South Africa vs India, 1st Test, Centurion, Day 1, Stumps

Firstly all credit to the ground staff for allowing play to happen on this day after intermittent rain.I must admit I loved this day for it was an old style test pitch that was a bit in the bowlers favour.Thus with two very fine fast bowlers in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel against the superstars on the Indian batting line up it always promised a treat.Though sadly for my Indian friends,their batsmen very brutally exposed by the excellent South African attack.Steyn was exceptional as always and Morkel added a lovely bit of nastiness to his bowling.That had all the Indians jumping about like they were cats on a hot tin roof.

The day started with in my opinion a very bad selection choice by India in preferring Suresh Raina.Who is in no way test class over Chesteshwar Pujara,who reeks of test class.Then things got worse, when the much anticipated confrontation between Virender Sehwag and Dale Steyn in boxing parlances had Sehwag KO’d in the 1st round.Much to his own wafty shot than Steyn,though the ball was bowled,the fielder was there and Sehwag duly obliged.So well done Dale Steyn!I think the soft dismissal of the opening mauler Sehwag had an adverse effect on the Indian psyche and this coupled with the excellent South African bowling had them shot down in flames.The only one who showed any resistance was Tendulkar with 36,though it must be noted that his runs were scored heavily against the ineffective Lonwabo Tsotsobe.When Steyn came back,Sachin was gone LBW and with him the last chance of India posting a respectable score.I must admit it was good to see M.S.Dhoni show some late order fight and if he can flay the willow and get India up to around 200.It will be way below par,but at least something to bowl at.

Though on 136/9 and Steyn and Co back for more,200 is a million miles away.Great Pitch,Great Bowling and just a pity about the Indian batting and the fact that the International Cricket Council hasn’t insisted UDRS be used in this series