Do you think Smith stretched his innings little too far?
By msdivkar
@msdivkar (23359)
India
January 6, 2011 2:30am CST
When South Africa got a lead of about 300 runs there were still more than 15 overs to be bold. That was the time I feel smith should have declared and put India to bat. That was a crucial time and very likely to have captured at least one Indian wicket. If India can score 300 they could as well score 340 but in the process Smith has let go very good advantage. What you all feel?
2 people like this
4 responses
@stardustcdsd (1856)
• India
6 Jan 11
actually i will blame smith for the way this game is heading.the series started off with a bang with india losing 9 wickets for 134 runs.it got better when the test series got evened.
it reached its highest because of those sachin-steyn moments but just because smith got chickened out,this match has turned into a drab.
a pitch where the bounce in uneven,you can easily defend even 240 runs in the last day.its not like the true bounce pitch as in second test.
give them a target of 340 to get on the final day,heck even the old aussie team would go for the draw.
it feels very much anti-climatic.
now nothing intresting about steyn's bowling.seems he has given up too. so a bad ending to such a good series
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
6 Jan 11
You are right star. the match would have been much interesting if smith had declared when he got the lead of about 300 runs. At that time there were 15 overs still left for the day. The match would have been very interesting. Either S.A. would have made inroads in Indian batting line up or Sehwag could have hit a few boundaries giving a hope for Indian run chase. No body can risk scoring 340 runs on final day of a test match.
@vbpujara (646)
• Rajkot, India
6 Jan 11
I am little bit agree with you but SA players knows what indian batting strength is,they would have fear in mind and not loosing a match firstly to building hard to achievable target for indian team.
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
8 Jan 11
No, I do not think Smith stretched it too far. Imagine him declaring and Sehwag going berserk. I think it was better for him to have India playing to save the match rather than going after the target as that way they could also have lost the match. But hey no risk no gain!!
Cheers!
Ram
@srijshm (1165)
• India
6 Jan 11
Smith has never been known to be an aggressive captain. But then now-a-days most captains take a safety first approach. Smith obviously wanted to take the game away from India first.
Also the fact that India has a strong batting lineup might have added to his dilema.
I do feel that with kind of bowling resources smith has, he should have had a go at Indian openers for atleast 6-8 overs yesterday.
