South Africa vs India | 1st test | Chennai | 26/3/2008 to 30/3/2008

[saffer]

ha ha ha ha......S.a could lose this to an unstoppable sehwag

 

[Rajan]

Yes. I've been in touch with an Indian office (work-related) over the past few days and every single one (well, about 4 in total!) of them have bitched and moaned about the pitch and the 2-spinner strategy. Test cricket is dieing because of pitches like this, and the diminishing crowds in India are testament to that. Why do you think India are only playing 2 tests against England? Do you think the same would happen in England?

for all those who have closed their eyes and ears for the last 2 days, let me tell again:

Chennai pitch is result oriented usually. but this time, there was rain for the last 20 days and the preparation of the pitch was affected. the pitch did not get any sunshine because it was literally covered under sheets for the past 2 weeks before the start.

this is unseasonal rain in Chennai, known for high temperarures in March. in fact the test match was in doubt following such rain.the test was scheduled in March only to ensure that there is no rain disruption of international matches as was earlier in the last few years.
it reflects on the state of the pitch. there was no intentional preparation of slow/flat pitch , at least in this test.

 

[Amir]

Impressive hititng by Sehwag. His partnership with dravid is at a rate of 5.46 whiel Dravid has scored 10 off 56...meaning Sehwag has went crazY!

 

[moumotta]

Impressive batting, even after you allow for the pitch and all, last hour has been just amazing.

 

[rahulrulezz]

it seems like Sehwag wanna hit Six/four every ball...... didnt spare any bowler...loved his batting style when Harris was bowling Negative line... Sehwag kept making space for himself and hitting him on off side... hopefully dravid the wall will be more agressive post tea

 

[Swaraj!!]

The last scene before tea was hilarious. Sehwag hits and just turns around and walks for tea....while Ntini looks like there was armageddon approaching.

Folks, I do agree that this is a flat pancake but it takes some class atleast to be a flat pitch bully. And to do it in such entertaining style is the cream. If everyone knew how to make hay when the sun shines always....SA would have been 1000 and still batting now.

 

[sgt.pepper]

it seems like Sehwag wanna hit Six/four every ball...... didnt spare any bowler...loved his batting style when Harris was bowling Negative line... Sehwag kept making space for himself and hitting him on off side... hopefully dravid the wall will be more agressive post tea

Dravid doesn't have to match sehwag. He's playing his own game and that is good for the team.

 

[pakistani pride]

Well no opener in the world can bat like sehwag. ok this is a flat pitch but his strike rate is awsome. Even if this was not a flat track he would have killed them in this form.

Sehwag = BEAST ! ! !

 

[invincible]

Balls faced for Double Centuries

153 NJ Astle New Zealand v England Christchurch 2001-02
182 V Sehwag India v Pakistan Lahore 2005-06
211 HH Gibbs South Africa v Pakistan Cape Town 2002-03
212 AC Gilchrist Australia v South Africa Johannesburg 2001-02
220 IT Botham England v India The Oval 1982
222 V Sehwag India v Pakistan Multan 2003-04
229 PA de Silva Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Colombo (PSS) 2002

3 of the 10 quickest double centuries have been by Sehwag. Twice against Pakistan (182, 222) and once against South Africa (185).

 

[rahulrulezz]

Sounds like a good atmosphere. Good (and extremely encouraging) to see that Indians are still prepared to turn out to watch Test cricket at a time when so many of us are are concerned about the possibility of one day and T/20 cricket taking over.

