Re: South Africa v India, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 2-6 Jan, 2011

by Henry Fri 31 Dec 2010, 23:26

Outside of the Sub Continent, bowling first is the thing to do these days.

by SG Sat 01 Jan 2011, 05:02

Looks like weather is again isn't great at Cape Town.

by taipan Sat 01 Jan 2011, 05:04

Weather shouldn't be too much of a problem in Cape Town. It's a winter rainfall area and it stays light until about 9.

by skully Sat 01 Jan 2011, 05:11

So are the Yarps gonna bounce back, taips?

by taipan Sat 01 Jan 2011, 05:13

Should do. India were better in Durban but the luck just didn't run our way. It happens.

by Henry Sat 01 Jan 2011, 05:21

If India can see of the Steyn and Morkel threat then on a good batting wicket there are lots of runs to be had. The drop-down in class from Steyn and Morkel to any other fast bowler South Africa has is startling.

by SG Sat 01 Jan 2011, 05:54

Thats the toughest part.

BTW, we negotiated with their 1st spell comfortably in the last test, only to lose it subsequently. Sehwag gotta take a lot of blame for that in both the innings.

by Red Sat 01 Jan 2011, 07:33

I read where the weather is meant to be sunny for most of the test but they've had the odd indifferent day in the leadup. The pitch is meant to be tailored to the batsmen. Some ex-SA cricketers couldn't understand why Durban wasn't batsman-friendly either with SA ahead in the series.

by SG Sat 01 Jan 2011, 08:28

India has at least 2 major injury related issues in this test.

If Sehwag doesn't play then Vijay would replace him assuming Gambhir is fit.

If VVS doesn't play it means that Raina would surely play. Now that would be a bigger blow than Vijay playing in place of Sehwag.

by Red Sun 02 Jan 2011, 04:09

Maybe some insight into the verbal stoush between Sooky and Sree is provided here.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-in-south-africa/top-stories/Dont-cuss-about-family-Smith/articleshow/7202865.cms

by Red Sun 02 Jan 2011, 07:25

Some suggestion here that umpire Davis is a bit of a pisspot.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/IndiaInSA/Drunk-umpire-report-rubbished-20101231

by taipan Sun 02 Jan 2011, 07:31

Red wrote:Some suggestion here that umpire Davis is a bit of a pisspot.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/IndiaInSA/Drunk-umpire-report-rubbished-20101231

Here we go again

by Red Sun 02 Jan 2011, 07:34

It's been raining in CT and the covers have been off and on. Will it be a bat or bowl first pitch?

by Henry Sun 02 Jan 2011, 07:36

Both teams will want to bowl first.

by taipan Sun 02 Jan 2011, 07:37

I think bat.

by Red Sun 02 Jan 2011, 07:46

Henry wrote:Both teams will want to bowl first.

Given that it's meant to provide a lot of spin later on, it might favour the team who can hold its nerve bat first, as long as they don't get whistled out for one of the lowly totals characteristic of the series.

by Henry Sun 02 Jan 2011, 08:05

Dhoni shocks everyone by winning a toss, and India will bowl.

by Red Sun 02 Jan 2011, 08:06

Dhoni wins the toss and sends SA in good bowling conditions and with a green tinge to the pitch.

by Winkle Spinner Sun 02 Jan 2011, 08:40

A thought just struck me - whatever happened to Irfan Pathan? I haven't heard anything about him in ages but the conditions in SA would have been a dream for him on his day. Still only in his early 20s, isn't he?

by spangler Sun 02 Jan 2011, 10:54

Winkle Spinner wrote:A thought just struck me - whatever happened to Irfan Pathan? I haven't heard anything about him in ages but the conditions in SA would have been a dream for him on his day. Still only in his early 20s, isn't he?

He's 26 I think but now terribly inconsistent and bowling around 78mph filth