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[csnew]

Don't believe it that South Africa didn't go for it.
Steyn's last ball shot was clearly in anger.


Smith's captaincy all game has been questionable. Had AB been captain they would have gone for the win. I see smith stepping down.

[Ayrtek Cricket]

A loss wouldnt have affected their test ranking so i dont see why they didnt go for the win after doing the hard yards in getting that close.

With 3 wkts in the hut surely with 3 overs left they could afford to swing the willow and if they lost another one shut up shop. The bowlers were on their (No Swearing Please) by that stage anyway.

[mk_chappo]

Great test match. Can't believe SA didn't go for it after getting so far.Du Plessis took a gamble on taking that run I can't see while Dale Steyn didn't take a gamble on the third over from the end. A couple of streaky edges and SA would have been home. They still had a couple of wickets left and Morkel can't bat. Perhaps they should have sent him in to have a swing and then had Steyn to shore things up if that didn't work.

[petehosk]

Can't believe I missed this, as I was busy in Reading Xmas shopping! Oh the joy!
SA must still have seen that as a win! Even with their batting talent, India were still favourites at the start of day 5.
Well done for both teams for once again proving that Test cricket can be as entertaining as any other formats!!

[cesare_in]

Really unfortunate that we did not get a result.

Man.. how can you not go for a win, player injured or otherwise! Shucks

[jamielsn15]

Such a shame fr me that I had it on all day whilst wrapping presents and generally doing Xmas stuff and the excitement was building as SA edged nearer.

Sadly, by the end my overriding feelings were of anger and disappointment.  Why wouldn't you go for it?  And they wonder why Test cricket is supposedly on the wane!

In order to win you have to be prepared to lose.  Cook would've done the same, I have a feeling Clarke and De Villiers would've gone for the win.  As would I - if you end of losing I feel your reasons for going for the win are entirely justified.  I'm really disappointed.  An opportunity to make history, to shatter India's spirit and to set down a marker worldwide.  All gone because of a fear of losing.

[Vic Nicholas]

Sa had that in the bag....India were demoralised.

Even after du Plessis was run out, they only needed 16 runs off about 20 balls.

Throw bat man!!!

But no, they shut up shop and forfeited their chance to set a new bench mark and to send shivers of fear down every opponents back.

I was very upset at the end.

[Byo]

Attitudes like that of SA will not do Test Match cricket any favours!!!   

I hope India beat them in the next match and they are all sat there thinking if only...

[ProCricketer1982]

Styen and Philander at the crease.. IF one of them should get out (easily done 'swinging the bat').. who did they have left??

Morkal who couldn't walk - realistically he's not a good batsmen at full fitness let alone on one leg.. = walking wicket

Tahir - Jesus.. this lad makes Monty look world class!!! #VillageNumber11         = walking wicket


so tbh, although it would have been good to go for it and be hero or zero I think they made the sensible choice. They didn't need to win the game so why risk losing it.. Especially to the BCCI load of morons.  Plus, how many wickets were gifted to the Indians.. Kallis.. Amla (dodgy as hell pitch).. Smith, Faf.. Nah, I'm thinking SA will scare enough people already. Miles better than the rest currently.

Impressed by Indian pace bowlers though, they are starting to look respectable.. just a shame about being attached to the BCCI.

[The_Bird]

Sa had that in the bag....India were demoralised.

Even after du Plessis was run out, they only needed 16 runs off about 20 balls.

Throw bat man!!!

But no, they shut up shop and forfeited their chance to set a new bench mark and to send shivers of fear down every opponents back.

I was very upset at the end.

Spot on Vic, no one should be applauding them for being negative. The Aussies would've gone for it in a heartbeat. Win at all costs.

If England did this we would be slaughtered in the press.

[Sam]

Tahir - Jesus.. this lad makes Monty look world class!!! #VillageNumber11         = walking wicket

I always thought he was a bit of an all rounder  . Hampshire sent him in at 3 once in a T20 match  !

[Byo]

Spot on Vic, no one should be applauding them for being negative. The Aussies would've gone for it in a heartbeat. Win at all costs.

If England did this we would be slaughtered in the press.

So true!!!

[joeljonno]

Tahir - Jesus.. this lad makes Monty look world class!!! #VillageNumber11         = walking wicket
 

At batting AND bowling at the moment.

[Vic Nicholas]

If England did this we would be slaughtered in the press.

Exactly.

Fleet Street would have been baying for the captains blood.

I cannot understand why you would forgo the opportunity to win. SA were not 9 wickets down after all. Irrespective of what people say of Morkel and Tahir's batting, three wickets were in hand, and 20 balls were left...instead, Steyn left a whole over of balls outside off stump...even though there were no slips in place!?!

Man, I was so disappointed that negativity had crept in after a day of positive cricket.

[CrickFreak]

I think SA tail did the right thing. Expecting tail enders which includes Tahir and Morne with only one functional leg to finish a test match is unfair.
Had the SA tail tried to win and had lost the game, everyone would have said SA could have managed a draw which i think is a good result from SA standpoint after being dominated by India for almost 12 sessions out of 15. To draw would be the first priority in such situations.
This was not an ODI, it was last session of 5th day of a test match which was played with lot of intensity. Your body and mind is drained off every bit that is left.
As AB said in the conference, it should have been Faf, JP or himself not the tail.
I think India should be disappointed by managing just a draw.

But very impressed by the way India played. Played completely opposite to the way they would play in home conditions. And to show that kind of turnaround in a very short time by an inexperienced side is commendable.