BAD DAY FOR SA CRICKET !!

[sand_man]

Test cricket is really not popular anymore

Ja cause the peasants don't understand the game!! All they understand is helter skelter T20 nonsense!!

 

[Arthur]

Winners never quit! And if you quit, you never win. Simple.

Which is what makes the Protea's achievement something to be really proud of. As India's 2nd innings closed, most of the Armchair Experts had written off SA's chances - just go back and read the comments on this and various other forums.

But the team fought back, showing exceptional grit even when most fair-weather fans had given up hope and deserted them.

Only twice before in the 139 year history of test cricket has any side achieved what the Proteas did on Sunday. A flippin' amazing performance by any standard. They fought on against all the odds and saved the game. We should be hailing them as heroes, not carping and criticizing.

The opportunities for pride in SA are rare. Well done, boys! You showed rare skill and exceptional character. You do us proud!

 

[sand_man]

Which is what makes the Protea's achievement something to be really proud of. As India's 2nd innings closed, most of the Armchair Experts had written off SA's chances - just go back and read the comments on this and various other forums.

But the team fought back, showing exceptional grit, patience, and character.

Only twice before in the 139 year history of test cricket has any side achieved what the Proteas did on Sunday. A flippi' amazing performance by any standard. They fought on against all the odds and saved the game. We should be hailing them as heroes, not carping and criticizing.

The opportunities for pride in SA are rare. Well done, boys! You do us proud!

Well said!!!

Normally I don't pay much attention to the naysayers but I'm really disgusted at how the general public is reacting to this result!!

 

[Arthur]

I'm really disgusted at how the general public is reacting to this result!!

Agreed. Really sad to see such negativity. We've become a nation of cry babies, moaners, and complainers, always seeing the negative first - not very endearing traits. Heaven knows there's much to complain about, but for pete's sake let's relish our positive achievements.

The supreme irony is that so many of the most vocal critics fail to see in themselves the negativity they so quickly ascribe to our cricketers.

 

[jambai]

If u had asked the proteas at the beginning of the day,they would have taken a draw.

Other points ,Morkel was injured and Tahir is nowhere with the bat.It is only a 2 match series.Loose one and you cant win the series.(blame the BCCI)

 

[Stefanmuller]

If u had asked the proteas at the beginning of the day,they would have taken a draw.

Other points ,Morkel was injured and Tahir is nowhere with the bat.It is only a 2 match series.Loose one and you cant win the series.(blame the BCCI)

Although true, the situation at the beginning of the final day is irrelevant, as the situation changed so that even at tea a win was looking reasonably good. Fafs dismissal was huge...at that point we were very much looking to win this. From that point we needed 16 off 20 balls. Both decisions from this point forward had merit. We chose to secure a draw which is fine. That third last over had some good bowling and we had to survive a few balls. Seeing that they had a whack at it right at the end leaves me wondering why we did not at least take the singles where available especially in the penultimate over. No risk involved other that putting Dale on strike...the same guy the team has backed as night watchman on several occasions. He anyway ended up on strike for 10 balls including most of the last over. I agree with Kepler for once that we could have kept at it for one wicket more and only close shop after that. Not that many deliveries to keep out. And no high risk needed only 5 per over. Or only 3 or 4 per over and see what happens in the last over.

You can say the same had we made the decision to go for it. A win would mean 1-0 in a 2test series and certainty that we cant loose the series and only a draw or wash out (weather interruption) in Durban required for series win. Two sides of the coin and both has merit. Graeme could have justified going for it and it would have been perfecly acceptible as well. The danger of choking a loss was to big I think so the safe option of a draw makes sense. Still a great achievement.

PS. The whole day I watched thinking we can win this, and every session we did better and better. So to see the win abandoned so close to the end was dissapointing. We had the draw pretty much in the bag at tea already unless there was a major collapse. When AB went I thought OK, draw. Then Vern brought us back with Faf. Great game.

 

[Wimhotep]

.....
PS. The whole day I watched thinking we can win this, and every session we did better and better. So to see the win abandoned so close to the end was dissapointing. We had the draw pretty much in the bag at tea already unless there was a major collapse. When AB went I thought OK, draw. Then Vern brought us back with Faf. Great game.

Agree with your whole comment ... I found it very disappointing that we were able to score faster than the run rate required and suddenly stopped and settled for a draw. If we had continued even with just getting singles , cause we only needed 3-4 an over , we would have probably made it.

 

[Wimhotep]

If we had batted for day + half and survived not loosing and fallen short by 100 -150 runs ... that's a different story.
BUT we didn't ... we did all the work and STOPPED short of winning by 8 runs. This is what gives me the s**ts.

If you listened to 90% of the commentators , even the Indian ones , the all said ... WTF !! why had SA not gone for the win.
My opinion might be not acceptable to others who don't like it when people have different views.... but surely all the experienced commentators having the same view gives me the right to agree with them and to express as much

 

[AfricanTech]

If we had batted for day + half and survived not loosing and fallen short by 100 -150 runs ... that's a different story.
BUT we didn't ... we did all the work and STOPPED short of winning by 8 runs. This is what gives me the s**ts.

