Australia tour of South Africa, 2008/09

[0601731]

prince takes over as captain for the next match and morne has been dropped along with mckenzie.

 

[sifter132]

Surely Aus have to player a spinner in the last test. Even though it will be a seamers pitch in Cape town, we really need to give the frontline spinner the go leading up to the Ashes.

Totally agree. Aussies need to at least try McGain in a Test before the Ashes. If he has to make his debut over in England it will just increase the pressure on him. Surely even Hilditch can see that

I have been a huge fan of Boucher over the years but I think the time has come for him to retire from test cricket before he is pushed the team balance will look a lot better if AB de Villiers takes the gloves.

Smith
Amla
Duminy
Kallis
Prince
de Villiers
A Morkel
M Morkel
Harris
Steyn
Ntini

That looks like a far more threatening side to be honest.

Hmmm, don't really agree. All that does it give you an extra bowler in Albie (which isn't needed when you have 4 specialists plus Kallis) and a guy who might be marginally better with bat than Boucher at #7 (and that would be argued by many). The tail is still a bit long. Plus you take away your best fielder and give him gloves instead, which is a bit of a waste I'd say.

 

[stefan]

Good choice to bring in Khan, he has had a great supersport series and also scored that century against the Aussies in the tour match. Mckenzie can't handle quality pace bowling and deserves, to be dropped, he is not an opener and will never be one.

No so sure about Parnell, their are better bowler playing domestic cricket at the moment. Morne has looked amazing in spells but isn't consistent enough to take wickets. It is good that the players are learning that they have to earn there place.

And well done to the Aussies, you have completely outplayed us in the 2 tests so far. Funny enough, the only to good days were day 4. All we need to do is survive till day 4 and let the day 4 magic take us through.

I agree with parnell. I think he is too young but seeing as tsotsobe is injured it was always going to be a very inexperienced youngster who gets a chance. Between CJ de Villiers or Parnell. I think Albie will play anyway and parnell will just be part of the squad.

I have been a huge fan of Boucher over the years but I think the time has come for him to retire from test cricket before he is pushed the team balance will look a lot better if AB de Villiers takes the gloves.

Smith
Amla
Duminy
Kallis
Prince
de Villiers
A Morkel
M Morkel
Harris
Steyn
Ntini

That looks like a far more threatening side to be honest.

Ab doesn't want to keep so that's not really an option. If he were to keep that team would be pretty good. Personally I would go for Imran Tahir ahead of harris. Just reckon that if you have both albie and kallis in the side you have enough holding type of bowlers and can include a more aggressive spinner. Only becomes an option for the next test series though seeing as Tahir only qualifies for SA on 1 April.

Wow! This is Australia! It's now quite hard to believe that this same team was struggling against the Kiwis in the tests. Talk about silencing critics! Keep it up Panther. We are with you. The Aussies really deserve the No 1 spot. Amazing! How things change, eh?



Woha! McKenzie dropped!!! Why? For failing in just three matches!

He has struggled since the england tour last year. Didn't make runs in the home series vs bangladesh and the two series vs aus. It was right that he gets axxed especially with imraan khan getting loads of runs in the domestic series as well as the warmup game vs aus.

 

[Ari]

If AB doesn't want the gloves then that team of mine won't work although I am sure if SA asked him to keep he would.

Albie's first class record surprised me a little I would consider him more of a wicket taker than a holding bowler. An average of 41 with the bat is also great for someone who can strike the ball like he can. I am sure at some stage he will get his chance in the test arena, maybe when Kallis decides to call it a day.

 

[aussie1st]

If you do go with that lineup there is a crazy amount of bowlers you would have. 6 in all but how much would it weaken the batting is another question. But if anything it looks like you guys will be making the batting stronger by playing Albie at 8.

 

[Sman-21]

All them people that were saying Australia are gone an will be as low as #4 an will be down there for a few years must be hating this series an starting to get worried again.

