Despite Dean Elgar's ton England on top on the third day at stumps at the Durban Test 2015

 South Africa were bowled out for 214 handing over a handsome lead of 89 runs to England in the first innings at Kingsmead, Durban. Dean Elgar notched a well battled hundred and carried the bat through the innings remaining not out on 118.

South Africa lost it's last six wickets for just 70 odd runs, 

SA 137/4, ENG 303 Elgar 67* Bavuma10* Stuart Broad took 3/16 and Moeen Ali 1 wicket at stumps on Day 2 at Durban. #Cricket #SAvENG #SAvsENG

— CricketCorner (@PlayingCricket_) December 27, 2015

 Moeen Ali  added three wickets to his overnight tally of 1 wicket and Steven Finn finished off the tail.

Questions has been raised about the way South Africa batted. Are they too much dependent on some of the players? Are they not playing spin that well?

I think England bowled really well,  even in the absence of James Anderson due to a calf strain.

James Anderson doubtful for Boxing Day Test against South Africa after calf scan #Cricket

— CricketCorner (@PlayingCricket_) December 23, 2015

 Stuart Broad making early inroads in the South African top order with consistently probing line. Made batting difficult for South Africa batsmen taking the wickets of Van Zyl, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers.

Dale Steyn went for a scan that made South Africa a bowler short and there were a number of dropped chances behind the stumps while Morkel bowled.

Though England is on top of the game, but South Africa didn't play that bad as it looked. England lead by 261 runs with seven wickets in hand.

I think 400 would be a total England would be looking to set for South Africa to chase in the second innings.

If South Africa can bat for long hours it can still salvage a draw, but England has got more balanced bowling unit, only a determined effort can save South Africa now.

Valleyz.Blog

It is totally a different ball game Down Under

 India need to play to it's strength in the upcoming series against Australia in January 2016 where it is scheduled to play three T20's and Five ODI series before the WorldT20 Finals in India in March.

The last match it played down under was the semi-final of the World Cup 2016, which India lost to Australia by a huge margin. 

233 was India's reply to Australia's 328/7.  Though India managed to pick early wickets in that match but could not stop Steve Smith from scoring a hundred that helped Australia score a huge total.

If we take a look at Australia's batsmen playing in Australia's grounds you can observe their fluency of strokes.

It comes from sheer reading of the pitch conditions in Australia, which are quite similar in places like Hobart and Melbourne. If you hit the deck hard at these grounds you are in position of extracting that little element of surprise which can get you a wicket.

Bowling in Indian conditions and on Indian wickets is a different proposition, here our conditions early in the morning are different than in the afternoon and also the pitch plays differently during the day. Spin friendly tracks don't offer much bargain.

But in Australia the bowlers can extract something out of the placid tracks if you hit the deck hard and maintain line and length.Melbourne is such an example, the ball after hitting the deck plays differently than in the subcontinental conditions. 

Indian batsmen expect the ball come to them fast but the bounce is different to that of the Indian pitches, that offsets the technique of many an Indian batsmen except a few like Kohli and Vijay who adjusted well against the likes of Mitchell Johnson.

Many Indian batsmen performed very well in Australian conditions worth mentioning Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. 

Laxman had that ability to play it on the rise, negate the bounce of the ball with wristy strokes, that very few can play. When wrists come into play it becomes a headache for the bowler to set the field for the batsmen.

Indian batting and bowling should be according to the conditions in Australia when playing in Australia. 

India need the bowlers who can hit the deck hard while maintaining the line and length. Ashok Dinda comes to my mind, his bowling actions is quiet distinct and he could derive bargain out of  pacy wickets like the ones in Australian conditions, I think.  

Umesh Yadav and Aaron they both are qutie similar, bowling fast, they are not going to bother the Australian batsmen much who would like the ball to come on to the bat. Especiall with players like Smith who would want to smack the ball out of the ground, the bowlers could do little to stop the stroke play from such batsmen.

