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

[gani999]

Is the Centurion pitch always like this? Offering nothing to the pacers?

I expect Maharaj to be quite a handful. Will be interesting to see how the Indians handle him.

 

[JaDed]

Disaster of a pitch,only way we had a chance was if our bowlers could get 20 wickets.
Why would Saffers do this, India has not issued any complaints on green pitches or anything.

 

[MMHS]

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.

You have no idea, what it means to come to bat with half an hour left of the day. That's why I said T20 product. One thing you are right here - things got difficult when he got out - that's exactly what I meant - he knew he had to see out the day, couple of bang, bang won't work; failed miserably.

Batting paradise we'll see later .........

 

[MMHS]

Disaster of a pitch,only way we had a chance was if our bowlers could get 20 wickets.
Why would Saffers do this, India has not issued any complaints on green pitches or anything.

You seems to disagree that it's a paradise out there ...........

 

[Noman]

Guys i Think South Afrika Will get around 300 runs and india all out for around 260 runs. Pitch is not that easy I Think Sa batsman have made quite lucky and the run out was a bit fishy. What are the first inning score runs these teams Will score?

 

[Bilal7]

Is the Centurion pitch always like this? Offering nothing to the pacers?

I expect Maharaj to be quite a handful. Will be interesting to see how the Indians handle him.

No. Centurion has lots of pace and bounce and some early offerings of lateral movement for the pacers. The spinners get absolutely zero assistance, apart from the fourth/fifth day, at times.

The new curator has gone and completely changed it around (although the weather has not helped). India can have no excuse here. This is pretty much an Indian pitch.

India would have gotten smashed on a regular Centurion wicket but this pitch will ensure that we'll have another close game, which is a win for us fans.

 

[BaankeJi]

Curator tried but couldn't make it green. That is what I could conclude from statements coming out in media.
India should not lose this game. If India can bat for most of 2nd and 3rd day, they will gain upper hand.

 

[Chrish]

Is the Centurion pitch always like this? Offering nothing to the pacers?

I expect Maharaj to be quite a handful. Will be interesting to see how the Indians handle him.

It's because of weather. And it's not that flat. There are signs of seam movement. It's just Indian pacers especially Bhumrah and Shami have bowled rubbish.

SA pacers will get more out of the wicket for sure.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A spinner bowling 31 overs on day 1 in South Africa is a joke in my opinion, groundsmen needs to be asked a lot of questions! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvsIndia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvsIndia</a></p>— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) <a href="https://twitter.com/GraemeSmith49/status/952242931167059968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Chrish]

Looks like Smith is spending lots of time on Asian forums

 

[BaankeJi]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A spinner bowling 31 overs on day 1 in South Africa is a joke in my opinion, groundsmen needs to be asked a lot of questions! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvsIndia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvsIndia</a></p>— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) <a href="https://twitter.com/GraemeSmith49/status/952242931167059968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ashwin is disrupting careers of groundsmen.

 

[Lefthanded]

The ball is staying low. One example was when Faf jumped up defending, and the ball hit the lower part of the bat, and Graeme Smith said, 'Faf belongs to the Jacques Kallis school of reactions. Exaggerated.'

This series has offered yet another golden chance for India to win. Whatever the par score may end up being, this was Pandya magic to drag out the day into India's favour. 55/45 I'd say.

Ashwin and Maharaj will be crucial.

 

[Lefthanded]

The Philander run-out was an absurd event. Even the Indian fielders kept saying, 'yeh kiya hua?'

Seeing Kohli dancing and childish noises around the stumps was a little disappointing. I hope he grows out of this. I'm a big fan.

 

[dauntless]

This pitch is very garabage they have made this to make India happy but still I don't see India drawing this match win is miles away.Faf is culprit here now he has to score century.

 

[Junaids]

Cricket South Africa ordered grassy pitches but the recent hot, dry weather means that this one isn’t green at all.

It’s a godsend for India: a pitch which offers no seam, but with so much grass that the Saffas won’t get reverse either!

 

[Junaids]

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.

My friend, are you okay?

These are very unfamiliar words from you!

 

[Tusker]

Cricket South Africa ordered grassy pitches but the recent hot, dry weather means that this one isn’t green at all.

It’s a godsend for India: a pitch which offers no seam, but with so much grass that the Saffas won’t get reverse either!

I see you have no problems with SA asking for designer pitches ? When India did the same the reactions were completely different.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Cricket South Africa ordered grassy pitches but the recent hot, dry weather means that this one isn’t green at all.

It’s a godsend for India: a pitch which offers no seam, but with so much grass that the Saffas won’t get reverse either!

Even our bowlers were reversing the ball yesterday and you think a team of convicted ball tamperers like faf and philander won't get it reversing?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Cricket South Africa ordered grassy pitches but the recent hot, dry weather means that this one isn’t green at all.

It’s a godsend for India: a pitch which offers no seam, but with so much grass that the Saffas won’t get reverse either!

Less helpful for SA doesn't automatically mean conditions are like Indian conditions. It would still favor SA . Starting from cricket ball, nature of pitches are nothing like what you see in India.

 

[Junaids]

I see you have no problems with SA asking for designer pitches ? When India did the same the reactions were completely different.

Actually no.

I’m quite happy for India to finish home Tests in Three days in square turners!

I also think India did really well yesterday!

 

[Junaids]

Even our bowlers were reversing the ball yesterday and you think a team of convicted ball tamperers like faf and philander won't get it reversing?

Ha ha, brilliant post! I love it!

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Even our bowlers were reversing the ball yesterday and you think a team of convicted ball tamperers like faf and philander won't get it reversing?

The problem is that it doesn't matter so much who does the tampering. The guy who is best at exploiting it can't walk, so it won't be such a big threat.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

My friend, are you okay?

These are very unfamiliar words from you!

Oh yes.

I was just pointing out a quirk of slow wickets.

These are very poor for batting in limited overs matches because you have to attack due to scoreboard pressure and changes of pace can be devastating.

In red-ball cricket batters have all the time in the world and it just becomes a graveyard for bowlers.

 

[Junaids]

Oh yes.

I was just pointing out a quirk of slow wickets.

These are very poor for batting in limited overs matches because you have to attack due to scoreboard pressure and changes of pace can be devastating.

In red-ball cricket batters have all the time in the world and it just becomes a graveyard for bowlers.

I completely agree, believe it or not.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Actually India are in a golden position.

If we can knock out their tail, and be very careful playing Maharaj and their quicks, we can pile on the runs.

 

[Moh@n]

I'm sure it was super flat last year as well.

Might be, I didn't watch.