Australia vs South Africa

[GVGjr]

How do you see this series going?
Whilst the South Africans are highly rated their form against the Australians has been typically poor however I think this series will be a very close and hard fought one.

The SA's batting has improved a fair bit and Boucher gives them a lot of depth and their bowling is on the improve although Steyn and Morkel have taken a lot of wickets against some of the lesser light.

I think we might win this but it could very well end up a one all drawn series.

[mighty_west]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Really looking forward to this series, especially looking forward to seeing Steyn bowling on Aussie pitches, especially the WACA.

I remember when he first started off, and looked so far away from what he is now, and has become one of the most feared fast bowlers going around.

[Happy Days]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Clark's out.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/content/story/382005.html

On the plus side, there might actually be a Victorian in the team!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

I think this will be a great series. I really rate South Africa and Australia are going through a transition phase. Stuart Clark being out is not going to help Australia's cause at all, and as a result my head backs the Proteas to win this series.

[mighty_west]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Katich & Clarke to the rescue AGAIN!!!!

Their fast bowlers showed their class, Steyn took an over or 2 to get used to the conditions, Ntini was bang on target from ball one, and will do that all day if he needs to, he is just a machine that guy.

Haydos hit a few nice 4's, then got out, Pont.....first ball, and Hussey duck......

Let's hope Symonds can produce, HE OWES!

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Katich & Clarke to the rescue AGAIN!!!!

Their fast bowlers showed their class, Steyn took an over or 2 to get used to the conditions, Ntini was bang on target from ball one, and will do that all day if he needs to, he is just a machine that guy.

Haydos hit a few nice 4's, then got out, Pont.....first ball, and Hussey duck......

Let's hope Symonds can produce, HE OWES!

As mentioned in the NZ thread, Hayden must retire now and give someone like Rogers a go.

[Mantis]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Ponting's footwork or lack of it is worrying. He has always been a shaky starter, but it seems to be costing him his wicket even more so. He isn't committing to take a full stride forward and is going hard at the ball.

Would like to see his break down of runs over the past 12 to 18 months. I would think that he is making alot more scores under 10 now with the occassional big score thrown in. He just isn't as consistent as he once was.

[Happy Days]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

As mentioned in the NZ thread, Hayden must retire now and give someone like Rogers a go.

I would put either Klinger, on current form, or Hughes, on potential, ahead of Rogers. He didn't look comfortable even for a second last summer when he got his shot.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

I would put either Klinger, on current form, or Hughes, on potential, ahead of Rogers. He didn't look comfortable even for a second last summer when he got his shot.

Aren't we lucky you're not a selector then

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

What a terrific day of test cricket, momentum swinging back & forth. Australia 9-341 at stumps. I reckon it's about 50 runs short of what they would have liked but at 3-15 I'm sure that would have taken that if it was offered.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

What a terrific day of test cricket, momentum swinging back & forth. Australia 9-341 at stumps. I reckon it's about 50 runs short of what they would have liked but at 3-15 I'm sure that would have taken that if it was offered.

400 is always a good score in the first innings but coming back from 3 for 15 they would be more than delighted with the position. I think we are 50 runs better than what we could have reasonably hoped for.

The real game starts tomorrow. That first session is critical and I would think that the SA openers will be ultra careful and stubborn.

[Happy Days]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Aren't we lucky you're not a selector then

Haha too right...I would've dropped Haddin before the Kiwi tests

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

What a terrific day of test cricket, momentum swinging back & forth. Australia 9-341 at stumps. I reckon it's about 50 runs short of what they would have liked but at 3-15 I'm sure that would have taken that if it was offered.

An outstanding day of Test cricket.

A couple of things to come out of it. Hayden gets out to an around the wicket bowler again. This weakness was discovered by the Poms in 2005 and he shows no signs of overcoming it.

Good innings from Katich, Clarke and Symonds unfortunately thrown away with terrible shots.

Morkel looks difficult to play coming from such a height whilst Steyne's problem is he thinks he's super quick. He was singularly unimpressive.

I thought the Aussies did a good job of playing Harris into the next two Tests when they will take to him in a big way.

Reminded me of Greg Chappell a hundred years ago when playing for an Australian XI against the Pakis early season before the Test series when he said to me of a Paki bowler, "watch me play this prick into the test side" and proceeded to nudge and poke at him for five or six overs.

Come the first Test, they brought the same Paki on to bowl and he smashed him all over the park.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Reminded me of Greg Chappell a hundred years ago when playing for an Australian XI against the Pakis early season before the Test series when he said to me of a Paki bowler, "watch me play this prick into the test side" and proceeded to nudge and poke at him for five or six overs.

Come the first Test, they brought the same Paki on to bowl and he smashed him all over the park.

Was that Sarfraz Nawaz?

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Thatr Mitch Johnson dismissal was just about the worst LBW decision I've ever seen. I'm not saying it cost Australia too much because it was only the #10 batsman, but to be given out when you are hit on the pad by a full toss bowled by a bowler who is bowling right arm around the wicket is plain bad luck.