India stunned by Proteas decision

[Gulio]

No, we're not. I might disagree with them not opting for the chance of the win, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't an absolutely brilliant performance, and a fantastic test match. It simply means that I'm left with a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth. Most cricketing pundits feel similarly, and everyone with an inkling of cricketing knowledge knows that it was a brilliant test match.

We are in no way the laughing stock of the cricketing world. If anything we are even more respected because of that match...

More respected? Where'd you get that from?
Indians, Aussies, Pommies all laughing at that stupid decision.
It's the difference of being a good team and a great team.
We own the highest run chase in ODI, would have went well with the test chase record.
It's a failure in my opinion no matter what you say.

 

[AfricanTech]

/ignores troll/

 

[stefan9]

More respected? Where'd you get that from?
Indians, Aussies, Pommies all laughing at that stupid decision.
It's the difference of being a good team and a great team.
We own the highest run chase in ODI, would have went well with the test chase record.
It's a failure in my opinion no matter what you say.

We own both highest run chases. This would have been breaking our own record...

 

[Vis1/0N]

We own both highest run chases. This would have been breaking our own record...

We don't as a matter of fact.

 

[mercurial]

/ignores troll/

A difference of opinion is not a troll.

 

[AfricanTech]

A difference of opinion is not a troll.

Stating that the rest of the cricketing world is laughing at us is.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, hell, The Voice (Cape based tabloid) is of the same opinion.

However, it's a fact that there are many professional cricket commentators who are lauding South Africa, and who, while expressing disappointment a the fact that we didn't go for the risky option, nevertheless give us our just due for a magnificent fight back.

The mindless uninformed vitriol and invective being dished out here is trolling (in my opinion of course).

 

[Joeboy69]

I have apologise for quoting a pom. It's odd that none of the Aussies have said anything.

Gilchrist tweeted he thought we should go for the win. Maybe you meant current Aus players ...

 

[Arthur]

It seems most people still think the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. That's just a local perspective.

The objective reality is that the Proteas were awesome.

 

[AirWolf]

We own both highest run chases. This would have been breaking our own record...

We don't as a matter of fact.

Vis1/ON is correct: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/222199.html
418/7 by WI is the highest successful run chase.

 

[AirWolf]

My problem with the decision is that no slogging was required when Steyn came in. A run a ball was all that was needed, and with the field Dhoni had set, this was not a problem.

Easy runs were turned down - and by easy I mean so easy that in some cases it looked like two was on. It was bizarre.

The decision also showed no faith in our lower order, who over the years have done some really great things. Steyn has a career best in the 70s, and Philander was coming off a 50 in the first innings. At no point in a would-be-chase of the win would we have been at major risk, and we still had three wickets in hand.

No, I cannot and will not ever agree with the decision to leave every ball and not run when they had the chance. I will not agree with the decision to bow out of a history-making chase on a risk-reward profile that was so low on the risk side, and so high on the reward side.

But in saying all of that, what we achieved was absolutely brilliant nonetheless. It could and should have been spectacular though...

Very well said - the shocker for everyone was the turning down of easy runs.

I'm pretty sure that even the people now coming out in support of the decision to play out for the draw where going WTF when watching that ending at the time.

 

[Arthur]

So much of this is a mind game. By robbing the Indians of a pretty certain win, SA overcame the odds and should have ended on top psychologically. Instead, our fans made sure they come to the second test as losers. Pity.

 

[SaiyanZ]

It was great that we managed to draw. After day 4, I thought we had no chance of drawing, let alone winning.

I feel that the final few overs which resulted in the match ending off in draw was bad for test cricket though. Nobody was happy after the game. The Indian team, the SA team, the Indian fans, the SA fans, all were disappointed. At least if SA went for it some people would have been happy.

 

[Midnight_choir_drunk]

To the Indian cricketer is it all about winning at all costs. I am grateful they opted to secure the game first. If opportunity had allowed, I am convinced that the Proteas would have taken the win.



With Durban coming, I am sure they are even more nervous of what's coming. So they'd rather play mindgames with us.

If it is about winning at all costs then where were their 4 slips ?

 

[SaiyanZ]

If it is about winning at all costs then where were their 4 slips ?

Yep, India stopped going for the win. 9 fielders on the boundary. Bowling bouncers to tail enders outside off stump instead of at the stumps.

Proteas stunned by India's decision.