[Eddy]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

India have what it takes to beat England 4-0 or 5-0

Oh yes, barring an injury to Ashwin.

And good for us that BD softened them up a little

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Oh yes, barring an injury to Ashwin.

And good for us that BD softened them up a little

Even if jaddu or ashwin gets injured we can play mishra who is in tremendous form these days. Barring rain it should be a whitewash by us.

[Eddy]

Why am I still not convinced about Mishra's ability to get wickets in test matches ? His bowling lacks the zip I feel.

[landcruiser123]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Why am I still not convinced about Mishra's ability to get wickets in test matches ? .

I think he can't do well on dead pitches. He'll be a handful on turning pitches.

He doesn't have the venom which Ashwin has. That maybe because of Ashwin's height.

[Eddy]

And I thought it was Dhoni who was making some weird selections in test matches.......

Hardik Pandya gets a place in the test squad :O

Edit: Talent is not in the squad because of injury. Maybe Pandya will play as the second seamer (along with 3 spinners) and add some batting depth to the team.

[PPS]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Maybe Pandya will play as the second seamer (along with 3 spinners) and add some batting depth to the team.

If we play Pandya that would mean Ashwin batting at no.6 considering he bats ahead of Saha ! Pandya is more of a bits & pieces player as of now. He needs to play more 4 day India 'A' games.

[Eddy]

How else can he fit into the playing 11 ? And if there is definitely no chance of him playing, he better be released to play in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.

[PPS]

We will certainly go in with 6 specialist batsman since that was the strategy adopted in the NZ series. I think players who don't make it to the 11 are released to play Ranji Trophy.

[mukul32]

Originally Posted by Eddy

And I thought it was Dhoni who was making some weird selections in test matches.......
Hardik Pandya gets a place in the test squad :O

I don't see Pandya as a weird selection. They must be looking for an all-rounder in the more X-factor player kind of sense, rising up to the situation when required. The Jadeja type, if we can. Pandya kinda fits that bill. We simply do not have a Kallis/Watson type of all-rounder anywhere in the country who can bat in the top order as well as bowl consistent medium pace along with that. Hence we have to make do with what we have.
In that, Pandya is young, fit, a good fielder and far better than Binny and perhaps better than Rishi Dhawan as well, as an all-rounder.

[Eddy]

What a cracker of a game going on at Perth !!

SA lose 4-5 wickets quickly but recover to score 242.

Australia, in reply, were 158 without loss in 30 odd overs, but collapse to 236/8.

And Steyn hobbles off with yet another injury. He needs 5 wickets to overcome Pollock as the highest SA wicket taker in tests.

[vamsi.kona]

Without injuries Steyn would have easily added another 100 wickets to Pollocks, but a stress fracture to the right shoulder and given his age, he may overcome Pollock but only marginally so.

[nairrk]

1st Test: Australia v South Africa at Perth, Nov 3-7, 2016

South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first.

South Africa 242 & 540/8d
Australia 244 & 361 (119.1 overs)

South Africa won by 177 runs

Series - South Africa led the 3-match series 1-0

Test debut - KA Maharaj (South Africa)
Player of the match - K Rabada (South Africa)

[Eddy]

No better site than to see Australia get humbled in their own backyard. Well done SA, but the Aussies won't give up.

Although Shaun Marsh not playing the next match further weakens the Aussie batting. Like Harsha Bhogale said, good time to be a young batter in Australia - expect a call soon enough.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

No better site than to see Australia get humbled in their own backyard. Well done SA, but the Aussies won't give up.

Although Shaun Marsh not playing the next match further weakens the Aussie batting. Like Harsha Bhogale said, good time to be a young batter in Australia - expect a call soon enough.

Amazing win by SA. And doing it with only 3 main bowlers at hand is brilliant. Somehow, Aussies losing a match gives me more joy than any other team. Rabada reminds me of younger Allan Donald. Same hunger and passion.

[landcruiser123]

SA played extremely well. I think Maharaj is a good long time option especially because he can contribute some valuable runs with the bat. Well played Elgar and Duminy.

Bavuma was epic

I fell Steyn might not have too much cricket let in him. It'll be sad if he doesn't wear whites again. He is a champion and could change in the game in any pitch around the world.

Also, feel for Stiaan van Zyl. One bad series in India has sent his career spiralling downwards.

Enough has been said about 'transformation' and how some people thought it'll ruin South African cricketer. I'll not go against the forum rules to discuss about transformation.

I'll be interesting to see India vs England from tomorrow. Prediction for the 11: Vijay Gambhir Pujara Kohli Rahane Nair Saha Ashwin Jadeja Shami Sharma