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

Peterson is such a senseless man.

Exposed Harris to Bhajji who aptly gobbled him alive.

SG wrote:Peterson is such a senseless man.

Exposed Harris to Bhajji who aptly gobbled him alive.

To be fair, the job of the nightwatchmen should be to protect the top order batsmen from the strike. I get annoyed when Jimmy always seems keen to get off stirke for us.

Difference in quality of spinners could decide this test.

Thats stumps now.

India's day probably, test match very finely poised though. Looks a cracker, though if Bhaji's short spell there is anything to go by he could destroy them tomorrow.

vilkrang wrote:

SG wrote:Peterson is such a senseless man.

Exposed Harris to Bhajji who aptly gobbled him alive.

To be fair, the job of the nightwatchmen should be to protect the top order batsmen from the strike. I get annoyed when Jimmy always seems keen to get off stirke for us.

Agreed. But when you see that Harris is such a hopeless bat against spinners it might have been some sense not to take a single at that time.

Anyway who am I to complain?

vilkrang wrote:Difference in quality of spinners could decide this test.

Disagree. SA has just too much of quality in the pace department.

SG wrote:

vilkrang wrote:

SG wrote:Peterson is such a senseless man.

Exposed Harris to Bhajji who aptly gobbled him alive.

To be fair, the job of the nightwatchmen should be to protect the top order batsmen from the strike. I get annoyed when Jimmy always seems keen to get off stirke for us.

Agreed. But when you see that Harris is such a hopeless bat against spinners it might have been some sense not to take a single at that time.

Anyway who am I to complain?

Harris should at least have played a shot I think, was pretty barmy seeing as he only needed to survive that ball for the next man not to come out.

vilkrang wrote:India's day probably, test match very finely poised though. Looks a cracker, though if Bhaji's short spell there is anything to go by he could destroy them tomorrow.

Disagree again. It'd have been India's day had we taken some sort of meaningful lead which we didn't.

SA still ahead IMO, just considering that India will have to bat last on this surface with series on the stake here. Remember India has never ever won a series in SA so that would be a new territory for India, that is if they're good enough to reach there. Anyone could choke with something as big as that in sight.

wow what a battle!

They're showing the replay of that Smith dismissal. Tauffel again got that right. Tremendous umpiring in this test.

SG wrote:

vilkrang wrote:India's day probably, test match very finely poised though. Looks a cracker, though if Bhaji's short spell there is anything to go by he could destroy them tomorrow.

Disagree again. It'd have been India's day had we taken some sort of meaningful lead which we didn't.

SA still ahead IMO, just considering that India will have to bat last on this surface with series on the stake here. Remember India has never ever won a series in SA so that would be a new territory for India, that is if they're good enough to reach there. Anyone could choke with something as big as that in sight.

Probably around even then but India finished very well. India could have been out a lot cheaper, were a little lucky sometimes and you can't really argue with taking two wickets before the close, even if one of them was a nightwatchman.

What a series this is turning out to be!! Thats how it should be between top-2 test teams in world.

Only shame is that its not a 5-test series. They could've easily cancelled that useless ODI series and instead played 2 more tests or at least 1 test more.

This I agree with. A score of 2/51 looks a lot better than 1/51 even if one wicket was that of a nightwatchman.

SG wrote:What a series this is turning out to be!! Thats how it should be between top-2 test teams in world.

Only shame is that its not a 5-test series. They could've easily cancelled that useless ODI series and instead played 2 more tests or at least 1 test more.

A 3 test series between any of the top 4 sides is a joke to be honest.

Very close game, India needed those late wickets badly.

Yep. But these 2 teams have never played a 4-test series, let alone 5.

Sorry. They've played a 4-test series way back in '92.

SA definitely ahead atm.

A lot depends on Bhajji tomorrow. Disappointed with Indian pacers in this innings,, less than 20 overs to be bowled today,, they should have bowled with lot more aggression and energy. It seemed like they were just going through motions.

Not gonna happen but Ind should probably consider swapping Pujara and Sehwag in the 4th innings. Sehwag has always been poor in the 4th innings,,, he's been a bunny to Steyn in this series,,, Pujara's job should be to somehow survive first spell of Steyn n Morkel. Should there be a collapse,, there'd at least be some final hope with Sehwag counter attacking 30-40 over old ball. May just work.

hmm. feel a bit better after those 2 wickets but still south africa's game 65-35

if bhajji can trigger a collapse with kallis unlikely to bat we may have a chance. dont fancy us chasing 200+

Kallis will bat at 5 now that Harris batted at 3.

just saw some highlights. seemed like i missed a great day of test cricket according to my friends and reading the reports. the world's best batsman against the world's best bowler on a pitch offering it all

since the start of 2010 tendulkar and steyn have been in top form. in 5 india-south africa tests:

tendulkar - 525 runs @ 75.00 with 4 hundreds
steyn - 31 wickets @ 17.64 with 3 5w hauls

magic. when is the next test series between the two?

SA ahead only because that mofo Steyn will be at us again in the 2nd innings.

You just got to salute these 2.

By far world's best batsman and bowler.

when is the next test series between the two?.

Not in near future I guess. One thing is pretty certain though that Tendulkar probably won't be there for the next battle. I know I'd be bombarded now but thats how I see it. His body has seen and taken too many blows and may not hold that long.

I watched the afternoon session. Anyone who doesn't think that SA and India are the top teams in test cricket are two bricks short of a full load.