South Africa vs India | 1st Test | Johannesburg | Day 1 | 18-12-2013

[Sandeep]

Against SA in Cardiff he and Rohit were playing the pull and cut shots well ... agreed that it was an ODI but still that was a great partnership....

He has quick reflexes and does pull the ball well in general from so far what i have seen in domestic cricket

Anyways he's gone .... Pujara n VJ time

That wicket didn't have as much bounce and bite as this one..

 

[OZGOD]

They haven't scored much but I don't think India have done that badly aside from Dhawan's brain explosion. Vijay has showed a lot of patience. I don't think this wicket has that many gremlins. Once they get the measure of the bounce there's not a lot of sideways movement, they can score a lot more freely once they see Steyn off, who is the only one getting some swing.

 

[style_guru]

Cannot say whether it's a brave or a stupid decision by MS to bat first, after literally having no batting practice on an away tour.

 

[Smbhayi]

Against SA in Cardiff he and Rohit were playing the pull and cut shots well ... agreed that it was an ODI but still that was a great partnership....

He has quick reflexes and does pull the ball well in general from so far what i have seen in domestic cricket

Anyways he's gone .... Pujara n VJ time

But actually he struggles in first three bouncers.. Then why he again goes to them.. Thats not good..

 

[Sandeep]

Unplayable ball!

 

[style_guru]

This wicket would suit Morkel more I guess.

 

[NZcricketfan]

They are going to need to target Tahir.

 

[Jo_Don]

A mate at the match says that the queue outside the ground is pretty long, he gave up and went home.

 

[Dark Magician]

Morkel is bowling hand grenades.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

But actually he struggles in first three bouncers.. Then why he again goes to them.. Thats not good..

Instincts ....

Sehwag/ KP/ Warner/ Dhawan kind of players will still back themselves and play their shots even if they missed that shot on the earlier ball

 

[battler]

Guys please see of morkel.200% attention and concentration required.
We can cash in later.

 

[Robbie]

Thats where gambhir was so essential in indian batting line up. If sehwag got out early he upped the ante and started scoring quickly to put the pressure back on bowlers.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Indians batsmen just need to grit there teeth and stick in here and as the day goes on the wicket will become much easier to bat on, right now they are going to be given a working over and severely tested.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Dhawan should really learn to reign himself in on tracks like this. Even in WI series he got out playing shots to good balls. Gambhir is knocking on the door for a come-back, if he keeps playing irresponsibly, he might not get a long rope.

 

[NZcricketfan]

Guys please see of morkel.200% attention and concentration required.
We can cash in later.

When Steyn or Philander come back?

 

[Snow]

Dhawan is just another version of Raina, yes he pulled well in England where pitches were more like slow SC type in that series. He didn't do well in WI, and he won't do good here. Period!

 

[battler]

Morkel throwing grenades here

 

[Sandeep]

Morkel, you beauty!

 

[saj786]

Just shows alot of the so called class batters r vulnerable to the short ball
England batsmen in Aus and dhaiwan here looks terrified, these players in the era of no helmits would really struggle

 

[battler]

When Steyn or Philander come back?

They won't be too hard with the older ball and they won't get any reverse as well.

 

[Sandeep]

India goes to the drinks with one casualty

 

[NZcricketfan]

They won't be too hard with the older ball and they won't get any reverse as well.

Steyn is generally faster and more aggressive in his second spell.

 

[OZGOD]

Woeful effort from Amla

 

[Aman]

Not playing Yadev looking like a big blunder

 

[style_guru]

Vijay deenanath chauhan survives.

 

[NZcricketfan]

Not playing Yadev looking like a big blunder

Ishant could be good here actually. He is tall.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Just shows alot of the so called class batters r vulnerable to the short ball
England batsmen in Aus and dhaiwan here looks terrified, these players in the era of no helmits would really struggle

Who doesn't? Aus got shot out for 47 in SA as well. There's no team atm except SA batting that can handle short stuff well.

 

[Kianig89]

India has surprised me so far fist by batting and then batting well

 

[Aman]

Instincts ....

Sehwag/ KP/ Warner/ Dhawan kind of players will still back themselves and play their shots even if they missed that shot on the earlier ball

Please

Those guys have scored runs on difficult wickets, Dhawan is a bonafide FTB.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Ishant could be good here actually. He is tall.

Height alone isn't gonna help, he's been bowling around 130s in ODI and doesn't hit the seam as well.

 

[Aman]

Ishant could be good here actually. He is tall.

He won't trouble anyone with his pace.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Please

Those guys have scored runs on difficult wickets, Dhawan is a bonafide FTB.

Just 1 away innings under his belt in tests and he's labelled a FTB

 

[Zahid87]

Got to give Dhawan a chance. You give him one innings outside India, where he fails, and then label him an FTB.

He could be an FTB, but give him a few more innings outside India to judge him.

