India v South Africa, Second Test, Calcutta

[Beny]

The Aus stratagy in India evaloved around trying to ocupy the crease. Is SA trying to do the same?

[Maranello]

Yes but the Aussies were also scoring runs whilst at the crease . . . the South Africans seem to be more intent on occupation only, and are not even punishing all the bad balls, or challenging any of the bowlers by giving them the charge.

[Maranello]

This Test is looking interesting. At tea on Day 3, India are 293 for 5 from 93 overs, so 12 runs behind with 5 wickets in hand. Only 7 sessions left in the match though, so not sure if a result is possible.

If there was more time, India would have been on top; as things stand, I am not sure. To India's advantage, SA do not have a spinner in the side to exploit the Day 5 pitch when India bat last.

India are scoring at just over 3 an over, better than South Africa's steady 2.5 but not fast enough to put pressure on the S. Africans I feel. De Bruyn and Ntini for my money have been the pick of the bowlers, though others have done well too; only the slow bowler, Justin Ontong, has gone for >4 an over.

Sachin Tendulkar has failed with the bat yet again, Sehwag and Dravid both got accomplished 80-odd, in their very own styles. Sehwag 88 off 118, Dravid 80 off 247 balls. Incidentally these two are World No. 1 and No.2 in the latest PwC batsmen rankings (Dravid is no.1, just), so not exactly missing SRT, who languishes out of the top ten.

Intriguing that Jacques Kallis has not had a bowl during India's second innings. He is a world Top-20 bowler, and historically, SA's third best. Here, Smith has used five bowlers, Pollock and Ntini leading the attack with 24 overs each, but no Kallis at all. Is he injured? Or is he simply not considered a Test level bowler anymore?

[Zainub]

I'm not surprised Smith hasn't used Kallis - he has his problems, I remember in one one-day game against Bangladesh I think it was just after Smith got his captaincy he didn't give Pollock the new ball - didn't even brigh him in as second change , he eventually came on as third change well after the 15 over fielding restrictions were over...he changed back to the normal i.e. giving Pollock the new ball in the next match...but over all he's that sort of guy who gets these bouts of ecentricity.

[vosser]

As South Africa are in a period of complete rebuild a draw in each game would be a positive result. Yes, they might be playing negative cricket, and yes the pitches arent helping positive cricket, but we have to remember only two of the South Africans have experienced playing on the sub continent before. Surely a drawn, dull series is far more advantageous to RSA than a loss and a extended run of failure.

[Zainub]

I agree, SA with the situation they are in will be justified to be happy with just the drawn series but from India's perspective, I'm disapointed with their approach towards this series, that's all I can say.

[vvvrulz]

Only Sehwag seems to have stood up for the Indians, and its likely that his efforts will come to nothing anyway. South Africa will be happy with a drawn, dead series.

[Zainub]

Rahul Dravid made 80 yesterday, off over 200 balls, but there were runs so they all count. Ganguly chipped in with 40 and Laxman also got a start, 36 I think was what he got. I guess India's batting has started to click back a little in this test, and series for that matter but with the wickets they have been playing on and the strength and depth of the SA attack it's hard to make too much of it.

As far as the match is concerned Denish Karthick got a 40 odd today that helped India get a crucial 100 plus run lead with day 4's play in progress. SA under a bit more pressure now. But handling it reasonably well, Hall and Smith have put on a good stand for the first wicket. Still a remote possibility of a result here theoritically. Good sign is that SA are seemingly looking more positive this time around then before, going along at a run rate of over 3 an over. Harbajjan Singh is off to a bit of poor start really - he's going at 4 an over right now. If SA can press the padle a little bit more and get something like 200 mid way through tomorrow's first session, the last innings could be rather interesting. But it seems rather unlikely that we'll end up with anything other than 0-0.

[Maranello]

If it is 0-0, ideal result for SA!

[Zainub]

India pressing for a result here, SA in a spot of bother 155-5, 44 ahead with just 5 wickets in hand, Harbajjan Singh has come back strongly after initially being taken for a few, has taken 4 wickets now.