Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Haunebu]

And apart from Quinton de Kock, all of the South African top order batsmen are back in pavilion after the first session of play.

De Kock has joined them too. Ashwin and Jadeja are on a roll while Ishant and Umesh also joined the party. Even rain cannot save South Africa at this point.

I wouldn't even consider Temba Bavuma, because only god knows how he got selected to the playing XI despite repeated bad performances. The only thing for India to remember here is not to relax once the lower order batsmen comes to bat. Get them out quickly and the match will be firmly in India's control.

Bavuma is a decent player who performed well in the T-20 series which is why I understand why they gave him multiple opportunities in various formats. Also, the Indian team has already won this one which is why I don't understand why you feel that the lower order South African can make some sort of difference here.

[JSRAW]

Missed De Kock dismassal.... thought at least he is going to resist

Bowlers : We can take out SA's Top order cheaply in this series

Tailenders: Joins the Chat room

Bowlers : Left the Chat room

SA : 104/5 ----- Resistance from lower order and struggle starts for Bowlers-----

[Vishnu.Reang]

The way de Kock got out was really pathetic. I guess for a moment he thought that he was playing in a T20 match, and not in test. It was one of the worst shots to play, when your side is trailing by an innings and 200+ runs. I am watching the match live on TV, and the commentators made an interesting observation right now (Greame Smith?). He was saying that the South African bottom 5 have consistently scored more runs than the top 5, so far in this series. That's true actually. Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Vernon Philander.etc have batted much better than some of the top order players like Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma.

[akhjob]

-snipped-
the Indian team has already won this one which is why I don't understand why you feel that the lower order South African can make some sort of difference here.

I believe, Sithara is concerned not about India winning the match, but about the SA tail-enders dragging the match. Almost everyone wants the Indians to finish the match as early as possible since the result is already clear rather than dragging it for too long.

[Sithara007]

Bowlers : We can take out SA's Top order cheaply in this series
Tailenders: Joins the Chat room
Bowlers : Left the Chat room

SA : 104/5 ----- Resistance from lower order and struggle starts for Bowlers-----

LOL..... perhaps South Africa should reverse the batting order. I believe that it may not be a bad idea to send Senuran Muthusamy up in the batting order. He is batting very patiently and using his brain, unlike those up in the batting order who threw away their wickets (Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock). Bavuma is also batting well, perhaps fully knowing that if he fails then his slot may be in danger for the next match.

All that said, it may still not be possible for South Africa to avoid a humiliating innings defeat here. They are still trailing by 200+ runs. While Muthusamy & Co. are showing a lot of courage by fighting on, it is getting really boring. The scoring rate has declined and the Indian bowlers are also bowling very casually. They are not even aggressively trying to pick the wickets and finish this match.

I believe, Sithara is concerned not about India winning the match, but about the SA tail-enders dragging the match. Almost everyone wants the Indians to finish the match as early as possible since the result is already clear rather than dragging it for too long.

Spot on. Exactly what I meant.

Edit: Bavuma got out now. He may miss the next test match, unless the selectors are very very generous.

[onrise]

So now its good use of Sunday, hope Match get finished today by end of the day. don't know if India ever won by inning against South Africa ever.

The whole of the India will be glued in front of the TV to see them taking 10 wickets and make their Sunday enjoyable and memorable one.
Already 2 wickets are gone and 8 more wickets to take to get an historic win by an innings.

The game has changed very quickly and just 3 wickets remianing of SA to wrap up their second innings. Thought things would be better in 2nd innings but the wickets are falling like a pack of cards.  SA are still 191 runs behind and 3 wickets only remianing.

[Avirunes]

Easy win for India. India dominated the whole match from the start from batting to bowling and a great win for them as they won by an innings and I guess we still had one day left.

The game has changed very quickly and just 3 wickets remianing of SA to wrap up their second innings. Thought things would be better in 2nd innings but the wickets are falling like a pack of cards.  SA are still 191 runs behind and 3 wickets only remianing.

SA are playing with players who are not regular otherwise they are much more better than this. If this form of South Africa continues then I have no doubt that India will win the rest matches as well.


I wonder if India will be able to play with same form at their pitches? Will make things interesting if that happens.

[FIFA worldcup]

So no follow on......

Yeah, we won't have one.  

Kohli thinks differently  

Yeah. The Indian bowlers were pretty tired after bowling for a full day. Ideal situation would be to bat for a session and score about 100+ runs give them a target over 450+ runs and bowl them out in a day and 2 sessions. But as far as India is taking wickets and winning there is nothing to blame. Maybe he thought that the bowlers got enough rest over night  

Well, when you are winning then you do not feel the tiredness, or do you ? Finally India won this test pretty easily by an innings and 137 runs.
With this win, the Indian team now have the highest points 200 in the ICC World Test Championship and i doubt if anyone can beat them.

[Sithara007]

I wonder if India will be able to play with same form at their pitches? Will make things interesting if that happens.

South Africa no longer has legendary pace bowlers like Alan Donald and Shaun Pollock. Their current bunch of pacers are not the world's best. Actually this can be said about most of the teams. Australia is also struggling to find successors to Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. England has its combination of Wood-Archer-Broad, but they are far from the world's best. West Indies pace attack died out when Courtney Walsh and Curtney Ambrose retired. Pakistan no longer have Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis.