Don't buy the Champions Trophy MoS crap either though. He played well, but on pitches which were slow. ECB wanted certain pitches for teh Ashes...India benefited. Don't count it as Dhawan/India suceeding on seaming wickets.

The way he got out was dumb though....if he stayed in, would have been facing Kallis' 130k dollies.

Vijay will bore himself out soon...got himself in a rut.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

1hr 10 mins done ....

50 more mins for lunch, will we cross even 50!

 

[NZcricketfan]

India stagnating

 

[parwezzkhan]

Vijay deenanath chauhan gone

 

[Robbie]

I used to wonder how teams were all out inside 50 on the board.

 

[OZGOD]

Geez Vijay got out like a dunce. Looked like he was wearing concrete shoes

 

[Aman]

Just 1 away innings under his belt in tests and he's labelled a FTB

Have you seen the guy play? Small sample size but he plays like a tailender on pitches which offer something to the bowlers.

 

[Aman]

It's up to Kohli.

 

[Sandeep]

Morkel is literally throwing off grenades..

 

[Zahid87]

Vijay is not good enough. You have to have a shot which can get you a single and off strike. No good letting bowler dictate terms.

If you let the bowler have a go at you, like the Indians are doing with Morkel, one ball will have your number on it. Have to keep the board ticking, and the pressure off.

 

[Sandeep]

Like I always said, India struggle against Morkel more than Steyn

 

[Dark Magician]

Geez Vijay got out like a dunce. Looked like he was wearing concrete shoes

looked like he didd'nt want to get in line.

 

[Sandeep]

Only Pujara has looked the part so far

 

[Aman]

Pujara looking solid.

 

[Executioner]

A mate at the match says that the queue outside the ground is pretty long, he gave up and went home.

I am sure a lot of SAffers are interested in seeing India get rickrolled than their own team winnings.

 

[Aman]

That RR, this is definitely not Mumbai

 

[Kianig89]

Vijay gone

 

[Kianig89]

Why is Kallis trundler bowling

 

[Aman]

Rohit, Rahane, Dhoni and Ashwin to come.

One of Pujara, Kohli or Rohit will have to go big.

 

[Kianig89]

NO DRS for this series shame

 

[Aman]

Smith should bring back Steyn, if he removes one of these 2 India will struggle to make 200.

 

[style_guru]

With Vijay it was always a matter of time. Let's see for how long that corrupt Srini is able to keep him in the team.

 

[Dark Magician]

Morkel when he geets it right can be a menace. average speed 144 KM/H

 

[battler]

:4 by kohli

 

[Kianig89]

Pujara's Career Average 65+

 

[OZGOD]

Pujara looking solid.

I always thought Pujara was the most talented batsman in this lineup.

 

[Zahid87]

India have to look to score of one end. Kallis and Imran Tahir are their best bets.

They are making Morkel look like Ambrose.

Saying that, Pujara is not only looking solid, but looks to get a single now and again, and not get bogged down. Thats the approach you have to take.

 

[Robbie]

Good pull shot from kohli. Shouldnt try that against steyn or morkel though.

 

[OZGOD]

NO DRS for this series shame

Yea hopefully Kohli or Dhoni get thiefed out in a howler to make it really hurt lol.

 

[mosh101]

Just falls short

 

[mosh101]

Superb bowling from morkel

 

[Aman]

I always thought Pujara was the most talented batsman in this lineup.

Pujara has the best temperament, Rohit is the most talented and Kohli is the best all round in terms of temperament and talent to me.

 

[Sandeep]

Played with soft hands.. Good batting

 

[awaisrehman]

Really does annoy me when ball falls short on more than 1 occasion. Happens a lot with Pakistan as well, surely it is more safer standing closer than further. At least you can jump up if the ball goes high (which is quite rare itself).

 

[saj786]

Who doesn't? Aus got shot out for 47 in SA as well. There's no team atm except SA batting that can handle short stuff well.

My point is theres alot of flat track bullies

 

[OZGOD]

Pujara has the best temperament, Rohit is the most talented and Kohli is the best all round in terms of temperament and talent to me.

Kohli has a lot of heart but I'm not sold on his Test match game. Rohit is a bit of a Humpty Dumpty for mine.

 

[battler]

Smith,please bring tahir on so we they can have some relief.

 

[Electron]

Pujara has looked comfortable.. I expect Ashwin to be our second best batsman in this tour.

 

[Smbhayi]

M Morkel 5 over 4 maiden 1 wicket and conceded Just 1 run..

 

[Sandeep]

Kohli

 

[Sandeep]

Morkel making our batsmen dance!

 

[battler]

Morkel is looking like ambrose here!

 

[jusarrived]

Our batsmen realy hate facing Morkel

 

[Dark Magician]

Morkel owning Virat.

 

[Sandeep]

Unplayable bowling!!!

 

[Ims1]

MM has bowled a superb hostile spell .

 

[Smbhayi]

Morkel means more killing here..

 

[Dark Magician]

India in Tuk Tuk mode.