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[Aussie In England]

South Africa have called up Titans speedster Marchant de Lange as cover for the crocked Dale Steyn. de Lange hasn't played Test cricket in nearly 4 years but is pretty darn rapid.

[sanredrose]

South Africa have called up Titans speedster Marchant de Lange as cover for the crocked Dale Steyn. de Lange hasn't played Test cricket in nearly 4 years but is pretty darn rapid.

Next test match is at Nagpur. From cricinfo stats, it seems like a batsman friendly wicket. Given that the indian team management has (implied) preferred spinning wickets, I doubt if the pitch will assist pace bowlers. SA need Tahir to step up and nick more wickets. He is too leaky with runs and probably the weakest fielder in the team.

[csnew]

Already looks like a day 4 wicket with the ball turning square. Tahir's been relegated to back up spinner, only bowled 4 overs so far.
Fair to say this game won't make it to day 5

[sanredrose]

@csnew => how abt crossing 3-days  ??

[smilley792]

Imran Tahir as night watchman?

That was never going to go well.

[Thesmiff]

79 all out? Duminy getting 35 of them? Sorry no pitch is that bad. Serious lack of application from the SA batsmen

[csnew]

SA rolled over for 79..AB fails and they can't make it past 3 figures
Amla looks woefully out of form too

Definitely be over in 3 days now

[lazza32]

The pitch looks like a dried out river bed. It is extremely bad. 20 wickets in a day, c'mon no wonder test cricket is suffering.

[csnew]

Some pretty poor bowling from south Africa's spinners.
Duminy bowing ahead of Tahir on a wicket that is turning square.

[tate035]

79 all out? Duminy getting 35 of them? Sorry no pitch is that bad. Serious lack of application from the SA batsmen

Really? I personally don't think a test match pitch should be turning 2ft on the 1st day. I am all for using the (home) conditions to your own favour but a spinning wicket on day one? If this was a county pitch the assessors would not score it highly at all. Every credit to Kohli though in getting the groundsman to prepare a pitch that favours the home side.

[Thesmiff]

I'm not saying the pitch isn't bad, it is. It's not fit for 5 days of cricket. But 79 all out shows a lack of application more than anything. India are currently 80 odd for 2, the collapse will come though because many batsman don't know how to bat time. If the pitch is that bad and the ball is turning and bouncing so much, just leave the ball more. Batsman need to remember again how long 5 days is you can let the bowler bowl the odd maiden if it means you don't get out

[lazza32]

Interesting. The number one test team can't bat...........ok then. Did you see the mode of dismissals? see how many were bowled or LBW. You cant leave ANY balls on a pitch that turns at right angles.

[Thesmiff]

It's not just South Africa, India are doing it right now. I'm watching it. They lead by 230 there's 3 days left and they lose 2 wickets in 5 minutes from a reverse sweep and a slog. It's moronic

[ProCricketer1982]

Interesting. The number one test team can't bat...........ok then. Did you see the mode of dismissals? see how many were bowled or LBW. You cant leave ANY balls on a pitch that turns at right angles.

Number one test team in the modern game doesn't really mean much I'm afraid, just means best of a poor bunch. I also watched it and yes when it's turning square it's hard but these are pros and should be able to bat time. Poor poor quality batting yet again, one day batting. block block block oh no much score so slog

[lazza32]

these are pros batting and pros bowling. You've got some of the worlds best spinners on a pitch I would'nt let my children play on. How often have you seen a team open with 3 spinners?