The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

[azabob]

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.

I find your thoughts on Johnson interesting. He had a great summer here and I thought it was expected he'd just continue on.
Or do you think cause he is young he might have struggled under the weight of expectation and being our number one bowler?

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I find your thoughts on Johnson interesting. He had a great summer here and I thought it was expected he'd just continue on.
Or do you think cause he is young he might have struggled under the weight of expectation and being our number one bowler?

I think on the innings so far in over in SA he has reached another level which he hadn't quite reached here. He was good in India, better again in Australia but has surpassed even his Australian form in SA.

[dog town]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I think on the innings so far in over in SA he has reached another level which he hadn't quite reached here. He was good in India, better again in Australia but has surpassed even his Australian form in SA.

Before this series he was more or less relying on batsmen making an error particularly when bowling to right handers. He could get the odd ball to cut across them and get a nick but most of his wickets to right handers were batsmen chasing a wide ball. This series he has been able to get right handers out through pure quality. Bringing the ball back in through the air, cutting the ball both ways and bowling some brutal short balls, he has done it all this series. He has always been quality against the left handers but now he is the complete package.

[hujsh]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

The Amla dismissal shows how much Johnson has improved.

I found it strange that he could swing it back in the one day game when he first started but not in the test arena. Gad he found a way because he is unstoppable at the moment

[mighty_west]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

The Amla dismissal shows how much Johnson has improved.

I found it strange that he could swing it back in the one day game when he first started but not in the test arena. Gad he found a way because he is unstoppable at the moment

It is the ball you do not want to get first up, i think that was an even better delivery than the one that got Boucher out, and that was a ripper, the only negative from it was that Mitch had to wait 5 minutes to know if it was going to be given out, and you could tell from the moment it hit the pad it was plumb, as a bowler, as an ump, you know when it's out, unfortunatly technology wants to slow the game down, even Shaun Pollock said there is no way known that can be called not out.

Johnson just keeps improving out of sight, it was funny how the commentators were saying that the pitch had become lively all of a sudden when the Aussies were bowling, but the pitch on day one showed bounce, their bowlers just didn't capitalise on that.

[westdog54]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Was it really that long ago???

Gee I feel old. Thanks Nick.

I wasn't even born and I still remember it.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Good to get Kallis out and we just need to make one more break through quickly.

[dog town]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Sidsy gets another big wicket meaning the game is almost done.

Mark Boucher has really struggled with the bat of late. Count how many times the commentators call him a warrior, battler or fighter. Bordering on ridiculous the amount his batting is talked up.

[GVGjr]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Sidsy gets another big wicket meaning the game is almost done.

Mark Boucher has really struggled with the bat of late. Count how many times the commentators call him a warrior, battler or fighter. Bordering on ridiculous the amount his batting is talked up.

It was a big wicket and stifles out any chance they had. I agree that Boucher isn't the same with the bat that we saw for so many years.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Katich just got Harris. Very good captaincy from Ponting,katich on last over before lunch.He should have bowled in the home series Katich. Johnson has just been immense,newly developed ball that tails in to the right hander. Kudos to peter Siddle playing under duress and bowling beautifully.

[hujsh]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Katich just got Harris. Very good captaincy from Ponting,katich on last over before lunch.He should have bowled in the home series Katich. Johnson has just been immense,newly developed ball that tails in to the right hander. Kudos to peter Siddle playing under duress and bowling beautifully.

My new favorite bowler. He gets so bloody revved up and he's a Vic. Most importantly though he gets wickets

[Missing-Dog]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

I'm developing a bit of a man crush on Peter Siddle. Can't say the same for Haddin though. He must have known he didn't take that one off Duminy. Poor form. These last two series against the Proteas' have been played in really good spirit and that sort of stuff from Haddin is not on.

[Mantis]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

Sidsy gets another big wicket meaning the game is almost done.

Mark Boucher has really struggled with the bat of late. Count how many times the commentators call him a warrior, battler or fighter. Bordering on ridiculous the amount his batting is talked up.

What the?

Wasn't Siddle's previous profession that of a wood chopper?

A wood chopper doesn't have a poofy nickname like 'Sidsy'.

[dog town]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

That would be why Haddin shrugged his shoulders and said he wasnt sure then. He didnt claim the catch did he? I certainly thought it was his reaction that lead to the doubt in the firs place.

Siddle is going to be a massive cult hero.

[KT31]

Re: The Second Test - Australia vs South Africa

That would be why Haddin shrugged his shoulders and said he wasnt sure then. He didnt claim the catch did he? I certainly thought it was his reaction that lead to the doubt in the firs place.

Siddle is going to be a massive cult hero.

All this aside , Hadden is not really up to it as a keeper.
To many losses in concentration and sloppy glove work.
Even the a B grade keeper knows to concentrate,wait for the bounce, watch the ball and use two hands.
Something he shows time and time again he is not able to do.