Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[FIFA worldcup]

South Africa to need to increase their scope to get more wickets and probably rap up the Indian innings by day end today. India have move to 128 runs with still 3 wickets down and if South Africa does not take up wickets now, the early advantage can slip away from them. Both Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane looking comfortable and set now.

To wrap India before the end of the day is highly unlikely as they have two set batsman in the crease and if they are able to pick wickets then they can put pressure and wrap up the game but it is highly unlikely as the batting order is too deep to irritate and frustrate the South African bowlers and even now the fast bowlers are tired and spraying the ball without any line and length and it is easy for the batsman to score runs freely.

They could have done it when India were  3-39 and if they applied more pressure, there was a chance that they could penetrate in the Indian batting line up, but this did not happen. South Africa has the chance but luck did not favor them. India recovered well and once again they are looking to dominate the match.

[SaShiRaJaVu]

They could have done it when India were  3-39 and if they applied more pressure, there was a chance that they could penetrate in the Indian batting line up, but this did not happen. South Africa has the chance but luck did not favor them. India recovered well and once again they are looking to dominate the match.

The pitch was swinging in the morning session and hence the South African fast bowlers were able to pick early wickets and trouble the batsman but now that there is no help from the pitch and the frustration started for the South African bowlers as the Indian batsman is scoring freely and Rohit Sharma scored another century and if he could perform the same in foreign pitches as an opener then the quest for an opener will be over for the time being.

[eaLiTy]

The match is stopped due to bad light and it is really strange as we usually do not see these kind of stoppage in India, the official report is that there is a huge dark cloud above the stadium and still 32 overs left in the day and it is hard to tell whether they will continue the match today. India recovered really well from their early blows and Rohit scored another century and i was expecting Rahane to complete the century today and if the match resumes the pitch might behave differently and can swing in the morning.

[7788bitcoin]

So far in the second session, India has scored 44 runs in just 7 overs, at a rate of 6.3 runs per over. Both the South African bowlers look wayward (Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada). This is what I was expecting. South Africa lost whatever slight chance they had, when they lost the toss. Now India is going to build another huge total and the Proteas should be happy if they manage to avoid another innings defeat.

The problem lies with the captain as he is not rotating the bowlers well, he should have attacked the Indian players but instead he lost the early advantage they got, looks like he is clueless on how to restrict the runs flow and to create pressure even after getting early breakthroughs which is pathetic, the Indian players are batting as if they are playing ODI, weather stopped play if not they would have posted 300 runs today  .

[onrise]

The match is stopped due to bad light and it is really strange as we usually do not see these kind of stoppage in India, the official report is that there is a huge dark cloud above the stadium and still 32 overs left in the day and it is hard to tell whether they will continue the match today. India recovered really well from their early blows and Rohit scored another century and i was expecting Rahane to complete the century today and if the match resumes the pitch might behave differently and can swing in the morning.

This year in India the rain has being exceptional and still continuing in this mont is very unlikely in previous years . Also the game was well poised but with the rain the game of the day ended soon and Sharma and Rahane are playing well .

[FIFA worldcup]

The match is stopped due to bad light and it is really strange as we usually do not see these kind of stoppage in India, the official report is that there is a huge dark cloud above the stadium and still 32 overs left in the day and it is hard to tell whether they will continue the match today. India recovered really well from their early blows and Rohit scored another century and i was expecting Rahane to complete the century today and if the match resumes the pitch might behave differently and can swing in the morning.

This year in India the rain has being exceptional and still continuing in this mont is very unlikely in previous years . Also the game was well poised but with the rain the game of the day ended soon and Sharma and Rahane are playing well .

Only 58 overs were bowled in the day and play has been called off. India has regained the grip on the match and it seems they will have an easy run on the match. I do not think India batsmen or bowlers will give them any more chance and the result will be same as like the previous test matches results, one sided.

[Haunebu]

India recovered really well from their early blows and Rohit scored another century and i was expecting Rahane to complete the century today and if the match resumes the pitch might behave differently and can swing in the morning.

This could turn the match. The pitch will most likely behave differently if it rains giving an advantage to the bowlers. South Africa could draw this one if they manage to restrict them to a score below 300.

This year in India the rain has being exceptional and still continuing in this month is very unlikely in previous years . Also the game was well poised but with the rain the game of the day ended soon and Sharma and Rahane are playing well .

Climate change is the answer here. The weather has been behaving abnormally around the world(Summers are getting hotter, Winters are getting colder, More rainfall during the rainy season etc). It is high time that the entire world realizes how big of a problem this could become in the future.

[JSRAW]

India recovered really well from their early blows and Rohit scored another century and i was expecting Rahane to complete the century today and if the match resumes the pitch might behave differently and can swing in the morning.