If you listened to 90% of the commentators , even the Indian ones , the all said ... WTF !! why had SA not gone for the win.
My opinion might be not acceptable to others who don't like it when people have different views.... but surely all the experienced commentators having the same view gives me the right to agree with them and to express as much

All opinions are welcome.

As always, we will differ in our opinion.

It was a great game - where I disagree is those supporters who are lambasting the team and Dale, Vern and Graeme in particular - they were not out in the middle with a hobbling Morne and a bunny Tahir to come.

Trust me, the vast majority would have heaped scorn and vitriol if we had lost the game at the end.

Commentators speak in the moment, if you read the pieces written after the game you will see the other views emerging.

Have a peaceful holiday season.

Looking forward to the game.

Oh, and to the BCCI, I hope you have a rotten Xmas and a miserable New Year for depriving these two magnificent contestants the opportunity to show their mettle.

 

[stefan9]

Is a draw fine if there's a chance of a loss?

Only if you try to win and end up drawing. Giving up to win when you have a more then decent chance is never acceptable to me.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Imagine if we had this team when Australia were set 117 to win in 1993/'94. Australia would have easily won in if this type of attitude was present. Great teams do amazing things, good teams play it safe.

 

[stepper]

This thread has set the record for abuse of the conjunction if.

 

[sand_man]

Imagine if we had this team when Australia were set 117 to win in 1993/'94.

Imagine if Australia had this team when all they needed was 117 to win?

 

[AfricanTech]

You mean the team that lost the 92 world cup semi, got their asses kicked by Walsh and Ambrose in their first test in the windies when needing hardly 100 runs to win, the team that struggled to score at 2 an over against India in the 4 match series?
That team?

Lol

Chris, I think you've been pwned.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

You mean the team that lost the 92 world cup semi, got their asses kicked by Walsh and Ambrose in their first test in the windies when needing hardly 100 runs to win, the team that struggled to score at 2 an over against India in the 4 match series?
That team?

Oh yes, this was the team had just re-emerged from isolation so were short on matches. However, having said that:

- 1992 WC - our best WC showing along with 1999.
- Ambrose and Walsh are two of the finest fast bowlers the world has ever seen. A very lethal combination

I won't defend the last game, as that does seem a bit pathetic but could easily be blamed on isolation.

 

[mercurial]

Lol

Chris, I think you've been pwned.

Selectively choosing records to suit your agenda is hardly pwnage.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

You mean the team that lost the 92 world cup semi, got their asses kicked by Walsh and Ambrose in their first test in the windies when needing hardly 100 runs to win, the team that struggled to score at 2 an over against India in the 4 match series?
That team?

So more research on Wikipedia reveals that India was the first ODI series played by the South Africans after readmission and the Windies was the first test since readmission. Also the 1992 SF was very controversial...thanks for jogging my memory on that. As mercurial said, nice selective use of matches there

The most notorious example came in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, where the most productive overs method method was used: in the semi-final between England and South Africa, rain stopped play for 12 minutes with South Africa needing 22 runs from 13 balls chasing England's 6/252 off 45 overs. The revised target left South Africa needing 21 runs from one ball, which was a reduction of only one run compared to a reduction of two overs and a ridiculous target given that the maximum score from one ball is generally six runs.

 

[Rubberpigg]

Imagine if we had this team when Australia were set 117 to win in 1993/'94. Australia would have easily won in if this type of attitude was present. Great teams do amazing things, good teams play it safe.

Highest ever fourth innings to draw or win a test match

1. England vs South Africa, March 1939 (Durban)
   Target 696
   England reached 654/5
   Result: Draw
   
2. South Africa vs India, December 2013 (Johannesburg)
   Target 458
   South Africa reached 450/7
   Result: Draw
   
3. India vs England, August 1979 (The Oval)
   Target: 438
   India reached 429/8
   Result: Draw
   
4. South Africa vs England, August 1947 (The Oval)
   Target: 451
   South Africa reached 424/7
   Result: Draw
   
5. West Indies vs Australia, May 2003 (St John's)
   Target: 418
   West Indies reached 418/7
   Result: Won
   
6. South Africa vs Australia, December 2008 (Perth)
   Target: 414
   South Africa reached 414/8
   Result: Won

I can see that you just don't get the enormity, in terms of cricketing history, of what was achieved on Sunday.
That fourth innings will go down in history as one of the greatest cricketing fight backs ever.
The second highest fourth innings ever to save a test match.
And to call this team good but not great is laughable.
The bulk of this team also played in the second highest fourth innings total ever to win a test match. (against Australia in 2008)
And you mention Australia.
I don't see them anywhere on the above list.
You and many other people just don't get it.
Quite sad actually.
This is a great team that we have at the moment.

 

[AthenianOwl]

This is easily the best side we've had since re-admission.

+111111111111111111111111

I really can't wait for the Durban test to start I'm getting tired of this mind game that the Indian side has recently been playing against us. Sigh.

 

[Rubberpigg]

I really can't wait for the Durban test to start I

Also looking forward to the Durban test.
And then in February Australia!