The Ding Dong Battle India Versus South Africa 1st Test
What a fantastic test match it was –
India was the underdog , after the thrashing it got in the One day series against South Africa. While the bowlers were hit all around the park , the batsman struggled against the bounce. So one did not expect India to do well at all.
So when Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat , it would have raised eyebrows. But Dhoni is Dhoni and his decision to bat was justified as the Young firebrand Kohli stroked a masterful century and with assistance from Pujara and Rahane got India to a good position end of day one. But it was familiar story on Day 2, all good work undone , India out for 280 from 255 for five. SA got off to a great start and one thought a big lead and then India down in the dumps. Not to be. With some inspired fast , swing and seam bowling , the seamers got India back in to the match. The big difference to me was Zaheer ( Zac ). It a was a great comeback by Zac. Looking trim , running in hard and hitting the deck and making the ball swing both ways , Zac with Shami and Ishant ( now what do we call this guy- young veteran ? ) ensured that SA conceded an important lead.
Indians batted brilliantly in the second innings .. It was Kohli again but the man who made big strides in his role as No 3 in the battling line up --Pujara ( he may not be the "Wall" yet but all good signs of him becoming one and may be better ) . Everyone wanted him to succeed and he did exactly what was wanted. India wagged its tail and set SA a target that has not been achieved . End of Day 4, everyone was looking at a Indian win.
Post lunch on Day 5, SA showed why it is the World no 1 team. Faf and AB out batted India brilliantly in one session of play between Lunch and tea and at the Chai break , it was clear that if one team had to win it was SA and not India. Such was the batting display by these two men. The post tea session was great to watch. SA charged on , lost AB and Faf at crucial times and even with their loss, with Philander stroking the ball so well , a win was there for the taking. However for strange reasons, Philander stopped the chase and defended. I was intrigued. May be there was a plan . I thought Philander will get the strike for the last over and from ball no 3, will have a go. 16 runs to get and three balls are enough. A 6, 6 4 could seal it or if he falls going for the win , the last two wickets can defend the last two balls and ensure that SA did not lose. None of that happened. It was a tame last three overs to a great test match.
Some thoughts from my side
1.It was brilliant test cricket and that went down to the wire just like a One day or a T 20 match will go to. Only difference was that a draw was a result that was available which would not be the case normally in the other two versions
2. Great gains for India – Kohli’s century and near century in the second innings and Pujara’s hundred. These are significant since the team has lived in the shadow of Sachin , Dravid, Ganguly , Laxman era for a long period of time. Cannot ignore Rahane’s batting and fielding contribution. Two run outs in the second SA innings were of great importance
3. Dhoni lead his young side brilliantly. He could have easily lost the plot in the last session. Captain Cool was Cool.
4. Still need Zac for a period of time. It was his presence and mentorship that spruced the bowling up. Should we go with four seamers for the Durban test is something that should be considered.
5. SA must be in a spot. While they did bounce back from a hopeless situation , they should have finished the game off. A draw was a not result for them.
India having set the challenge in the first test , should be ready to see the SA coming back harder at them
India was the underdog , after the thrashing it got in the One day series against South Africa. While the bowlers were hit all around the park , the batsman struggled against the bounce. So one did not expect India to do well at all.
So when Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat , it would have raised eyebrows. But Dhoni is Dhoni and his decision to bat was justified as the Young firebrand Kohli stroked a masterful century and with assistance from Pujara and Rahane got India to a good position end of day one. But it was familiar story on Day 2, all good work undone , India out for 280 from 255 for five. SA got off to a great start and one thought a big lead and then India down in the dumps. Not to be. With some inspired fast , swing and seam bowling , the seamers got India back in to the match. The big difference to me was Zaheer ( Zac ). It a was a great comeback by Zac. Looking trim , running in hard and hitting the deck and making the ball swing both ways , Zac with Shami and Ishant ( now what do we call this guy- young veteran ? ) ensured that SA conceded an important lead.
Indians batted brilliantly in the second innings .. It was Kohli again but the man who made big strides in his role as No 3 in the battling line up --Pujara ( he may not be the "Wall" yet but all good signs of him becoming one and may be better ) . Everyone wanted him to succeed and he did exactly what was wanted. India wagged its tail and set SA a target that has not been achieved . End of Day 4, everyone was looking at a Indian win.
Post lunch on Day 5, SA showed why it is the World no 1 team. Faf and AB out batted India brilliantly in one session of play between Lunch and tea and at the Chai break , it was clear that if one team had to win it was SA and not India. Such was the batting display by these two men. The post tea session was great to watch. SA charged on , lost AB and Faf at crucial times and even with their loss, with Philander stroking the ball so well , a win was there for the taking. However for strange reasons, Philander stopped the chase and defended. I was intrigued. May be there was a plan . I thought Philander will get the strike for the last over and from ball no 3, will have a go. 16 runs to get and three balls are enough. A 6, 6 4 could seal it or if he falls going for the win , the last two wickets can defend the last two balls and ensure that SA did not lose. None of that happened. It was a tame last three overs to a great test match.
Some thoughts from my side
1.It was brilliant test cricket and that went down to the wire just like a One day or a T 20 match will go to. Only difference was that a draw was a result that was available which would not be the case normally in the other two versions
2. Great gains for India – Kohli’s century and near century in the second innings and Pujara’s hundred. These are significant since the team has lived in the shadow of Sachin , Dravid, Ganguly , Laxman era for a long period of time. Cannot ignore Rahane’s batting and fielding contribution. Two run outs in the second SA innings were of great importance
3. Dhoni lead his young side brilliantly. He could have easily lost the plot in the last session. Captain Cool was Cool.
4. Still need Zac for a period of time. It was his presence and mentorship that spruced the bowling up. Should we go with four seamers for the Durban test is something that should be considered.
5. SA must be in a spot. While they did bounce back from a hopeless situation , they should have finished the game off. A draw was a not result for them.
India having set the challenge in the first test , should be ready to see the SA coming back harder at them
Comments
Ashwin did his role better. He bowled 35+ overs econimically (< 2.5/over). Imagine if he had been expensive, this would have created pressure on the tiring fast bowlers and the match would have run away from us. He held one end together although he didn't get wickets.
We were little unlucky - a number of edges didn't carry and some uneven deliveries missed the stumps.
We dominated a number of sessions in this test match, but the crucial session turned against us - the one between lunch and tea on day 5. And full credit to FA and AB. They were outstanding during that session. One wicket in that session would have made the difference.
Take a look at our batting line up - three of the six have played less than 10 tests and the other three less than 20. This is a commendable performance and the bowlers, led by Zac, were fantastic.
Thanks Radha
Going by the way both sides played, it was only fair to have a draw.
Not too sure, when was the last time teams batting second scoring 400+ after sub 300 in the first innings.
Lastly the young inexperienced Indian side was written off because of their recent away performances. As I write, defeat is inevitable in the second test but well played India unlike the series in Australia and England
Widely expected to be thrashed 2-0 on this tour, they showed they could hold them self against the toughest team around. It is a certainly a massive step up from their two previous high-profile overseas series, which ended in disastrous 4-0 losses, something to cheer Indian Test fans despite the Durban defeat.
Thanks - Ram