South Africa v India | 2nd Test | Cape Town | Jan 3-7 | Pre-Match Discussion

[The Bald Eagle]

Proteas Test squad against India

Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), David Bedingham (Western Province), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Zubayr Hamza (Western Province), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors) and Kyle Verreynne (Western Province).

India's Test squad for South Africa series:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Abhimanyu Easwaran, KS Bharat (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna


==

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[sweep_shot]

I expect another crushing win for South Africa. May well be another innings win.

South Africa are favorites to win 2-0.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Test captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the second Betway Test against India due to a left hamstring strain.

The 33-year-old sustained the injury while fielding on day one of the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday. Subsequent scans revealed a hamstring strain which kept him out of South Africa’s first innings.

He will undergo further medical assessments prior to the start of the Betway SA20 to determine his availability for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

Dean Elgar will captain the side in his absence.

Western Province batter Zubayr Hamza has been named as Bavuma’s replacement.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The way India got defeated in the 1st Test from here on it's almost impossible for them to gain their momentum.

My prediction is 2-0 in favor of South Africa.

 

[Devadwal]

I expect Indian win and level the series 1-1

 

[Romali_rotti]

Indians have no batting and also 1 bowler short (No Shami).

I don't think they can level the series.

 

[deltexas]

Sa are the favorites as ind has only 3 good bowling options - bumrah siraj ashwin. Prasidh and thakur are useless..can't get 20 wickets with 3 bowlers and other 2 hemorrhaging at 5 rpo

 

[MANU ROY]

Sa are the favorites as ind has only 3 good bowling options - bumrah siraj ashwin. Prasidh and thakur are useless..can't get 20 wickets with 3 bowlers and other 2 hemorrhaging at 5 rpo

Just try avesh he can hold bat also and Arshdeep should've been picked he Done well in odi

 

[MANU ROY]

Big humiliation coming up for Indian team 2-0 for south Africa

 

[MANU ROY]

I expect Indian win and level the series 1-1

not going to happen because dravid is the coach

 

[jnaveen1980]

Too much T20 style cricket. All these guys play different formats. So the adjustment was not quiet evident. Very easy to sucker punch these guys. Just bowl short short and dangle one. These guys will throw kitchen sink and edge to slips. Nobody has attained the ability to switch between different formats. Kohli was the last one who successfully did that. Even in worst form he is still doing better than others. Onus is on the coach to instil disicpline, application while batting. Elgar may not be the most gifted stroke player like QDK. When it comes to make you work hard for his wicket he is right up there. Indian batsmen can learn a thing or two.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I think it will a 2-0 after this test ends. I don't see India beating SA here.

 

[Champ_Pal]

India will play much better. If Rohit and Jaiswal give a good start, India will win. A lot depends on how Indian openers play.
India has to drop Prasidh. Play a batsman or leg spinner if available.

 

[BouncerGuy]

CENTURION: Proteas and Momentum Multiply Titans fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will miss the second Betway Test against India after developing pelvic inflammation during the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

The 23-year-old experienced discomfort in his pelvis, which got progressively worse while bowling on day three of the match. He underwent scans on Friday which revealed the extent of the injury.

Head coach Shukri Conrad has opted to release Coetzee from the squad as a precautionary measure.

No replacement has been named.​

 

[Devadwal]

All people who are predicting whitewash will get reality check.

 

[deltexas]

Just try avesh he can hold bat also and Arshdeep should've been picked he Done well in odi

Yeah Avesh should be better than prasidh or Thakur.. but ind team management historically will continue keeping them

 

[Devadwal]

Yeah Avesh should be better than prasidh or Thakur.. but ind team management historically will continue keeping them

Mukesh Kumar is better option than Prasidh, thakur and avesh .he is perfectly suited for these conditions .if Mukesh is deserve to play then South Africa, England and NZ are perfect place for him .

 

[BouncerGuy]

Prasidh and Tahkur were so bad in the 1st test that anybody sitting on the bench should replace them. He will do better than these 2 guys. Pitch suited the pacer yet they failed to use it.

