goodcitizn wrote:Elgar bowled really well, particularly the flight that got both Rahane and Saha back to back. Really impressed with Vijay who unfortunately got out lbw trying to sweep a dead-straight ball from Harmer; he looked slated for a ton. Pujara and Vijay had a good partnership going until the former misjudged the line of the ball in being plumb before the wicket to Elgar.

Never been a fan of Dhawan. As usual he played a flick shot and got out for a duck putting India on the back foot at the very start. Kohli equally was tentative and was back in the pavillion in a hurry. Somehow the tail-enders managed to see India get over 200.

The only saving grace was the two wickets we got from SA before the day was over. With three spinners in our line up, tomorrow should be interesting on this spin-friendly pitch.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:Elgar bowled really well, particularly the flight that got both Rahane and Saha back to back. Really impressed with Vijay who unfortunately got out lbw trying to sweep a dead-straight ball from Harmer; he looked slated for a ton. Pujara and Vijay had a good partnership going until the former misjudged the line of the ball in being plumb before the wicket to Elgar.

Never been a fan of Dhawan. As usual he played a flick shot and got out for a duck putting India on the back foot at the very start. Kohli equally was tentative and was back in the pavillion in a hurry. Somehow the tail-enders managed to see India get over 200.

The only saving grace was the two wickets we got from SA before the day was over. With three spinners in our line up, tomorrow should be interesting on this spin-friendly pitch.

You know the opening pairs:

Simpson-Lawry and Lawry-Stackpole

Boycott/Barrington

These guys were not Sehwag-Dhawan style but they gave a good start most of the time, while grinding out the bowlers out of their initial energy and enthusiasm. The opening pair MUST be stable, steady, and RELIABLE - that too in Tests.  Otherwise, the pressure is on the team trying to catchup and survive every time. Imagine if Nohit had come in place of Pujara...

I would send in Vijay and Rahane to open with Pujara at #3 and India can rely on putting on 150 on board between the 3 of them most of the time. Sastry is still yapping about "flying Start" and "directional change" and bring in Dhawan and Rohit.

Should ban any bombay guy from getting into any team matters.

goodcitizn wrote:Dhawan once again goes for a duck in the 3rd over, just pushing at a ball without moving his feet, before getting his eye in, offering an easy catch at second slip. Gives a new meaning to the phrase, "having your ducks in a row." They ought to bench him for the next test at the very least. Just kills the momentum from the get go.

Vijay and Pujara once again put on a decent partnership on a difficult wicket. Vijay was unlucky in getting out from a superb delivery where the sub took a difficult catch. If we score more than 250 the chances are we will win. Our spinners did an amazing job today albeit it was irritating to see noballs from Jadeja and Mishra in key moments.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Did anyone else notice that Jadeja is playing without a helmet?

He did that in first innings as well.

confuzzled dude wrote:

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:

Did anyone else notice that Jadeja is playing without a helmet?

He did that in first innings as well.

He put helmet on when Philander came to bowl.

truthbetold wrote:It is nice that India won but is this a real cricket win? Did India win by being the better side?  Did they win because of the poor pitch?

Preparing a spin pitch is no crime. But was the pitch not upto test standard. It was difficult to play on the first day. No one scored a century. Spinners got all the wickets. Not sure. Not very delighted.

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:India is still a test cricket playing nation? I wasn't aware of that!

goodcitizn wrote:

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:India is still a test cricket playing nation? I wasn't aware of that!

LOL! The test was over in less than 3 days; gives you an idea about how test matches are played lately. The stands were more than half empty. No fans protested asking for refunds for having bought 5-day match tickets. If this pattern continues, test matches will either be modified in the near future or make a slow exit.

confuzzled dude wrote:

goodcitizn wrote:

MaxEntropy_Man wrote:India is still a test cricket playing nation? I wasn't aware of that!

LOL! The test was over in less than 3 days; gives you an idea about how test matches are played lately. The stands were more than half empty. No fans protested asking for refunds for having bought 5-day match tickets. If this pattern continues, test matches will either be modified in the near future or make a slow exit.

Per Cricinfo, this was the fourth successive test that played on Indian soil, finished in three days. Was it the batting skill or lack there of, or the dust bowls of pitches that fast tracking test match results?

confuzzled dude wrote:2nd test, SA batted first and bundled out for 214. Again spinners took bulk of the wickets. I watched a few overs in beginning but too early to figure out how the pitch was behaving. Did anyone watch?