The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

[mighty_west]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Hughes seems to be playing with the bat along way from the body. Doesn't appear to have his weight balanced.
This is the first I've seen of him, does he tend to bat this way normally?

He's nowhere near a Mark Waugh in regards to technique, but just grinds his way through, i guess you could almost compare him to a young Justin Langer.

Steyn was blowling some great nuts around his head & chest area's, really testing him out, he would slip up and bowl one just outside off, and with so much ease, Hughes would just tap it to the boundary.

[dog town]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Comical listening to the SA commentators bagging Hughes. He always bats like that, its awkward but effective.

[mjp]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

He's nowhere near a Mark Waugh in regards to technique, but just grinds his way through, i guess you could almost compare him to a young Justin Langer.

More like an 'old' JL I reckon. The young JL scored ALL of his runs behind square - Hughes does score well in front of the wicket.

[ledge]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Isnt Siddle looking good as a long time prospect, very consistant and just what Australia needed.
Can be a wicket taker or a tight bowler, depending on what the team needs at the time.

[hujsh]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

32 of 36 runs scored by Hughes between cover and fine leg.

Wagon wheel here

[dog town]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Catching is still a worry for us. Siddle should have had a 5 wicket haul with 2 chances going down behind the stumps. We cant afford to be dropping these chances.

[lemmon]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Catching is still a worry for us. Siddle should have had a 5 wicket haul with 2 chances going down behind the stumps. We cant afford to be dropping these chances.

I think the more worrying thing is that it was Ponting and Haddin. The most experienced slipper and the keeper. Haddin really shouldve shown more judgement, was never his catch.

[hujsh]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

From 1-99 to 5-104. Saffers are fighting

[The Coon Dog]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Great catch that by de Villiers at leg slip to dismiss Hughes for 75.

[GVGjr]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Great catch that by de Villiers at leg slip to dismiss Hughes for 75.

I'll say.

Hughes is very unorthodox isn't he?

We really have made this very difficult on ourselves and the middle order has just been too inconsistent of late. Hopefully McDonald at 8 will pay dividends for us.

[Mantis]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

We really have made this very difficult on ourselves and the middle order has just been too inconsistent of late. Hopefully McDonald at 8 will pay dividends for us.

We are already 390 in front, if we bowl well this should be enough.

[hujsh]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Currently 145/7. With a lead of 400 this test is shaping up similarly to the Perth one. Might be harder to bat on this track however.

God i hope we don't lose this one.

[GVGjr]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

We are already 390 in front, if we bowl well this should be enough.

If we bowl well then 300 should be enough but this SA team has a bit of spirit and class so it could be slog.
I wonder if McDonald will be effective with the ball in the 2nd dig?

[LostDoggy]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

Great catch that by de Villiers at leg slip to dismiss Hughes for 75.

A.B. has to be my favourite cricketer going around at the moment. The guy is as brilliant a cricketer as they come -- there's literally nothing he can't do. What is the stat -- first test player to, in his first 10 tests, open the batting, bat in the middle order, score a century, bowl off-spin, take a wicket, take a catch, effect a run-out AND keep wicket.

He is also the best, most complete fielder I've ever seen -- moves better than Jonty, catches like Mark Waugh, breaks the stumps as often as Ponting.

Smart, funny, classy bloke too.

[GVGjr]

Re: The First Test - Australia vs South Africa

SA finished the day at 2 for 178 and need to score about 90 per session to win this. With De Villiers and Duminy to follow we need a good first up session.

I see Geeves has been sent to SA to cover for the inured Bollinger.