In fact, the crowd looks significantly bigger than I would have expected for this fixture.

hey harvey...nice to see you in this thread... regarding test cricket in India, ppl do follow it with passion but they prefer watching it in front of thier Tvs sitting on leather couches... there are so many restrictions in grounds and factors such as harsh weather and seats makes it hard for cricket lovers to come to ground... but ya as you mentioned, attendences in India have been increasing in large numbers from past few years...probably coz of vast improvement and various successes by indian team in last 5 years

 

[moumotta]

Balls faced for Double Centuries

153 NJ Astle New Zealand v England Christchurch 2001-02
182 V Sehwag India v Pakistan Lahore 2005-06
211 HH Gibbs South Africa v Pakistan Cape Town 2002-03
212 AC Gilchrist Australia v South Africa Johannesburg 2001-02
220 IT Botham England v India The Oval 1982
222 V Sehwag India v Pakistan Multan 2003-04
229 PA de Silva Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Colombo (PSS) 2002

Top 3 of the 10 quickest double centuries have been by Sehwag. Twice against Pakistan (182, 222) and once against South Africa (185).

2nd and 3rd fastest by Sehwag. These have been scored against reasonably defensive bowling and field.

 

[neorocks]

Veeru Might be thinking that he is playing football but not cricket... hehehe It is cricket man..

 

[DHONI183]

A blazer from Virender Sehwag !!! Fantastic knock !!!

 

[deathstreak]

250 for Sehwag.
Take a bow

 

[dinakar]

A blazer from Virender Sehwag !!! Fantastic knock !!!

who is Dhoni change your signature ) )

 

[invincible]

"jusarrived" will be proud of this knock by Sehwag He's one of the Sehwag fans that I can remember on PP ...

 

[Luton Bad Boy]

All those people knocking Sehwag, yes he is a FTB but, is it not ironic that seen he has seen a 'shrink' he performance has improved ten-fold.

India are in the ascendency and having Sehwag performing at the top makes him now 'undroppable' but, stranger things have happened in Indian cricket....

 

[bablu_khan]

Luton Bad Boy, get over it.. Sehwag ain't no FTB.. u don't average 50 AFTER BEING FTB..

he has scored runs everyone where.. SOUTH AFRICA, ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, PAKISTAN, NEW ZELAND..

 

[saffer]

well , well , well..india could be about even with S.a at the end of the day at this rate.....certainly they cant lose from here...S.a might have a tricky day to bat out on day 5...

 

[saffer]

...and all thanks to a one man demolition job by sehwag...

 

[DHONI183]

who is Dhoni change your signature ) )

Why do you want me to change my signature ? You are always after them, Dinakar .

 

[phoenix-suns]

dravid scoring 28 of 150+ runs partnership. what the hell he is doing there scoring 28 of 100 balls. is he playing on different wicket?

 

[dinakar]

only Morkel earning some respect from Veeru..

 

[squarecut]

India still bowled South Africa all out on this track when the conditions were the most batting friendly. And they did that without whingeing about the track not assisting them.

 

[Random Aussie]

not at all expensive. it's all about "mateship"

Nicely implied racism there dude.

Sehwag continues the massacre....he is an awesome player when he gets going. Pity about the pitch cos Sehwag can make runs against anyone but this knock will be downgraded a little in most watchers eyes.

 

[phoenix-suns]

Is India playing against Bangladesh? Usually I see scorecard like 400/1 when India plays against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

Dale Steyn has been treated like club bowler. He has been getting some easy wickets since Pakistan series, not any more.. They showed some highlights of how he hit batsmen helmet in bangladesh on similar kind of wicket. not anymore.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Is Laras 400 in danger here?

Veeru set for his 2nd triple test ton?

 

[Jeevs]

Nicely implied racism there dude.

uff.... bus kar yaar...

 

[squarecut]

Pity about the pitch cos Sehwag can make runs against anyone but this knock will be downgraded a little in most watchers eyes.

Don't worry. The first wicket partnership world record set up by South Africa will be downgraded a lot in most watchers list, because that too came on a flat track, and more importantly, came against Bangladesh.

 

[TruSachFan]

wat happened to steyn will demolish india??

DW Steyn (rf) 18.6 1 79 0 4.15 is demolishing alrite

 

[saffer]

wat happened to steyn will demolish india??

DW Steyn (rf) 18.6 1 79 0 4.15 is demolishing alrite

the pitch and sehwag having a fantastic innings ? What did india have to do with it ?