 

[Ab Fan]

India despite missing players like Pant, Jadeja and Shami looking in good position to level the series. This is what the standard a great team sets.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Rohit Sharma also has a poor record in SA. In his 5 innings there, he scored just 128 runs with an average of 12.8 with his highest being 47. Do you think that he can do well in cape town?

 

[sweep_shot]

India despite missing players like Pant, Jadeja and Shami looking in good position to level the series. This is what the standard a great team sets.

How are they looking in good position to level the series? What has changed since 1st Test? Did squad change?

 

[MANU ROY]

Rohit Sharma also has a poor record in SA. In his 5 innings there, he scored just 128 runs with an average of 12.8 with his highest being 47. Do you think that he can do well in cape town?

Most likely he get out for a duck

 

[Ab Fan]

How are they looking in good position to level the series? What has changed since 1st Test? Did squad change?

Conditions will change. It will not be in favour of SA every time. India had tougher conditions to deal with in first test.

 

[jnaveen1980]

SA is taking revenge for their 0-3 loss in India two of which were lost by an innings and one by 203 runs which was almost like an innings defeat if you look at the scorecard. Pitch is the same for both teams. So no excuse.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Why Team India Doesn't Play First Class Practice Matches? Rohit Sharma's Honest Response

Was lack of practice matches the reason behind Team India's loss in the first Test against South Africa? India captain Rohit Sharma doesn't think playing First Class practice Tests would have given the team any benefit because of the 'contrasting difference' in the two situations. After India lost the opening Test to South Africa by an innings and 32 runs, Rohit was asked in the press conference about the team's decision to snub practice matches over intra-squad contests.

Rohit highlighted the nature of wickets and the opponent team's players in the practice matches as the reason behind the team's decision to play intra-squad matches instead. The India skipper claimed that the wickets the team gets in practice matches don't produce the sort of bounce and pace the actual match pitches do.

"We have been playing practice matches in the last 4-5 years. We also tried to play first-class matches. The wicket that you get in the matches, you won't get that in the practice matches. It is better that we prepare according to our requirements, we prepare the pitch according to our requirements. We can have control of the ground," said Rohit in a media conference.

"When we went to Australia the last time, when we played in South Africa in 2018, the ball didn't bounce beyond the knee-roll on practice pitches. But here, the ball flies over your head. So, all these things were considered and we decided to prepare according to our own style," Rohit added.

Rohit said he is open to playing practice Tests on tours, provided the wickets offered a similar to the ones that are used in actual matches.

"If you get the conditions in a practice match that would be similar to the ones in the Tests, then it's fine. Bowlers also, we get pacers who bowl 120-125 kph. We have experienced that in the last two or three practice matches. It's better we face our own bowlers and prepare pitch according to our will," he asserted.
​

SOURCE: NDTV

 

[Ab Fan]

How are they looking in good position to level the series? What has changed since 1st Test? Did squad change?

Also, for your knowledge, India are number one ranked test team in the world. Count them out on your own peril. So much for being declared as declining team lol

 

[sweep_shot]

Also, for your knowledge, India are number one ranked test team in the world. Count them out on your own peril. So much for being declared as declining team lol

If Aussies beat Pakistan 3-0, they would dethrone India as #1.

If India lose next Test, England would become #2 and India would become #3.

Regarding decline, Indian Test team have decline. They are much weaker now than they were 2-3 years ago.

 

[Ab Fan]

If Aussies beat Pakistan 3-0, they would dethrone India as #1.

If India lose next Test, England would become #2 and India would become #3.

Regarding decline, Indian Test team have decline. They are much weaker now than they were 2-3 years ago.

Too many ifs and buts.

 

[sweep_shot]

Too many ifs and buts.

Aussies beating Pakistan is likely.

South Africa beating India is likely.

These are very likely "ifs and buts".

 

[Devadwal]

Aussies beating Pakistan is likely.

