Australia tour of South Africa, 2008/09

[TruSachFan]

Harris got the final wicket of Hilfenhaus and South Africa win by an innings and 20 runs.

When was the lost time that Australia lost with an innings defeat?

Harris or Prince should be Man of the Match.

1998 against Sachin

 

[aussie1st]

I really have to question the concentration of some of our batters. Both Hussey and Katich played out over a 150 balls but neither were anywhere near making a 100. It's all well and good trying to bat for the draw but what they were doing wasn't going to take us to a draw unless they planned on batting out 400 balls each which obviously they couldn't cause in those balls they were bound to get a goodie.

Anyway big congrats to Johnson he deserves that 100 and his technique is dam good especially when he wants to smash bowlers. Harris proved the difference, no idea how hes doing this to us but good on him.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

I hope, no more Mcgain show he can't bowl, can't bat and cannot even take run :O Mcdonald may still get his palce but i will be happy if the selectors drop him

 

[surendar]

Ouch, 149 runs of 18 over at 8.27. Not pleasant on your debut.

SA even ended the career of Lewis in same way in last trip 100 runs in 10 overs and thats it, that bowler was found no where. Instead of making that bowler to drop from the side permanently he should be encouraged to come back strong.. Else SA may be entering into history book soon for ending one Aussie bowler's career in every Aussie trip to SA. :cool:

 

[sifter132]

He was bowling pies. Wasn't like Krejza who actually looked like having a chance of getting a wicket.

Yeah he bowled badly and Tim Nielsen kinda mentioned that too when asked about McGain. I don't think the SA boys really went overly hard at him either, there were just so many hittable balls. Bit like Stuey MacGill's implosion in the West Indies last year, just too much tripe.

I think he's done-finished, which is a shame because he's a nice bloke. But he was really only ever going to be the placeholding spinner until the Ashes after which we would blood a newbie. And that was if he was bowling well. If he was an option for the future he might get a second chance but he's 37.

Krejza is probably our best spinner ATM, but Hauritz fits the team role best and is more likely to be selected since he can tie down an end while the quicks attack from the other.

 

[Mr.Cricket]

Disappointing effort from us but its just too much to ask a 3-0 whitewash (vs SA in SA) when we have a young team. Its been a good tour for us so far though. We won against all odds and all the young guys stepped up big time. Im very happy for Mitch , he has been a star in this series and he really deserve to get that hundred (& MOTS). Unfortunately it looks like Mcgain will be a one test wonder. Maybe its best to play 4 seamers + North/Katich/Clarke till we can develop a good spinner.

 

[piriyanth]

Congrats Johnson on the hundred

 

[Sman-21]

3 - 3 after 6 test matches great to watch.

Why do teams always play so defensively when chasing such a huge target and no chance to win, it hardly ever pays off and they end up doing worse than they would if they played there natural game.
If SA could score that high so easy on the pitch it was great to bat on.
We came out and after the openers were gone they played ultra defensively an went no where.
The way i see it when batting theres only a certain amount of time/balls before 1 gets you out no matter what way your playing.
If Our batsmen played normally they would of atleast scored enough to make SA bat again we were never going to save or wi it.
Johnson and even Macdonald : showed that if you played your normal game the pitch was still good for batting.

 

[Synaesthesia]

3 - 3 after 6 test matches great to watch.

Why do teams always play so defensively when chasing such a huge target and no chance to win, it hardly ever pays off and they end up doing worse than they would if they played there natural game.
If SA could score that high so easy on the pitch it was great to bat on.
We came out and after the openers were gone they played ultra defensively an went no where.
The way i see it when batting theres only a certain amount of time/balls before 1 gets you out no matter what way your playing.
If Our batsmen played normally they would of atleast scored enough to make SA bat again we were never going to save or wi it.
Johnson and even Macdonald : showed that if you played your normal game the pitch was still good for batting.

Have to agree with you there!

 

[aussie1st]

Over to the ODIs now, hopefully we can bounce back as our ODI side has been poor of late. My 11 would be

Haddin
Clarke
Ponting
Ferguson
Johnson
Hussey
Dussey
Hopes
Hauritz/Laughlin
Geeves
Bracken

Obviously not going to happen but Johnson at least should be at number 7, forget playing White.

 

[sifter132]

Over to the ODIs now, hopefully we can bounce back as our ODI side has been poor of late. My 11 would be

Haddin
Clarke
Ponting
Ferguson
Johnson
Hussey
Dussey
Hopes
Hauritz/Laughlin
Geeves
Bracken

Obviously not going to happen but Johnson at least should be at number 7, forget playing White.

Indeed - please no White

I think Hopes at #7 and Johnson at #8 would be fine. Means we can finally play 5 real bowlers instead of hoping to get 10 cheap overs out of Hussey and Clarke. But it probably means playing Hauritz to make sure we bowl the overs in time. I'm not against that though, it would be good to find a specialist ODI spinner and we might as well give Hauritz a shot. He's also handy with the bat at #9/#10.

 

[angryangy]

If Johnson can actually be successful with the bat in ODIs, it will test his fitness to the limit. More likely, however, is that asking him to bat up the order is simply to ask of him more than he is currently capable of. The nature of one dayers makes performing the same feats as in Tests a different beast altogether.

 

[Inbox24]

Warner
Haddin
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Hussey
Ferguson
Johnson
Geeves
Bracken
Laughlin

This would be the perfect ODI outfit given the squad players. No fodder 'spinners' like Hauritz cracker, and no stupid ass 3 specialist bowler teams. In saying that if Warner fails we can play Hopes, but ONLY at the opening position, because if he plays low, he then becomes a specialist bowler and he's not good enough.

 

[sifter132]

Warner
Haddin
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Hussey
Ferguson
Johnson
Geeves
Bracken
Laughlin

This would be the perfect ODI outfit given the squad players. No fodder 'spinners' like Hauritz cracker, and no stupid ass 3 specialist bowler teams. In saying that if Warner fails we can play Hopes, but ONLY at the opening position, because if he plays low, he then becomes a specialist bowler and he's not good enough.

Totally disagree on Hopes. You're saying he's a better opener than bowler? No way. He's not a top 3 bowler, but he does a good job at restricting batsmen in the 10-25 over mark and because he seems innocuous he can pick up the wicket of lazy batsmen too.

I'll agree on one thing, I don't think we should play him at #8. Play Hopes at #7 and Mitch at #8 -especially for the T20 games- and then we will have 5 decent bowlers unlike your side where you've got 4 bowlers plus Hussey/Clarke to try and sneak through 10 overs.


Anyway, I hope we try and rotate the players a bit and make sure everyone gets a few games - Hauritz, White, Laughlin, North - give them all some time. Overseas ODI series are the series you can afford to rest your better players for a game or two since most Aussies aren't watching the games on TV and therefore don't care if the team wins/loses.

 

[aussie1st]

If Johnson can actually be successful with the bat in ODIs, it will test his fitness to the limit. More likely, however, is that asking him to bat up the order is simply to ask of him more than he is currently capable of. The nature of one dayers makes performing the same feats as in Tests a different beast altogether.

Well that seems to be the case for Johnson atm. I would throw him into the opening spot for the T20 or number 3 to see what he can do.

Possibly something like
Haddin
Warner
Johnson
Ferguson
White
North
Hussey
Hauritz
Geeves
Harwood
Laughlin