Blown away at Centurion

Sheer lack of match practice did India in on the first day at Centurion. The world's best team was in danger of being all out within 2 sessions and a poor score, save for bad light and some enterprising batting by Harbhajan and Dhoni.

Let's look at the factors that led to such a debacle:

A) Lack of match practice: For an important tour like this the Board should've ensured that they play atleast two 4-day matches with local teams to get acclimatised. The pace n' bounce at SA is exactly the opposite of the batsmen friendly conditions in the sub-continent. Players like Gambhir and Zaheer Khan have just finished a one day series and they walk in straight for a test match in totally alien conditions.
The BCCI should've ensured that all players get adequate rest and travel to SA atleast 15-20 days prior to the test matches.

B) Scheduling of matches : In the last year, India played all their matches in the subcontinent. All of a sudden they're confronted with green tops and look very uncomfortable against genuine pace n' bounce. The Board may well be advised to hold atleast 1/3rd of test and one dayers, in a year, in other parts of the world, barring the subcontinent.

C) Cricketers to blame : While the above pointers are beyond the control of our cricketers, they should've ensured that they stick to get a feel of the wicket. Play the first 40-50 balls without taking risks and India would've blunted SA's plan. It helps to pay respect to conditions & not bat they way they're used to in the subcontinent. The shot Sehwag got out to is a clear example of what not to do.

One or two bad sessions can determine the outcome of an entire series. India's stake to claim to be the world's best team might lay in tatters at the end of the series.

With Zaheer Khan injured, it'll be very difficult for India to come back.

I just hope Dhoni & Co prove me wrong. It's upto Sreesanth, Harbhajan & Co. to salvage their reputation as the world's best team.