India vs South Africa Test Series

INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA TEST SERIES in India, FEB 2010

India will play two-match Test series against South Africa at Nagpur and Kolkata, and also three one-day internationals during the tour starting February.

South Africa in India, 2010

India vs South Africa in India 2010

India vs South Africa Cricket Series 2010

India, who became the number-one Test side in December, will host a hastily-arranged two-Test series against South Africa - ranked second in Test cricket - at Nagpur and Kolkata, the Indian cricket board announced on Sunday. South Africa will also play three one-day internationals during the tour starting next month.
South Africa drew a three-Test series 1-1 on their last tour of India in 2008.

Series Schedule:

Match	Venue	Date and Time
1st Test	India vs South Africa at Nagpur	Sat Feb 6 - Wed Feb 10 (09:30 IST l 04:00 GMT)
2nd Test	India vs South Africa at Kolkata	Sun Feb 14 - Thu Feb 18 (09:30 IST l 04:00 GMT)
1st ODI	India vs South Africa at Jaipur D/N	Sun Feb 21 (14:30 IST | 09:00 GMT)
2nd ODI	India vs South Africa at Kanpur	Wed Feb 24 (09:00 IST | 03:30 GMT)
3rd ODI	India vs South Africa at Ahmedabad D/N	Sat Feb 27 (14:30 IST | 09:00 GMT)

India vs South Africa First Test at Nagpur

Nagpur Test, day four: South Africa steamrolls India in Nagpur (SAF-IND: 1-0|2)

The Proteas romped to a crushing victory over India by an innings and six runs after another superb display by pace bowler Dale Steyn who achieved match figures of 10-108. Sachin Tendulkar earlier hit his 46th Test century, but proved once again he doesn't have the heart to play a second innings like Laxman, Dravid or Gambhir when it matters. It was India's third innings loss at home in 25 years, all of those coming against South Africa. The South Africans now need to just draw the second and final Test beginning in Kolkata on February 14 to reclaim their top ranking from India.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a vocal advocate of youth over experience ever since he started leading India, finally saw his wishes come through before the Nagpur test. For someone who has always tried to get rid of the seniors in the team except Sachin, it might have been a dream come true to see a playing XI that didn't feature Dravid and Laxman. The team was stacked with youngsters ("It is easy to motivate youngsters," Dhoni after WT20 2007 victory). And the result? Dhoni's first loss as Indian captain.

Nagpur Test, day four: South Africa 558/6 declared (J Kallis 173, H Amla 253 not out, AB de Villiers 53) beat India 233 (V Sehwag 109, S Badrinath 56, D Steyn 7-51) and 319 (S Tendulkar 100) by an innings and six runs

Nagpur Test, day three: India 66/2 after following-on, trail by 259 runs

South Africa were eyeing victory after Dale Steyn picked a career-best 7-51 in the Indian first innings, and then dismissed Virender Sehwag, the only batsman who troubled them on day three. In the first innings Sehwag scored 109 runs off 139 balls - his 18th Test ton - while debutant Badrinath scored 56 from the same number of balls.

Dale Steyn ripped apart India's fragile middle order, with a career-best haul of seven for 51 as the hosts were bundled out for 233 in the first innings. India are struggling at 66 for two in their second innings at close of play, after losing both openers. Murali Vijay and Tendulkar are at the crease, with a 38 run partnership for the third wicket.

Nagpur Test, day three: India 233 (Sehwag 109, Badrinath 56, Steyn 7-51) and 62/2 trail South Africa 558/6 declared by 259 runs

Nagpur Test, day two: Hashim Amla hits double ton

An unbeaten 253 from Hashim Amla - his first double century - helped South Africa to compile 558/6 declared on day two of the first Test against India at Nagpur. Amla shared in a 108-run fourth wicket stand with AB de Villiers (53) after taking his overnight partnership with Jacques Kallis (173) to 340.

India were 25 without loss in reply at the close with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir not out on nine and 12 respectively.

