Australia vs South Africa

[Mantis]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

The '8 for' was outstanding but going for 200 was way too lose. Still an '8 for' would normally mean that we would win a test and just shows the the support team is not performing.

If in grabbing an 8 for you go for in excess of 200 runs there is a fair chance that plenty of runs are being scored at the other end too. If the run rate is the same at either end you are looking at the opposition making over 400. When that score is made by the opposition there is a fair chance that you will not win that match.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Probably due to 2 things, the first innings recovery after being 3 for 16 or so, and nutting out a half decent first innings score, plus we had plenty on the board to bowl out Sth Africa in that final innings, no team should ever chase down over 400 in a 4th innings!

What would normally conspire against achieving 400 is time as well as the score. On this occasion there was plenty of time and clearly the pitch was good.

Whilst our attack struggled for wickets, the batsmen failed to score enough runs to put the game out of their grasp. 319 in the third innings when the keeper got the highest score was no where near enough as a contribution by the specialist batsmen.

Most got a start but then slaughtered their innings with rash shots. When a batsmen gets out for nought it can be understood as they have not had an opportunity to get the pace of the wicket etc. But to get out when you get a start without a bowler contributing to the batsman's demise is not good enough at this level.

And when a nondescript dart thrower like Harris bobs up with key wickets on a track like that, it is a poor indeed.

[mighty_west]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

What would normally conspire against achieving 400 is time as well as the score. On this occasion there was plenty of time and clearly the pitch was good.

Indeed, yet 3 innings fell with that much time left! and with the way we [mainly Mitch Johnson] ripped apart their 1st innings, and perhaps their confidence, 400 plus should have been more than enough.

Make no mistake, there were flaws in both our batting & bowling...but having said that, Sth Africa havent just fluked now 11 test wins on the trot, they are a quality side, and perhaps have even gone past the Aussies!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Indeed, yet 3 innings fell with that much time left! and with the way we [mainly Mitch Johnson] ripped apart their 1st innings, and perhaps their confidence, 400 plus should have been more than enough.

Make no mistake, there were flaws in both our batting & bowling...but having said that, Sth Africa havent just fluked now 11 test wins on the trot, they are a quality side, and perhaps have even gone past the Aussies!

I agree there is not much between both sides. we need to get the best out of Hayden, Ponting, Hussey and Carke whereas they need to get the best out of Smith, Amla, Kallis and de Villiers.

In the Perth test, under this comparison they came out well on top.

I think it's going to come down to this as the attacks are fairly similar in that neither side has a top slow.

Recognising SA as a good side and that Australia does not posess a divine right to win, is difficult to accept by many.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

I think it's going to come down to this as the attacks are fairly similar in that neither side has a top slow.

Harris bowled to a better plan though and was more effective.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Harris bowled to a better plan though and was more effective.

I reckon Harris is a flat dart thrower who should be exposed on our wickets. The wickets he picked up in Perth were the result of reckless batting rather than skillful bowling on his part.

He represents the Aussies best opportunity to plunder some runs.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

I reckon Harris is a flat dart thrower who should be exposed on our wickets. The wickets he picked up in Perth were the result of reckless batting rather than skillful bowling on his part.

He represents the Aussies best opportunity to plunder some runs.

Sure enough but because he bowled defensively and because they set good fields to him eventually our batsman chased him. Krejza on the other hand coughs up a boundary every 2nd over.

I agree that Harris could be exploited but we will have to make better shot selections when we attack him.