South Africa v India, 3rd Test, Newlands, 11-15 January, 2022

India seem likely to bounce back, Siraj to make way perhaps, and Kohli back in for Vihari.

Go The Sith.

skully from the first test thread

"What's a "Marco Jansen"?

It conceded 12 runs in its first over."

nice woof

Geez he's a tall, gangly bit of gear. Apparently* the Yarp selectors think the giant left hander is the next big thing.

Looks very promising.

Hasn't been embiggened by JGK yet, so he may yet be a success.

Saw some of him on the teev at the club (went for lunch) just now. Looks very Bruce Reid i.e. might snap in a strong breeze.

Critical session. Can the Sith approach parity during this session and then build a bit of a lead, or are they about to implode?

SA's batting is pathetic again, India in the box seat.

KP jr. keeping them afloat…

lardbucket wrote:Looks very promising.

Hasn't been embiggened by JGK yet, so he may yet be a success.

Actually, I texted a mate last night that he reminds me of a left handed McGrath.

Some outstanding bowling talent on display so far.

In fact, the global depth in quicks at the moment is something else - it’s small wonder batting averages are down.

lardbucket wrote:Critical session. Can the Sith approach parity during this session and then build a bit of a lead, or are they about to implode?

Parity-ish looks on the cards (+/- 30 runs).
.
Game on.

JGK wrote:Some outstanding bowling talent on display so far.

In fact, the global depth in quicks at the moment is something else - it’s small wonder batting averages are down.

Well yeah, it’s a quality era for pace bowling and a poor one for top-order batsmen (and pitches). Generally takes weather to make a five-day contest these days, and as we saw in Sydney, the draw possibility is one of the most important aspects of Test cricket.

Are we seeing a situation where bowling talent gravitates towards Test cricket and batting talent towards the shorter forms, exacerbating the opposite imbalances between bat and ball in the different formats? Maybe pitches are the one aspect that can be controlled to redress it a bit.

Interesting point.

13-run lead for India. Finely balanced again.

The linear world title belt is at stake here…

Looks like another exciting finish coming up.

skully wrote:Looks like another exciting finish coming up.

SA batting last with their threadbare line-up. India in the box seat.

Red wrote:

skully wrote:Looks like another exciting finish coming up.

SA batting last with their threadbare line-up. India in the box seat.

It’s India with the lousy batting. Our middle order, for one, hasn’t scored a century in 80 plus games!

With Gill and Rohit back, can't see Rahane making the team. Question is who bats at 5? Guessing Mayank right now.

Bowling was excellent again. The slips were slow to adapt and let 4 catches drop just short.

FFS South Africa, you have 1 job to do!

Red wrote:

skully wrote:Looks like another exciting finish coming up.

SA batting last with their threadbare line-up. India in the box seat.

We thought that last time and they won by 7 wickets. India need a 300 lead to be anything like comfortable.

250 should be a bridge too far. SA has only five bona fide batsmen and most of them aren't capable of big scores.

Elgar’s probably the key again, get him cheaply and they’ll struggle. But you don’t need big scores to chase 250 or 300, just two or three decent partnerships rather than one-wicket-brings-six as per the average England chase.

Only a one-day-style knock from Pants keeping India’s heads above water.

They've batted 5 times and have had one good innings (where Siraj was unfit). Would not put it at much beyond 55-45 either way. Could do with another 30 sloggy runs.

Pant reaches his century. A very fine innings!

Now, we wait to see if India can be the first team ever to lose all 20 wickets in the match caught.