in either tests, India would have been looking at innings' defeats.

 

[OmarKhan99]

I guarantee Steve Smith would have scored century on this very pitch. He is definitely miles ahead of Kohli in test cricket both as a captain and as a batsman

Not as a captain. He leads from the front, but his sense of captaincy isn't good. Virat Kohli is better in that department, while Faf and Williamson (Sarfraz will be in this list in a few months) are the best.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

This SAF side is surprisingly weak, than it looks, but their key players raised game on time. IND might not get a wicket like this again in next 3 away series.

I dont think this wicket suited us as much as is claimed.

Still should hav won here.

 

[DHONI_FAN]

Not as a captain. He leads from the front, but his sense of captaincy isn't good. Virat Kohli is better in that department, while Faf and Williamson (Sarfraz will be in this list in a few months) are the best.

At least Smith choses the right playing XI

 

[MMHS]

I dont think this wicket suited us as much as is claimed.

Still should hav won here.

I am not saying this wicket was tailor made for IND, rather you hardly would get such wicket on tours.
If SAF prepares a traditional Wanderers wicket, you'll see what I am saying.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

I am not saying this wicket was tailor made for IND, rather you hardly would get such wicket on tours.
If SAF prepares a traditional Wanderers wicket, you'll see what I am saying.

True.

 

[hadi123]

CSA CONGRATULATES PROTEAS ON TEST SERIES WIN


CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) has congratulated the Standard Bank Proteas on winning the Sunfoil Freedom Test Series against India with a game to spare.

The Proteas clinched the series when they beat India by 135 runs with almost two sessions to spare in the second Test at SuperSport Park today to take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series. They now have the chance to complete a clean sweep against the world’s No. 1 ranked team in the final match starting at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium next Wednesday.

“Congratulations to our captain, Faf du Plessis, our head coach, Ottis Gibson, and all the players and management on what has been a real team effort,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive, Thabang Moroe.

“In spite of the margins of victory this has been a very competitive series between the top two sides on the ICC rankings list and I am sure we will get more of the same in the remaining match.

“The Freedom Series, which also honours two great leaders of our respective countries, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, has a connotation that goes beyond the game of cricket and represents a wonderful tradition and celebration.

“The cricket played by both sides has lived up to everything we could have expected. What is particularly pleasing from a South African point of view is that two young players in their first summer of Test cricket – Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi – have contributed significantly to this success.

“It has been a wonderful day for South Africa with our under-19 boys also beating defending champions the West Indies to qualify for the quarter-finals of the ICC Junior World Cup,” concluded Mr. Moroe.

 

[OmarKhan99]

As bad as it may sound, I believe India has lost fight in the mind. Indian team is usually known to be mentally strong, but over here, even Kohli looked fidgety. India is clearly missing the calmness of Rahane. The wickets SA, and in particular Nigidi, got were just quite gifted. More than half the wickets Ngidi got were off of bad balls or not particularly good ones.

 

[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.

 

[Sarwar89]

Well India still has to play 10 more Test Matches away from Sub-Continent. 1 with Proteas, 5 with England and 4 with Aussies. MS Dhoni's chop from the Test team was a terrible decision, Kohli is just not a very calculating captain, Lara and Sachin had same issues.
It is going to be a very difficult journey for Virat Kohli as a captain, by the time they will end their Test Tour of Australia in one year, I can see some major dent been pasted on this team.

 

[hadi123]

LUNGI NGIDI took six wickets in an innings and four of the last seven on the final day to lead the Standard Bank Proteas to victory over India by 135 runs in the second Sunfoil Freedom Test match at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

This victory also enabled the Proteas to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series with only the final match left to be played at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium from next Wednesday.

Ngidi’s return of 6/39 was the seventh best by a South African on debut and the 27th best on the all-time list. In all he only bowled 26.2 overs in the match for his 7 wickets which gave him an incredible strike rate of a wicket every 22.5 balls.

At the other end of the statistical scale Cheteshwar Pujara became the 23rd player, the first Indian player and the first for 18 years to be run out in both innings of the same Test match.

