[rsjaurr]

BTW same story is happening again at Durban. With five specialists bowlers including Jadeja, MSD turns to Raina and Kohli. SA again are 150 on board with no wicket lost.
Its really getting embarrassing to watch the match with pace bowlers in the team but not getting to bowl. This is like surrendering even before the battle begins.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by rsjaurr

With five specialists bowlers including Jadeja, MSD turns to Raina and Kohli.

None of the frontline bowlers completed his full quota of 10 overs which shows that Dhoni has very little confidence in his bowlers. Even Shami who was the best bowler on show today didn't complete his 10 overs!
Sometimes i don't understand why our captain has so much confidence on the likes of Raina & Kohli. Raina came in to bowl as early as the 13th over.

[rsjaurr]

Originally Posted by PPS

None of the frontline bowlers completed his full quota of 10 overs which shows that Dhoni has very little confidence in his bowlers. Even Shami who was the best bowler on show today didn't complete his 10 overs!
Sometimes i don't understand why our captain has so much confidence on the likes of Raina & Kohli. Raina came in to bowl as early as the 13th over.

This is 2nd half of "Project Raina" going on.
1st half failed against AUS when he was promoted ahead of Yuvi. But not only did he fail himself but also doomed Yuvi IMO with Yuvi coming after India had lost two quick wickets with MJ at his fiery best. Dhoni is hoping that Raina will get some wickets and keeps his place in the team.
And some ,actually many thinks that he is the best captain we ever had. I watch matches live and I do not think he is the one who is making difference. Before him we never used to lose heavily overseas in tests and ODIs during the 1st decade of this century. But now its almost foregone conclusion what happens to us in alien conditions and oppositions exploiting it.
At home we have some very good hitters who just bat out any opposition.

[hemanth.anand]

How unlucky can one get! Ajinkya Rahane's pendant on his chain which probably he had worn as a lucky charm was the reason behind his dismissal!!!

[PPS]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Ajinkya Rahane's pendant on his chain which probably he had worn as a lucky charm was the reason behind his dismissal!!!

The ball was way too wide, he shouldn't have been playing at that. He is another one who isn't making full use of the opportunity provided to him.

The Indian Team already looks demoralized & tormented, they seem to be going through the motions & are waiting for the tour to finish when in reality it has just about started.

[NPV]

The 3 match ODI series against SA is (almost) lost with this one likely to make it 2-0 is SA's favour. Hope the players learn from this experience and perform better at least in the tests.
EDIT:What a catch by AB De Villers now to get Ravindra Jadeja out, it's just few more minutes now to wrap up the tail!

[smilenow]

These matches are very similar to someone playing EA cricket 2013 on super Hard mode, anytime India bats or bowls. We needed at least 3 warm up games to get up and ready.

Watching us negate Steyn , only this expression is there on my face .

[Chetan_Rao]

Screwed both ways now. Sitting ducks abroad (as usual), and no real home advantage anymore, thanks to foreign players' IPL-facilitated exposure to Indian conditions.

[msdivy]

The only practice match on this SA tour is washed. So India will play the 1st test on bouncy track with just net practice .

[PPS]

Originally Posted by msdivy

The only practice match on this SA tour is washed. So India will play the 1st test on bouncy track with just net practice .

A 2 day practice game would anyways not have been enough. Now our players have all the more reasons to find an excuse for loosing!
Ideally a 4 day game should have been played.

[hemanth.anand]

A wonderful century by a determined young player. Kohli has once again shown his fighting spirit.
For the record, he is the only player in this indian team to have scored a test century overseas (this was his 2nd overseas)

[pratyush6]

Very good innings by Virat. However, I am sick to the bones watching how Pujara got out. He had worked so hard and then a grave misjudgment by Virat cost him his wicket. You just kick yourself after such things.

[amitoj]

My surprise at the Indian team's strong position at the end of day 3 knows no bounds!!

First, Zak's fitness. I dont think any Indian bowler has been able to make such a comeback. Looking fitter, meaner and hungry!

And then the maturity shown by the younger generation at the crease. M Vijay must be commended for his patience and the manner with which he wore the bowling attach out. And of course, Pujara and Kohli's temperament in waiting and biding their time to get cracking!

How i wish this series had more than just two tests.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by amitoj

How i wish this series had more than just two tests.

Now that we are in a good position, I feel two test match series is perfect. We should somehow be able to win this match, if that happens we atleast cannot loose the series.
I think the South Africans took us lightly, they thought they just need to turn for a win. Full marks to Virat, Pujara & the bowlers.

[PPS]

Our bowlers are already looking tired. They have tried their best they have lacked venom & the pitch also seems to have flattened out. Looks like we want to hand over a world record win to South Africa. Don't understand the logic of Zaheer Khan bowling around the wicket all the time.