Is smith trying to let sehwag get 400 ? why not try the new ball ? what has he got to lose ? Maybe sehwag will start hitting ? ha ha ha ha

 

[invincible]

the pitch and sehwag having a fantastic innings ? What did india have to do with it ?

Is smith trying to let sehwag get 400 ? why not try the new ball ? what has he got to lose ? Maybe sehwag will start hitting ? ha ha ha ha

Nothing, except that Sehwag is India's opening batsman and an integral part of their plans while batting.

Steyn has been troubling mediocre batsmen on similar pitches to be honest. However, the class difference is there for everyone to see. Not in one spell has Steyn actually troubled any Indian batsmen. Morkel atleast had couple of good spells where he beat the bat multiple times.

 

[saffer]

I hate to see south africa so negative and not taking the new ball .Make sehwag work for his 300 ....

 

[invincible]

I hate to see south africa so negative and not taking the new ball .Make sehwag work for his 300 ....

New ball = Harder ball ... easier to hit for Sehwag

 

[saffer]

Nothing, except that Sehwag is India's opening batsman and an integral part of their plans while batting.

Steyn has been troubling mediocre batsmen on similar pitches to be honest. However, the class difference is there for everyone to see. Not in one spell has Steyn actually troubled any Indian batsmen. Morkel atleast had couple of good spells where he beat the bat multiple times.

Sehwag is batting like a champ today , that's for sure . He's no superman though let's keep things into perspective..he's made the most of a flat track and good for him for doing so .

 

[Amjid Javed]

Saffer,

The new ball will just come onto bat quicker and with in 3 overs it will be in a battered state after Veeru has smashed it around the ground!

 

[saffer]

New ball = Harder ball ... easier to hit for Sehwag

Have they got anything to lose ? they are being smacked with the old one anyway .

 

[saffer]

In india wanted they could make 1000 here

 

[invincible]

Have they got anything to lose ? they are being smacked with the old one anyway .

True ! Atleast the new ball will offer a bit of swing for the likes of Morkel and Steyn.

 

[TruSachFan]

In india wanted they could make 1000 here

LOL

 

[saffer]

I have this feeling...when people find their side 550 runs behind in the first innings...they will talk about this match to give themselves hope.....thanks to sehwag and if the pitch starts to turn...india could win this...

 

[TruSachFan]

lol i think saf wasted a very good opportunity on the first day after tea

they could have gotten 40-50 more runs

 

[Amjid Javed]

I remember when Sri lanka scored 920 odd against India in Colombo when Jayasuriya and Mahanama got some big runs!

 

[Random Aussie]

Don't worry. The first wicket partnership world record set up by South Africa will be downgraded a lot in most watchers list, because that too came on a flat track, and more importantly, came against Bangladesh.

I am not worried - was actually complimenting Sehwag.

But what you say about the Bangladesh Saffer partnership is what I meant, meaning that Sehwag can play like this on any wicket in the world so it is a shame that the pitch is so flat in this match.

 

[Random Aussie]

uff.... bus kar yaar...

Chikna

Dimaag ka dahi mat bana

 

[saffer]

congrats sehwag.....now go out .Lara's record shouldnt go in these conditions .

 

[Random Aussie]

congrats sehwag.....now go out .Lara's record shouldnt go in these conditions .

To be fair Lara's 400 and 375 were on amazingly flat pitches too.

 

[TruSachFan]

sehwag 3000000000000000000000

 

[saffer]

To be fair Lara's 400 and 375 were on amazingly flat pitches too.

Maybe...but he's not half the player lara is .

 

[saffer]

come on south africa...take the new ball..you really have nothing to lose...you are going to bat again no matter what and can't win

 

[Romali_rotti]

wat happened to steyn will demolish india??