South Africa beating India is likely.

These are very likely "ifs and buts".

Wait for surprise. India doesn't have losing record in South Africa like Pakistan have against Australia.

 

[Ab Fan]

Aussies beating Pakistan is likely.

South Africa beating India is likely.

These are very likely "ifs and buts".

And then when India plays next series, they will win again and again become no.1. You are running away from today's fact and using couple of ifs to jump onto a conclusion which has still not happened. If we gonna go with what will happen after completion of 2 series, we might also go with what will happen after subsequent series and the trend will continue.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India is in transition stage. Pujara and Rahane permanently binned. Jaiswal, Iyer, Gill are settling in. Rohit and Kohli on their last legs. Indian bowling is also losing Shami. SOon Ashwin/Jadeja will be gone. Expect some failures. But they will sure come back strongly soon unlike some teams they despite having more experience are permanently in the bottom.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Dean Elgar will stand in for Temba Bavuma as captain in the final international match of his career against India.

Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the final Test of the series against India, Cricket South Africa confirmed after the conclusion of the first game on Thursday. Bavuma sustained an injury while fielding on Day 1 of the Test match and as a result, played no further part in the game after scans revealed a hamstring strain.

In his absence, Dean Elgar will captain the side in the final match of his international career, having announced his decision to retire before the series. After Bavuma went off the field during the first Test, Elgar assumed the role of the captain in South Africa's win by an innings and 32 runs at Centurion.

Zubayr Hamza will replace Bavuma in the squad for the final Test to be played in the New Year at Cape Town, starting 3 January.

Elgar is no stranger to captaincy, having led the Proteas in the past, including the last time India visited South Africa for a Test series. After going 1-0 down in 2022-23, the opener led by example to complete a comeback 2-1 victory.

Almost two years later in the recently concluded match, it was Elgar who once stood in the way of India at Centurion. After bowling India out for 245, Elgar scored 185 runs – the second-highest score of his Test career – in South Africa's first innings.

The 163-run lead proved to be enough and the hosts didn't need to bat once again as South Africa's pacers ran through the opposition batting. India were bowled out for 131 as South Africa went 1-0 up with an innings win.

Elgar was named the Player of the Match for his stunning century.

The action heads to Cape Town for the final Test of the series, starting in the new year on 3 January.

Source: ICC

 

[jnaveen1980]

Elgar has all the stars aligned for him. A down and out opposition with low confidence. He himself is full of confidence after mammoth match winning 100. Gets to captain the last test of his career by accident. He can go out in winning style. Both as a player and captain. One of the last few genuine Test match player. Soon i expect guys like Pujara leaving the scene.

 

[deltexas]

2- loading here. Ind needs to reassess their test stocks after this series. Rohit and Jadeja need to retire or be dropped. Prasidh is not convincing either. Thakur needs to be done with for good. Ruturaj should take Rohit place. He is ideal for test cricket not T20.

 

[jnaveen1980]

2- loading here. Ind needs to reassess their test stocks after this series. Rohit and Jadeja need to retire or be dropped. Prasidh is not convincing either. Thakur needs to be done with for good. Ruturaj should take Rohit place. He is ideal for test cricket not T20.

Entire unit is going through transition. I don't mind them losing. But they should show application. Not play T20 cricket.

 

[deltexas]

Entire unit is going through transition. I don't mind them losing. But they should show application. Not play T20 cricket.

Thats what we think LOL ! And lo behold - rohit jadeja kohli klrahul will all be back for 2024 t20 WC and the same thing crashing out in sf will happen.. Ind seniors are like a leech , they just wont leave you , you have take them out and fling them away

 

[sweep_shot]

Entire unit is going through transition. I don't mind them losing. But they should show application. Not play T20 cricket.

I think it will be extremely hard to replace likes of Pujara, Kohli, Rohit etc.