Nagpur Test, day two: India 25/0 trail South Africa 558/6 declared (Amla 253*, Kallis 173, de Villiers 53) by 533 runs

Nagpur Test, day one: Kallis, Amla punish India

After Zaheer Khan (2-67) sent back openers Ashwell Prince and Graeme Smith in a fiery opening spell, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla slammed unbeaten centuries to help South Africa seize the momentum against India in Nagpur. Kallis scored 159 (off 290 balls, 13x4s, 2x6s) and Amla made 115 (off 225 balls, 11x4s) as the Proteas recovered from a 6/2 to reach 291/2 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test.

While Amla struck his eighth Test century, Kallis completed his 34th Test ton. He equalled legends Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara, and is now behind only Ricky Ponting (39) and Sachin Tendulkar (45).

India team: V Sehwag, G Gambhir, M Vijay, SR Tendulkar, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni (Captain, Wicketkeeper), WP Saha, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, A Mishra, I Sharma.

Nagpur Test, day one: South Africa 291/2 (Kallis 159*, Amla 115*, Zaheer 2-67) vs India

Nagpur Test: Battle for No. 1 begins

Under a cloudy sky, India will begin their 2-test series against South Africa in Nagpur today, needing only to draw the series to pick up the $175,000 bonus from ICC as the world's numero uno Test team. As for the Proteas, they must win the series at least 1-0, to regain their top ranking they held from December 2008 after dethroning the then champions Australia. Graeme Smith and Gautam Gambhir will battle it out for the No. 1 spot for Test batsmen.

India in all probability will feature a new look middle order batting line up, with VVS Laxman still uncertain to play. From where things stand, S Badrinath and Rohit Sharma are set to debut today in the middle order. The last time a middle order batsman made his debut in Team India was Yuvraj Singh in 2003. Inexperienced M Vijay will also be in the final playing XI.

India vs South Africa	Tests	Won by IND	Won by SAF	Drawn
in South Africa	12	1	6	5
in India	10	4	4	2
Overall	22	5	10	7

South Africa ready for India challenge

After bowling out Board President's XI for 318, South Africa overtook the target to reach 354 before folding. Leg-spinner Chawla (4/88) and off-spinner Ashwin (3/96) exposed the vulnerability of the visitors, especially the middle and lower order, against turning balls. Ashwell Prince (42), Smith (45), Hashim Amla (72 retired), Jacques Kallis (63 retired), JP Duminy (39) and AB de Villiers (27), all got the practice they were looking for.

Board President's XI 318 (Nayar 100, Dhwan 70, Morkel 3-24, Parnell 3-66) drew with South Africans 354 all out (Amla 72 retd, Kallis 63 retd, Chawla 4-88)

Reported earlier: South Africa begin their quest to regain the No 1 Test team spot when they commence their tour of India with a two-day practice match against Indian Board President's XI in Nagpur today.
With the Board XI having named a squad of 14 it is likely that both sides will use more than 11 players during the match.

South Africa : Amla, Botha, Boucher (wicket), de Villiers, Duminy, Harris, Kallis, McLaren, Morkel, Parnell, Petersen, Prince, Smith (Captain), Steyn, Tsotsobe

Injured Dravid, Yuvraj out of Nagpur Test; Mithun, Saha in against South Africa

Karnataka medium-fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun and Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha are the surprise inclusions in the 15-man squad announced by the national selectors in Mumbai to play in the first test against South Africa in Nagpur. While Saha was called up as back-up wicketkeeper for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, twenty-year-old pacer Mithun was rewarded for his excellent performance in domestic cricket ever since his debut in November 2009.
The 6' 2" tall Abhimanyu Mithun made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy match against UP and grabbed 11 wickets, including a hat-trick. In just 10 matches he now has 52 wickets.

Tamil Nadu's Subramaniam Badrinath might make his Test debut as India is missing both Dravid and Yuvraj Singh due to injuries sustained in Bangladesh. However, VVS Laxman, who missed the second Test against Bangladesh after injuring his left hand, is expected to be fit.

Team India will lose their No. 1 spot if the lose the series 2-0, while a 1-0 loss will leave both teams level on 123 rating points.

Indian Squad (15): Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Subramaniam Badrinath, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Sudeep Tyagi, Pragyan Ojha, Abhimanyu Mithun, Wriddhiman Saha.

Board President’s XI squad: Abhinav Mukund, Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma (captain), Manish Pandey, Cheteshwar Pujara, Abhishek Nayar, Piyush Chawla, R. Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Manpreet Gony.

