Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[symonds_sixes]

pffft, let's drop gilchrist and put watson up to the opening position, heh :

 

[aussie_ben91]

Let's nudge Hussey up the batting order today. Eh?

Gilchrist looks like he struggled a tad through the innings and people were saying Hayden was the one struggling.

 

[angryangy]

Hayden slowing down of late could have got the quickest 50 if he kept on going.

Pollock and Ntini were able to revise their bowling plans somewhat, but they couldn't bowl forever...

Comparisons with last season must be acknowledged, but this ought to be regarded as both a better South African and better Australian side than then.

South Africa were without Pollock and Langeveldt. Though they may be going for runs, they may be restricting those few boundaries that prove the difference. Van Der Wath was there that day to blitz from the lower order, but few would say Pollock isn't the better choice.

There's been a much greater change in the Australian ranks, however. Katich, Martyn, Clark, Lewis and Lee are out, Lee being perhaps the only truly regretable, however, they are replaced by Hayden, Watson, McGrath, Tait and Hogg. The inclusion of Hayden has already reaped a dividend, while we can expect exciting contests from McGrath and the spin of Hogg which seemed very absent this past long while. Watson has been useful at times, both he and Tait will look at an important opportunity to impress.

Let's hope this is its own contest, rather than the sequel to something.

 

[aussie1st]

Over to Ponting to do some smashing of it.

 

[Ponting_14]

Let's nudge Hussey up the batting order today. Eh?

I was thinking the same thing again! But you know there not going to do it

Gilchrist looks like he struggled a tad through the innings and people were saying Hayden was the one struggling.

Yes, because BEFORE todays game he was.

 

[aussie1st]

Pollock and Ntini were able to revise their bowling plans somewhat, but they couldn't bowl forever...

If he wanted to go he could have taken Pollock at the very least. And if you can take SA best two bowlers apart you should have no problem doing it to the others.

 

[aussie_ben91]

5,000 ODI runs for Hayden!

Ponting's also 8 runs away from 10,000!

 

[manee]

Australia and South Africa really both seem to be in a class of their own with batting.

 

[aussie1st]

Congrats to Hayden. Could get a 200 with the start he has got, a bit of late hitting similar to his 183 should get the job done.

 

[cricket doctor]

How different a match of cricket looks, when these two teams are involved.

Hayden now on his way to the fastest world cup hundred.

 

[manee]

9 off 5 is not easy.

 

[aussie_ben91]

I'm not sure Hayden really cares about getting the fastest WC hundred. Just as long as he gets there as his only made 7 so far in his career.

 

[Ponting_14]

Well done Ponting!!! 10,000 ODI runs!!!

Ponting's starting to go off

 

[aussie1st]

Ponting finally away with that push for 6. Hayden is going to have to reach the fastest 100 with the field spread out.

 

[manee]

Hayden does not keep track nor look at his score as he finds it distracts him.