Pujara, Kohli, Rohit etc. are from previous hardworking and gritty generation. Current generation doesn't seem to have similar work ethics. But, let's see what happens.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Thats what we think LOL ! And lo behold - rohit jadeja kohli klrahul will all be back for 2024 t20 WC and the same thing crashing out in sf will happen.. Ind seniors are like a leech , they just wont leave you , you have take them out and fling them away

Pujara and Rahane won't retire easily. All Pujara has is only this. Atleast Rahane plays IPL. Pujara didn't do well in domestic as well. India has to make a statement. India did look like phase these two out. Pujara bashed Second vision county teams and sneaked back into the side. Rahane after one IPL innings came staright back into the Test side. Pant's absence made their come back easier.

 

[MenInG]

Allan Donald speaking in an interview:


“I know South Africa probably got the better of the conditions, no questions about that. They pitched the ball in a 5 and 5.5 meter area and gave it a chance to do something off the deck,"

“But what they did better than India…they were more patient in that area and even they used the short ball a little bit more in the second innings.”

“For India, there was one debutant (Prasidh Krishna). I thought (Jasprit) Bumrah, but Indian bowlers searched too much for things to happen. They quickly reverted to shorter balls and then lost their length a bit on the shorter side and then got opened up on either side – square leg, off side and SA batters capitalized,"

“You need to be more creative in Cape Town as wickets are a lot more flatter and partnerships will stretch and that's traditionally as someone who knows it will be tougher Tests,”

“The massive emphasis is on the new ball because traditionally if there's a South westerly wind blowing across Newlands, then you know that is going to dry the pitch up. But not in any way or form I think the pitch will turn,"

 

[FearlessRoar]

Creating a green deck for the South Africa vs India 2nd Test match could heavily favor the fast bowlers.

 

[Bewal Express]

Ind should win, SA are at their weakest since readmission. Rabada is good on wickets with with a little help but looks very average on flat tracks. The batting lacks quality,is very average but still pretty resilient

 

[Devadwal]

Creating a green deck for the South Africa vs India 2nd Test match could heavily favor the fast bowlers.

View attachment 140906

Theses pitch are equalent to rank Turner so no problem with pitch but uneven bounce can hurt batters

 

[Ab Fan]

It will be a close game.

 

[deltexas]

Theses pitch are equalent to rank Turner so no problem with pitch but uneven bounce can hurt batters

Am good with this. It is "test" cricket after all. A test of your ability character and technique. Never liked roads for tests. If in ind- yes a rank turner. If in sa- yeah a green top mamba for sure. That's why test cricket is interesting to watch. Different conditions Different surfaces.
And the thing is its the "same " pitch for both teams and toss is 50-50 - so am all for it.
Ball seaming and bouncing. Uneven bounce comes into play later in the game day 4 or 5.

 

[Rajdeep]

How are they looking in good position to level the series? What has changed since 1st Test? Did squad change?

Looks like you have not followed or perhaps have forgotten India tour of Australia 2020. If we can make a comeback and win the series from 36 all out, why cant we change the result this time around?

Rohit Sharma was looking confident in PC today and when Rohit speaks world listens.
Easy win coming for India

 

[sweep_shot]

Looks like you have not followed or perhaps have forgotten India tour of Australia 2020. If we can make a comeback and win the series from 36 all out, why cant we change the result this time around?

Rohit Sharma was looking confident in PC today and when Rohit speaks world listens.
Easy win coming for India

That was in 2020. India were at their peaks.

Looks like you are still stuck in 2020.

This team don't have Pujara and Pant. Pace department is weaker also.

 

[Rajdeep]

That was in 2020. India were at their peaks.

Looks like you are still stuck in 2020.

This team don't have Pujara and Pant. Pace department is weaker also.

India was without its captain and best batsman Kohli.

India was without its best bowler Bumrah

India was without its best spinner Ashwin

We still won the Gabba test with a bowling attack of T.Natarajan, Shadul Takur, Washington Sundar and a debutant Siraj.

Now India is full strength side.

South Africa is no Australia

All I am saying is, India will win easy...thank you.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

India's win in Australia is like the 1966 Football world cup to England.