India South Africa Cricket News

India vs South Africa Cricket Series 2007-08 in India

IND vs SA, 3rd Test, Kanpur: India crush South Africa by eight wickets to level series (1:1)

India won by 8 wickets in the third and final Test against South Africa at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur.
With this win, Team India have levelled the Future Cup series and retained their position in the ICC Test rankings. Harbhajan Singh was declared Man of the Series for picking an amazing haul of 19 wickets in the series.
Playing their second innings, South Africa were cheaply bowled out for 121-all out on Day 3 of the third Test. Spinner Harbhajan took a four wicket haul, while Virender Sehwag struck three vital wickets leaving Indian batsmen to chase a measly 62 run target to win the match and level the series.
Opening India's second innings play on a bouncy wicket on Day 3, Sehwag scored a quickfire 22 in 12 balls, with two huge sixes off Paul Harris. Sourav Ganguly on 13 and Dravid on 18 runs remained unbeaten at the end of play.
Earlier, replying to the Proteas' first innings total of 265-all out, India put up an aggregate of 325 runs taking a lead of 60 runs. Ganguly top scored playing a handsome knock of 87 runs, with VVS Laxman giving him company in the top scorers with a 33rd Test fifty. The Bengal Tiger was rightly adjudged Man of the Match.

IND vs SA, 3rd Test, Kanpur: India 325 & 64-2 beat South Africa 265 & 121 by eight wickets

IND vs SA, 3rd Test, Kanpur: Sharma, Munaf in Indian squad for Kanpur test, RP Singh dropped

After receiving a humiliating defeat from the South African team, India on Sunday made some changes in its squad for the Kanpur Test.
Pacers Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel have been inducted, while RP Singh has been dropped from the 16-member Indian squad. Selectors also recalled Mumbai’s off-spinner Ramesh Powar in the squad. The South African went 1-0 up in the three-test series on Saturday after winning the second game in Ahmedabad by an innings and 90 runs.
Powar, who has played two tests, has been named partly as cover for skipper and leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who suffered a groin strain in the drawn first test and did not seem fully fit in the second test. Shah said both Sharma and Kumble would be subject to fitness tests on April 10, a day before the final test starts in Kanpur.
India team: Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Vangipurappu Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Ishant Sharma, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Munaf Patel.

India South Africa Cricket Series 2006-07

Sourav Ganguly highest Indian run-getter in Test series

Comeback man Sourav Ganguly made a highly impressive return to the Indian Test team by emerging the team's highest run-scorer in the three-Test series against South Africa. The Bengal left-hander scored 214 runs in six innings at an average of 42.80 and was third in the overall run chart for the series, which the hosts won 2-1. Ganguly, who was out of the Indian team for around 10 months, was called back to add experience to the side, which lost 0-4 in the preceding one-day series. Sachin Tendulkar had the second best tally among the Indians and fourth overall. He compiled 199 runs in six innings averaging 33.16 with a highest score of 64. Skipper Rahul Dravid was uncharacteristically short of runs as he could contribute only 125 runs with an average of 20.83. Ashwell Prince, who amassed 306 at an impressive average of 61.20, topped the batting charts ahead of his captain Graeme Smith, who struck three consecutive fifties to boost his tally to 227 runs at 37.83. Among the bowlers, S Sreesanth was the most successful with 18 wickets at an average of 21.94. He was followed by South African paceman Makhaya Ntini who picked 15 wickets and Anil Kumble (14). All-rounder Shaun Pollock starred with both bat and ball. He contributed 187 runs at 37.40 and snared 13 wickets at a miserly average of 16.00

IND SA Third Test, Day five : South Africa win series 2-1

India slowed down South Africa's march to victory with two quick wickets after a rain delay but they couldn't stop the inevitable. Prince and Kallis shared a 27.5 over, 77 run partnership to guide South Africa to a 5 wicket victory. Prince remained not out on 38. Captain Smith top scored with 55, while Zaheer Khan took 4 for 62.

Only 50 minutes of play was possible on the morning of day five before persistent rain and brooding skies brought about an early lunch.

Third Test, Cape Town, day five: South Africa 373 & 211-5 beat India 414 & 169 by 5 wickets