Australia tour of South Africa, 2008/09

[mattfb]

I dont know why all that time OZ didnt let their young guns play! this Hughes guy is crazy! double centuries ...

Because you cant be sure they will all be successful like Hughes. Hughes is a rare talent, and I could see that half through his first year in Domestic cricket. Even though he was the rookie, and only 19 he was a certainty to score the runs and carry the team. I was confident Hughes would score the runs in International Cricket and I still didn't doubt it after he scored the duck. He's just one of those players.

North has proved a valuable selection, and all of a sudden our batting is looking great. If Hussey, Clarke and Ponting were all on top of there game atm we will be back to the dominance in batting terms, and our bowling is looking promising. The inclusion of Hilfy has proved to be a good choice, as it has provided the perfect balance.

 

[Johnson=Akram]

This Hughes can play. The youngest Test Match player to hit centuries in both innings. I hope he get's his 200. We should bat until about Lunch, then send them in chasing 600 in 5 sessions. We have played a great series. Our pace bowlers have been so much better in SA than at home. Johnson and Siddle have bowled great. Hilfy as well. McDonald has chipped in each innings, especially the 3 wicket haul in the 1st innings of 2nd test. As for batting it has been good. Hughes i've spoken about, Katich has 2 fails, a start and a ton. He is averaging around 35 i'm preety sure. Not his best series, but not his worst. Ponting looked so great for that 81 off 100 or so balls. He has been going out like that fair bit in the past 12 months. Hussey is the man that's really struggling. He is in bad form, i know he hit that 50, but it was a very scratch one. Brad Hodge should come into the test match side for Hussey. Clarke has had a preety ordianary series, but you can't drop him. Previous Series he has been great. North has started well at test level. A ton, a 40 and a fail. Preety good indeed, averaging around 50 odd. McDonald has struggled with the bat. Hope he can find some runs.

Well done Australia! Let's bat them out of it(600 or 650) then bowl for 4 and a half sessions or 5 sessions.

 

[mattfb]

I wonder how costly that drop will be. We should declare soon, but seems Hughes batted a lot yesterday he will be used to the conditions and will be able to accelerate a lot easier then North would, so that could be a costly drop from Boucher. He should have caught that really but it happens.

I think we should bat until we have 350-400 on the board. We should give ourselves at least 5 overs before the lunch break to try pick up a wicket. Hopefully Hughes and Clarke can put on some quick runs this morning.

The new ball has just been taken, but both batsmen are experienced openers and the ball will come off the bat harder and quicker so it could be a good thing for us. Plus, watching the South African bowlers swing it all over the place is just going to excite our quicks!

 

[aussie1st]

Hughes looks like he has been told you have an hour to get 200. Smacked Steyn for 6 to bring up his 150, go you good thing

 

[mattfb]

Yeah that was a cracker of a shot. He really does play with no fear doesn't he? Great to watch, and refreshing as well. I reckon he can get to 200 the way he is batting. He needs 42 more runs, he should be able to do that in 40 odd balls if he keeps attacking. Luck seems to be on his side today

 

[RoboRocks]

I won't put him out of it to get there. The SA bowlers are going through the motions now.

 

[aussie1st]

Gutted Hughes looked good going for the big shot down the ground. Probably should have stayed still if he wanted to go to square leg.

Ponting calls an end to the inns with North out, don't really know why we sent him out after Hughes got out. Oh well at least we prevented SA getting the momentum.

 

[King Pietersen]

What was the point of staying out there for an extra 5 mins after Hughes got out? They shouldn't need any more than 400 really.

 

[angryangy]

There have been more than a couple of balls bouncing oddly so far, good time to declare.

 

[RoboRocks]

You should of added [sarcasm] quotes Sly.

Fine performance by one of International Cricket's brightest new stars.

 

[mattfb]

Good declaration in terms of the time but stupid in terms of making North go out there and lose his wicket. We should have more then enough on the board surely, but you never know, cricket's a funny game!

 

[angryangy]

Now now, nobody made him lose his wicket.

 

[King Pietersen]

Hilfy gets McKenzie lbw, but it looks abit high. Not sure which way the 3rd umpire'll go.

 

[smssia0112]

Oh, come on. You wanted Rogers in the side over Hughes.

I didn't think someone would come along so shortly after Hayden's retirement, with the potential to match or even better Hayden. When Hayden was Hughes' age, he hadn't even played a first-class match yet!

Looks like I'm right as usual. About 6 months ago, I called Hughes the best young batsman in the entire world and many scoffed. I also said that Siddle could rip through world class batting lineups and that was scoffed at aswell. I reckon in a few years time, Siddle will be the best bowler in the world and he could potentially match Dale Steyn. So many similarities. I love how Siddle gets fired up after taking a wicket or appealing for LBW.

Hopefully Hughes doesn't turn into another Alastair Cook though.

I knew Hughes is good, I wasn't sure he'd step right into test cricket after his first proper season in the Shield and dominate like this but I always advocated him being in the squad. Rogers had the runs on the board which is why I wanted him in, that's all.

As for Lee, we have no need for him anymore, he's had a decent career but it's time to move on. He now lacks the pace that once made him so dangerous and has a serious lack of versatility to his game. His bowling this summer was very poor. Why drop one of Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus (especially in England) or Clark for Lee?

 

[piriyanth]

Hughes is so awesome