Australia tour of South Africa, 2008/09

[King Pietersen]

Imraan Khan. 24 year old South African opening batsman, who's impressed in domestic cricket in this season, with 852 runs at 65.53, with 5 hundreds. He's got an ok overall record, averaging just under 40, but has very much been picked on this 1 good season. Looking forward to seeing how he goes when given proper time at the crease, he certainly looked pretty solid at the crease this evening.

 

[aussie1st]

Says it all really when Johnson looks more comfortable than McDonald at the crease.
Hussey form is starting to rival Hayden, in fact from what I saw his stats are worst than Hayden. Hes having the same bad luck as well chopping balls onto the stumps when he finally looks like he is going.

 

[venom2011]

Imraan Khan. 24 year old South African opening batsman, who's impressed in domestic cricket in this season, with 852 runs at 65.53, with 5 hundreds. He's got an ok overall record, averaging just under 40, but has very much been picked on this 1 good season. Looking forward to seeing how he goes when given proper time at the crease, he certainly looked pretty solid at the crease this evening.

He grew up playing with Hashim Amla. Both are very wristy, and good timers, but Amla has just matured into a more classy looking batsman. Imraan Khan went from being a batsman in his younger days to a spinning all-rounder up until few seasons ago and then back to batting. Bit of a Kevin Pietersen sounding story hey, also coincidentally he played in the same region as KP.

 

[angryangy]

From what I saw in the first session, the South Africans were madly unlucky not to pick up a tonne of wickets in the first 20 overs or so. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of swing, but it is the sort of pitch where the ball gets a lot of traction. Ntini's early lbw call demonstrated this well. A bowler whose angle on the crease usually negates the chance of lbw got a ball to pitch in line and straighten perfectly off a full length. It was such an unlikely scenario that not only did the umpire turn it down, but the captain withheld his referral, too.

What is interesting for South Africa now is that in spite of an apparently second-choice opening combo, they're both left handers. Throughout the Tests, South Africa have not been able to put together such a combination, so it is very much a new challenge for the opposing bowlers.

 

[mdoggie]

What a day by the boys. Harris bowled nicely to pick up a few, Steyn bowled an absolute ripper to get rid of Clarke and even Albie chipped in with Pontings wicket. It has taken the whole series but we finally look like a world class team with the ball. Ntini showed that even at his age he can still torment batsman and Steyn looked as fiery as ever. We will have to see how Albie bats because as a third seamer, he is that dangerous.

Prince looks like he is trying to get into the one day team by the way he is playing. Khan has looked ok and has left well, could be a big partnership.
Now all that's left is when will South Africa screw up this brilliant start (or hopefully not).

 

[Mr.Cricket]

Hussey form is starting to rival Hayden, in fact from what I saw his stats are worst than Hayden. Hes having the same bad luck as well chopping balls onto the stumps when he finally looks like he is going.

He was hitting the ball well before he got out. I think a big score is just around the corner, I predict 100+ in the second innings for Mr.Cricket . He still got plenty of credits in the bank anyway.

SA really on top after day 1. Its going to be pretty hard for us to get back in to the game from here. We just got to have a good morning session and get few early wickets. Hopefully Johnson can get his radar right from ball 1.

Good to see Bryce get a game for the Aussies. We finally have a decent spinner in the side. He will do some damage on day 4 and 5.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Peter Siddle - You are a superstar!

 

[King Pietersen]

Siddle's bowled awesome this morning, pace, aggression, abit of movement, great to watch. I love his passion as well, looks like he really wants to be out there doing his best for his country. I respect that. Johnson should be on at the other end though I think.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Hilfy is just like Ntini, very unlucky indeed

 

[mattfb]

Man this isn't looking good for us but we just need to draw to win the 6 match series 3-2 (Over the 2 tours). If South Africa win this I would really want a 1 off Test at a neutral ground to decide the overall series (Over the 2 tours)

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

What happened to Johnson's swing looks like he only found for a shorter period :

 

[Sman-21]

I really like this idea of having back to back test series in each country.
We always hear oh things would be different if it was player here instead of there.
And normall when 2 teams do meet each other again a year or 2 has past so cant really say who was the better side.

But by teams playing each other home then away.
It gives a good answer to who really is the better team at this time.

I still dont think much of Mcgain i never wanted him going on this tour but since they did take him they absolutely had to play him.
Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[mattfb]

KP, just thought I would say, I'm not liking the lack of Hughesy love in your sig =/.

Yeah I agree Sman, playing back to back tours really proves who the better team is. I would be happy to see if tours these days are 6 tests long, 3 at home and 3 away. It would be interesting.

 

[aussie_ben91]

KP, just thought I would say, I'm not liking the lack of Hughesy love in your sig =/.

Put this in your avatar.

Pietersen getting owned.

 

[King Pietersen]

You had that as your avatar and it didn't move, and didn't bother me, as KP > Akhtar. Yuvraj > Hughes though tbh or as Leggie calls him UV King of Sixers King of Twenty20 =/.

McGain into the attack, wonder if Prince'll smack him for six 2nd ball again

King Pietersen added 1 Minutes and 46 Seconds later...

Lol, nope, smacks him for four first ball. Lucky that it went to the boundary really. 2nd ball goes for Four as well. We've got another Krejza on our hands.

Hundred for Prince. What a player, forget Neil McKenzie, Ashwell Prince is far better. Cracking conversion rate as well!

3rd ball for four as well. McGain's started nicely