South Africa vs India | 1st Test | Cape Town | Jan 5-9, 2018 | Day 1 | Discussion Thread

[MenInG]

Teams:

India (From): Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Lokesh Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja

South Africa (From): Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Theunis de Bruyn

 

[Sam99]

Vijay, Rahane & Shami will most likely be key players.

 

[Test champion]

If pitch is green play this line up
Vijay
Rahul
Pujara
Virat
Rahane
Rohit
Ashwin
Saha(wk)
Bhuvi
Shami
Ishant

 

[Test champion]

If pitch is flat than Hardik should play instead of Rohit .we need 5 bowlers to take 20 wikits

 

[Oligochaetes]

Are only admins allowed to open match threads?

Will be interesting to see final xl of both sides..

Lemme guess.
Elgar,
Markram,
Amla,
ABDV,
Faf (c),
Qde Kock (wk),
Morris,
Philander,
Maharaj,
Rabada,
Morkel.

Vijay,
Rahul,
Puj
Virat
Rohit,
Pandya,
Saha,
Ashwin,
Bhuvi,
Ishant,
Sami.

 

[Protea Fan]

More than steyn,rabada,philander or morkel am looking forward to see maharaj

Most indians are pretty safe against spin though still i think maharaj's impact going to be pivotal for SA in this series

He has taken 56 wickets at 25.03 in 2017 without playing in the subcontinent

 

[JattMaula]

Pretty excited about this series.

Hope India give a decent fight.

 

[style_guru]

With depleting water levels beneath the ground, I expect Indians to feel a bit comfortable. Hope Virat's boys aren't too affected by the 2 minute shower time restrictions.

As for SA, with ABD back, they look solid now. Hope to see Steyn back blazing all guns

 

[dauntless]

Let's smash the trundlers and show the HTBs their real worth.
Go proteas smah them.

 

[Protea Fan]

Win the toss and bowl first

 

[Sin Nombre]

Bumrah getting his first cap, woah.

 

[JattMaula]

Bumrah getting his first cap, woah.

Im shook

 

[battler]

S. Africa batting first.

 

[LastManstanding]

Have they dropped Rahane for Rohit?

 

[JattMaula]

Ishant Sharma out. Bumrah and Pandya playing.

 

[style_guru]

I may be wrong but Bumrah is not a test bowler. If anything, by making him bowl >15 overs/day, they are pushing him towards injury, given his bowling action. But again, the Kohli-Shastri combo have such a clout on Indian cricket now that it's impossible to veto them.

Let's see how this unfolds

 

[battler]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

 

[battler]

Massive decision to drop Rahane for Rohit. Have a feeling this is going to back-fire spectacularly.
And the most stupidest decision of them all is to drop Rahul for Dhawan

 

[JattMaula]

Rahul not playing. Always knew kholi was dropped on head in childhood.

 

[dravidthewall]

*** rahane dropped for rohit...lol

 

[battler]

South Africa playing all 4 fast bowlers!

 

[austerlitz]

Bold team selection.Bumrah debut .

 

[Test champion]

My yesterday pridiction was right .just can't thought in 4 pacer bhumrah place also there ..

 

[battler]

Really excited to see how Bumrah bowls

 

[austerlitz]

Dropping rahane ,including hardik,including rohit and bumrah instead of ishant or yadav.If this fails they will get flak.

 

[Test champion]

If India reduce to southafrica around 130/4 or 170/5 it's too good for India bcz their tell to long .so very important for India point of view to take the advantage of 1 session .we need 3 wikits in 1st session..

 

[austerlitz]

Full 4 man pace battery for SA.

 

[Sam99]

How can you drop rahane for rohit. If they wanted to play rohit then maybe in place of pandya but no way you can drop rahane in overseas.

 

[austerlitz]

Ravi the cheerleader shastri sounding confident as usual,lets see.

 

[Mobashir]

What a team South Africa have played.

Steyn-Morkel-Rabada-Philander. That has to be the best 4 test match bowlers playing in the same test for a long long period.

They should have bowled first with this bowling line up...

 

[CanadianG00se]

Wow Rahane (who is India’s best batsman away from home) dropped for R Sharma (who is by any means not a test batsman) on a green pitch ��. S Dhawan got selected ahead of Rahul?

Innings defeat awaits.......


Oh well i already predicted 3-0 whitewash, but now i feel its gonna be brutal awakening......

 

[Sin Nombre]

These selections will likely finally sink Kohli/Shastri

 

[Sin Nombre]

What a team South Africa have played.

Steyn-Morkel-Rabada-Philander. That has to be the best 4 test match bowlers playing in the same test for a long long period.

They should have bowled first with this bowling line up...

SA is playing their strongest xi after many years here.

Good to see.

Always makes SA-Ind and SA-Aus more exciting to watch with the quotas not being used for these series.

 

[CanadianG00se]

These selections will likely finally sink Kohli/Shastri

If it means betterment for Team India then im all in for Kohli being removed as captain and cheerleader thrown back to com box. We really need Gary Kirsten like coach, but oh well it seems Shastri have too many backers in BCCI.

 

[soso_killer]

Wow Dale Steyn, Rabada, Philander and Morkel in the same attack. That's our best bowling attack ever, Maharaj is not a bad spinner either.

We're probably a batsman short, but I don't see what Morris could have added TBH in terms of valuable runs. The batsmen have to take responsibility. I like the make up of the side. That's the price you pay when you don't have a Kallis I guess. Gamble is worth it in my opinion.

