South Africa v India tests - Jan 2018

[meninblue]

What is the playing 11. is it declared?

[Dr Cricket]

India bowl which is what I wanted to happen.

[meninblue]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

No shocks.Just what i anticipated in strategy apart from i had Ishant instead of Jas in playing 11.

As expected 7+ 4 in first test at least. If our top 6 bat well in this test, then we can consider 5 specialist bowlers in next test.

[mikesiva]

South Africa's XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada

South Africa's four fast bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and DALE STEYN

Bavuma and Phehlukwayo both out...Steyn in.

Either I totally misread Gibson's comments, or he was leading me up the garden path....

So much for the theory that quotas interfere with Saffer selections. This is arguably their best side...if Steyn doesn't break down.

[Dr Cricket]

Adi it is 5+5+ keeper.
not sure where you got 7+4 from considering saha batting 6, pandya 7 and Ashwin 8.

[meninblue]

I read here on forum that Steyn would no play due to injury. I guess some media also reported Quinton will not play first test.

[Red Devil]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

No shocks.Just what i anticipated in strategy apart from i had Ishant instead of Jas in playing 11.

As expected 7+ 4 in first test at least. If our top 6 bat well in this test, then we can consider 5 specialist bowlers in next test.

Dhawan and Rohit ahead of Rahul and Rahane is a questionable call - this is SA now, not India

[Dr Cricket]

boom bhuvi strikes in the 3rd ball.
nice start after 3 years wait for this test match.

[Dr Cricket]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

No shocks.Just what i anticipated in strategy apart from i had Ishant instead of Jas in playing 11.

As expected 7+ 4 in first test at least. If our top 6 bat well in this test, then we can consider 5 specialist bowlers in next test.

Dhawan and Rohit ahead of Rahul and Rahane is a questionable call - this is SA now, not India

Rohit selection I can understand, but picking Dhawan is insane.
hopefully it doesn't cost india the game.

[Dr Cricket]

what a ball first up to amla.

[meninblue]

Yesssssssssss. Early wicket by Bhuvi.

[Dr Cricket]

Can't wait to watch bhuvi to bowl in england.
if bhuvi is fit for england he going to be an handful with the dukes ball in england.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad start for Elgar to the NY after a brilliant 2017.

[meninblue]

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah

No shocks.Just what i anticipated in strategy apart from i had Ishant instead of Jas in playing 11.

As expected 7+ 4 in first test at least. If our top 6 bat well in this test, then we can consider 5 specialist bowlers in next test.

Dhawan and Rohit ahead of Rahul and Rahane is a questionable call - this is SA now, not India

Rohit selection I can understand, but picking Dhawan is insane.
hopefully it doesn't cost india the game.

Oh, just noticed that Shikhar is also in. I thought they would go for Rahul and Vijay. Seems to me that Shikhar's brilliant test form has been considered over Rahul's superior technique.

[meninblue]

Bad start for Elgar to the NY after a brilliant 2017.

Indeed. Expecting him though to score some big hundreds in the remaining series and cover up the duck.