South Africa vs India | 1st Test | Cape Town | Jan 5-9, 2018 | Day 1 | Discussion Thread

[Protea Fan]

South Africa have counterattacked spectacularly. Even though India are just an ABDV wicket away from getting back into the game, the way AbDV is batting, my sixth sense says he is not getting out today.

Good session to watch. Enjoyed it

I am interested to see Ashwin on this pitch. How will he bowl? Will his job be to contain or to get wickets?

Nothing like that yes he is playing soo well today but a good ball or a bad shot is enough to end this, we have seen numerous times ab throws it away after bats like a numero uno

If AB bats for a long their then am not seeing india winning even a session let alone the test match

[Protea Fan]

I would have love to see steyn and philander in such conditions together as like the first hour of play.Philander would have spit venom on each ball

Not sure what will be the condition tomorrow,from pitch reports it will be a lot better to bat on day 2

[Oligochaetes]

Nothing like that yes he is playing soo well today but a good ball or a bad shot is enough to end this, we have seen numerous times ab throws it away after bats like a numero uno

If AB bats for a long their then am not seeing india winning even a session let alone the test match

Just a feeling I had.. yes he might get out on any delivery.... but he is batting so well that...

Hmm.. don't wanna jinx...lets just watch n enjoy

[soso_killer]

Hard to tell what the pitch is like. AB and Skipper playing comfortably but 3 wickets fell in no time as well.

This pitch is probably a little bit quicker than Faf anticipated, but it should quicken on day 2 as well. The ball hasn't zipped through to the keeper even though Bumrah is bowling around 140k. It's definitely quicker than the surface at Kingsmead early September against NZ last year.
But based on the amount of grass cover around the cracks I really expect this pitch to quicken. Moisture is still trapped underneath the surface affecting the true pace of the wicket.

But enough talk about the pitch, Bhuvi bowled well and AB countered effectively (so far).
The surface never wins matches for anyone, both sets of players have played well. It's been an absorbing session, no doubt about that.

[ExpressPacer]

Pujara has better stats than vk and vijay in africa.

An inferior player.

[ExpressPacer]

This pitch is probably a little bit quicker than Faf anticipated, but it should quicken on day 2 as well. The ball hasn't zipped through to the keeper even though Bumrah is bowling around 140k. It's definitely quicker than the surface at Kingsmead early September against NZ last year.
But based on the amount of grass cover around the cracks I really expect this pitch to quicken. Moisture is still trapped underneath the surface affecting the true pace of the wicket.

But enough talk about the pitch, Bhuvi bowled well and AB countered effectively (so far).
The surface never wins matches for anyone, both sets of players have played well. It's been an absorbing session, no doubt about that.

Thanks for the thorogh response! If the pitch quickens by tomorrow, as you've said, I doubt Indian batting will survive. Pace and swing in the first session will blow them away unless Pujara holds one end and keeps things held.

[ExpressPacer]

Bumrah bowling amazingly. Needs to bowl a bit more short though.

[ExpressPacer]

Love the stump mics. You can hear everything super clearly. Bumrah saying, "Awaaz tou aya hai"!

[ExpressPacer]

LMAO ITS A NO BALL FROM BUMRAH I can't get over this

[battler]

@soso_killer how is Pandya bowling? I'm not watching the match.

[ExpressPacer]

Yaar kya cheez hai ye bumrah

[Shafi]

Bumrah bends more than 15 degree but who has guts to report him

[battler]

Yaar kya cheez hai ye bumrah

Was it out?

[ExpressPacer]

Was it out?

Nope. But still, they referred it and it was discarded simply because of overstepping.

[Markhor]

A no ball from Bumrah...you thought he'd have learned his lesson by now.

[Romali_rotti]

Bumrah bowling amazingly. Needs to bowl a bit more short though.

Are you watching the same match ? He looks crap.........

[ExpressPacer]

Why is this thread so dead? Where are the countless Indian PP'ers?

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Need to get these 2 out before tea :pray

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Are you watching the same match ? He looks crap.........

Maybe he is trolling

[Shafi]

A no ball from Bumrah...you thought he'd have learned his lesson by now.

Just because he bowled no ball in an important match and cost India he supposed not to do any no-ball in his career. Funny

[ExpressPacer]

Are you watching the same match ? He looks crap.........

He's making the batsman leave quite a bit. Has looked better than Pandya and Shami.

[Ab Fan]

This AB-Faf pairing is hurting India now the way it did in 2014 while chasing 458 on 5th day.

[battler]

I think kohli is waiting for a wicket to fall before he brings Ashwin in. He wants Ashwin fresh for QDK.

[ExpressPacer]

Are you watching the same match ? He looks crap.........

Just bowled AB.

[Ab Fan]

Nothing like that yes he is playing soo well today but a good ball or a bad shot is enough to end this, we have seen numerous times ab throws it away after bats like a numero uno

If AB bats for a long their then am not seeing india winning even a session let alone the test match

AB has concentration issues which is why he hasn't become the greatest test bat of his era even though he is very skillful. 21 hundreds are too low for a player like him.

[battler]

Andddd Bumrah gets Ab!!!!!