DW Steyn (rf) 18.6 1 79 0 4.15 is demolishing alrite

Yeah he and a few pretenders here like fruitcake and Perth thought so, but then a big train went right up Steyn Butt and now he has woken up and smelt the coffee and it aint a good smell

 

[Master Blaster]

Errrrrr wasn't Styen supposed to take 40 wickets in this Test, plus put a couple of batsmen to peace ??

Hmmm or is he just a green track bully ??

Crazy knock by Viru BTW !!

 

[Romali_rotti]

Maybe...but he's not half the player lara is .

Right no it is no longer the conditions now, make up your mind dumb A**

 

[TruSachFan]

lol i wonder how did he manage to do in such humidity??

just wondering was haydens and laras knock under such humidity too??

 

[moumotta]

come on south africa...take the new ball..you really have nothing to lose...you are going to bat again no matter what and can't win

They are now playing to save the game.

 

[squarecut]

How do you know Sehwag is not half the player of Lara? Sehwag just scored the fastest triple century in history. And against a good attack too, unless you now agree that South African bowling is rubbish.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Errrrrr wasn't Styen supposed to take 40 wickets in this Test, plus put a couple of batsmen to peace ??

Hmmm or is he just a green track bully ??

Crazy knock by Viru BTW !!

Nah I wouldnt call him a green track bully, he got wickets against sides like Bangladesh an out of form Pak side etc in the dead Subby wickets. However he just had reality smack him flat in his face when playing against quality batsmens this is what will happen to him..

 

[saffer]

well done india...I've congratulated sehwag and wished you the best . But to think this pitch is representational of the ability of the south african bowlers is an insult to every other team in the world including your who have always struggled against them . A shame to all the nice indians out there that you have all suddenly become such posturing arrogant idiots . If you can't be modest and humble when youi've had such a great day of cricket , then when can you ?

 

[TruSachFan]

Do make it a point to check the site after the match, we'll have lots of statistics on today's game, several records have been smashed.

cricinfo roflll

 

[saffer]

However he just had reality smack him flat in his face when playing against quality batsmens this is what will happen to him..

Lets judge when they meet on a fair pitch ok ? So dfar irs been a one man demolition by sehwag..dravid has struggled even on this flat pitch .

It's a little bit silly to expect dale steyn to be as good when the ball isn't swinging at all , he is only so good because of his ability to swing the ball at pace . Add that swing and indian batsmen will be clueless like everyone else to play him .

 

[Indiafan]

Sehwag joins the elite list of Lara and Bradman as being the ONLY 3 batsmen to score 300 twice in their careers!

 

[Indiafan]

Sehwag's last 10 centuries has all been 150+ kncoks!

 

[squarecut]

Till yesterday we were told how South Africans in general and Steyn in particular would make mincemeat of India. And all that because South Africa had won against the likes of West Indies and Bangladesh.

Hopefully saffer now realises that South Africans were doing minnow bashing all these days. When faced against a non minnow, they lie exposed.

 

[Rajan]

Lets judge when they meet on a fair pitch ok ? So dfar irs been a one man demolition by sehwag..dravid has struggled even on this flat pitch .

It's a little bit silly to expect dale steyn to be as good when the ball isn't swinging at all , he is only so good because of his ability to swing the ball at pace . Add that swing and indian batsmen will be clueless like everyone else to play him .

Actually Dravid is playing himself back in to some form, his last 50 runs has taken around 100 balls, against 3 bowlers who bowl at more than 140kmph!

Jaffer did well too, scored 73 off 166 balls.

hope rest of the batsmen too score some runs and make the last day an interesting one .

 

[saffer]

Till yesterday we were told how South Africans in general and Steyn in particular would make mincemeat of India. And all that because South Africa had won against the likes of West Indies and Bangladesh.

Hopefully saffer now realises that South Africans were doing minnow bashing all these days. When faced against a non minnow, they lie exposed.

You had a great days cricket . Well done . South Africa have done well against everyone and beaten them (except australia) including your team just last year . If you cant be modest when your team is breaking batting records on flat dead pitches , then when can you ? Time to maybe just enjoy it and stop exposing what a miserable insecure man you are don't you think ?

