Story Australia Tour South Africa

Richie Reckons

Shuper shtuff from the Shouth African boy to defend againsht the likesh of McGrash and Lee. The shtrokeplay from a young Andrew Hall wash exsheptional. There in a good poshishion to put thesh world classh Aushtralians on the back foot.
 

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Aussies clean up Gauteng

It took just 18 minutes for the Aussies to clean up the remaining 4 wickets including that of century maker Aj Hall for 126.

"It was a good effort this morning the boys came out fireing and alot of credit goes to Nathan Bracken on picking up a 5 wicket haul. We'll look for a solid batting display to laythe foundations ahead of the test series." Where the words used by Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
 

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Trevor Hohns challenges Phil Jaques

The Australian chairman of selectors has issued a challenge to openor Phil Jaques ahead of his first innings on tour.

"It is important for Phil Jaques to take this oppertunity to open the batting with JL in this tour match. He will want to put himself at the front of the line should any chances to take part in the upcoming test series arise."

"Phil is an extremly gutsy player and i wish him the best of luck."
 

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Some solid batting on day 2 from the Australians. Jaques and Hodge led the way with two brillant attacking innings stealing the momentum for most of the day.

In the last hour of play Australia crashed to 9 down as they touring side lost 2 for 5. Hussey and Macgill are keeping the innings alive limping to 9 down for 299 at the close.The Australians played alot of lose shots and will need to tighten up ahead of the test series.

Crowd behaviour took a turn for the worst as out of control youths began to riot inside and outside of the stadium. "It's disapointing to come to a great country like South Africa and witness crowds acting like this." said captain Ricky Ponting. when asked about the state of the match he replied with " were ontop as was expected however there are things to improve on before the start of the series."
 

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Australia Cruise to 8 Wicket Win

The Australians batted 52 minutes of day 3 with there 10 wicket partnership to finish on 312 Macgill getting a solid 23 and Hussey an unbeaten 18.

Gauteng where cleaned up in a little over 50 overs which left Australia with 60 to win there first tour match which they acheived while loseing 2 wickets. Langer 33 and Ponting not out on 24.

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After the first tour match coach John Buchanan had this to say "Cricket Australia has decided that due to poor crowd behaviour the Australian Cricket team will not be taking any further part in tour games we feel that player safety is an issue."
 
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Launching of Castle Lager 4 test series

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A great match up on paper with the Australians coming into the series as slight favourites after a good 2-0 win on home soil in the summer. Graeme Smith's men represent a different obsticle when there at home.

Will there be any changes in the South African team from the losing side or will Smith keep his faith with the original side. How long can Punters boys stay ontop of the cricketing world. They have bounced back strongly from an ashes defeat will the visitors first away tour since prove as big a challenge.

An interesting series set to unfold between these feirce competitors
 
Smith starts War of Words

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Graeme Smith has struck first blows before the eagerly anticipated test series.

"I found the tour game to be very interesting there a totally different side away from home. They played alot of careless strokes throughout both innings that can prove to be fatal for them coming up against our bowling attack that can take 20 wickets."

When asked of his teams chances in the test series Smith replied. "All the boys knw we are a huge chance. We have been moving forward as a side for a while now and were very keen to get stuck into these guys at home. Australia cannot expect an easy run weve beaten them here in test cricket before and the teams in a good place to do it again."​
 
McGrath and Warne return fire

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Smith comments about the Australian side have sparked some pre series tension. "Its funny how Graeme is the only bloke in South Africa with somthing to say and yet he can never back it up on the feild. Its obvious to all of us the Australians intimidate these guys to the point where there afraid to say anything. I dont blame Graeme for try to fly the flag for South Africa."

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"Warney got it stop on. When you come up against a team of guys with a track record like us its naturaly intimidating."

McGrath was asked if he would be targeting a South African for this series. "Yeah, In Australia i set after Kallis. I dont think he is much of a threat to us anymore Brett had him on a string all series. Id like the wicket of Rudolph. He seemed to be the most solid batsman the team can produce."​
 
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Looks like a great day for cricket at johannesburg the sun is shining and the tempurature is perfect. Shouls be a high quality match between these two competitive cricketing nations.

Before the toss Tony Grieg analysed the pitch and he had this to say. "A typically hard and fast wicket here in the bright sunshine of Johannesburg. Its not rocket surgery here you win the toss and have a bat because it will be hard work in the feild in what should be a high scoring game. The bounce should stay true throughout this match however there wont be much in it for the spinners.

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The toss went the way of the Australians and captain Ricky Ponting had no hesitation in say "We'll have a bat mate."

Ricky Ponting:
"Looks like a great wicket to have first use of and it puts us in a good position to bowl last where Warney should come into it. We've been looking forward to this series so its good to get under way and hopefully we can post a good total."

Graeme Smith:
"Yeah it would of been nice to bat first but we have a strong attack that can get us a few early wickets and we'll take it from there. Australia beat us over there so were looking forward to showing them how tough it is to beat us on our home soil."

As the players make there way onto the feild lets have a look at the lineups.

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As usual a strong Australian side that will prove hard to beat a few changes from the tour game Matthew Hayden hasnt had a hit on this tour yet will that pay dividends. The home team will need to bowl well to have any chance of starting the series infront.

