All posts tagged: india vs south africa 1st test

Ravindra Jadeja’s four-wicket burst gives hosts slight edge after chaotic day at Eden Gardens

Ravindra Jadeja’s four-wicket burst gives hosts slight edge after chaotic day at Eden Gardens

Published by Webster

The evening was balmy, even mildly chilly. But the audience had disposed of their jumpers and windbreakers long ago; a sweaty suspense had gripped them in the intense see-sawing game, which is replete with possibilities and could potentially experience another wild twist on Sunday. The day might not have unfolded as they wished. When they started from their homes to the Eden pilgrimage, navigating chaotic traffic, they would have wished for a Rishabh Pant masterpiece or a Shubman Gill masterclass. But it turned out to be a day for the sensationalists. A cluster of wickets, of suboptimal theatrics, the red ball swaying erratically like a punch-drunk alcoholic, and a few lusty blows in between to keep the match on a knife-edge. The hosts, after eking out a 30-run lead, valuable in the context of the low-scoring affair, and then twisting the knife on South Africa, reeling on the mat at 93 for 7, would feel a sense of ascendancy. But the stage is no stranger to miracles and fairy tales. Story continues below this ad …

Poor pitch reduces Test to a farce in Kolkata

Poor pitch reduces Test to a farce in Kolkata

Published by Webster

The rectangular space in the middle of the Eden Garden grinned devilishly like a horticultural Frankenstein at batsmen. It crushed them in its embrace, made them fearfully numb and reduced them to question the purpose of choosing batting for a living. The numbers present a grim picture—neither side crossed 200 in the first innings, they don’t look destined to nudge the mark in the second innings of a Test that’s hurtling to a hurried climax. No batsman, 29 strode in and out, managed to touch 40; 26 wickets fell in two days. A match that bubbled with excitement and possessed the ingredients to thrill was held hostage by an abominable pitch, nullifying the diverse arts that make Test cricket fascinating. Such pitches, those that diminish the quality of batsmen and exaggerate the values of the bowlers, are slow-poisoning the format, draining the game of its essence, sweeping the beauty out of it, reducing it to a luck of the draw. Test matches need results, but not two-day shootouts. Not least after the Test series between …

How to Watch IND vs SA Test Match Live on TV and Online

How to Watch IND vs SA Test Match Live on TV and Online

Published by Webster

IND vs SA 1st Test Match Live Cricket Streaming Online: Shubman Gill’s India will face a stern challenge against World Test Championship winner South Africa in a two-match series that starts from Friday at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India come into the series after their 2-0 victory over West Indies recently while South Africa came to India after drawing a two-Test series in Pakistan 1-1. While India are famed for menacing spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, South African spinners will prove to be challenge for Indian batters too. Proteas spinners picked up 33 of the 40 wickets available in the two-Test tour of Pakistan. Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 13 wickets in two Tests. Maharaj played only the second Test and took nine wickets in South Africa’s win. This is South Africa’s first Test tour of India since 2019. Back then, the visitors were blanked 3-0 by the hosts. Story continues below this ad Here’s all you need to know about catching the action from the India vs …

Pace-friendly pitch, sunny skies expected for 1st Test

Pace-friendly pitch, sunny skies expected for 1st Test

Published by Webster

IND vs SA 1st Test Eden Gardens Stadium Pitch Report, Weather Update: Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will host its first Test in six years (after the pink-ball Test against Bangladesh) when the India vs South Africa Test commences from Friday at the iconic venue. The weather forecast for West Bengal’s capital promises clear skies, which would be a relief to the fans, but also for Shubman Gill and Co, who will next play a Test in August 2026. There is already a possibility that spinners will play a massive role in the game. India have four spinning options and the jury is out whether they opt to play two, three or all four spinners (Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja) in the Kolkata Test. Meanwhile, South Africa have come prepared as well, they have three quality spinners in their ranks: Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj. Here’s what the pitch report for Eden Gardens says: Story continues below this ad Among all the pitches in India, the pitch at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens …

India vs South Africa: Temba Bavuma’s WTC champs get set for their hardest challenge | Cricket News

India vs South Africa: Temba Bavuma’s WTC champs get set for their hardest challenge | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Expeditions to the subcontinent seem longer than they actually are for visiting sides. South Africa, on the foothills of their 37-day trek in India, had spent 32 days in Pakistan, by the end of which they were utterly spent. Usually, the heat hits them first; mercifully, it’s late autumn in the eastern neck of India, where the visitors complete their Test engagements. But the humidity would be draining. Dust and congestion would vex them; gun-toting commandos would flank them, as they were in Pakistan, for coach Shukri Conrad to irritatingly quip: “You come here and all you ever see is armoured vehicles to and from the ground, and you stay in a hotel all day.” Or for batsman Tony de Zorzi to say, sighing: “You have to sleep a bit longer to make your days a bit shorter.” These are the challenges they would encounter even before they had stepped onto the cricket field. Before the thoroughbred pace pair of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah begin to hum their new-ball duet, before the dexterous spin …

‘They may have drawn Test series 1-1 in Pakistan but we are confident’: Siraj on South Africa challenge at home | Cricket News

‘They may have drawn Test series 1-1 in Pakistan but we are confident’: Siraj on South Africa challenge at home | Cricket News

Published by Webster

India host world Test champions South Africa in a two-match series that starts at the Eden Gardens on November 14 and pacer Mohammed Siraj has said that the hosts are confident of their chances to maintain their dominance at home over the Proteas regardless of how the latter have performed recently. South Africa come into this series after drawing a tw0-Test rubber in Pakistan 1-1. “This series is crucial for the new WTC cycle, especially since South Africa is the defending champion,” Siraj told reporters. “While they drew 1-1 with Pakistan, we’re confident from our own good form, we created a positive environment, performed well in England, and won against the West Indies,” Siraj said on JioStar. Arguably more concerning for India would be the fact that South Africa A recently managed to chase down a target of a target of 417 against an India A side consisting Siraj and other frontline bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep and Kuldeep Yadav. It has to be noted, however, the conditions at the Eden Gardens are expected …

Done in 2 days: Revisiting the chaos of the last India vs South Africa Test match | Cricket News

Done in 2 days: Revisiting the chaos of the last India vs South Africa Test match | Cricket News

Published by Webster

India are set to host South Africa in the first Test this year between the two sides at the Eden Gardens. It will be the first time that the two teams meet in a Test match since India’s tour of South Africa in 2023/24. And well, anyone who remembers that series would also recall the bizarre manner in which it ended. The second and last Test match of the series was in Cape Town, a ground India where India had never tasted victory. South Africa captain Dean Elgar, playing his last international game, won the toss and elected to bat first. What followed was the kind of collapse South Africa had probably never experienced since their readmission to Test cricket in 1991. They were all out for 55, their lowest total in the format since 1932 and the lowest score by any team in a Test innings against India. Mohammed Siraj was the chief architect, picking incredible figures of 6/15 while Jasprit Bumrah had 2/25. Mukesh Kumar bowled two overs and picked two wickets, the …