Story ICC Best Of The Rest Championship

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Smith And The Easy Beats​

Former Australian Opening Batsman Michael Slater may be retired from the game but he still has an opinion that world cricket values. Slater who appears on local radio in Melbourne had this to say.

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Old Graeme Smith and the easy beats have no chance in the test series. They still haven?t learned there lesson and Smith in particular comes out an talk?s garbage and doesn?t back it up on the field. They have to be one of the worst South African sides of all time. I reckon that would make a catchy song?.. Graeme Smith and the easy beats.

No chance sounds like South African wont be a problem for the current world champions. Australia will be going into Cape Town as favorites and they tip for Graeme Smith will be put up or shut up.

 

[Cricket_60]

so true...

 

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Buck?in Bad Umpire​

Senior umpire on the ICC elite panel Steve Bucknor has been warned to either get it right or get out. Bucknor who will be umpiring in the first test of the Castle Lager series came under scrutiny for his constant stuffing up in matches at the highest level. The ICC will be watching Bucknor closely and just one wrong decision could spend the end for the 60 year old. Fans outside Johannesburg were asked of their opinion of Bucknor last week in the ODI series.

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Bucknor demonstrates what to do when your not sure of a decision​

He?s shocking, The guy just guesses on every decision. Defiantly shouldn?t be a test match umpire.

Oh yeah that bloke who has no idea about life in general. Get rid of him he?s got no idea. I?d never take him to the races because he?d lose all his money judging by the guess work he does on the cricket field.

There you have it harsh or just true? Steve Bucknor might just appear on the chopping block sooner rather then later.

 

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Turn It Down ​

After some heated discussions onfeild between Australia and South Africa the players have asked that the stump microphone be turned down. Broadcasting network Supersport have had complaints over the airing of explicit language from the players onfeild. A representative of the international cricket player?s board spoke on the matter.

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Andre Nel was picked up on the stump cam giving a verbal to the Australian players​

The player?s feel that what goes on in the field should only be between the players and they think that the stump microphone is an invasion in privacy. We will be hoping that Supersport turn down the microphone and that will be the end of this discussion.

 

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A Ting Of Green​

We have been told by the curator Wilson Ngoeese down at Cape Town to expect a green coverage on the pitch for the first test of the Castle Lager Test Series.

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I am under instructions from the board to prepare a green deck and that?s what I will be doing. The South Africans think that this is there best chance of beating Australia after they batted well on the flat tracks in the ODI series.

When asked why he would follow the instructions of the board on obvious pitch doctoring the groundsman replied

Because this is my job and I am not about to argue with the guys that give me a job. If they think this gives them the best chance of winning the series that is fine by me.

Will the plan work a treat or will Brett Lee and co reap havoc and leave South Africa with red faces. Only time will tell as the first test is due to start soon.

 

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1st Castle Lager Test Match ? Cape Town, Newlands​

What a picture the ground is here at the Newlands in Cape Town. A great chance for the locals to come out gere and watch a quality game of cricket between these two teams. It was Australia who made the most of the ODI series what will the story be for the test series?

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Ian Bishop Pitch Report

Interesting out here in the centre at Newlands. We usually expect some good weather that we have got but South Africa have interestingly enough prepared a green pitch that will offer assistance to the seam bowlers. The Australians ran riot in the ODI series on good batting pitches so the Proteas think this is there best chance. Will it all backfire in there face. An interesting choice for the captain that wins he toss as there will be something in it this morning.

Conditions

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Weather Report

A new feature to the pre game report is the weather. I will be changing it via gamchanger according to the report.

Day 1 - Fine Sunny, 22
Day 2 - Overcast Cloudy, 19
Day 3 - Fine Sunny, 25
Day 4 - Fine Sunny, 21
Day 5 - Fine Sunny, 22

Umpires

Steve Bucknor and Darrel Hair

Coin Toss

Ricky Ponting calls heads and wins the toss

Yeah we?re gonna have a bat mate. I think you have to bat first in test cricket and with some bad weather around tomorrow all we have to do is get through the initial spell from the fast bowlers and they go about scoring our runs.

Im getting used to losing tosses. Bowling is not a bad thing at all here if we get a couple early we will have Australia right on the back foot. Al the guys are ready to go with a clean slate in the test series.

We?ll see if Ricky Ponting has made the right choice in this match it may well be a good toss to lose. Going with the traditional batting first strategy here as Shane Warne can get in on the action in the final days of the match.

Australia Line-up

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The big inclusion for Australia is the return of tall Queenslander Michael Kasprowicz. Otherwise it?s business as usual with a strong batting lineup featuring Damien Martyn who had earned a test recall from the scores he made in the ODI series. Andrew Symonds might be playing for him place here as he is without a big score as yet.

South Africa Line-up

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Prince, Rudolf, Boje and Nel all into the test team after talk of the home team going with the 4 seamers but decided against it at the last minute. Andre Nel will bring the agro to team whilst Prince and Rudolf will add to the batting side of things.

