Australia tour of SA 2014

[Ohm]

Going down worser than England against Australia that too at home. Totally an unexpected show. Maybe the batting collapse is the result of the Overcast condition. Johnson is hardly miser to take the benefit of opportunity like that.

 

[Frostyvegi]

Just hoping the rain gods don't ruin another Australian away series.

 

[sifter132]

Anyone else finding Mark Nicholas on commentary more nauseating than usual? The guy just doesn't stop talking.

Totally! Nicho is one of those guys I can handle at the start of summer, but after a while he just eats away at you with his constant babble. The way he tries to sound so clever with his flowery language - he thinks he needs to talk more to get all that awesome knowledge across. WRONG!

Hope Brad Haddin got a good old fashioned kick up the arse for that shot yesterday. 3rd ball slog sweep? Awful...

Wonder if Aussies are thinking of the follow on here? The modern trend is not to enforce it, but it's early in the series, the bowlers should be fresh, and they are away from home so there is no need to extend a match for ticket sale purposes. If Harris and Johnson aren't needed much to get these last 4 wickets, and Siddle/Lyon can do the job in the first hour I would definitely send them back in. Show how confident you are in the attack.

 

[Frostyvegi]

For anyone who is able to watch the game live, what was with Johnson's glare off the field after (I think) his third wicket? Looked like some of the Barmy Army had forgotten to stop following him around or something.

 

[Lebanna]

It honestly looks like Ab is playing against a club bowler. He has so much time to play his shots against Johnson!

 

[NathanScott45]

Oh Mitch you beauty!

 

[Samuels]

It honestly looks like Ab is playing against a club bowler. He has so much time to play his shots against Johnson!

And when you look at Mitch's spells, you wonder if AB is a superhuman in the sort of form he in. Mitch himself has been bowling like no other did last few years. Yes, not even Dale Steyn has looked more threathening than Mitch looked in the first innings. He is bowling absolute snaughters and it takes only an AB to negotiate that kind of bowling. FTR, Mitchell Johnson's figures since start of the Ashes are 4/61, 5/42, 7/40, 1/73, 2/62, 4/78, 5/63, 3/25, 3/33, 3/40 and now 7/68. That speaks volumes in itself the way he has been dominating the rival batsmen.

 

[Spickery]

Good session from Australia. David Warner and Alex Doolan are looking very comfortable against the South African attack. Warner has been riding his luck getting dropped three times but he has made South Africa pay for their poor fielding. He is on 93 not out and looks set to make a hundred. Doolan started off very slowly scoring 12 runs off around 50 balls at one point but batting with Warner has eased the pressure on him. He has now started working the ball around and he is putting the bad ball away for a boundary. Hopefully he can turn his 48 not out into a big score and replay the selectors for selecting him in the side.

The inclusions of Alex Doolan and Shaun Marsh in the side have been good calls by the selectors. Credit to them, being a selector is a very hard job.

 

[Aalay]

Will Australia bring Shane Watson back for the next test match?

 

[asprin]

^ The question is who goes to make room for him?

 

[used2bcool]

I don't think Watson gets a look-in next Test. The two guys who played in place of the regulars this match, Doolan and Marsh, have both stamped their authority. There's no way Marsh gets dropped after his first-innings hundred. Doolan, after playing well in the second, would be unlucky to miss out. Plus, the way Australia are going, they will win this Test, and they would be loathe to change a winning combination.

 

[aussie1st]

Was impressed with Doolan leaving, showed a different side to his game this innings instead of getting a quickfire 20, he stuck it out showing patience and went on to make a near 100.

Who would have thought the selectors would have a problem finding space for batsmen only a few months ago.

 

[Umair7]

Missed all 3 days and most probably wil miss the last 2 days too, so from where i can watch the highlights

 

[SaiSrini]

Looks like touring teams to Australia will now start coming with a prayer not to get ripped out by Johnson. This is the most stunning turnaround of a player I've probably ever seen! When did Johnson become such a deadly fast bowler?

To face him itself will send shivers these days across opposition batsmen.

 

[NoLeName]

Disappointed Doolan didn't get a 100. Deserved it probably more than Warner.