India realized from the outset that their only chance of pulling off an unlikely victory and keep the series alive was to go for their shots and they went down bravely.

The Proteas were up for the challenge and produced an incredible display of outfielding which included the run out of Pujara and stunning catches by Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers. De Villiers is more or less expected to take chances of that sort but to watch Morkel galloping around the boundary like a thoroughbred champion and then diving full length was something else altogether.

Rohit Sharma made top score of 47 (74 balls, 6 fours and a six) before falling to that De Villiers catch.

It was a highly encouraging sign of South Africa’s long-term future that two bowlers with a combined age of 43 took all nine wickets that fell to bowlers in India’s second innings.

The Sunfoil Education Trust (SET) benefited to the tune of R233 000 for the match which means the total for the series after two matches is R447 000. The SET benefits from boundaries and sixes hit by batsmen and wickets taken by bowlers.

 

[Varun]

Well India still has to play 10 more Test Matches away from Sub-Continent. 1 with Proteas, 5 with England and 4 with Aussies. MS Dhoni's chop from the Test team was a terrible decision, Kohli is just not a very calculating captain, Lara and Sachin had same issues.
It is going to be a very difficult journey for Virat Kohli as a captain, by the time they will end their Test Tour of Australia in one year, I can see some major dent been pasted on this team.

Please, let's not get revisionistic about history here.

And he wasn't chopped, he chose to resign by himself, and retired from the format too.

 

[soso_killer]

Few thoughts:

This has been a disappointing wicket. It was slow, flat and dry. The curator was saved by very hot conditions (uncharacteristic) that allowed the pitch to wear and tear. If the conditions were cooler this pitch wouldn't have deteriorated thus the match would have petered to a disappointing draw. The curator needs to be fired at the very least finned. There's no mystery in preparing SA wickets. Our conditions are green (no point fighting against our nature), that doesn't necessarily make the wicket unplayable. It's the amount of moisture underneath the wicket that will dictate how the pitch will behave. Not only did he mow all the live grass, he practically refused to water the pitch. Unacceptable. First international Test wicket or not, this was not acceptable. He has 15 years of experience, I refuse to believe he never prepared a green wicket in his life before. Morkel is right, this was 100% a subcontinental wicket.

It's been a procession this. It has been a one sided series and it's quite disappointing considering India haven't been tested in proper South African conditions. In both Tests they had good batting conditions, yet they failed to bat 100 overs. It's twenty consecutive innings now that the opposition has failed to bat through the 100th over in South Africa, puts into account how dominant SA has been. If India bat first in Johannesburg it could be embarrassing, they've lost 7 wickets for less than 90 runs on three occasions this series. Could be worse if we get the conditions we want. They haven't won a single session yet in this tour, South Africa has always been ahead. Even at 12/3 South Africa recovered and took that session. They'd have sleepless nights heading to the Wanderers.

Kohli is narcissist, left Rahane out to fit a narrative that this team is "Kohli or bust", that is a lot of cornflakes. Rahane is India's best player on any pitch with movement home or away. He would have feasted here, world class player. Kohli is a flat track bully, as soon as this pitch deteriorated he got found out. Will be the same in Johannesburg while Rahane piles the runs on a difficult wicket. I feel sorry for Rahane as well, he is on a hiding next to nothing. He'll play on a tough wicket, if he fails knives will be out.

South Africa's bowling attack, goodness me. If there was any doubt about which team has the best attack in world cricket, it should be laid to rest now. However all our fast bowlers are 6 feet+, I'd like a 5 feet bowler in the mold of Steyn. At times we bowled a bit short on this flat deck. We need someone to attack the stumps a bit or skid the ball through on lively wickets. Yes there's Philander, but I'd like another fast bowler who can crank it up in the 140's if needs be with an average speed of 138/6 kph.

India definitely have a bowling attack to compete in overseas conditions. The batting however is at its weakest in a very long time.

 

[soso_killer]

This team had the quality to win here.

I stand by it even now.