Even though Capetown is supposed to be a seamers paradise.
We MUST play the young whipper snapper Mcgain.:

Drop Clarke if his back is still not right
Or Drop North
Ronald the Ranga Macdonald bats at 6, they think he can bat but i dont think he can but his seamers should be handy.
Then we play 3 quicks + spinner Mcgain

If they want to persist with Macdonald it has to be at the expense of North cant have both in there.
Also gives him a chance to prove he can bat(he cant) an take over the allrounders roll.
Because he doesnt deserve a spot as 4th bowler.

If Mcgain doesnt play oh no worries im sure it was a great learning experience for a young spin bowler that we are getting ready for future matches.
Oh hang on hes freakin 37 what a waste of time taking him to not play, should of sent over a youngish spinner we want to play for Aus.

How great would it be to smash them 3 - 0 though
Everyone thought we were GONE but most real aussie cricket fans knew we were close to beating them here Just didnt do it.

Still believe our dominance is over this was just about revenge an getting some respect back prove all those people wrong.
In future tours against top sides we will win some an lose some but i think we will still be up around #1 for a while.

 

[aussie1st]

I wouldn't mind seeing how Magoffin goes in particular his pace and how effective he is at the next level. But he will probably be fighting for a spot with Bollinger who deserves another chance should Siddle not be fit. We have to play McGain.

 

[venom2011]

Cape Town will definitely help the spinners. It generally does, but even more so now because it's been quite hot for a while. So Aus should get McGain in there while they can.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Drop Mcdonald and bring McGain

 

[Roofrom50]

Yeah, bring in McGain and give him some match practice before the Ashes so we can have a genuine spinner in the side travelling to England

 

[surendar]

I never know South Africa have the capability to fall like pack of cards after every promising start.. It happened in first and second test in their last innings. Very poor poor cricket from SA. I think they are yet to come out of their party mood. :

 

[angryangy]

Cape Town will definitely help the spinners. It generally does, but even more so now because it's been quite hot for a while. So Aus should get McGain in there while they can.

Indeed, if the pitch seams and bounces, then it's still a good pitch for a proper wrist spinner. In fact, even on a dry and crumbling pitch, leg breaks bowled to a right hander are still more likely to pitch on the protected area than in the rough.

I'd hope at least one or two players come into the bowling attack. Looking ahead, it might be useful to give a particularly sore player as much as 4 weeks rest ahead of the ODI series. The series is won, new goals can be achieved.

 

[Maxkarter]

Firstly, congrats to Australia, after going over there and beating them, they've come back and shown us a lesson. I still think we're a way from being fully capable and ready to attempt to take the No. 1 Test spot. In addition if we are to go for the 'big push' I don't think Mickey Mouse.... er.... Arthur is the man, yes he's got us some great results, but I don't think he can take South Africa that bit further to really be seen as a serious contender.

I agree with parnell. I think he is too young but seeing as tsotsobe is injured it was always going to be a very inexperienced youngster who gets a chance. Between CJ de Villiers or Parnell. I think Albie will play anyway and parnell will just be part of the squad.

Even though Australia seem to have struck gold with the players they have given debuts to recentley, I think we're looking as good, if not better if the guys can develop properly. Tsotsobe is already mature enough to step into the team and if you give Parnell and de Villiers another season or two to sharpen thier skills and really learn their trade we've got another two exciting bowlers. Steyn can still improve, just look at Johnson at 27, he's gone from getting lucky wickets to actually bowling really well. Then we still have M Morkel, when he bowls well he looks great, but he just lacks consistency.

Batting wise we're just as prepared - I'm looking at the really young guys here, so don't jump at me for not mentioning Kahn - look at Elgar, Rossouw, Snijman and that lad playing for the Cobras. I really can't wait for some of those guys to get their chances at test level, because if they take them like Hughes has for Australia our future looks pretty bright.

 

[aussie1st]

Our ODI and T20 squad

Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vc), Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Laughlin, Adam Voges, Cameron White, T20I: David Warner, Shane Harwood

Bolter Laughlin into Aussie squad - Cricket - Fox Sports

Will be good to see how Laughlin goes certainly has been one of the better OD bowlers going around. Hopefully they give the fringe players a good run in the side.

 

[RoboRocks]

Laughlin is s strange selection. Hasn't played many OD games and his first class record is poor.

Should Hughes have been in this squad?