The players are out on the ground at Newlands for this very much anticipated game of test cricket. Langer and Hayden opening up as usual whilst Pollock has the red pill.

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[Cricket_60]

Punter you idiot!

 

[Short Leg]

Mr Ntini Has First Say​

1st Castle Lager Test Match
The Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

Despite criticism of ?idiot? skipper Ricky Ponting the Australians went out to bat. Langer and Hayden arrived at the crease with there beefy averages looking to get the visitors away to a good start in the test series.

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Langer and Hayden come to the crease for the start of the test series​

It wasn?t the start that Australia was after as Langer became tied down and after scratching around for 18 balls he pushed at a cover drive with hard hands and the ball flew off the edge to Gibbs who took a sharp catch at gully and Australia was 1/10. Is this Edgbaston all over again for Ricky Pontings boys but this time batting when he shouldn?t.

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Ntini has 1/1 in capturing Langer caught by a relax catch from Gibbs ​

Ponting made the decision to bat now he is going to have to justify it with the willow as his team has lost an early wicket.

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The skipper Ricky Ponting has to make ends meet for Australia​

Australia 1/10
11:23am ? Day 1
6 overs

Langer 0(18)
Hayden 9(16)*

Pollock 0/9
Ntini 1/1

 

[Short Leg]

It's All Happening!​

1st Castle Lager Test Match
The Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

Controversy and Steve Bucknor is a part of it at The Wanderers in Cape Town. The skipper Ricky Ponting got away with a few very convincing strokes and looked the goods until?..A short one from Ntini got onto the skipper a bit quicker then he expected as the Australian first drop played over the top of it. Or so it seemed. The Proteas looked sure of the bat taking leather and went up in unison as Ponting stood his ground. The finger went up from Bucknor and the skipper was in disbelief.

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Ponting can't believe the decision Bucknor has made​

Snicko later showed by Supersport TV during Tony Greig?s commentary stint reveled a cluster of noises only associated with ball hitting the shirt and a mixture of other noises and not any evidence of bat. Could this be one of the last decisions Bucknor makes, as surely an umpire has to give benefit of doubt to the batsman?

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Snicko shows no sign of bat as Ponting is robbed!​

Australia in big trouble now with Damien Martyn in on test recall due to good recent form. What an opportunity for the West Australian to dig his team out of a hole.

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Australia 2/22
11:32am ? Day 1
8 overs

Hayden 9(16)*
Ponting 6(6)

Pollock 0/18
Ntini 2/4

 

[zainawan89]

A bad decision by Steve Bucknor

 

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1st Castle Lager Test Match
The Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

The rebuild for Australia started through Hayden and Martyn but just as the long crawl back was getting to a steady point Hayden made his last mistake. The big Queenslander attempted to drive off the back foot through the covers and caught the edge. Gibbs was up to the task again this time diving away to his right and taking a class catch. What a start for Kallis with the wicket off his 5th ball.

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Australia held alot of faith in Hayden​

It is crucial that Australia get to lunch without the loss of another wicket now. The good news is Mike Hussey is at the crease and has made a living out of these situations in his time. Ntini is on fire and one more wicket from him could see Australia bowled out quickly.

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Australia 3/44
12:13pm ? Day 1
17 overs

Hayden 23(56)
Martyn 9(21)*

Pollock 0/27
Ntini 2/9
Nel 0/3
Kallis 1/0

 

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1st Castle Lager Test Match
The Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

Lunch has been called on day 1 with South Africa having the best of the first session. 3 prize wickets for the home team have them in a strong position but they will be keen to break this partnership before any more damage is done.

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Martyn and Hussey are keen to get to lunch after an average first session​

If your wondering why Martyn is carrying a stump like i said they were keen to get to lunch.

Australia 3/73
Lunch - Day 1
28 overs

Martyn 22(46)*
Hussey 12(42)*

Pollock 0/27
Ntini 2/16
Nel 0/10
Kallis 1/12

 

[Cricket_60]

This is so realistic!

A bad decision by Bucknor

The Aussies are batting in this thread like they are against the Bangla's today

Snicko

Great work

 

[Short Leg]

Cheers mate as we all know....Snicko never lies!

 

[Short Leg]

Martyn Keeps Selectors Faith​

1st Castle Lager Test Match
The Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa Vs Australia

Damien Martyn is showing that he was worth a test recall ahead of rookie New South Walshman Michael Clarke as he reaches a half century at Cape Town.

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Mike Hussey who is batting very sensibly at the other end accompanies him. The partnership is now an unbeaten 73 and looking strong to get Australia to a good first innings total.

Australia 3/117
2:36pm - Day 1
42 overs

Martyn 50(85)*
Hussey 25(83)*

Pollock 0/37
Ntini 2/27
Nel 0/17
Kallis 1/28