They love to bring it up randomly.

 

[jnaveen1980]

India's win in Australia is like the 1966 Football world cup to England.

They love to bring it up randomly.

It is quiet an inspirational story. They won at a place where no team won for 32 years against Australia that too in a series decider with that team. Always a proud moment for Indian fans. Same with Srilanka in SA. That is quiet an astonishing achievement. They can look up to it.

 

[jnaveen1980]

This current unit is not experienced enough to stage a comeback in places like SA. This could turn out to be a hard fought loss. India needs niche ingredients to put it across SA in SA. Siraj's type of bowling is not working here. Needs a swing option. INdia is always competitive in SA due to bowling combination. For the first time bowling look weak which make the contest unequal as batting is also very raw not used to these conditions one bit.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

After Coetzee's exit SA do have slim chances of winning against India. But again if SA batting does well then they have this series in their pocket.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Biggest reason INdia has an issue in SA is the pitches India usually gets has zero assistance for any spinners. They completely take neutralize Ashwin and Jadeja threat. In Australia Ashwin got bounce and played a key role.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Dean Elgar in a presser today before the 2nd Test between South African and India said:

"It’s business as usual for us. It’s a massive test for us, obviously our highlight test match of the year, the New Year’s test at Newlands and it doesn’t get much bigger and better than against really tough opposition in India,”

"I'm not too focused on what's going on behind the scenes around myself. It is what it is, and every player who has retired before has gone through much the same thing. For me, it's another game and we’ll worry about the retirement afterwards."

“It being a two-match series, we knew we couldn’t afford to start slowly, unlike some of our series in the past. We really played well (in Pretoria) and it was probably the perfect test, except for some of the catching,"

“There are quite a lot of young and inexperienced players in our team but they have a great opportunity. Tomorrow, we need to obviously throw the first punch and we’ve talked about the position we're in and the occasion.”

"I don't think you get a bigger accolade or bigger credit from a playing point of view in your career than to be asked to captain your side,"

"I did it in the past for a year and a half and it was probably the best learning experience for me as an individual, not just from cricket but off the field too,”

Rohit Sharmas presser ahead of 2nd Test against South Africa tomorrow:

" Agar aap peeche bhi rehte ho, aap Kitna peeche rehte hothat is important. We were almost 160 behind. In these kinds of wickets that is a lot. The total that we put up was good. 245 on that pitch. When they were stitching the stand, we wanted to let them go too far ahead. You always need to find a way into the game. We need to show application.. We have seen in the past too that India we can do well after falling behind,"

" We have not completely finalized our playing XI. All are available to play. We will sit down and decide. I still feel sometimes...we have inexperience in our bowling. In such a case we have to show trust in the team. I still stand by what I said in the post match press conference after the first test. Prasidh Krishna has got good ability to succeed at this level. It was his first match. It is understandable to get nervous.."

 

[Shot of an Emperor]

Looks like you have not followed or perhaps have forgotten India tour of Australia 2020. If we can make a comeback and win the series from 36 all out, why cant we change the result this time around?

Rohit Sharma was looking confident in PC today and when Rohit speaks world listens.
Easy win coming for India

He always looks confident.
Lost 3 ICC tournaments within the span of one year.

 

[apnapind]

Biggest reason INdia has an issue in SA is the pitches India usually gets has zero assistance for any spinners. They completely take neutralize Ashwin and Jadeja threat. In Australia Ashwin got bounce and played a key role.

Bro how is different to aus conditions i thought aus and sa conditions are same how come ashwin always struggle in sa compare to his record in aus which is a mystery.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Bro how is different to aus conditions i thought aus and sa conditions are same how come ashwin always struggle in sa compare to his record in aus which is a mystery.

Completely different. Soil content, weather everything. Ball grips a bit more in Australia. Not in SA except in some places. Leggies may be able to get something out of it. Finger spinners not much of a chance. Also the pitch they roll out for different teams vary. For Australia generally flatter pitches.