As far as I am concerned test-match is over for India at Centurion as they lose to South Africa. Everybody must be wondering how could India lose because test match is still in progress but I must say the kind of situation India is in there is only one result possible and that is India will end on losing note at Centurion.
The way Proteas dominated Team India on first 2 days, first with the ball and then with the bat, it seems Proteas have already sealed the fate of this match because no team recover from the situation after conceding lead of more than 400. At the moment South Africa is 220 runs ahead and they have 8 wickets in hand and they way they are batting or rather I say the way Indian bowlers are bowling, I am sure Proteas will put huge score on the board, so India have to chase the leather today as well at Centurion.
How much our bowlers struggle against South Africa can be known from the fact that Hashim Amla is averaging over 600 against India this year with four centuries to his credit and India succeeded to dismiss him at one occasion only so far. So no respite for Team India. All South African batsmen are in good from and which is reflecting from the fact that both openers in Smith and Peterson scored half century before getting out. Amla and Kallis are not-out on 100+ scores and due for many more and players waiting for their chance are AB Devilliers and Ashwell Prince are capable enough to play big innings.
I am also surprised the way Proteas played on this pitch. This pitch looked absolute beauty for batting right now compare to first day when India was batting and they scored paltry 136 in their first innings and surrendered of South African bowling. Now result is clear from this test and that is Proteas will end on winning side and that too with big margin and that will dent Indian team's morale badly for remaining test matches. I also admit that Indian bowlers bowled poorly in this match and they wasted the new ball completely although pitch had little assistance for the bowlers. India certainly missed the Zaheer Khan in this match. I think India don't deserve No.1 status in test-match if they can't perform well in alien conditions.
At WACA, situation of England is also no different from team India. They are also on the verge of losing the match because they allowed Aussies to clawed back into the match on second day by batting poorly in best of the batting conditions. I think credit goes to Mitchell Johnson, the way he bowled in this match. He proved that dropping him from second test match at Adelaide was big mistake. Australia is already having a lead of more than 300 and look to increase this lead beyond 400 and looks like certain winner of this match. Here on England have to bat very well like they batted in first test at GABBA if they want to save this match but that is uphill task and I feel it will be difficult for them to repeat the same performance. Good boost for Australians and once again Mike Hussey proved trump card for them who scored his second hundred of the series.
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