This could turn the match. The pitch will most likely behave differently if it rains giving an advantage to the bowlers. South Africa could draw this one if they manage to restrict them to a score below 300.

South Africa missed the opportunity today, they had a excellent chance to put pressure on Indian middle lower order but their bowlers failed to capitalize, on the other hand Rohit-Rahane duo attacked them, and the way both of them are playing i doubt if Indian team can get all out under 300 unless we are talking about any major collapse.

[Sithara007]

This could turn the match. The pitch will most likely behave differently if it rains giving an advantage to the bowlers. South Africa could draw this one if they manage to restrict them to a score below 300.

India has already made 224 with 7 wickets remaining and a realistic total from here would be somewhere between 400-500, or even higher. The South African bowlers looked completely clueless during the second and the third sessions and I don't expect much from them tomorrow. None of them looked like troubling the Indian batsmen. The 4th wicket partnership is nearing 200 and only rain prevented Rahane from scoring a century today itself.

South African pace attack looked average, while their spin attack looked even worse. George Linde looked pathetic in his debut, while Dane Piedt was appalling. I couldn't really believe that they dropped Senuran Muthusamy (who was impressive during the 1st test) for Piedt. The latter conceded 43 runs from his 6 wicketless overs, at a rate of more than 7 runs per over.

[teosanru]

This could turn the match. The pitch will most likely behave differently if it rains giving an advantage to the bowlers. South Africa could draw this one if they manage to restrict them to a score below 300.

India has already made 224 with 7 wickets remaining and a realistic total from here would be somewhere between 400-500, or even higher. The South African bowlers looked completely clueless during the second and the third sessions and I don't expect much from them tomorrow. None of them looked like troubling the Indian batsmen. The 4th wicket partnership is nearing 200 and only rain prevented Rahane from scoring a century today itself.

South African pace attack looked average, while their spin attack looked even worse. George Linde looked pathetic in his debut, while Dane Piedt was appalling. I couldn't really believe that they dropped Senuran Muthusamy (who was impressive during the 1st test) for Piedt. The latter conceded 43 runs from his 6 wicketless overs, at a rate of more than 7 runs per over.

I think once again South Africa are caught in that same spiral. with three quick wickets it once looked as if South Africa has decided to dominate the game from start but I think both of these players have proved why India is called the best test side at home. Despite of Rain India has a great score. You are right realistic total would be somewhere around 400-500 which India would try to make in first two sessions itself. I am pretty sure they won't bat the whole day because if by chance South Africa is able to give a fight with bat like they did in first match then it would be a hard time for all of us to get some result in this match.

[Vishnu.Reang]

I was keeping a close watch on who wins the toss. And as expected Faf du Plessis lost it (the last time he won a toss was many months ago) and for the Indian captain, the decision was very easy. He chose to bat. A few months back, one cricketer made a suggestion to give the advantage of the toss to the visiting team. That could reduce the incidence of one-sided matches like these.

[UmerIdrees]

I was keeping a close watch on who wins the toss. And as expected Faf du Plessis lost it (the last time he won a toss was many months ago) and for the Indian captain, the decision was very easy. He chose to bat. A few months back, one cricketer made a suggestion to give the advantage of the toss to the visiting team. That could reduce the incidence of one-sided matches like these.

You would probably know that it is only Pakistan team who give any advantages to the visitors. 

[Vishnu.Reang]

I was keeping a close watch on who wins the toss. And as expected Faf du Plessis lost it (the last time he won a toss was many months ago) and for the Indian captain, the decision was very easy. He chose to bat. A few months back, one cricketer made a suggestion to give the advantage of the toss to the visiting team. That could reduce the incidence of one-sided matches like these.

You would probably know that it is only Pakistan team who give any advantages to the visitors. 

None of the teams give any sort of advantages to the visitors. Even during the recent series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the former enjoyed the home advantage and that was obvious during the ODI matches. The proposal was to give the visiting team the option to decide whether they want to bat first or bowl first, rather than going for the toss.

[JSRAW]

Small data of Win loss ratio since 2014.

Interestingly Windies looks okay when they lost the toss, another interesting data is Australia is the only one team who doesn't bother what is the outcome of toss. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka looks bad when they lose toss. India's dominance could stop easily if they lose a toss, Same with Kiwis and Proteas

[UmerIdrees]

I was keeping a close watch on who wins the toss. And as expected Faf du Plessis lost it (the last time he won a toss was many months ago) and for the Indian captain, the decision was very easy. He chose to bat. A few months back, one cricketer made a suggestion to give the advantage of the toss to the visiting team. That could reduce the incidence of one-sided matches like these.

