Its almost as if someone wrote the script perfectly in favor of SA for this game. It rains before the game, at the start of the game, and then at the start, Smith wins the toss and puts India in in overcast conditions (it was overcast, with lots of moisture/dampness and green pitch, etc) and India folded up in a day, and then just before SA were about to start batting, all the sunshine came in full flow and completely baked the pitch and SA helped themselves to those generous offerings. I still put it down to the starting troubles that our team always faces. No amount of warm up will help us get rid of this trouble. We have had warmups in many overseas tours before, and yet we always struggle in the opening game. A warm up never gives you a feel of the actual test match pressure and setting.
It would be luck and miracle if India survive to a draw from here. If Zaheer cant be fit for Durban, he might as well be packed off back home. Ishant and Sreesanth can never be spearheads in their life. After Zaheer, who will be our spearhead to take the attack forward? Very bad signs for the future.
SaiSrini added 2 Minutes and 24 Seconds later...
When you're the # 1 team you shouldn't bring up such excuses and be able to play in all conditions. That is what teams like Australia did when they were # 1 for so long. I thought India had the best batting line up? can it only perform in perfect batting conditions?
We are not competing with the Australian XI that was No.1 some ages back. Right now, we are close to the top position in test cricket as far as competing with other teams in the current time. If SA can win this series, they will prove that they are Number one because India have to beat SA and Australia in their home conditions to prove that they are No.1 and this series defeat (if it happens) will prove otherwise.