South Africa v India, 1st Test, Cape Town, 5-9 January, 2018

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:A question for Taipan, I keep hearing about the potential of Lungi Ngidi as the next big fast bowling thing for SA. I know he has had some injury issues but how do you rate him?

He's quick and seems to be injury free this season. His second name is True-man which I guess is an omen of sorts. Horrie will be glad to know that he went to the most expensive school in the country.

Ha, looked it up; the fees certainly come with deep pockets.

The Hilton College fees for 2017 are R253 660 per annum.

And check Rabada from St Stithians and Gibbs from Bishopa.

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:A question for Taipan, I keep hearing about the potential of Lungi Ngidi as the next big fast bowling thing for SA. I know he has had some injury issues but how do you rate him?

He's quick and seems to be injury free this season. His second name is True-man which I guess is an omen of sorts. Horrie will be glad to know that he went to the most expensive school in the country.

Ha, looked it up; the fees certainly come with deep pockets.

The Hilton College fees for 2017 are R253 660 per annum.

And check Rabada from St Stithians and Gibbs from Bishopa.

So if SA could get more young, black talent into the best schools, their future looks rosy?

Cloudy and humid today in CT; this should assist the bowlers.

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:A question for Taipan, I keep hearing about the potential of Lungi Ngidi as the next big fast bowling thing for SA. I know he has had some injury issues but how do you rate him?

He's quick and seems to be injury free this season. His second name is True-man which I guess is an omen of sorts. Horrie will be glad to know that he went to the most expensive school in the country.

Ha, looked it up; the fees certainly come with deep pockets.

The Hilton College fees for 2017 are R253 660 per annum.

And check Rabada from St Stithians and Gibbs from Bishopa.

So if SA could get more young, black talent into the best schools, their future looks rosy?

Cloudy and humid today in CT; this should assist the bowlers.

The opposite. If the ANC regime and their puppet CSA got the grass root development moving the talent would come through naturally. Conversely most of the white players went to government state schools. The quota is a political smokescreen to hide the failure of the development schemes.

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:A question for Taipan, I keep hearing about the potential of Lungi Ngidi as the next big fast bowling thing for SA. I know he has had some injury issues but how do you rate him?

He's quick and seems to be injury free this season. His second name is True-man which I guess is an omen of sorts. Horrie will be glad to know that he went to the most expensive school in the country.

Ha, looked it up; the fees certainly come with deep pockets.

The Hilton College fees for 2017 are R253 660 per annum.

And check Rabada from St Stithians and Gibbs from Bishopa.

So if SA could get more young, black talent into the best schools, their future looks rosy?

Cloudy and humid today in CT; this should assist the bowlers.

The opposite. If the ANC regime and their puppet CSA got the grass root development moving the talent would come through naturally. Conversely most of the white players went to government state schools. The quota is a political smokescreen to hide the failure of the development schemes.

I do concede that point as money should be channelled into the grassroots areas, especially the townships. It does show though that there is probably a lot of untapped talent in the country and if it could be exposed to good coaching, the future should be bright for the Proteas.

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:A question for Taipan, I keep hearing about the potential of Lungi Ngidi as the next big fast bowling thing for SA. I know he has had some injury issues but how do you rate him?

He's quick and seems to be injury free this season. His second name is True-man which I guess is an omen of sorts. Horrie will be glad to know that he went to the most expensive school in the country.

Ha, looked it up; the fees certainly come with deep pockets.

The Hilton College fees for 2017 are R253 660 per annum.

And check Rabada from St Stithians and Gibbs from Bishopa.

So if SA could get more young, black talent into the best schools, their future looks rosy?

Cloudy and humid today in CT; this should assist the bowlers.

The opposite. If the ANC regime and their puppet CSA got the grass root development moving the talent would come through naturally. Conversely most of the white players went to government state schools. The quota is a political smokescreen to hide the failure of the development schemes.

I do concede that point as money should be channelled into the grassroots areas, especially the townships. It does show though that there is probably a lot of untapped talent in the country and if it could be exposed to good coaching, the future should be bright for the Proteas.

Exactly, and the quota masks that. The goal should be to increase the standard, not to reduce all to the same level.

Meanwhile rain will delay play.

They may get on for the third session.

Amazing. Cape Town is in the middle of a serious drought, and it rains during the test.

http://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures,%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Water-Restrictions-Guidelines-eng.pdf

Well well. A non-hostile and constructive discussion between Red and taipan. Well played, you two. [golf clap]

Drought broken, but frustrating for the cricket lovers.

