Australia tour of South Africa, 2008/09

[ajdude]

McGain has Peterson after consecutive boundaries

Is this on TV anywhere or is everyone following it on Cricinfo?

 

[stefan]

Only on cricinfo. No tv coverage here in SA, so I doubt there be anywhere. Peterson smashed a full toss from Mcgain to midwicket.

stefan added 28 Minutes and 52 Seconds later...

159/2 at lunch. Khan on 86 and van jaarsveld on 23. Aus bowlers have been smashed especially mcgain going at over 7 an over.

 

[Gilly Fan]

McGain getting absolutely hammered. Everyone is getting hammered.

I'll blame jet lag.

Gilly Fan added 1 Minutes and 19 Seconds later...

I didn't think Bollinger was very impressive either to be honest. Nor with Siddle. I really doubt either of them will be playing in a few years time.

SA will beat this Australian side. It's weak and they're playing at home.

Bollinger I agree, but Siddle is definately impressive. Was brilliant at the G and the SCG. Hit the wicket hard, bowled 150kph AND swung it.

 

[Jakester1288]

I'll blame jet lag.

Apparently altitude has something to do with it. When the Australians pitch it on a good length it is pitched up a lot fuller, hence all the half volleys bowled thus far in the innings. So going by that the Australian's need to be bowling short of a length I'd say to put it on a good length.

 

[stefan]

Good 100 from Imran khan. Excellent display from all our batters so far. Hopefully this display has sapped the aussie confidence even more.

 

[Jakester1288]

Good to see the back of Kahn. Well batted.

 

[cricketmad09]

The Aussies are little to no chance to win this series. You look at the bowling line up and there is no way they're going to be able to take 20 wickets in a match.

 

[venom2011]

Score now 192/3 (run rate is around 5 p.o) with Hilfenhaus, Siddle and McGain in amongst the wickets. Imraan Khan scored 100 off 111 balls

I think Siddle and Hilfenhaus will be the main threats in these conditions.

 

[stefan]

Knew it wouldn't be long before Bouchie got into them.

Boucher's 'timid' barb raises Australian hackles
Will Swanton, Potchefstroom
February 20, 2009

AUSTRALIA coach Tim Nielsen is bristling at suggestions from antagonistic South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher that the tourists are too timid, with "loopholes" in their squad.

However, Nielsen freely admits that Michael Clarke's back injury is becoming a genuine cause for concern before next week's heavyweight Test series.

Boucher told The Star newspaper: "There's always hype about when South Africa meet Australia in a series, lots will be said beforehand.

"In the past, they've been fond of talking big before a series. They did it again before the last one in Australia.

"It will be interesting to see how they go about that sort of thing before this series. They have a few loopholes in their squad, there's no doubt about that. You only have to look at their side to see that."

Nielsen was bombarded with questions from South African media about the newly low-key Australian team.

"I'm certainly not saying it's timid," Nielsen said.

"It's more difficult when you are not holding the mantle of being the team that has just won the last series we've played. That's something we've got to get used to. South Africa have just won the series in Australia. It's more a perception of Australia being cocksure over a long period of time.

"The fact that we have won a lot of series and won a lot of cricket games that people see us as being that way. And now you're telling us that we're maybe not as cocksure as we should be, but inside the group, we are very confident.

"We feel as though we've got a good group, ready to play good Test-match cricket."

When the Australians threw themselves into their first practice session this week, all Clarke could do was walk laps of the oval with the team physiotherapist.

Asked about Clarke's persistent back problems, Nielsen admitted: "It's a worry. He's missed a couple of games, had a long flight and he had to get straight on a bus to get here.

"He's getting better every day and hopefully we'll see him run around and have a bat and a bowl, especially a bat.

"But it's a bit different to normal. It's not his lower back, from what I understand, it's a different injury to what his normal problem is."

Clarke was considered extremely doubtful to be available for Australia's tour game against the South African Board XI, starting today.

"We're just being a bit careful because we don't want to blow him out on the back of the plane trip and put him back another week and have real pressure on him to get ready for the Test," Nielsen said.

 

[angryangy]

Looks like a typical tour match. Good batting conditions and a gang of young upstarts with nothing to lose. The tourists have picked five specialist bowlers in their team, while their opponents bat well down to 8. They've thrown a few wickets away so far, but they can afford to.

 

[mdoggie]

Great century by Kahn and goof batting by Kuhn. Bollinger and Mcgain are going for far to much against a fairly weak side. 378/5 is a brilliant days work for the team and at comfortably over 4 runs an over.

 

[stefan]

393/5 at stumps. Well done by the boys especially khan and kuhn. The aussies have lots of work to do if they want to compete in the tests.

On the side , this isn't a weak side. Most of the batsmen have played for either SA A or the under age SA national teams. It would be stronger if they could pick from the other provinces ,especially the bowling but this is hardly a weak team.

 

[Valaskjalf]

Good stuff boys, Australia are really knee-deep in it I think. That side was supposed to be pretty much the 1st test line up and Australia were bashed for more than 4rpo against a pretty good side. However that side only comprises 2 franchises, so I have a feeling they really have to pull their socks up or they will be absolutely humiliated on this tour...again

 

[venom2011]

I don't think too much can be read into the score so far. That deck in Potchefstroom is really flat, still one would've thought the Aussies could have been far more disciplined.

 

[Slowcoach]

South Africa are definately favourites for this series, I can't see how Australia can win it, not with such an inexperienced bowling lineup.

McGain's figures were disappointing, but he is not the first leg spinner to be smacked around on a flat first day wicket by a couple of lefties.