Against a full strength South Africa? Two players have always made a difference for SA. With AB and Steyn coming back India had no chance. The only team that can win here against a full strength South Africa is Australia. This is a completely different side to the one that lost to England home and away. Makram, AB and Steyn returning makes the world of difference.

Steyn's injury has meant we've fast forwarded Ngidi introduction to international cricket a season earlier. I'm sure CSA wanted to introduce him against Pakistan and Sri Lanka next summer. This side has strength in depth baring injuries.

 

[soso_killer]

This team had the quality to win here.

I stand by it even now.

Against a full strength South Africa? Two players have always made a difference for SA. With AB and Steyn coming back India had no chance. The only team that can win here against a full strength South Africa is Australia. This is a completely different side to the one that lost to England home and away. Makram, AB and Steyn returning makes the world of difference.

Steyn's injury has meant we've fast forwarded Ngidi introduction to international cricket a season earlier. I'm sure CSA wanted to introduce him against Pakistan and Sri Lanka next summer. This side has strength in depth baring injuries.

 

[lehen]

Congrats to Indian top 7 for breaking the 41year old record for any Indian top7 unit of getting bowled out for within 100 3 times out of 2 tests.

Last time it happened was in England in 1967

 

[soso_killer]

This hasn't been the worst tour. We're getting to the 4th innings and are unable to chase the total. The bowlers have been the positives.

I hope we get to bat first next game. Let's see how we go then.

You want to bat first at the Wanderers?

 

[soso_killer]

Ngidi looks better than Rabada lol

Well he does have better control, I also want Steyn to mentor him before he retires. I'm concerned now about his workload. Should he go and have a stint in England to fine tune his skills or should he learn on the job? I don't know.
I'm taking into account the Sri Lanka tour (think it's in July). Does CSA leave him out and send him to England instead? I think it's too early to send him to Asian conditions considering how fragile he is. He is still building his core strength.

(And no IPL please, not until after 2020)

 

[Varun]

You want to bat first at the Wanderers?

I want to bat first full stop. The alternative is that we're left scrambling in the fourth innings like the last two tests. What's the worst that can happen? We lose again? Let's at least see something different.

 

[Dark Magician]

The more I think about it, Kohli should have gone with a 7/4 split. Pandya is a bits and pieces player and relying on players like that is stupid. KL Rahul and Dhwan aren't suitable for these conditions and looked lost because the ball was bouncing more than they were expecting.


Picking Rohit over Rahane was stupid. Rohit is afraid of facing pace and bounce and you could see how easy it was to pin him back. At the very least I'd have played both. Given the selection of players for this tour this would have been my starting line.

Rahul
Vijay
Dahwan
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Ashwin
Saha/Parthiv
Kumar
Shami
Ishant.

Few changes in the batting order but atleast they'd have given themselves a chance. A bowling line up like that is capable of taking 20 wickets. But alas they chose to go the bits and pieces route and selected players without any chance in hell of ever stepping up.

 

[Dark Magician]

Well he does have better control, I also want Steyn to mentor him before he retires. I'm concerned now about his workload. Should he go and have a stint in England to fine tune his skills or should he learn on the job? I don't know.
I'm taking into account the Sri Lanka tour (think it's in July). Does CSA leave him out and send him to England instead? I think it's too early to send him to Asian conditions considering how fragile he is. He is still building his core strength.

(And no IPL please, not until after 2020)

Ngidi has phenomenal control for one so young. But the Indians were easily intimidated by pace and bounce i can't say the same for the Australians. They fight fire with fire. How would he do when he's attacked? I will say this though, on South African pitches Ngidi is going to be handful. Pace, bounce, control and a good head on his shoulders. That's a good recipe for a successful Career.

 

[Sarwar89]

Please, let's not get revisionistic about history here.

And he wasn't chopped, he chose to resign by himself, and retired from the format too.

There is a thing called "forced resignation" in professional jobs.

 

[soso_killer]

The more I think about it, Kohli should have gone with a 7/4 split. Pandya is a bits and pieces player and relying on players like that is stupid. KL Rahul and Dhwan aren't suitable for these conditions and looked lost because the ball was bouncing more than they were expecting.


