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South Africa vs India | 2nd Test | Centurion | Jan 13-17, 2018 | Day 1 | Discussion Thread

big_gamer007 said:
Can someone tell me why they dropped BK our best chance to take early wikets is with BK bowling with new ball.. You need an early wicket if you don’t get and openers settle rubbish bowlers like Ishant won’t be doing anything..
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More pace and bounce at centurion but I would still have kept my most in form bowler
 
Sarwar89 said:
I do not think so, There will be some wear and tear in this pitch, 450 is asking a bit too much to be honest. Jadeja should have played here.
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Maybe there will be, but right now, there's no assistance at all for bowlers. I don't think people were aware it would turn on Day 1 when choosing this lineup.
 
Ashwin has been disappointing considering the turn on offer.Jaddu should be playing
 
Sam99 said:
After such an exciting first test match didn't expect this bad pitch.
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Probably the organizers lost 2 days viewership with 1 Sunday getting rained-off. They don't care about excitement (T20 gives more of that!)
 
How is the pitch like? If it is a flat pitch then I expect India to match or exceed whatever the Saffers score. If there is even a slight bit of movement in the pitch then India already is looking down the wrong end of a gun.
 
Saurav said:
Ashwin has been disappointing considering the turn on offer.Jaddu should be playing
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It's slow turn and there's very little he can do when every time he tries creating pressure the other end bleeds runs
 
Organizer's trying their best to give India every chance of atleast drawing this test, by delivering a subcontinent style pitch..
Wonderful hosts.
 
Doesn’t look like a typical Centurian track - double paced, uneven spongy bounce and it’s not going to get faster on day 2/3. Might be a very bad toss to lose.
 
I hope they fine SA for this pitch, I don't mind the flat tracks Australia rolls out for everyone or the green mamba England gave us at Lords or the dirt track we sometimes produce these variable bounce slow wickets are what are disgusting toss basically decides the match.
 
Syed1 said:
How is the pitch like? If it is a flat pitch then I expect India to match or exceed whatever the Saffers score. If there is even a slight bit of movement in the pitch then India already is looking down the wrong end of a gun.
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The pitch was offering turn after three hours.

And yep, there is a minor movement. But no one be unplayable here IMO.

India couldn't have asked for a better track in SA. Let's see.
 
@All, how will this help India? We lost the toss and bowling first, SA are 245/3 pitch will deteriorate and we will have scoreboard pressure to cope up while batting. Ominous signs...
 
Great presence of mind - game almost balanced now. It can go to 300 all out or 450- I feel 350 is a good total for 1st innings here.
 
Superb pick up and throw from Pandya.

And another one, Kohli's decision not to take the 2nd new ball pays off.
 
Well that's the least they can do , giving India Conditions to make them feel at home.
Losing or winning toss us totally different matter, am afraid.
 
I remember faf for alot run outs 2015 world cup, 2017 ct, this test match.
 
I think, SAF has their nose ahead already. After the start by first 2 wickets, it has been really tough scoring here and I don't think it's going to get better. If AB struggles to time the ball, you have sense trouble later.

2nd run out.
 
Some colourful language used by the Indians to describe Philander after the run-out there. :ashwin
 
MMHS said:
I think, SAF has their nose ahead already. After the start by first 2 wickets, it has been really tough scoring here and I don't think it's going to get better. If AB struggles to time the ball, you have sense trouble later.

2nd run out.
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Dont think Indians will be troubled much on such a pitch.
 
I have to say De Kok is the perfect example of modern T20 product - dominant when things are in favor; just don't have the toughness to fight out difficult situations.
 
Maharaj and Rabada against Ash will be interesting, I don't think new ball will be taken today.

Should not take Maharaj lightly he can tonk a few...
 
Madplayer said:
Dont think Indians will be troubled much on such a pitch.
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It'll reverse and Mahraj'll make it tight - won't be easy. Pujara might stay for long, but he doesn't score fast. Besides, there is 2nd innings for SAF & IND'll bat 4th.
 
