South Africa in Australia Nov-Dec 2012/13

[Umair7]

This Season Putland > Bird

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Alister McDermott i want to see this guy playing for Australia in next match

 

[Dennis Mennis]

Back in the first match, one of the aussie bowlers was also mm away from being inline but it was umpire's call.

So why wasn't this? So unfair

Good grief man, talk about Whingeing Matilda! The ball was more than a few mm outside leg, most of it was, and the laws of the game say that's not out! It's really quite simple.

 

[War]

I guess in a lot of ways you can say this is kind of fighting draw that # 1 teams show - even though to date Australia have been the better side.

With Perth now looking like it could be a 4-man pace attack shootout, Australia better hope that the Proteas don't bring their A-Game to that wicket or else it could be a repeat of 1993 Perth test.

For Australia though its disappointing how the young quicks are breaking down as often as Gillespie & Fleming did back in the 90s instead of showing the resistance of McGrath who i recall played test cricket non stop without injury from 1997-2002.

Calls for Ponting to go are naive it was only a summer ago he was being praised & came into this test series being the form domestic batsman. He is not at his peak anymore - but deserved to be backed especially when the younger batsmen aren't exactly hammering @ the door (although i sense some improvement with Hughes & Khawaja of late).

Disappointed with Johnson's call-up - he needs a full season in first class cricket before he should be seriously considered to the austraian test set-up again. Plus Hastings for test? Really??? He is a limited overs player and nothing more. Has Ben Cutting suddenly fell of the radar, last i checked he is bowling solidly.

On South Africa, Du Plessis knock shows how strong the proteas depth is & their is much more like him in domestic cricket. As i always say, only the bad quota policy can prevent s africa from being the real dominant force in test cricket.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

I was incredibly impressed with faf but this draw will only gain meaning in context of completed series. if they win the next one it will be regarded as a brilliant display of grit that turned the series, if they lose it will just look like they did very well holding off the inevitable and making their loss a bit more respectable.

 

[MUFC1987]

No way, it's a cracking result for South Africa after the way they started the 5th day. I haven't seen much of du Plessis in First Class cricket, but it looks like he's going to stay for a while. Just shows the depth in South African cricket that you don't always realise is there. Also, Jaques Kallis, what an effort. Two brilliant innings on one leg essentially, we're gonna miss him when he retires, that's for sure.

Also though, cracking game of Test cricket, which didn't look likely with the pitch for the first couple of days.

 

[spooony]

How can't it be a cracking result? Loosing Kallis, Philander, Duminy through injury and Steyn pulled up the first morning yet to come out the other side with a draw?

I think its a great result considering the bad luck with injuries we had. Kallis was bowling really well until he pulled a muscle. Hopefully the last track would not be as flat at the start as this one iof Australia have the balls to prepare such a track as their flat track bully really struggle in the 3rd and 4th inning slogging centuries like he does in 1st or 2nd.

 

[Papa_Smurf]

I hear Johnson's coming back.

Well done for the series win SA

 

[War]

On the balance of the South Africa team. It should be really strong if meritocracy is the name of the game in selection at all times

Smith
Peterson
Amla
Kallis
De Villiers
Duminy/Du Plessis
Kuhn/Vilas/De Kock
McLaren/Morris/R Peterson/S Harmer
Philander
Steyn
Morkel

De Lange, Elgar, Kleinvelt,

The area's of question:

- Stop De Villiers from keeping - its hurting his batting. He clearly cant do the dual role well enough in test like Andy Flower, Sanga, Stewart & bat in top order.

- Let the actually talented keeper batsmen in either the experienced Heino Kuhn or Dane Vilas or exciting young Quinton De Kock bat @ 7.

- Kallis injury & the unfortunately ineptness of Tahir shows that balance of s africa's 5-man attack may rethinking. If Kallis stops bowling, S Africa have a great quick bowling depth to play 4 quicks. Marchant De Lange isn't even on this tour & Chris Morris has real all-round potential.

- McLaren is best all-rounder after Kallis to bat in a # 7 role. So if 5 bowlers is to remain, keepers like Kuhn & De Kock are good to bat @ 7.

If Kallis does continue to bowl, Robin Peterson might get a chance to play to defensive spinner role or maybe young offie Simom Harmer.

Fact is following S Africa domestic cricket, the options the proteas have is extremely impressive @ the moment to build a side that should really make them a irresistible force.

 

[Left_Hander]

I really hope Siddle will be right for Perth

 

[midgetwars]

Good grief man, talk about Whingeing Matilda! The ball was more than a few mm outside leg, most of it was, and the laws of the game say that's not out! It's really quite simple.

Oh c'mon, that's not fair.

 

[sifter132]

I hear Johnson's coming back.

Well done for the series win SA

Expected to see more Johnson hate on the forums...I'm disappointed! I was ready to defend him with guns blazing I'm not really a massive Johnson fan, but I like defending guys who I think get overly criticised - and Johnson cops a lot more crap than he deserves from fans. My defending of maligned players has worked out for Shane Watson circa-2006-2009, and M.Clarke circa 2010-2011, maybe it will work for Mitch too

The guy who is more undeserving to me is Hazlewood. He's getting picked purely on gut feel as opposed to performance eg. Alistair McDermott, or Jackson Bird, or Hastings, or Faulkner, or Cutting, or Copeland, or Butterworth or yes, even Mitch Johnson have done better this season in the Shield.

I'd like to see what Hastings can do actually. War's tagged him already as a limited overs only player, but his record doesn't really reflect that and I think his height and his persistent lengths would be a great guy to have as your 4th quick bowler. He really restricted SA in the Aus A match.

I'll be happy if Johnson plays. His record against the South Africans is excellent as well as his stats batting and bowling at the WACA. If the pitch is perfect for pace, then I would go with Starc, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle. If the pitch will support spin probably day 4 and 5 (even day 3) then I would go with Starc, Johnson, Siddle, Lyon.

The more footmarks for Lyon to aim for, the better. Lyon troubled the Saffers batting lineup and his "Jeff" ball was really troubling them.

I think the 4 fast vs 3 may depend on how M.Clarke's back is feeling. If he can bowl 10 quick overs a day of pretty accurate stuff, then Australia perhaps could afford the risk of 4 fast bowlers if the pitch is conducive. But if Clarke isn't up to it, then I really don't want to see Warner/Hussey trying to fill in those overs. Although just for trivia's sake I'd love to see all 4 guys from Adelaide rested

 

[Dennis Mennis]

Oh c'mon, that's not fair.

What? I'm at a serious loss as to what's not fair now? You use that term a lot, were you picked on as a child?

 

[midgetwars]

What? I'm at a serious loss as to what's not fair now? You use that term a lot, were you picked on as a child?

Well, i'm not the one chucking personal insults at each other am I?

 

[midgetwars]

Seems like Ponting has decided to retire.

Big Decision, who's going to be picked for Sri Lanka and will Tendulkar also do the same since he's also having the same pressure.

 

[angryangy]

Siddle and Hilfenhaus out of the XI