Picking Rohit over Rahane was stupid. Rohit is afraid of facing pace and bounce and you could see how easy it was to pin him back. At the very least I'd have played both. Given the selection of players for this tour this would have been my starting line.

Rahul
Vijay
Dahwan
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Ashwin
Saha/Parthiv
Kumar
Shami
Ishant.

Few changes in the batting order but atleast they'd have given themselves a chance. A bowling line up like that is capable of taking 20 wickets. But alas they chose to go the bits and pieces route and selected players without any chance in hell of ever stepping up.

Should we drop Maharaj for the Test in Johannesburg for Morris (provided the pitch will be as expected)? Five men pace pronged attack? It also strengthens the batting a bit.

And what did you make of South Africa's "political selection" of Ngidi?

 

[soso_killer]

I want to bat first full stop. The alternative is that we're left scrambling in the fourth innings like the last two tests. What's the worst that can happen? We lose again? Let's at least see something different.

The Cape Town Test was an anomaly, that pitch was easing up. The rain for the entirety of day 3 sort of kick started that pitch, and it was day one all over again. Same in Johannesburg, the pitch will ease up baring rain. Whatever happens though, neither team should leave too much to do in their second innings. I'd win the toss and bowl. If the team batting second gets a lead in excess of 100, it's game over.

 

[soso_killer]

This SAF side is surprisingly weak, than it looks, but their key players raised game on time. IND might not get a wicket like this again in next 3 away series.

South Africa has a propensity to lower their standards according to the opposition. That's why they don't win ICC events. They don't raise their standards and strive for excellence and take risks, they are happy and comfortable within their bubble. The problem with this approach is when the opposition raised their standards to yours, especially in big matches.

In Test cricket they often get away with this as they get an opportunity to rectify their mistakes. Because they are a versatile side they can either dead bat and settle for a draw or raise their game and play proper cricket and put themselves in a winning position. Watch this very "weak/fragile" batting unit raise their game against Australia in March (even if they lose). This is unacceptable, South Africa don't want to grab opportunities by the scruff of the neck. They should have been number 1 in 2008/2009, but they had to wait for England to raise their game and set the standards. Only then did they realise how good they were.

I'm by no means comparing this side to that South African team, but the pattern is the same, make the opposition stronger than they are. SA should have won an innings in CT and put India to bat. At 243/3 we should have scored 450+, again we invited India into the match. South Africa doesn't want to do things the easy way. It's embedded in our culture that everything is hard, "we should work hard" etc. even when it's not the case.

 

[Bewal Express]

I felt the Indians would win because the saffers were getting old and the Indians looked up for it, but the Indians just arent good enough against sustained good bowling from both ends. The openers have been poor because the can neither defend or attack, the Ind middle order looks very vulnerable because its entirely reliant on Kohli and when he fails they all fail. The Indian bowling has been good and they have much depth with likes of kumar and Yadav not playing and with those kids coming through they will have an even bigger pool to choose to from.

 

[Syed1]

Pachees saal ka badla leh liya? )

 

[soso_killer]

Ngidi has phenomenal control for one so young. But the Indians were easily intimidated by pace and bounce i can't say the same for the Australians. They fight fire with fire. How would he do when he's attacked? I will say this though, on South African pitches Ngidi is going to be handful. Pace, bounce, control and a good head on his shoulders. That's a good recipe for a successful Career.

On a lively track attacking him won't be simple, even a normal wicket with pace and bounce. He has so much control. The only thing I question is his stamina, Faf bowled him in four over spells in the first innings. Is he ready to step up and bowl 7 over spells when his captain needs him? We shall see. Faf is such a class leader, in the second innings he allowed him to bowl longer. So he is building him up, but is he ready for Australia? Only nine first class matches.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Congrats soso_killer and Ozymandias .... deserving winners. I am livid with our batting lineup, baring skipper no one showed any spine!

