Australia in South Africa Oct-Nov 2011/12

[aussie1st]

Khawaja is a bit like Hussey atm, both can fight their way through but there always seems to be one ball with their name on it stopping them from making that big 100.

Haddin and Ponting look done for, I can't go through another North/Hussey waiting 2 years for the next 100, already doing that in the bowling department waiting for Johnson and Siddle to fire.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Khawaja is a bit like Hussey atm, both can fight their way through but there always seems to be one ball with their name on it stopping them from making that big 100.

Haddin and Ponting look done for, I can't go through another North/Hussey waiting 2 years for the next 100, already doing that in the bowling department waiting for Johnson and Siddle to fire.

Eh? That sounds a non-starter as a comparison. Hussey got tons 2 matches in a row in Sri Lanka and Khawaja is yet to even get to 50 after 6 innings this year.

Punter is looking foolish now. I never thought I'd see that.

 

[aussie1st]

Eh? That sounds a non-starter as a comparison. Hussey got tons 2 matches in a row in Sri Lanka and Khawaja is yet to even get to 50 after 6 innings this year.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/464526.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/engine/current/match/464527.html

I was thinking of this Hussey.

 

[sifter132]

Haddin and Ponting look done for, I can't go through another North/Hussey waiting 2 years for the next 100, already doing that in the bowling department waiting for Johnson and Siddle to fire.

I think Phil Hughes is our next Marcus North. Seems to make a big score when his head is on the chopping block, with not a lot in between. And like Marcus, once he gets going Hughes looks good, but at the start of his innings he's very edgy.

As for Ponting, I think the selectors will have to give him a tiny push and tell him he's going to be dropped, then it's up to Ponting to retire with grace. Only question for him is whether he goes route A or route B. Route A would be the stubborn Matthew Hayden approach of 2008/09 where he struggled through the summer hoping to rediscover his form and retired straight after the Tests having proven beyond doubt he was in awful form. Route B would be Steve Waugh, who announced he was going to retire before the 2003/04 Tests began. Let's just say that Waugh was much better received than Hayden was by the crowds during their last summers in the side...It depends how confident Ponting is I guess.

 

[angryangy]

Perhaps the difference is that Steve Waugh had the good grace to recover from a form slump before retiring. He'd already won his battle with that epic century at Sydney during the Ashes, but leading up to that, he was facing the same problem. And Ponting's been struggling to overcome the issue for pretty much four years, during which indifferent but serviceable form has given way to a scoring pattern somewhat diabolical.

The fact is that most blokes, whether they're good or not, are forced out due to the cold realities. What ever happened to Graham Thorpe? Arguably England's best Test batsman in his day, one can only assume that upon reaching 100 Tests, he converted into a ghostly Obi Wan-like figure, haunting and guiding the techniques of young batsmen.

 

[swacker]

I think Ponting deserves to finish on home soil at least. We're carrying Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin so I think Ponting has more than earnt the right to be carried to a final farewell under the Australian sun.

Did anyone see Wade made 120 for the Vics the other day? Maybe Paine isn't the walk in my thought.

 

[sifter132]

Ah yes Graham Thorpe...I remember being happy that they'd picked KP ahead of him in 2005, and then realising that KP was pretty damn talented Lucky they didn't pick both and drop Ian Bell who was rubbish back then.

Anyway, back to the match...If Graeme Smith is still in after the first hour, I really hope Clarke throws the ball to Lyon. So far he's been 5th choice and very underused, although fairly understandable given some of the conditions. But Smith's a man he can trouble. And it will be interesting to see how much Watson can bowl if at all.

 

[Sedition]

I wish they'd mute the stump mic while Smith digs a hole after every tweaking ball

 

[aussie1st]

Hasn't been the best start by Cummins, all over the shop and not hitting the right areas.

 

[Sedition]

Starting to look like last week's second innings from Saf. Rudolph falling early follows the script. Now don't drop Amla and throw everything at Smith.

 

[aussie1st]

Seen many fall to Cummins bouncer in the Big Bash, nice to see him getting a wicket with it. Siddle bowling nicely today.

 

[Rehan_24]

hmmm Ponting needs to do something... with this performance.. he cant go any further

 

[Paki007]

Smith now should take the responsibility He has got a start he must build now.A lead around 300 would be enough i think

 

[aussie1st]

Let's see if our bowlers can do what SA's bowlers did yesterday as looks like SA will go to lunch similar to how we did.

 

[Paki007]

Yeah whatever you say one session changes the course of the match in this series.I have a feeling that Aussies will pick up few wickets in the afternoon session