South Africa in Australia Dec 2008-Jan 2009

[stefan]

Key is Kallis. If he doesn't get out SA will win. If only Ashwell was playing I would be very confident.

Can't rely on the tail. JK,AB,JP and Bouch will have to do it for us.

 

[Slowcoach]

Not impressed with Krezja's bowling, way too many 4 balls, and he doesn't even seem to have an arm ball, way too predictable and not accurate enough. The Indians should have just sat on him and picked off the loose balls instead of making him look good by gifting their wickets to him by being over-aggressive.

Siddle has been described as "honest", which means he tries hard all day but takes no wickets. His team mates also say "he hits the bat hard", which makes it sound like he never beats the bat or takes the edge and always hits the middle.

 

[mattfb]

Well I suspect the selectors will give Siddle a home test match. The question is how long do we stick with him and do we really see Clark, Lee, Johnson with Siddle winning the Ashes in England. Clark is a given, Johnson is looking good but I do wonder about Lee and Siddle. That attack is also missing the swing bowler.

At present I would say we need that specialist at 6, we are already carrying Hayden, Ponting and Hussey. Can't carry 4 batters. If they were in form Watson at 6 wouldn't look so bad, but atm our batting is too unstable.

If Johnson can practice more with the seam up and practice getting inswing to go with his leg cutter (thats the one that moves away right?) he will be very dangerous. Clark has accuracy and seam, if Lee can develop more solid swing he will be dangerous too and we have a hit the deck bowler in Siddle. But I think I know what your trying to hint *cough* Bollinger *cough*

This should be our top order;

Hayden/Jaques/Klinger/Rogers/Hughes (the last one is very unlikely)
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin

I don't understand why the selectors continually ignore the fact that David Hussey has been scoring runs continually in both forms of the game, and is so destructive. He can bowl a bit, so can Clarke and with Lee, Johnson, Clark and Siddle/Krejza/any other spinner we are recreating the teams of the past. 6 batsmen, 1 keeper, 4 frontline bowlers.

 

[aussie1st]

Hilfy will do for now, Bollinger looks to be a bit out of touch atm so wouldn't want to destroy his confidence by putting him in the Test side right now. Hilfy i reckon could step up though. The problem for Lee is hes already been tried in England twice and neither time has he come back with a handful of wickets and his pace is now well down and he bearly swings the ball.

I don't think Klinger will get a go since his best spot is where Ponting is plus Katich and him opening could lead to some snore feast

 

[mattfb]

I think Bollinger would suit the English conditions really well though.

lol I guess it would be pretty boring. I really would love to see Hughes there, but Jaques should get his spot back when he comes back from injury if Hayden has retired imo.

 

[aussie1st]

Yea he probably would, I was more getting at the Boxing day test. Still a long way to go before we can judge form for the Ashes. Just hopefully he starts taking bags of wickets again to put the pressure on the selectors.

 

[Griffo]

That was classic lol

That ball stayed DOWN! and Kallis and Lee just laughed lol

 

[ZexyZahid]

So far it's a good contest. South Africa need 170 runs and Australia 7 wickets.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

We need a wicket badly Cmon Johny Boy

 

[.Mob]

AB is keeping my heart in my mouth, could have been out three times now!

 

[SciD]

I hope RSA put up fight because
a) It will mean Aussies will not walk over other test matches as they just stranggle opposition to submission after winning first encounter.
b) Its so misty here that India-England game will not be more than 20 overs today.

 

[age of the fall]

I don't think that was the plan when Ponting put Clarke in

 

[Arunava]

Nice chase so far :happy

 

[punterpupnroy]

Gee,

In my opinion South Africa have it in the bag. Australia look flat, and a wicket doesn't look like coming. And to think they only need just over a 100 left with 7 wickets in hand. Well it looks bleak for the Aussies unless they get a few wickets in the next hour and a half.

 

[karnog]

Didn't we say this last time when it was 3/220 and then Johnson pulls a Wasim Aktar? One wicket can change the game. The tail enders aren't that good (though Morkel isn't too bad) and the Saffas are well known chokers so don't discount Australia just yet. But if i had money i'd back the South Africans.