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South Africa have stuck with the side that lost in Australia rookie spinner Johan Botha is in the side as it appears Boje's playing days are over. A solid looking batting line up but will there be any support in the bowling ranks for veteran Shaun Pollock.

The stage is set for a great match it time to join the players on the feild.​
 
Australia got ontop early on day 1 Matthew Hayden showed fine form shmashing the ball to the boundary on a number of occasions keeping a healthy run rate. Langer looked a bit scratchy early on but continued to battle on.

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Langer Out
Inside edge onto pad which rolled back and clipped the stumps to knock the bails off all Langer could do was watch not the best way to be dismissed for 18.

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Some tight bowling from the likes of Kallis kept the run rate in check Pollock consistant as usual and as expected no respect for Botha as Ponting hit his first ball to the fence and danced down the wicket to him a number of times. As the players took lunch on day 1 Australia having just lost the one wicket are in a good position to push to a score of 350-400 if the top order batsmen stay true to there form. Hodge due in next who made a score in the tour game followed by the class of Symonds, Hussey and dont forget Gilchrist and interesting match shaping up.

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Langer 18
Hayden 36*
Ponting 17*

Pollock 1/24
Ntini 0/29
Kallis 0/7
Botha 0/12
 
The second session started well for Australia the pressed home the advantage as the Hayden-Ponting partnership went upwards towards 100 with both going past the half century milestone.

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as the partnership reached 95 Ponting edged a wide ball off Pollock to the safe hands of the opposing captain Smith and made the walk back to the pavilion.

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Hodge joined Hayden at the crease for the rest of the session and the run rate went upwards. At tea Australia is in a great position the avoid losing the match with a big first innings total. Only having lost two wickets the visitors can now increase there attack to bat South Africa out of the match.​

Ponting 56
Hayden 77*
Hodge 16*

Pollock 2/53
Ntini 0/64
Kallis 0/35
Botha 0/19
Nel 0/2
 
Australia was looking to keep the pressure on the South Africans in the final session as Brad Hodge reached a solid half century as Hayden entered the 90s.

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A determined Hayden looked nervous as he came close the his milestone and managed his way to 99.

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Taking a look around the feild as Botha began to run into bowl. He pitched short of a length and Hayden gave it the treatment smashing it for 4 runs to bring up the hundred.

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Not long after Hayden was out coming down the wicket to the off spinner and chipping it to Rudolph as he trudged off with 40 minutes left in the days play.

A struggling Andrew Symonds then joined Brad Hodge at the crease. Despite the fact that the end off the day was looming Symonds took the attack to the South Africans hitting them to all parts. There looked like there was nothing that was going to stand in his way as he and Hodge finished with an unbeaten partnership of 37 when Aleem Dar removed the bails to signal the end of the days play.

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Australia in a strong position at stumps on day 1. They batting in partnerships all day losing 1 wicket in each session. The bowling attack of the South Africans will nedd to step up tomorrow with Kallis and Pollock doing the bulk of the work. It would seem that the success off the home team rests largly on the shoulders of there spearhead Shaun Pollock who is the only bowler that looks to have wicket taking ability.​

Hayden 103
Hodge 63*
Symonds 25*

Pollock 2/77
Ntini 1/64
Kallis 0/75
Botha 0/50
Nel 0/7
 
The Test match took a big turn from the dominace of the Australians on the 1st day. The visitors started well with Hodge accumulating runs and Symonds taking the attacking role until he took it one step to far. Playing across the line of a ball that looked to be sliding down the leg side from Pollock was given out by Aleem Dar and Symonds was sent packing.

Mike Hussey then ventured out to join a solid looking Brag Hodge. Hussey started slowly it took him 11 balls to get off the mark as he aimed to work in singles.

After the partnership went past 50 Hodge feathered one through to Boucher as Pollock picked up another one. Hodge was out for 77.

Spectators wondered what to expect when Adam Gilchrist walked to the crease at 5/311 Australia now needing to take a step back in order to get a total near what they would off expected after Day 1. However it didnt happen as Gilchrist was caught out for a duck. Australia having a minor collapse at 6/315.

Shane Warne took guard in the middle with Botha the bowler having just captured his first wicket. Warne push a 2 and then became Bothas 2nd wicket as Australia wondered what was happening at 7/329.

Brett Lee now nationaly know as a all rounder came to the crease playing a couple of text book drives through mid wicket for boundarys. Even Lee couldnt manage a score as he picked out Kallis and departed for 11. Botha now had a quick 3 wickets and was looking great.

Mike Hussey a lone figure at the crease continuted to build an Aussie fightback as Bracken who is no mug with the willow partnered him. All Bracken managed to do this time was give catching practise to Ntini who execpted he was gone for 1.

Glenn McGrath now the only hope of staying with Hussey who now had to play his shots while McGrath defended. Hussey picked up a few boundarys before McGarth inevitably got out.

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It was all celebrations for South Africa this morning with Australia all out at 12:44pm for 358 still a good score but it give South Africa a chance if the openers start well with the momentum in there favour. This match is far from over.

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DeVilliers and Smith needed to negotiate 5 overs to get to luch and they did so for 9 runs as they went into the pavillion.​
 
You seriously batted out a day...great job mate. I'm unfortunately never going to be able to last 30 overs because of my aggressive nature, but that's a top effort.
 

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