Instead the team needs bowlers who can bend the back hit the deck hard like James Pattinson is doing in against the West Indies. Mitchell Johnson was clever enough to use the conditions to his liking, he even used to hit the deck hard, even though he bowled to a sling shot action.

In Australia if the bowlers are just going to run in and bowl fast, it is probably the batters gonna hit each delivery as powerfully as possible for maximum runs.

eValleyz.Blog

West Indies bowling strategy similar to that of Hobart Test.

Australia dominates the Boxing Day Test and  at stumps - Day 1: Australia were 345/3 (90.0 ov, Usman Khawaja 144, Joe Burns 128, Jerome Taylor 2/83) .

It was good attendance at the MCG on the boxing day with 53 thousand people watching the match.

Earlier West Indies having won the Toss elected to field first sending in inform Australia to bat. The batsmen made most out of a placid track after David Warner was out early for 23

At the close of play captain Steve Smith* 32(49) and Adam Voges 10(24) were at the crease.

Jason Holder gave only 33 runs from 17 overs with economy of just under 2 runs per over.  Jerome Taylor two wickets for West Indies.

It was hard toil for West Indies pace bowlers, after having won the Toss elected to field first.

Many people criticized  that decision, but I think West Indies didn't wanted to expose it's inexperienced batting line up to a new ball on the first day.

 If there was a batting collapse then it would be difficult for West Indies to come back in the match and could demoralize the team batting prospects.

It happened at Hobart with only exception of Darren Bravo who made a hundred in that Test to bring some confidence back in to the team.

Australia is set for a big total at the MCG, what West Indies could do is to use as many spinners to halt the Australian scoring rate.

The team need to take a fresh look at it's bowling strategy, Hobart and MCG look very similar, where the West Indies team bowlers in particular couldn't extract much bargain. 

 Valleyz.Blog

South Africa vs England 2015 first Test at Durban - Overview

According to reports England's James Anderson is confirmed injured due to a calf strain ahead of the first Test between England and South Africa at Durban on Boxing Day.

That is pretty bad news for the visitors as James Anderson is the spearhead of the English attack, in his absence Steven Finn is likely to play for England.

Meanwhile the hosts are confident of a solid performance with the return of Dale Steyn in the attack supported by Morkel, Rabada, Abbot and others.

Pitch is likely to suit pacers, and South Africa are likely to have the home advantage. 

Many of the English players are touring South Africa for the first time. The players include, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and others.

South Africa recently lost the series to India in spinner friendly conditions. 

The team will be looking forward leaving behind the loss to take on the visitors on home ground conditions.

On the paper both the teams look evenly balanced with Proteas having the home advantage.

Valleyz.Blog

West Indies can fight back in the Boxing day Test at the MCG

Things not looking rosy for the West Indies Cricket, as there are widespread media reports about the game being in danger in the Caribbean Islands.

West Indies abandoned the Tour of India mid-way when it last toured India. Recently several commentators of the game including Michael Holding have voiced their concerns.

I think there should be a way out of the present scenario. The acrimony between the players and the board should be sorted out at the earliest.

Holding blasts WICB as dysfunctional , untrustworthy - The Hindu

 The team is touring Australia now, and has lost the first Test inside three days at Hobart.

 Does the state of affairs reflect on the players, too tough to say, but would be happy to believe that isn't the case and the team come back strongly in the Boxing day Test at the beautiful and picturesque Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In the meantime Australia broadcaster Nine seem to have prepared for all the contingencies if the visitors loose again badly in the Boxing Day Test and the New Year Test as both dominate the Australian Cricket scene in Australia.

 Cricket: What will happen to Nine if the West Indies can't perform? - Sydney Morning Herald

West Indies seem to have been little out of touch in the Hobart game, but MCG is also a tough venue will be much similar to the Hobart pitch, bowlers especially need to look for early breakthroughs and should not allow Australia score easily.

Valleyz.Blog