MMHS said:
I think, SAF has their nose ahead already. After the start by first 2 wickets, it has been really tough scoring here and I don't think it's going to get better. If AB struggles to time the ball, you have sense trouble later.

2nd run out.
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They have only 1 spinner and we are better used to these kind of wickets, if we get them out for < 300 then it's game on.
 
South Africa forgot that this isn't a World Cup semi-final.
 
Another drop rubbish from rahul, they really need to sack the fielding coach.
 
MMHS said:
I have to say De Kok is the perfect example of modern T20 product - dominant when things are in favor; just don't have the toughness to fight out difficult situations.
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Struggles against lateral movement - did nothing in England last summer.
 
That's my favourite kind of runout too - when both batsmen are at the same end. Makes it more comical.
 
Maharaj was one of the reason for our defeat in 1st test match. His late order contribution turned out to be difference between win and defeat. Kohli shouldn’t take him lightly and try to get him out ASAP. If India somehow restricts SA under 300 then it will be advantage India. Team India can outbat SA on slow spinning pitch and possibly bat them out of game. Hoping for exciting day 2 tomorrow.
 
Let me summarize it, before the start of the day I mentioned 350 to be a par score. Proteas still need 50-60 runs to be on the safe side. It will reverse for sure, With 4 seamers and wicket taker Maharaj, I cant see Team India scoring 400 here. Proteas usually bat better in 2nd innings if they have to set a target. India will find it hard to chase 200+ on this wicket in 4th innings.
 
Dios said:
Some colourful language used by the Indians to describe Philander after the run-out there. :ashwin
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They are all pumped up after 1st test defeat. Philander was the man who cause havoc in 1st test... so its expected to target him. Mind games :P

Off topic: it will be interesting to see how Philander bowls on lifeless pitch... or will he somehow pulls his ‘hamstring’ like he did on tour of India :misbah
 
MMHS said:
I think, SAF has their nose ahead already. After the start by first 2 wickets, it has been really tough scoring here and I don't think it's going to get better. If AB struggles to time the ball, you have sense trouble later.

2nd run out.
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This is not an ODI.

We don't need to score fast. Just to get runs eventually. A slow two-paced, flat track is not going to bother Pujara, Vijay etc.
 
Wow, Faf and run outs. This is a 400+ wicket. I don't even think 350 is good enough here. Three needles wickets for 5 runs Amla set at 80? Unforgivable, to expect bowlers to keep bailing us out is sickening.
 
CanadianG00se said:
They are all pumped up after 1st test defeat. Philander was the man who cause havoc in 1st test... so its expected to target him. Mind games :P

Off topic: it will be interesting to see how Philander bowls on lifeless pitch... or will he somehow pulls his ‘hamstring’ like he did on tour of India :misbah
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Broke his ankle, was England that he pulled out with 'back' issues. Must have been flat English conditions for him to run away like that.
 
Good that Virat has gone with his instincts again. This trait can define him as a captain. Bhuvi would be bowling bowling here at 132-128, and without the swing and pace that CT offered, he would have struggled.

People shouldn't be surprised with Bhuvi's exclusion. He was dropped at Rajkot vs Eng after picking a 5-er against NZ in Kolkata. Similarly was dropped in Nagpur after a 4/8 vs SL in Kolkata.

This is an over-reaction probably because India lost the last match.
 
CanadianG00se said:
They are all pumped up after 1st test defeat. Philander was the man who cause havoc in 1st test... so its expected to target him. Mind games :P

Off topic: it will be interesting to see how Philander bowls on lifeless pitch... or will he somehow pulls his ‘hamstring’ like he did on tour of India :misbah
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He blew his back out in swing-friendly England last summer so his fitness issues aren't limited to the SC.
 
Markhor said:
Apparently its the curator's first Test pitch and only his fourth international pitch that he's prepared.
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He prepared a good wicket for the Titans v Lions. Ngidi took 9. I don't know what to call this rubbish of a wicket.
 
soso_killer said:
Broke his ankle, was England that he pulled out with 'back' issues. Must have been flat English conditions for him to run away like that.
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England is super flat at times.

The one where Amla got that 311 was flatter than even the average subcontinent pitch.
 
