Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

Good thing we stiffened up the batting by leaving that useless #11 out.

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

How did Philander get injured?

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

What else do you do with the side? Voges is probably done after this but they've played the extra batsman and the batsman have been defensive (Warner aside). The talent just isn't there.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

And shot selection. And techniques. The only thing we've done right today is perhaps breaking Philander's ribs.

I had a bet on Big Phil for Man of the Match so I disagree that it was the right thing to do

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

How did Philander get injured?

Bowling to Smith, ball hit Smith on pad and went down leg side. Philander appealed and was about 3qtr way down the pitch, Smith went for a run and when he looked up Phil was right in front of him. Put his arm up to protect himself and ended up elbowing him in the ribs but Philander was complaining about his shoulder.

[whythelongface]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

I thought the game was in Hobart - the pitch is behaving like the Green Mamba in Kingsmead - it is near unplayable at times, and a disgrace at international level. This is the sort of pitch you expect in the VTCA or old WDCA.

Maybe channel 9 have requested a 1 day test, so they can show replays of Tom Boyd's goal continuously over the next 4 days. It would be far more interesting.

The pitch isn't that bad. Our batting has been extremely poor. I would rather a pitch that has some life where the batsmen have to work hard for runs then but once they get settled there are runs to be had. It beats a road where the bowler has little impact on the state of the game.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

So what do we know about recent Australian teams and that the selectors seem OK to accept?

They can't play the swinging ball.
They can't play spin bowling on the sub-continent.
The Duke ball has caused them all sorts of problems and cost them a couple of series.
The batsman like to play their shots and are only expected to play their 'natural' game.
If a wicket falls the incoming batsman may not have a partner who will knuckle down and start on building a partnership.
Giving away your wicket with a stupid shot or poor running between wickets is not that serious.
The selectors expect the tail end batsman to put value on their wicket but not the top order.
The selectors don't place a great emphasis on the fighting qualities of a player.
Oh yeah, we are madly in love with the concept of all-rounders regardless of their performances.

Have I missed many?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

If your head is shoved so far up your own arses you can't hear criticism or see painfully obvious problems.

Now 7/59

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

The problem is an almost utter lack of technique each batsman suffers from. On a flat pitch against a pedestrian attack it might be alright to swing the bat away from your body or take your eye off the short ball and try and scoop it over slip for four. But on a pitch with a bit of juice in it or in conditions that are making the ball tail around a bit you have to play with a straight bat and move your feet and keep your body behind the line of the ball and all that boring crap every coach you have had since the age of eight has insisted you practice. You have to wear the bowlers down and wait for the ball to get soft.

In these conditions it's paying attention to the boring details that win you games.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

Out for 85.

So proud.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

I had a bet on Big Phil for Man of the Match so I disagree that it was the right thing to do

Happy with a first innings 5/21

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

Out for 85.

So proud.

Wow. 85 is pretty good. Hopefully RSA don't spend to long batting us out of it so we can all stop having to think about it. Shouldn't take to long. A lead of 50 should be enough to ensure an innings win.


When does footy season start? It can't be too far away.

[whythelongface]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

The problem is an almost utter lack of technique each batsman suffers from. On a flat pitch against a pedestrian attack it might be alright to swing the bat away from your body or take your eye off the short ball and try and scoop it over slip for four. But on a pitch with a bit of juice in it or in conditions that are making the ball tail around a bit you have to play with a straight bat and move your feet and keep your body behind the line of the ball and all that boring crap every coach you have had since the age of eight has insisted you practice. You have to wear the bowlers down and wait for the ball to get soft.

In these conditions it's paying attention to the boring details that win you games.

Pretty much sums it up. Not the only excuse but playing the same way as do in the short form of the game does not always garner success in the long form of the game. Sometimes you need to graft out an innings when conditions don't suit. Our players, these days, are rarely able to do this.

[whythelongface]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

South Africa 0/31 showing much better technique than us.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa: Test Two

South Africa 0/31 showing much better technique than us.

Yeah the mystical pitch has been replaced with a normal pitch