[battler]

Kumar and Ashwin need to bowl in tandem at QDK

[Test champion]

Need 2 more wicket in this session. After that bumrah too good for tailender. That's why probably he is playing. this is really good pitch for test cricket..

[Markhor]

Haven't seen too many good knocks from de Kock against lateral movement, he struggled in England last summer. He needs to stay out there being the last specialist batsman.

[Markhor]

Just because he bowled no ball in an important match and cost India he supposed not to do any no-ball in his career. Funny

Was a joke that unsurprisingly went over your head.

[lehen]

Very very poor from our bowlers. Should have been batting by now or atleast into the Tail.Quite a helpful deck it is

[lehen]

that's a bad decision, robbed off a wicket lol............

[ExpressPacer]

Umpires call is very annoying. Should be one decision, regardless of what the on-field umpire thinks.

[Markhor]

Need 2 more wicket in this session. After that bumrah too good for tailender. That's why probably he is playing. this is really good pitch for test cricket..

Pitch is excellent as it allows for a good contest between bat and ball. Runs are flowing at a good rate but the surface has enough to keep bowlers interested.

Nothing like the slow, flat dross we saw at the MCG last week or UAE/Caribbean tracks where ball bounces knee high with scoring rate at 2 RPO.

[Test champion]

Rubbish umpiring .look like plumb

[shah_1]

Five wicket

India are ahead now

[ExpressPacer]

You know, I love this aggression and emotion on display from Virat Kohli. Just makes cricket sooooo much better and fun to watch. Everything means so much to him. The celebration and the relieved frustration after the wicket of Du Plesis was a treat to watch.

[JattMaula]

Get those pies ready for Pandya haters!!!!

[7sins]

250 280 will be a good enough score philander and rabada can bat

[shah_1]

This is a great pitch

Well done to the curator

[7sins]

Get those pies ready for Pandya haters!!!!

Got only 1 wicket still an overrated cricketer

[Test champion]

Need to attack now .no lose bowl

[Proactive_]

Kohli reaching Sreesanth levels of obnoxious now. Someone tell this guy that this isn't a mohalla match and he is leading a Test team overseas.

[AamchiMumbaikar]

If we get QDK before tea that would be absolute bliss!!!

[JattMaula]

This is a great pitch

Well done to the curator

Cricket South Africa flew in SuperSports Park curator Bryan Bloy from Centurion to assist Newlands Stadium curator Evan Flint in preparing the wicket

[Test champion]

Pitch is excellent as it allows for a good contest between bat and ball. Runs are flowing at a good rate but the surface has enough to keep bowlers interested.

Nothing like the slow, flat dross we saw at the MCG last week or UAE/Caribbean tracks where ball bounces knee high with scoring rate at 2 RPO.

That's why m always fan of southafrica and England pitch.alway even contest b/w bat and ball

[ExpressPacer]

Man. Kohli has said absolutely nothing. Why do they want cricket to turn into a sissy sport? I love this passion, aggression and emotion. Cricket is already getting quite boring as it is and you rarely get to see such competition and aggression but they want it all to stop.

What an absolute bunch of sissies are these good for nothing ICC people. Disgusting. This is why we have no superstars anymore. This passion, aggression and emotion is what turns good players into stars and legends.

[lehen]

Kohli reaching Sreesanth levels of obnoxious now. Someone tell this guy that this isn't a mohalla match and he is leading a Test team overseas.

exactly this is embarrassing.

SA looks set to score 250plus and that means curtains on this kinda pitch for Us

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Kohli reaching Sreesanth levels of obnoxious now. Someone tell this guy that this isn't a mohalla match and he is leading a Test team overseas.

LOL continue mate... i keep searching for some content in your posts at times but you win all the time with senseless bashing in guile of being an Indian.

[shah_1]

Kohli reaching Sreesanth levels of obnoxious now. Someone tell this guy that this isn't a mohalla match and he is leading a Test team overseas.

You are too critical of Kohli all the time

[Shafi]

As usual South Africa choke under pressure. Playing for so long but still can't handle pressure. SOuth Africa needs a psychiatrist rather than coach.

[7sins]

Love the counter attacking from south african batsmen after losing 3 wickets for nothing early on

[JattMaula]

Got only 1 wicket still an overrated cricketer

Good enough for us.

[jagatk]

Most important phase of the game starting for us, we have been here a fair few times only to have their tail and our bowlers bail the other team out.

[Madplayer]

Is Bumrah chucking today?

Or is it his wrists which are causing an illusion?

[ExpressPacer]

Kohli reaching Sreesanth levels of obnoxious now. Someone tell this guy that this isn't a mohalla match and he is leading a Test team overseas.

Isn't the passion thrilling? Who wants to see a boring captain showing absolutely zero emotion? This is what makes Test match cricket interesting..

The lack of such players in Kohli, Stokes and Co. will make cricket very monotonous and boring.

[7sins]

As usual South Africa choke under pressure. Playing for so long but still can't handle pressure. SOuth Africa needs a psychiatrist rather than coach.

Chill bro it was a dump decision to bat on a green top but the fact is both teams playing with 6 batsmen and some bits and pieces all rounders

[Markhor]

Beautiful shots from de Kock.