The current bunch of pace bowlers are no longer feared by the batsmen (even on pace friendly surfaces such as Kingsmead and WACA), and this is applicable to all the teams. I am not sure about the reason, but the game of cricket has shifted heavily to batsmen's side during the last two decades. During the past hundreds of years, we never had such a phase in which the batsmen enjoyed complete domination.

[AB de Royse777]

And poor South Africa lost again as expected :-P
I think they need to play few Test against Pakistan to build up some confidence :-D
What do you think everyone?

[eaLiTy]

And poor South Africa lost again as expected :-P
I think they need to play few Test against Pakistan to build up some confidence :-D
What do you think everyone?

South Africa need to play some Test matches with West Indies, Pakistan and other team to gain confidence and to look for new talents in the longer version of the game, the top order is struggling and only Elgar is trying to spend some time in the crease and in this match Philander and  Maharaj are the player who stayed in the crease for a much longer time says the situation of the South African team.

[UmerIdrees]

And poor South Africa lost again as expected :-P
I think they need to play few Test against Pakistan to build up some confidence :-D
What do you think everyone?

 
Sure Sure, we welcome South Africa to come to our country to play the test and we will ensure that they will win the test series 3-0 to gain
full confidence.  

[AB de Royse777]

~snip~

 
Sure Sure, we welcome South Africa to come to our country to play the test and we will ensure that they will win the test series 3-0 to gain
full confidence.  

Yes, your honor - I can feel your hospitality. /s

South Africa need to play some Test matches with West Indies, Pakistan and other team to gain confidence and to look for new talents in the longer version of the game, the top order is struggling and only Elgar is trying to spend some time in the crease and in this match Philander and  Maharaj are the player who stayed in the crease for a much longer time says the situation of the South African team.

Well in a serious note, I think South Africa really need to work with their cricketing infrastructure. I think the reason is the weak backbone. They are not making enough crickets in the pipeline.

[Sithara007]

And poor South Africa lost again as expected :-P
I think they need to play few Test against Pakistan to build up some confidence :-D
What do you think everyone?

 
Sure Sure, we welcome South Africa to come to our country to play the test and we will ensure that they will win the test series 3-0 to gain
full confidence.  

I don't think that South Africa will be able to win in Pakistan, as their players don't have the quality to perform abroad. In fact, I really doubt whether they'll be able to win home matches as well. They don't have any match winners in their team. Well... the only world class player remaining in their squad is Dale Steyn and he has played hardly any matches during the past 3-4 years due to injury. And also, most of the remaining good players are in their 30s and they will be retiring soon as well. Elgar is 32, Faf du Plessis is 35, and Vernon Philander is 34.

[erikalui]

Game got over so soon. First time after a long time India did right and chose to follow on. Still they won by 137 runs. The bowlers too played a big role in the win but definitely Virat's 254 was a savior.

This time SA did not even put up a fight. India easily managed to score 601 and take wickets.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Game got over so soon. First time after a long time India did right and chose to follow on. Still they won by 137 runs. The bowlers too played a big role in the win but definitely Virat's 254 was a savior.

This time SA did not even put up a fight. India easily managed to score 601 and take wickets.

They gave up the fight after the first day, when the Indian batsmen were smashing their bowlers all around the park. After the score passed 400 or so, the South African bowlers were not even trying to take wickets. They were bowling in a mechanical fashion, just waiting for the declaration from India. The morale was down and they never recovered from that.

[Avirunes]

And poor South Africa lost again as expected :-P
I think they need to play few Test against Pakistan to build up some confidence :-D
What do you think everyone?

Lol yeah. I also think playing with low ranked teams will slowly improve their new players as well. Well it's better to face an easier team instead of facing a on form team and face embarrassment.

[onrise]

Game got over so soon. First time after a long time India did right and chose to follow on. Still they won by 137 runs. The bowlers too played a big role in the win but definitely Virat's 254 was a savior.

This time SA did not even put up a fight. India easily managed to score 601 and take wickets.

Totally an unexpected test match from the SA . People thought this would be a better one than first test but just happened other way round . SA just could not even get better than their first innings and gave this match very easily .

[eaLiTy]

Well in a serious note, I think South Africa really need to work with their cricketing infrastructure. I think the reason is the weak backbone. They are not making enough crickets in the pipeline.

The issues faced by the South African cricket board was public after their terrible performance in the world cup, there is a lack of fund when it comes to domestic matches and they are cutting short things to balance the minimum funds they have as they are not getting enough sponsorship and they are at a loss. If you are not able to give importance to develop the domestic players then you will not find talents and that is showing up in international cricket too with the lack of batting talents and all rounders in the team.

[akhjob]

Well, when you are winning then you do not feel the tiredness, or do you ?

Agree 

And poor South Africa lost again as expected :-P
I think they need to play few Test against Pakistan to build up some confidence :-D
What do you think everyone?

Yeah its been a long losing streak for SA and facing Pak or WI might build up their confidence to some extent ;p But the ICC schedule shows that they are going to face England and Australia in their home after this test series. With the home advantage, if they manage to post a win, it will definitely boost their confidence.