There has been as much progress as a Faf/AB blockathon.

Drought probably not broken as CT is a winter rainfall area.

So will the rain juice up the condition of the pitch. Hopefully the WACAdid not donate their covers to CT.

Bright and sunny but suggestions that the track could contain some moisture.

Will be interesting to see how much the ball swings.

This here's getting interesting at SA 92/6.

Bumrah's bowling well. Hell all of India's pacers are bowling well- never thought I'd say that.

Still, conditions favour the bowlers. Given SA's attack, we'll prolly get rolled over for 50 come our turn to bat.

Could be an exciting finish and all over today.

furriner wrote:This here's getting interesting at SA 92/6.

Bumrah's bowling well.  Hell all of India's pacers are bowling well- never thought I'd say that.

Still, conditions favour the bowlers.  Given SA's attack, we'll prolly get rolled over for 50 come our turn to bat.

The unexpected rain has turned the match upside down. Elgar's drop is going to prove crucial

taipan wrote:

furriner wrote:This here's getting interesting at SA 92/6.

Bumrah's bowling well.  Hell all of India's pacers are bowling well- never thought I'd say that.

Still, conditions favour the bowlers.  Given SA's attack, we'll prolly get rolled over for 50 come our turn to bat.

The unexpected rain has turned the match upside down. Elgar's drop is going to prove crucial

Steyn's injured, but you've still got what is prolly the best attack in the world. Long way to go yet.

Geez, Kohli has his troops fired up. His bowlers have bowled well on the sweaty pitch.

India roll the SAffies for 130, setting themselves a target of 208 for victory.

Have to say I'm delighted at the emotion Kohli showed throughout the innings. He was hella fired up. Tests still mean plenty to him.

A victory here clearly would mean a lot to him and his troops.

India have a big shot at this. And if SA loses surely Faf's call at the toss and Elgar's mega costly drop will be be big factors.

This target is small but they will need the pitch not to play tricks.

Steyn missing is a big loss for the hosts.

taipan wrote:

furriner wrote:This here's getting interesting at SA 92/6.

Bumrah's bowling well.  Hell all of India's pacers are bowling well- never thought I'd say that.

Still, conditions favour the bowlers.  Given SA's attack, we'll prolly get rolled over for 50 come our turn to bat.

The unexpected rain has turned the match upside down. Elgar's drop is going to prove crucial

It cost SA over one hundred runs. Pujara said that they can chase down 350 so they have to fancy their chances.

The Aussie attack might be licking their lips here watching how twice SA has succumbed badly to swing bowling.

Faf choosing to bat has meant his side has twice had to bat in very tough conditions.

Did he also over bowl Steyn?

Steyn will be keen to be fit for the Oz matches. Hope he is. I'm looking forward to two decent attacks going hammer and tongs.

Red wrote:

taipan wrote:

furriner wrote:This here's getting interesting at SA 92/6.

Bumrah's bowling well.  Hell all of India's pacers are bowling well- never thought I'd say that.

Still, conditions favour the bowlers.  Given SA's attack, we'll prolly get rolled over for 50 come our turn to bat.

The unexpected rain has turned the match upside down. Elgar's drop is going to prove crucial

It cost SA over one hundred runs.  Pujara said that they can chase down 350 so they have to fancy their chances.

The Aussie attack might be licking their lips here watching how twice SA has succumbed badly to swing bowling.

Faf choosing to bat has meant his side has twice had to bat in very tough conditions.

Fark are you still banging on about the toss. SA had a comfortable 1st innings lead which proves the decision was correct.

horace wrote:Did he also over bowl Steyn?

Steyn will be keen to be fit for the Oz matches. Hope he is. I'm looking forward to two decent attacks going hammer and tongs.

It was reported to be a freak injury when he got stuck in the footholes and overstrained his heel.  He was cranking up the pace though after Pandya went wild.

If SA lose, Faf could look foolish. He said at the toss that this was exactly the pitch he wanted. Unfortunately to this juncture it has proven far too challenging for his batsmen.

SA at one stage 0/52 - what a collapse!

Given the strike power Aus has with Koo-Purple-2nd, it'll be very interesting to see what sort of pitches Faf orders in the SAf-Aus Test series.

The Indian seamers (particularly Bumrah) were very impressive and dangerous on this juicy wicket.

Evidently Faf has asked for slow pitches. He knows our attack is the best in the world and probably understands the renowned brittleness of his batting.

Am pretty confident that we will have our customary victory over there.