South Africa in Australia Dec 2008-Jan 2009

[formula1man]

i just love west aussies. Marsh, Voges, North, Ronchi, Pomers. Hussey, Gilly, Langer, all class.

 

[angryangy]

You know what sucks? Everytime theres an International T20, most oppositions get bundled out for 2 digits scores. Only team - ironically - who can beat Australia is players that use to play or are on the brink of playing for Australia.

It seems true enough on home soil, but I think when it comes to a tour party, Pakistan's bowling attack ought to be capable of a shake-up. Their batting is terrible and they rarely open with strong players, but the bowling makes a side like South Africa today look pretty weak. They are so well drilled on their areas (particularly the yorker) and change-ups that throughout the tournament in 2007, 160+ was an impressive feat against them. Their bowlers do win these matches, because although it's generally not possible to be totally un-hittable, it is possible, given 120 balls, to win a percentage game.

While the Australians are able to call on good T20 players because of the talents that build up experience not only in Australia, but also in England, touring international teams rarely have that luxury. Even if they have the T20 specialists, first and foremost, they are going to pick Test players and ODI players; at this stage, a lot of top level players still look awkward and inexperienced at a game that they rarely get a chance to play. They're also likely to rest players in a long tour and the same situation applies; the home side can pick specialist replacements for just two games, while the away team just has to make do.

That's the value of the Pakistanis. They've been able to develop their T20 game in a squad of players who for the most part feature in their Test and ODI plans and it's not like they've had an advantageous T20 background like England. Perhaps it is due to the natural fast bowling culture that puts an emphasis on skills, or possibly aided by good team foresight. Whatever the case, bowlers that can bowl a dozen yorkers in a single match put the ones that just give up length balls to shame.

 

[stefan]

The batsmen let us down today. Simple as that with the exception of jp who did brilliantly and hersch who wasn't out. The rest need to go and look at themselves. The bowlers recovered very well imho. Kallis isn't a 20/20 player and the sooner this is realized the better. I want hash to open with hersch in the next game.

 

[SciD]

Crap bowling by Saffers. Pitching short to guy who loves pull shot. Loved the sixes off Steyn.

JPD could have made match close but for foolish umpiring.

 

[aditya123]

I think that the Aussies would be big favorites in the limited overs version.SA look out of depth in ODIs.They lost 4-0 to England in their previous series! Steyn has`nt been half as successful in ODIs and T20s and Ntini has the tendency to go for a few runs.Botha is no superstar and that leaves you with the inexperience of the 2 Morkel brothers.

Their attack can get a bit too one-dimensional when they are being hammered.Australia have a more balanced ODI lineup,especially if Warner can replicate his innings of today regularly.

 

[Yogy]

Convincing win for the Australians in the end after they set their opponents a stiff target. Warner took everyone by surprise with a whirlwind knock on debut and that did the maximum damage. The South Africans recovered well in the next 10 overs but their batting today let them down big time. None clicked barring Duminy who sparkled with a well crafted fifty but one performance was never going to be enough. The South Africans have their tasks cut out before their next T20I against the Australians at Brisbane on Tuesday.

 

[manee]

Absolutely fantastic game today. Quick bowling, quick hitting, wickets at regular intervals, what more could one ask for? It was fantastic to see Shaun Tait in action, bowling geniunly rapidly in his first over. Hilfenhaus looks an proising bowler, gets a fair bit of swing and bowled very sharply too, up to 148kph at my count. What I found most heartening was that amongst all this talk of a long term Australian decline (which I feel is rubbish), it was seen that Australia can chuck a 22 year old in the deep end and he'll win a match singlehandedly with his superb boundary hitting ability on a massive ground.

It must be noted that South Africa got creamed 4-0 by England, just last summer, and since then have only played Bangladesh and Kenya in ODIs. Nothing is to say that they are a good ODI unit, if their shambolic performance in England is anything to go by. My money is firmly on Australia for this series.

 

[Cricketman]

Saffers are no way close to how good they are in tests in ODI's. Steyn is afraid of the white ball, Ntini can be erratic, so the Morkel bros have to share alot of the load.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Shaun Marsh should be dropped and Hodge should get the chance.

 

[McLOVIN]

i was watching it last night at 1 AM. i wanted to watch it bad, because there is always something good comes up when SA and AUS plays. every one knows that. but i fall a sleep after the 13th over or so, didnt get to see SA batting. but watched the highlights today. i sow Abe got hurt! damn that bowl was coming at 155.4 thats almost 100 mile per hr.

and it was stupid how one of the commentators where LOLing

whats the highest? isnt it like 157.?? something by Akhtar?

 

[Dare]

got a question for the Aussie fans.

How come Bollinger got a test spot ahead of Hilfenhaus? From what I read in his cric info profile this guy seems to be a Aussie version of Dale Steyn.

 

[irottev]

whats the highest? isnt it like 157.?? something by Akhtar?

Speed guns can be dodgy at times. But in New Zealand Akhtar registered one above 160km. I think they have highest speeds on cricinfo, i'll try find it.

edit: couldn't find it, but I found this: http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/111462.html

Hilfy was pretty quick, 145ish. And he had excellent control. I'd prefer him over Tait at least because whilst Tait will bowl 1 over above 150k and may make a player retire hurt or hit wicket, Hilfy will be better in every other over.

Hilfy > Bollinger

 

[aussie1st]

Hilfy definitely needs to be in the ODI side and should be in the test one. With Johnson rested for the first two matches I would go the same attack as the T20.

And Warner isn't about the average, it's about the x-factor he gives, he basically won the game in the first 5 overs of the match, he can do the same in a ODI.

 

[McLOVIN]

Speed guns can be dodgy at times. But in New Zealand Akhtar registered one above 160km. I think they have highest speeds on cricinfo, i'll try find it.

edit: couldn't find it, but I found this: Cricinfo - Lee may have topped Akhtar 18 months ago

I'd prefer him over Tait at least because whilst Tait will bowl 1 over above 150k and may make a player retire hurt or hit wicket, Hilfy will be better in every other over.

blue part: yeah i sow this video on youtube and he passed over 161, i thought it was 157, went back checked it again, its 161.

black part: or could it be because

Wow, Tait is as quick as ever. Please don't select him for the ODI's and especially not the ones against NZ

hehehe

 

[ZexyZahid]

Warner just played one match. If he gets out cheaply in the next Twenty20 everybody will forget him.