[JattMaula]

Ashwin to test out QDK. @kholi

[Markhor]

FINALLY some good cricket on display. God. Have I missed good Test match cricket. The Ashes this year was more boring than a Bangladesh vs Ireland Test match being played in the UAE.

You mean don't wish for another classic encounter between New Zealand and West Indies ?!

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Vernon and Qdk bail out SA from these situations a lot, can they do it again today!!

[shah_1]

Cricket South Africa flew in SuperSports Park curator Bryan Bloy from Centurion to assist Newlands Stadium curator Evan Flint in preparing the wicket

This is how a pitch should be

It's make test cricket very entertaining, good going so far.

[jagatk]

Isn't the passion thrilling? Who wants to see a boring captain showing absolutely zero emotion? This is what makes Test match cricket interesting..

The lack of such players in Kohli, Stokes and Co. will make cricket very monotonous and boring.

Barking up the wrong tree here mate the passion isn't the issue he just hates kohli, if kohli tomorrow saved a puppy from coming under a car he will blame kohli for letting dog's spread rabies or something.

[7sins]

You mean don't wish for another classic encounter between New Zealand and West Indies ?!

Ashes is the most pathetic and boring series not only this year but past few years its been like that home side wins the urn dont know why so much hype and aussue commentator say its bigger than any other series

[ExpressPacer]

You mean don't wish for another classic encounter between New Zealand and West Indies ?!

I genuinely expected more from that series, especially after the competition the WI had shown in England and the way the dealt with a strong Zimbabwe side.

[ExpressPacer]

Vernon and Qdk bail out SA from these situations a lot, can they do it again today!!

That would just be wishful thinking.

[7sins]

Philander on this deck will be absolutely unplayable

[Markhor]

Good line, Pandya's style of bowling can be handy in these conditions. Getting decent bounce.

[Proactive_]

Isn't the passion thrilling? Who wants to see a boring captain showing absolutely zero emotion? This is what makes Test match cricket interesting..

The lack of such players in Kohli, Stokes and Co. will make cricket very monotonous and boring.

There's a fine line between being aggressive and obnoxious and Kohli, without a doubt falls on the obnoxious side by quite some distance. You want to see aggression and passion? See guys like Ranatunga, Border, Waugh, Ganguly. That's aggression and it adds flavor to the game. Kohli's just a much more immature version of Ricky Ponting. Still remember how he was dancing in he dressing room when he was injured in the India-Aus series everytime an Aus wicket fell. The guy just wants the cameras on him so bad all the time.

[ExpressPacer]

Ashes is the most pathetic and boring series not only this year but past few years its been like that home side wins the urn dont know why so much hype and aussue commentator say its bigger than any other series

The Ashes was surprisingly very boring this year. The 2013/14 one was thoroughly dominated by Australia but Johnno and their aggression made it fun to watch. This year was just plain boring for neutral fans.

[shah_1]

I genuinely expected more from that series, especially after the competition the WI had shown in England and the way the dealt with a strong Zimbabwe side.

Strong Zimbabwe side?

They played very poorly against South Africa

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Philander on this deck will be absolutely unplayable

Even Rabada.

[7sins]

De kock is the best keeper batsmen in the world at the moment

[ExpressPacer]

There's a fine line between being aggressive and obnoxious and Kohli, without a doubt falls on the obnoxious side by quite some distance. You want to see aggression and passion? See guys like Ranatunga, Border, Waugh, Ganguly. That's aggression and it adds flavor to the game. Kohli's just a much more immature version of Ricky Ponting. Still remember how he was dancing in he dressing room when he was injured in the India-Aus series everytime an Aus wicket fell. The guy just wants the cameras on him so bad all the time.

I don't think he needs to "dance around" to have the camera on him. He could be sitting patiently, emotionless, doing absolutely nothing and the cameras would still be on him, and he knows that too. He isn't exactly attention starved, being the most famous cricketer in the world. So, I think its passion. And with the severe lack of it these days, I think this makes cricket interesting, even though it may backfire and end up in embarrassment sometimes.

[shah_1]

I guess 270-280 would be a good total on this pitch?

[Markhor]

Ashes is the most pathetic and boring series not only this year but past few years its been like that home side wins the urn dont know why so much hype and aussue commentator say its bigger than any other series

Too much home advantage with the Ashes nowadays and there's hardly any genuinely close games when the series is live. You'd have to go back to the Trent Bridge Test in the 2013 series.

[ExpressPacer]

Strong Zimbabwe side?

They played very poorly against South Africa

They did. But South Africa isn't an easy place to tour. Top teams have been humiliated here time and again.

With the return of Jarvis and Taylor, they were a much stronger side.

[7sins]

Even Rabada.

True and if the pitch will get a bit more faster as du plessis said during toss it will make this match more interesting not expecting much from steyn in this match

[Test champion]

Need to get rid of QDK otherwise he can damage in little bit of time..250 on this deck is good total .. I can't c indian batting order can survive against of Philander.rabada Morkel.styen

[shah_1]

Runs being leaked easily

Need to stop that