The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

[Mantis]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Well we have them right on the ropes at the moment. At 7 for 137 and with Smith very unlikely to bat again we are in a very strong position.

That Johnson delivery to dismiss Boucher was a ripper.

Certainly was. The one the filled in Kallis wasn't half bad either.

Good to see McDonald get some reward for some consistent bowling performances.

[hujsh]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Does anyone think McDonald keep his spot as a number 8 batsman and 4th choice bowler in the long term? I always thought he'd have to bat higher and be that Kallis-esc allrounder

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Does anyone think McDonald keep his spot as a number 8 batsman and 4th choice bowler in the long term? I always thought he'd have to bat higher and be that Kallis-esc allrounder

Whilst he has done far better with the ball than I expected, he will struggle to hold the number 4 bowling spot unless he starts to bat very well. There are better strike bowlers around and we will need to play a spinner somewhere down the track.

[mjp]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Wow. Siddle ran straight through them this morning.

Anyone else surprised that Ponting didn't enforce the follow-on? The bowlers had a big day yesterday I suppose, but with the innings ending 10minutes into the first session, they would have/should have been pretty fresh. Johnson has been bowling 25 overs + per innings, and I think only got through 15 or so...

I thought the follow on would have been enforced for sure.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Wow. Siddle ran straight through them this morning.

Anyone else surprised that Ponting didn't enforce the follow-on? The bowlers had a big day yesterday I suppose, but with the innings ending 10minutes into the first session, they would have/should have been pretty fresh. Johnson has been bowling 25 overs + per innings, and I think only got through 15 or so...

I thought the follow on would have been enforced for sure.

Teams seem a little gun shy in doing that now, I guess it goes back to India, then there's Headingly in '89. No one wants to seem to want to bat last.

In answer to your query mjp, yes, I would have enforced the follow on, then again if I had a decent spinner I might have batted instead.

[westdog54]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Teams seem a little gun shy in doing that now, I guess it goes back to India, then there's Headingly in '89. No one wants to seem to want to bat last.

In answer to your query mjp, yes, I would have enforced the follow on, then again if I had a decent spinner I might have batted instead.

I think you mean Headingly in '81?

I wouldn't have enforced it TBH. For mine anything short of a 300 lead nowadays is nowhere near enough a buffer to enforce a follow on.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I'm in the anti-follow-on camp.

Unless it looks like time will be a factor (or weather), bat.

By batting, your bowlers get a rest and then they have to try to save the match when the pitch is at it's worst.

By enforcing the follow-on their batsmen have had a chance to put their feet up and come out refreshed ready to rip into tiring bowlers.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I'm in the anti-follow-on camp.

Unless it looks like time will be a factor (or weather), bat.

By batting, your bowlers get a rest and then they have to try to save the match when the pitch is at it's worst.

By enforcing the follow-on their batsmen have had a chance to put their feet up and come out refreshed ready to rip into tiring bowlers.

Whilst I don't disagree with you only one of our bowlers bowled more than 15 overs so given we wrapped up their tail with just a few deliveries this morning our bowlers actually weren't tired. Our bowlers would have been primed for a big session or two especially after cleaning them up in the the SA first innings.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

All these back to back test matches going on enforcing the follow on is now basically redundant.Great fightback by the aussies in this series,played some very good cricket.
kudos to the selectors for FINALLY getting it right.
Would have liked a frontline spinner though

[Mantis]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

All these back to back test matches going on enforcing the follow on is now basically redundant.Great fightback by the aussies in this series,played some very good cricket.
kudos to the selectors for FINALLY getting it right.
Would have liked a frontline spinner though

Why would you add a confused emoticon after this statement?

[hujsh]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Great stuff by Hughes. Youngest player to score 2 hundreds in a match in Test history

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

With a huge lead, but two full days to go, I wonder how much longer we will bat for? At a guess I would try and get about 80 more in the first 90 minutes leaving them over a 100 per session to snatch an unlikely win.

McDonald tying up an end won't be as valuable this time so we need Johnson and Siddle to get a few early wickets.

[dog town]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I would really have to question the mental state of some of the SA players given how quickly and dramatically the turn around between these two sides has been. Brilliant cricket from Australia but ever since Smith put Ponting down on day 1 of the first test the contest has completely swung. We are playing all over them at the moment.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I would really have to question the mental state of some of the SA players given how quickly and dramatically the turn around between these two sides has been. Brilliant cricket from Australia but ever since Smith put Ponting down on day 1 of the first test the contest has completely swung. We are playing all over them at the moment.

It's a fair point because in Australia they hardly missed a chance and we paid for it.

Johnson's bowling has been the big surprise. He has been quick, intimidating and has swung the ball late which has really lifted the other bowlers.
Lillee wrote a while back that Johnson was a once in a generation bowler which seemed to be out of whack but at the moment it's bang on the money.

[dog town]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

It's a fair point because in Australia they hardly missed a chance and we paid for it.

Johnson's bowling has been the big surprise. He has been quick, intimidating and has swung the ball late which has really lifted the other bowlers.
Lillee wrote a while back that Johnson was a once in a generation bowler which seemed to be out of whack but at the moment it's bang on the money.

He has been sensational. Siddle, McDonald and even Hilfenhaus have all been very good as well. We can build our attack around Johnson and Siddle now as long as we dont burn them out.