Markhor said:
He blew his back out in swing-friendly England last summer so his fitness issues aren't limited to the SC.
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He may very well be injured while on tour to India. However, what is shocking is that despite being around since 2011, he has just played one test match.
 
MMHS said:
I have to say De Kok is the perfect example of modern T20 product - dominant when things are in favor; just don't have the toughness to fight out difficult situations.
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There was actually nothing difficult about the situation he walked into to.

250/4 on an absolute paradise with the bowlers tired. The situation got difficult only after he was out.

Why must people make everything about character criticism even when it doesn't even fit the case.
 
jagatk said:
It's slow turn and there's very little he can do when every time he tries creating pressure the other end bleeds runs
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Slow because he bowled it like that.Troubled lefties on occasions but wasn't consistent.Too many freebies

I know he took 3 but expected more from him.
 
Saurav said:
Slow because he bowled it like that.Troubled lefties on occasions but wasn't consistent.Too many freebies

I know he took 3 but expected more from him.
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Heck I'll take 3. He has been averaging sub-25 this series, a far cry from his no wicket show during the last tour.
 
Varun said:
Heck I'll take 3. He has been averaging sub-25 this series, a far cry from his no wicket show during the last tour.
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yes if you look it like that.Last time there was no help. This time there is and he's supposed to be better too.I just felt he was too negative to RHB bowling round the wicket and all.Ofcourse still better than useless pacers
 
India to get bowled out within 150 and SA to win the game by 300+ runs.
 
THE Standard Bank Proteas suffered a potentially disastrous double run out for the second time in six months against India as the visitors arguably had the better of day one when the second Sunfoil Freedom Test match got underway at SuperSport Park on Saturday.

In the closing hour that bore an uncanny reminder of what happened in the ICC Champions Trophy in England last year the Proteas went from a comfortable and controlling 246/3 to 269/6 at the close.

In fairness to the Proteas batsmen involved the first run out of Hashim Amla (82 off 153 balls, 14 fours) was the result of a moment of fielding brilliance by Hardik Pandya who has developed a reputation of pulling something out of the bag on this tour when it is most needed much as Ben Stokes has done for England and Eddie Barlow did for South Africa in a different era.

But the second run out that accounted for Vernon Philander offered no such excuse.

On the face of it South Africa’s close of play total compares with the average first day score at this venue of 263/6 but the teams are not playing on an average SuperSport Park pitch. Normally, the faster bowlers would send down most of the overs and take most of the wickets. But this time it was off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who bowled almost twice as many overs as any of the seamers and took three of the four wickets to fall to a bowler.

The pitch was slow without lateral movement but offered both turn and bounce to India’s spin bowling ace. It is safe to say that if both sides had known what was to happen on day one they would probably have chosen slightly different starting XIs.

Both sides went in with a solitary spinner with the Proteas handing a debut cap to Lungi Ngidi, the 99th player to represent the Proteas in this format.

The Proteas bossed the first 80 overs of the day thanks to successive partnerships of 85, 63 and 51 from their top order with Amla and Aiden Markram, who showed maturity beyond his years in adjusting his game to suit the conditions, laying the foundation. Markram finished top scorer with 94 (150 balls, 15 fours) and the two batsmen contributed 29 of the 40 boundaries that the Proteas hit on the day.

In the process Markram matched the achievement of Barry Richards in scoring more than 500 runs in his first seven Test innings (both hit two centuries) and today’s effort was his most important to date as it provided evidence, if it was needed, that he has what to takes to bat at the highest level of Test cricket.

An extremely bright future awaits him.

Although Ashwin (3/90 in 31 overs) did most of the damage the plaudits were equally due to their seamers who stuck manfully to their task in unhelpful conditions coupled to extreme heat.

The ball is now squarely in Faf du Plessis’ court to get the Proteas lower order through the difficult second new ball period and to give them a chance of posting a competitive total. They look well short of that at the moment.
 
Last edited:
If India can bundle SA for under 300, then India have a great chance in this Test.

I have high hopes from this Indian lineup in this Test.
 
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