South Africa v India tests - Jan 2018

[Dr Cricket]

some soft balls from Ashwin to Elgar.
2 full toss in the last 2 overs for him.

[Dr Cricket]

odd session that for india with the ball.
took 2 early wickets, Ashwin was good but some sloppy balls as well.
though india were poor for the last 20 mins with the ball, will have to see if that will be costly here.

[mikesiva]

South Africa 60-2 at tea.

AB 33*

Elgar 23*

Did Kohli persist too long with Ashwin? shouldn't the pacers be utilizing the new ball as much as possible before giving Ashwin an extended run?

[meninblue]

96/2. We need couple of wickets soon. Saffers are playing tremendous cricket this test as well. They are just keeping themselves in the drivers seat.


Rain is a welcome sign for us. It wasted one full day in 1st test but that was not enough. At least it saved our face as we didn't lose within 3 days and can boast it took 4 days to lose.

This rain interruption today will help our bowlers. But then like in last test we should not waste the help that rain is giving us. It has been timely, especially when we have bowled this series.

[meninblue]

Ashwin will face some problem due to rain. Once the ball becomes wet as it goes in outfield for few times, it will be tough for him. Pacers will enjoy bit of the overhead conditions though once they are back. Important how Virat adjusts his bowling changes once he sees them when back on field.

[meninblue]

Elgar is not making big runs but he is seeing off the new ball here as well. Faced 65 so far. Protects the batters down the order by making the ball old enough. Carried his bat to good 24 overs here.

[Dr Cricket]

Moistuee should help Ashwin get more spin as well.
So none of the bowlers should complain and it should make the ball soft so run scoring tough as well.

[meninblue]

Problem for us if Ashwin cannot grip it properly due to wet outfield making the grip difficult on seam. And he is the one who Virat has bowled the most (50.5 overs until now) in this test !!. Rabada got Rohit out with reverse swing, but here the pacers will this wet ball will make it tough for our bowlers to reverse. All in all we can only look for the variable bounce that was on offer.

[meninblue]

The wicket keeping of Parthiv has put us in trouble as expected when the playing 11 was announced.

Parthiv dropped Amla on 30, Amla scored 82. Dropped Faf on 54 and Faf scored 63, dropped Rabada on 2 and Rabada scored 10.
Whereas Saha was outstanding in first test where it was more difficult to keep with the movement that was on offer for all the pace bowlers. He took 10 catches in those conditions. Saha has to be slotted back into this team straight away even if he keeps scoring 0. He is the best wicket keeper against pace bowlers that is available in country. He will totally better the 20 odd runs that other keepers will score more than him by ensuring he leaks about 80 odd or even more runs as compared to other keepers by dropped chances etc.

[meninblue]

Action starts.

Virat already complaining about wet ball as i said. And just after one ball by Shami.

It is frustrating . Even when we bowled in nets, the wet ball was useless, unless it was uncovered wicket that we were bowling upon.

[meninblue]

The wicket keeping of Parthiv has put us in trouble as expected when the playing 11 was announced.

Parthiv dropped Amla on 30, Amla scored 82. Dropped Faf on 54 and Faf scored 63, dropped Rabada on 2 and Rabada scored 10.
Whereas Saha was outstanding in first test where it was more difficult to keep with the movement that was on offer for all the pace bowlers. He took 10 catches in those conditions. Saha has to be slotted back into this team straight away even if he keeps scoring 0. He is the best wicket keeper against pace bowlers that is available in country. He will totally better the 20 odd runs that other keepers will score more than him by ensuring he leaks about 80 odd or even more runs as compared to other keepers by dropped chances etc.

Over 24.4. Parthiv did not even attempt the catch with gloves on. Elgar dropped on 33.

Just when we needed a wicket. Bad luck to Shami. Pathetic keeping.

[Dr Cricket]

No point going on about Parthiv Patel considering Saha injured and Kohli said saha would have played if fit.

[meninblue]

108/2. It is getting bad to worse if this partnership is not broken in this half hour.

[Dr Cricket]

Doubt Parthiv will ever play ahead of Saha even if Saha got a hamstring injury lol.
Even 10-20% fit Saha would take that catch.

[meninblue]

These two are complimenting each other perfectly. One tries to stick to wicket by all means (beaten or well played) . Other is scoring runs while he is their on the wicket.