We have invested 4 yrs on these batters and this is their 2nd trip for most except Rahul and Pandya gry:

 

[Chrish]

On a lively track attacking him won't be simple, even a normal wicket with pace and bounce. He has so much control. The only thing I question is his stamina, Faf bowled him in four over spells in the first innings. Is he ready to step up and bowl 7 over spells when his captain needs him? We shall see. Faf is such a class leader, in the second innings he allowed him to bowl longer. So he is building him up, but is he ready for Australia? Only nine first class matches.

Realistically speaking, what’s your series prediction against Australia?

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Realistically speaking, what’s your series prediction against Australia?

SA have not beaten Aus at home so it won't change. Warner, Smith, Khwaja and Marsh will score plus their pace attack is on par with SA.

 

[soso_killer]

Realistically speaking, what’s your series prediction against Australia?

We've never had seaming wickets against Australia. I want damp wickets, yes our batting isn't great but so is theirs. On flat wickets they'll smoke us. We don't have a Warner (ok maybe QdK can play that role, but he's out of form).

I think Australia are favourites because of history. If we keep Smith quite like we did in Australia, 2-1 South Africa. But I think he'll be the difference. AB will play like a dream and get a pretty little 60/70, Smith meanwhile will knuckle down and look ugly if he has to and score a 140+ or so.

The only way to match Smith will be an in form Amla not AB. But I don't think Amla will ever find the consistency he had prior to 2015. He'll score here or there, but not with the same hunger, desire and consistency.

All in all if Smith turns up 3-1 Australia, else 2-1 South Africa. But I want damp wickets in any case. I want an innings shootout, it's the only way will win. We ain't pilling 400+ runs consistently if any for that matter.

 

[Sarwar89]

We've never had seaming wickets against Australia. I want damp wickets, yes our batting isn't great but so is theirs. On flat wickets they'll smoke us. We don't have a Warner (ok maybe QdK can play that role, but he's out of form).

I think Australia are favourites because of history. If we keep Smith quite like we did in Australia, 2-1 South Africa. But I think he'll be the difference. AB will play like a dream and get a pretty little 60/70, Smith meanwhile will knuckle down and look ugly if he has to and score a 140+ or so.

The only way to match Smith will be an in form Amla not AB. But I don't think Amla will ever find the consistency he had prior to 2015. He'll score here or there, but not with the same hunger, desire and consistency.

All in all if Smith turns up 3-1 Australia, else 2-1 South Africa. But I want damp wickets in any case. I want an innings shootout, it's the only way will win. We ain't pilling 400+ runs consistently if any for that matter.

South Africa were very unlucky not to win 2014 Home Test Series against Australia. Dale Steyn got injured during first hour and was unable to bowl (as usual) and Warner set the tone. They were about to draw the series due to Faf Du Plessis blockhaton but Ryan Harris cleaned up Morne Morkel.

Graheme Smith was completely out of form in that series.

 

[soso_killer]

South Africa were very unlucky not to win 2014 Home Test Series against Australia. Dale Steyn got injured during first hour and was unable to bowl (as usual) and Warner set the tone. They were about to draw the series due to Faf Du Plessis blockhaton but Ryan Harris cleaned up Morne Morkel.

Graheme Smith was completely out of form in that series.

The Cape Town pitch was flat, but both teams batted on it. You're not out scoring Australia in those. As for Steyn's injury, well Ryan Harris was bowling with one leg. Class bowler. Australia deserved to win, no excuses from me. We played a strong team as well.

In any case I want a low scoring series this time around. If one team gets dismissed for 220 in it's first innings the other around 270 excellent, game on. It becomes an innings shootout from there.

 

[MenInG]

South Africa have been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate in the second Test against India, which concluded at Centurion on Tuesday.

Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fine after Faf du Plessis’s side was ruled to be two overs short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As such, de Plessis has been fined 40 per cent of his match fee, while his players have received 20 per cent fines. If South Africa commit another minor over-rate breach in a Test within 12 months of this offence with du Plessis as captain, it will be deemed a second offence by du Plessis and he will face a suspension.

Du Plessis pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Michael Gough and Paul Reiffel, third umpire Richard Kettleborough and fourth umpire Allahudien Palekar.

 

[bujhee kom]

India have been disappointing this series. 3-0 beckons.