Australia vs South Africa

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

If I could select players based on the style of play that I want to see playing for us at the moment I'd have Cam Bancroft at 3 and Sam Heazlett at 5. I'm just not sure who to put at 6 but it has to be a batsman first if we don't replace Neville with say Handscomb which is a risky selection.
I'd just about have Sayers in before Siddle as well.

Heazlett's a good call, he'll be a very good cricketer.

Does Wade come into thinking? I wouldnt because I still don't think his keeping is at the standard but he'd definitley bring some grit to the lower order.

Our keeping stocks really are poor at the moment

Would a stop gap #6 "just pick him because he's in form" like Klinger come into calculations if we go with two new inexperienced batsmen? Just look past the obsession with the future and all rounders that goes with the #6 batting role for Australia for a series or two and pick a bloke because he's in form, he's been in form for a while, he can bat for long periods and most of all he is a smart player.

Smart batsmen (I've gotta stop including the bowlers, on the whole they've been really good and deserve better support from their batsmen than they have been getting. It must be soul destroying constantly bowling good teams out for low scores and sit in the sheds and watch the batsmen piss the advantage away test after test) have been in short supply.

Anyway it doesn't have to be Klinger. He was just the first to come to mind and I'm having trouble thinking of anyone else. Someone solid, inform and smart. There are 24 million of us. It can't be that hard?

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

I know I'm in the minority, I've said it for awhile, Wade could play at 6 as a specialist bat (ave. 35. 2 centuries, 3 fifties). He's got a lot more in his batting than Marsh.

Is it purely on the type of batsman he is? There are a number of players I'd rather have at 6 than Wade

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Is it purely on the type of batsman he is? There are a number of players I'd rather have at 6 than Wade

He's a known quantity and I think if he focussed more on his batting he could potentially nudge up his average of 35 towards 40+. With our recent batting form, a known quantity who has a balance between grit and attack with an OK average is good with me.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

I know I'm in the minority, I've said it for awhile, Wade could play at 6 as a specialist bat (ave. 35. 2 centuries, 3 fifties). He's got a lot more in his batting than Marsh.

Wade is a good cricketer with a questionable character as far as I'm concerned. I wouldn't play him but he would average a lot more than Neville.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Anyone hear Warnie state that Australia still had a good chance of winning this one at the end of yesterdays play.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Anyone hear Warnie state that Australia still had a good chance of winning this one at the end of yesterdays play.

If we were chasing 400 I'd give us a sneaky chance. Its a good batting wicket, they're down to 3 genuine bowlers in hot conditions and one is on debut. Their quicks are going to get ragged if we keep them out there.

I'd absorb the quick's early spells, attack the spinner and really milk the part timers. Faf doesn't have many options but lots of overs from himself and Duminy while Rabada and Philander lose their bite.

Edit: Not when Warner runs himself out! You've got 5 sessions to bat you fool. Absolute lunacy

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Edit: Not when Warner runs himself out! You've got 5 sessions to bat you fool. Absolute lunacy

We are in desperate need of smart cricketers that know how to minimise risks and adapt their play to the way the game is unfolding.
A great chance to put some doubts to the minds of an inexperienced attack has been missed by our openers.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

If we were chasing 400 I'd give us a sneaky chance. Its a good batting wicket, they're down to 3 genuine bowlers in hot conditions and one is on debut. Their quicks are going to get ragged if we keep them out there.

I'd absorb the quick's early spells, attack the spinner and really milk the part timers. Faf doesn't have many options but lots of overs from himself and Duminy while Rabada and Philander lose their bite.

Edit: Not when Warner runs himself out! You've got 5 sessions to bat you fool. Absolute lunacy

Lunacy? Hits it off the back foot to a nimble fielder, is slow to get away and didn't seem to be sprinting at 100%. Let alone the lack of need to do it. It's complete and utter *!*!*!*!ing lunacy. The only thing that reassures me is that the same 12 players are going to back this up next test. South Africa must be shitting themselves facing this playing group again, especially our overworked quick bowlers. Here's a tip Tubby Taylor, it's not the length of time putting fans off. It's an arrogant regime, dim witted selectors and sub par players putting fans off (along with ticket prices, and venue costs). It's my favourite format but it's getting harder to defend, and if we get routed and have another 'great' 2.5 day/night test then it might not be redeemable hoping to get fans back next summer when we smash Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Poor shot from Smith, went chasing a wide one with no footwork, just as Rabada was starting to swing them

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Voges follows, Rabada is a special player but Voges had no idea what to do with that

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

300+ run pantsing on the cards. I can't say I have any faith in this 12 turning it around, but they're going to have to because of the selectors or face a series a loss. Congrats to Webby on your $5.25 on the Saffers!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

We tend to focus on ourselves which is fair enough, but gee SAf have been mighty in this game. They went in without their best batsman, were 4 for bugger all but scrounged a score, lost their best bowler, were 0/150 against but rebounded again, batted brilliantly then their bowlers have been ruthless. Philander is very underrated as a quality, probing Test bowler, Rabada could be anything and that Run Out was more memorable than anything else in this match - magic. Fair play to SAf, they have played an exceptional match.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Khawaja saved by a no ball on 84. With Rabada injured too, hopefully he can fill his boots.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Aleem Dar strikes again and gets Khawaja on 97...

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Seriously though, Marsh at 6 doesn't and hasn't worked. Time for a change.