You would probably know that it is only Pakistan team who give any advantages to the visitors. 

None of the teams give any sort of advantages to the visitors. Even during the recent series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the former enjoyed the home advantage and that was obvious during the ODI matches. The proposal was to give the visiting team the option to decide whether they want to bat first or bowl first, rather than going for the toss.

I hope you know the meaning of sarcasm ?
This was what i meant. Nothing to get serious about. 

[eaLiTy]

I was keeping a close watch on who wins the toss. And as expected Faf du Plessis lost it (the last time he won a toss was many months ago) and for the Indian captain, the decision was very easy. He chose to bat. A few months back, one cricketer made a suggestion to give the advantage of the toss to the visiting team. That could reduce the incidence of one-sided matches like these.

If Faf du Plessis is not able to win the toss then let the South African board change the captain instead of changing the logical rules of the sport  .
When Australia was winning and defeating all the teams in dominating fashion i never heard these suggestions but now India is destroying all the teams visiting and hence we have a new suggestion .
I know that Pakistan already tried this option of giving the visiting team to choose in domestic first class matches but i do not want that to change as winning a toss is an integral part in a match in cricket.

[teosanru]

Small data of Win loss ratio since 2014.

Interestingly Windies looks okay when they lost the toss, another interesting data is Australia is the only one team who doesn't bother what is the outcome of toss. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka looks bad when they lose toss. India's dominance could stop easily if they lose a toss, Same with Kiwis and Proteas

Quite Interesting I think it's because India has generally chosen to bat first after winning the toss and batting definitely is their strength. In batting second they aren't able to make it a low scoring match by bowling out the other team thereby most of the matches end up with draws. Interestingly I found out that after comparing 1980-2014 with 2014 till now test cricket has become more batting intensive and teams batting first are winning more matches. Have a look at it here. This is the data from 1980-2014




While here is the data from 2014-till now



See how teams batting first have such a high win percentage of wins while batting first. Also see how toss winning means winning match in general.

[Sithara007]

I was keeping a close watch on who wins the toss. And as expected Faf du Plessis lost it (the last time he won a toss was many months ago) and for the Indian captain, the decision was very easy. He chose to bat. A few months back, one cricketer made a suggestion to give the advantage of the toss to the visiting team. That could reduce the incidence of one-sided matches like these.

If Faf du Plessis is not able to win the toss then let the South African board change the captain instead of changing the logical rules of the sport  .
When Australia was winning and defeating all the teams in dominating fashion i never heard these suggestions but now India is destroying all the teams visiting and hence we have a new suggestion .
I know that Pakistan already tried this option of giving the visiting team to choose in domestic first class matches but i do not want that to change as winning a toss is an integral part in a match in cricket.

Actually this is a very good suggestion. If the toss is removed and the visiting team decides whether to bat first or bowl first, then there is no advantage for the home side to prepare sub-standard pitches. In such cases, we would no longer have dust bowls in which the spinners have unfair advantage. Teams such as South Africa and New Zealand would refrain from making pitches that give undue advantage to their pacers.

My personal opinion is that international matches should be played on neutral surfaces, where all the three departments (batting, pace bowling and spin) gets equal amount of support. And nowadays it is hard to find tracks where pace bowlers get good support. Earlier we had grounds such as Kingsmead and WACA which supported seam and bounce. But these grounds have also become batting friendly now.

[RapTarX]

Pujara get flopped once again, the great wall of team India.

See how teams batting first have such a high win percentage of wins while batting first. Also see how toss winning means winning match in general.

This has something related to what Sithara said. Having no toss and giving the advantage to visitors team would make sense and could have an equivalent pitch for both team. In all matches, home team get the advantage.

[bryant.coleman]

See how teams batting first have such a high win percentage of wins while batting first. Also see how toss winning means winning match in general

This has something related to what Sithara said. Having no toss and giving the advantage to visitors team would make sense and could have an equivalent pitch for both team. In all matches, home team get the advantage.

Whenever a test series occurs in the Indian subcontinent, this issue of home advantage is raised. And it is not just India. The other Asian teams (Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) are also known to prepare either flat or turning tracks to give them the advantage. Recently, Bangladesh made a sub-standard pitch at Chittagong, during their test match against Afghanistan. And ironically, it went against them as the Afghans managed to win the match by a massive margin of 224 runs.

Now coming back to the current match, both the Indian batsmen (Rahane and Rohit) look very confident today. Apart from Rabada, rest of the South African bowlers are looking teethless. The 4th wicket partnership is inching towards the 200 mark and if the Proteas want to give a fight, then they need to take some quick wickets now.