I wonder what sort of difference it may have made to the SS IF the Austrlain players had all been available to play in the Naational competition rather than a games of not consequence to the Australian team.
I know I am going back in the past, but the real reason the SS was considred second only to test cricket, all Australian test players donned their state colours.
Has the Indian tour just been a farewell for Rohit and Kohli. A chance for the many hundreds of thousand Indian fans to farewll them?
In any of the games so far played, have we seen one young Austrlain actually show us that they are of test calibre!
I think this is seen as preparation for the T20 world cup which is being held next year. Rohit and Kohli are not playing in the T20s. Xavier Bartlett is one to keep an eye on for the future as he seems to have a knack of getting wickets.
I agree though that it would have been much better to have a full strength shield competition going into the ashes
@mikeh , I agree re Bartlett. He seems to get the wicket when needed.I was never convinced he would be any good, but have changed my mind.
Gee South Africa are becoming a Test giantkiller, currently the World Test Champions and now have humbled India at Eden Gardens in the 1st Test over there.
India only needed 120 odd to win in the last innings but SA knocked them over for 93, although the pitch was a bit of a minefield.
The offie Simon Harmer once again taking wickets.
that thing wasn’t a wicket mate
that thing was a low tide Ganges River cow track
and that’s being ultra kind
Lol the curators didn’t water the pitch.For the four days ,before the test.(According to Fox sports)
It started as a minefield and just got ,worse.
Batting last was going to be extremely difficult.Regardless of total to be chased..
Well done to the Saffers .Winning their first test in India in 15 years.Beating the pitch tampered Indian wicket.
WOW, just looked a the scors.Highest score 55 by Bavuma.
Even the Indians commentators were harsh on the wicket.
What did that last, 2 and a bit days!
Harmer!!! WTF is he? Eight for the match.
Piches like that certainly not doing the test game much good.
Are the Indians wanting to play a couple of T20 games in between!!
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Lol
Cheating imo
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The old saying from my kids days.. way way way back. Cheats never prosper.
Good to see they got their arses kicked.
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Harmer is no mug.
60 Test wickets @23 and over 1000 first class wickets.
Wasnt picked for SA for a number of years when he was a Kolpak player in England but is now back in the fold.
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SA continuing on where they left off in the 1st Test at Eden Gardens.
Currently well over 300 ahead with India 7 down in their first dig.
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I think India are finding out just how much reliance they had on Kohli and Sharma
and of course their captain Gill
although I am still surprised at how badly they are losing when they do at home
Australia just cannot beat them in India though regardless
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Gee the big left arm all rounder Marco Jansen is having a big Test.
90 odd with the bat, 6/48 with the ball and a great catch to boot.
He has all the tools at his disposal to be the next great all rounder in world cricket!
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They also lost to New Zealand 3 -0 at home last year. The pressure must be mounting on their coach Gambhir
SA are playing some bloody good Test cricket under Bavuma.
Completely dominating India at the moment on their own dust bed wickets!
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and he’s ground the Indians into that dirt
didn’t declare until pretty late
banking it all mostly on the last day
and already got 2 wickets in the bag
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Pretty damn ugly for the Indian. A smashing. Kohli and Sharma must have been a bigger force than the Indians thought.
I see the Saffies coach has stirred the pot telling the media they wanted them to grovel.
Looks like fixing wickets at home for the Indians may not be a good idea.
I see Rabada didn’t even play in this win…Jansen is ticking along nicely…always good to see the Indians squirm…and to think Eng only drew with them 2-2…at home too.
Rabada didnt play either Test!
Very Brave of him if he said that,whilst leaving the Country!