 

[saffer]

Actually Dravid is playing himself back in to some form, his last 50 runs has taken around 100 balls, against 3 bowlers who bowl at more than 140kmph!

Jaffer did well too, scored 73 off 166 balls.

hope rest of the batsmen too score some runs and make the last day an interesting one .

I thought you were saying the bowlers were hopeless ? how could dravid have done well ?

Take sehwags score away and india would have crawled allong . It;s sehwags day....good for him...it doesn't mean south africa are useless and india are brilliant . We beat you just a year ago ..and until this game your highest batsman average against us was 34 runs....just take today for what it is ....awesome innings of dominance like I've never seen before by sehwag......

 

[Romali_rotti]

Lets judge when they meet on a fair pitch ok ? So dfar irs been a one man demolition by sehwag..dravid has struggled even on this flat pitch .

It's a little bit silly to expect dale steyn to be as good when the ball isn't swinging at all , he is only so good because of his ability to swing the ball at pace . Add that swing and indian batsmen will be clueless like everyone else to play him .

Excuses Excuses, get that photo ready for the thread of shame

 

[TruSachFan]

You had a great days cricket . Well done . South Africa have done well against everyone and beaten them (except australia) including your team just last year . If you cant be modest when your team is breaking batting records on flat dead pitches , then when can you ? Time to maybe just enjoy it and stop exposing what a miserable insecure man you are don't you think ?

we played at ure strength in joburg and we won

now u play at our strength and beat us

lets see how ur boys do on day 4 after tea

 

[Rajan]

You had a great days cricket . Well done . South Africa have done well against everyone and beaten them (except australia) including your team just last year . If you cant be modest when your team is breaking batting records on flat dead pitches , then when can you ? Time to maybe just enjoy it and stop exposing what a miserable insecure man you are don't you think ?

i agree entirely with you, but just clarify what u thought when u posted this gem:


the pitch and sehwag having a fantastic innings ? What did india have to do with it ?

surely u know Sehwag plays for the indian team, not the australian team

 

[saffer]

we played at ure strength in joburg and we won

now u play at our strength and beat us

lets see how ur boys do on day 4 after tea

Actually that was durban . And we won the series...we always win the series . We've beaten you 3 times in india....and how many times have you beaten us ? 3 times . Take a deep breath and come down from your perch .

 

[saffer]

the pitch and sehwag having a fantastic innings ? What did india have to do with it ?

My point was that this was sehwags day....the indian team did not suddenly become supermen and start flashing like immortality mode in a video game . By listening to some people here this is just normal stuff and india could always do this to south africa. The record shows they obviously cant....so appreciate it and enjoy it for the freakish brilliant innings it is....and stop using it to justify anything other than a brilliant day from sehwag..

 

[jusarrived]

good day for us , as expetcted we are back on top ....a green top pitch would have made things much easier for us against these real FTB's ..hope the curaters take note of this!

 

[Rajan]

My point was that this was sehwags day....the indian team did not suddenly become supermen and start flashing like immortality mode in a video game . By listening to some people here this is just normal stuff and india could always do this to south africa. The record shows they obviously cant....so appreciate it and enjoy it for the freakish brilliant innings it is....and stop using it to justify anything other than a brilliant day from sehwag..

Saffer,

if u remember, in your thread about IPL and its effects on SA players, where u discussed about the IPL connections affecting the aggression of SA players in this series, I mentioned clearly that SA is a very good team with superb bowlers and batsmen. I expected a good contest in this series and am looking forward to it even after today's play.

But point is SA's fast bowlers who have greater reputation and far greater experience than Sreesanth and RP Singh put together, have not done much to trouble even Dravid and Jaffer. that was disappointing.

even if the pitch is flat, what happened to yorkers? reverse swing? indippers? surely the additional 10-15k air speed should have helped the SA bowlers penetrate the indian defence!

that was my point. I felt that Smith had given up some time during the explosive second session batting by Sehwag.