 

[soso_killer]

Win the toss and bowl first

This pitch will quicken on day 2, South Africa needs to survive the first hour with minimal damage.

 

[CanadianG00se]

This pitch will quicken on day 2, South Africa needs to survive the first hour with minimal damage.

Congratulations buddy! It seems your team is gonna give us beating of a lifetime here.

Bad time to be an Indian fan....

#WhiteWashAwaits
#3-0

 

[Sam99]

And elgar gone. This is complete surprise series right now.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Lmao, what are India doing?

 

[Sin Nombre]

And elgar gone. This is complete surprise series right now.

Why? Bhuvi is a very good bowler in such conditions.

Excellent first over.

India will lose because of the moronic batting selections and bad slip fielding, not the phaast bowlers.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Pity I have to work. Would love to watch this.

Going to be an exciting series.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Wow Dale Steyn, Rabada, Philander and Morkel in the same attack. That's our best bowling attack ever, Maharaj is not a bad spinner either.

We're probably a batsman short, but I don't see what Morris could have added TBH in terms of valuable runs. The batsmen have to take responsibility. I like the make up of the side. That's the price you pay when you don't have a Kallis I guess. Gamble is worth it in my opinion.

!!!

What are your thoughts on Gibson?

 

[Sam99]

Why? Bhuvi is a very good bowler in such conditions.

Excellent first over.

India will lose because of the moronic batting selections and bad slip fielding, not the phaast bowlers.

He is great with new ball if there is some help. Looks trundler when he has no help from pitch. But he will be imp with both bat and bowl in this series.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Bhuvi bowling jaffas.

 

[iRfaN_LA]

Shami looks really out of touch. Bhuvi is bowling some excellent length and getting some movement.

 

[austerlitz]

2 down bhuvi.

 

[JattMaula]

Bhuvi!!!!!

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

@ozy/ [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION], how will this pitch quicken up on day 2? What's the logic behind this!

SA 2 down as i type that, Amla, Faf, ABD, QdK need to get these big 4 by close of play today.

 

[soso_killer]

!!!

What are your thoughts on Gibson?

As a coach?

 

[Sin Nombre]

Shami is bowling badly. Lack of fitness and match practice showing.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

As a coach?

Yep.

 

[soso_killer]

@ozy/ [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION], how will this pitch quicken up on day 2? What's the logic behind this!

SA 2 down as i type that, Amla, Faf, ABD, QdK need to get these big 4 by close of play today.

There's moisture under the surface. Similar wicket to SA v NZ in Durban.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

@ozy/ [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION], how will this pitch quicken up on day 2? What's the logic behind this!

SA 2 down as i type that, Amla, Faf, ABD, QdK need to get these big 4 by close of play today.

I won't even pretend to be a pitch expert, so I have no idea

 

[soso_killer]

Yep.

Too soon to tell, this is his first test as a coach. Zim and Bangladesh were nice opposition to get him settled, now the test begins with India and Australia.

IMO a captain is more important than a coach.

3 down as we speak

 

[LastManstanding]

Amla

 

[Ozymandiasza]

3 down...

This is not looking good.

 

[JattMaula]

Bad shot.

 

[LastManstanding]

Thank god, the ball hasnt gone to the slips yet

 

[leatherface58]

Kumar becomes a gatling gun with even a hint of swing.

 

[soso_killer]

Don't like Faf and AB batting together, run out is around the corner.

 

[Test champion]

Bhuvi show who is the world best test team .shut some Pak poster mouth with beautiful bowling

 

[Test champion]

Don't like Faf and AB batting together, run out is around the corner.

What happened to Ur makram this is not Bangladesh or something team ..it's undisputed nom.1 test team in the world

 

[JattMaula]

Shami bowling Indian lines in SA.

 

[soso_killer]

Bhuvneshwar needs to be backed here, he's got the ball moving in either direction.

 

[soso_killer]

What happened to Ur makram this is not Bangladesh or something team ..it's undisputed nom.1 test team in the world

lol, relax and enjoy the cricket dude. It's not even an hour yet.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

After 20 overs the conditions wont be too difficult. Bhuvi's time is now.
Shami is bowling trash it'll be better to replace him after an over.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

What happened to Ur makram this is not Bangladesh or something team ..it's undisputed nom.1 test team in the world

If you're unable to see the class of Markram... it's on you.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

What happened to Ur makram this is not Bangladesh or something team ..it's undisputed nom.1 test team in the world

Overexcited bro.

 

[dauntless]

Okay off to a pretty bad start! Bhuvi picking wickets, won't mind that after all he is a gujjar brother.

 

[Usman Chadda]

What happened to Ur makram this is not Bangladesh or something team ..it's undisputed nom.1 test team in the world

Start playing with your toys when the game is over. Its been an hour only lol.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Rohit sharma saying"inme patience nhi h zyada"

 

[Sam99]

Shami bowling Indian lines in SA.

Looked out of form in first two overs now bowling well.

 

[dauntless]

Only 7 overs and Indians are behaving like they have won the test match.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

ABD needs to be picked early else the scorecard will keep moving. Faf will anchor one end so not much scoring from his end.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Ab )

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

SA already 3 down

This will be a heck of a series! Let's go SA!


[Don't choke here ]

 

[soso_killer]

AB is counter attacking

 

[LastManstanding]

Pitch it up Bhuvi

 

[Napa]

Out of form Rahane dropped. India serious about selecting the best possible team.

 

[samplepiece]

*on screen* Jasprit Bumrah - Right Arm Medium

Starts with a 141km/hr delivery.