 

[Indiafan]

good day for us , as expetcted we are back on top ....a green top pitch would have made things much easier for us against these real FTB's ..hope the curaters take note of this!

Agree, spin is no longer our strength. I am sure we could have matched the SA pace battery and we have better batsmen.

 

[Tupac]

wow! great day and veeru is class! well played champ!

Yesterday I said that if we could score at around 3.5 an over, we would be at 397...now we scored at 4.5 an over and ended up on 468!

What is more exciting is that Harris, late in the day, started to get a little bit of turn. I say we bat for another 50 overs and make 180 runs, going ahead by 108. Then we can bundle them out with the spinners and chase a target on the 5th day.

 

[TruSachFan]

wow! great day and veeru is class! well played champ!

Yesterday I said that if we could score at around 3.5 an over, we would be at 397...now we scored at 4.5 an over and ended up on 468!

What is more exciting is that Harris, late in the day, started to get a little bit of turn. I say we bat for another 50 overs and make 180 runs, going ahead by 108. Then we can bundle them out with the spinners and chase a target on the 5th day.

we'll make 250 more if sehwag lasts 20 more overs

 

[Indiafan]

My point was that this was sehwags day....the indian team did not suddenly become supermen and start flashing like immortality mode in a video game . By listening to some people here this is just normal stuff and india could always do this to south africa. The record shows they obviously cant....so appreciate it and enjoy it for the freakish brilliant innings it is....and stop using it to justify anything other than a brilliant day from sehwag..

Been a long day, hasnt it? I am sick of flat pitches and there is only so much one can watch batsmen hitting all over the park and bowlers with shoulders drooped, just going through the motions.

That said, if India do go on to win the series, I hope you will still credit them as a win is a win no matter what the pitch. You won last with pithces which were your strenght with a few of our players (including Sachin) out of form. So if we do win, its still a series win. With lots less bragging rights though!

 

[chuck]

Sehwag is batting like a champ today , that's for sure . He's no superman though let's keep things into perspective..he's made the most of a flat track and good for him for doing so .

I will make it easy for you. Just two questions

1. Name another player hitting two 300+ innings and being labelled a mediocre.

2. List down number of SA players hitting 300+ in an innings to make most of suppossedly flat tracks. Remember they have been playing in subcontinent (Flat pitches in your words) for 18 months now. Rather keeping it simple .. just list down number of SA players hitting 300 in the history of world cricket.

It's amazing how you label a brilliant knock to a relatively mediocre one.

 

[deathstreak]

My point was that this was sehwags day....the indian team did not suddenly become supermen and start flashing like immortality mode in a video game . By listening to some people here this is just normal stuff and india could always do this to south africa. The record shows they obviously cant....so appreciate it and enjoy it for the freakish brilliant innings it is....and stop using it to justify anything other than a brilliant day from sehwag..

and I think someone pointed out Sehwag plays for India.
India has always relied on superhuman efforts by some of its players. They rarely play as a complete team with everyone contributing like SA does. The England series was the first time I saw team brilliance rather than individual brilliance as far as batting was concerned.

SA has done better against India in India compared to other teams but since 2001 it has been close.
Both Away and at home games SA have won only one more but not won any tests in India since 2001. They have played only once in that period though.

 

[jusarrived]

wow! great day and veeru is class! well played champ!

Yesterday I said that if we could score at around 3.5 an over, we would be at 397...now we scored at 4.5 an over and ended up on 468!

What is more exciting is that Harris, late in the day, started to get a little bit of turn. I say we bat for another 50 overs and make 180 runs, going ahead by 108. Then we can bundle them out with the spinners and chase a target on the 5th day.

I thot the same as well , get close to SA's total & declare.....but viru's innings today gives us a chance to take a lead of 280-300 with 95-100 over to spare in the match ....it wont be easy for SA to bat out on the 5th day pitch..!!