South Africa in Australia Nov-Dec 2012/13
- Thread starter IanG
- Start date
midgetwars
Club Captain
I like how the ABC put it. When Australia were smashing Smith and Co. all over he was basically "catatonic" but Clarke was trying to do stuff.
Although, Clarke was doing a bit too much he coulda slowed the game down a bit but when most bowlers are going for 5+ runs...
mrtwisties
Club Cricketer
Mitchell Starc, what a gun. Beautiful consistent action, great swing/bounce/angle weaponry and if he's averaging 85mph at 22 yo then you'd have to think he's a genuinely fast bowler once full grown.
That said, I think we've only seen the "real" South Africa in this Test - and now we know how far away we are from being a truly top-rated side. It's still *just* possible that we might get lucky and win this match, but it seems pretty clear that South Africa's best is a lot better than our own (although they're a little more inconsistent maybe and their worst is perhaps even more dire - although let's see how we all feel at the end of today).
For mine, it's going to take Starc/Pattinson/Cummins fulfilling their potential if we're ever going to beat South Africa's batsmen at their best. I have no idea how we'll ever beat South Africa's bowlers when they're on song, though. Perhaps if the SPC trio end up being bowling all-rounders we'll have enough depth?
That said, I think we've only seen the "real" South Africa in this Test - and now we know how far away we are from being a truly top-rated side. It's still *just* possible that we might get lucky and win this match, but it seems pretty clear that South Africa's best is a lot better than our own (although they're a little more inconsistent maybe and their worst is perhaps even more dire - although let's see how we all feel at the end of today).
For mine, it's going to take Starc/Pattinson/Cummins fulfilling their potential if we're ever going to beat South Africa's batsmen at their best. I have no idea how we'll ever beat South Africa's bowlers when they're on song, though. Perhaps if the SPC trio end up being bowling all-rounders we'll have enough depth?
midgetwars
Club Captain
To be fair, The South African best is because of the bad bowling by the Aussies. I want to see their best at our best, hasn't been a great contest because it's always seems to be the best of one team vs the worst.
The closest to best vs best was the last session of adelaide.
The closest to best vs best was the last session of adelaide.
Sedition
Panel of Selectors
I figure the only reason we don't already hold the highest run chase record is that most teams aren't capable of setting 400+ against us. Time to show why we're #1 by knocking these 600 or so off.
angryangy
ICC Chairman
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2004
But by the same token, that first day at Adelaide. I think when you have teams that are competitive enough, one doesn't allow the other to skulk away with a poor performance. It's like holding the catches or putting the new ball on the right spot in the first over. Punishing mistakes is right at the heart of cricket and doing it well is to play at your best.
midgetwars
Club Captain
Fun Facts:
Combination of Mitches took all the wickets who were left handers.
Johnson took 4 GREAT catches and was involved in 7 wickets.
Combination of Mitches took all the wickets who were left handers.
Johnson took 4 GREAT catches and was involved in 7 wickets.
mrtwisties
Club Cricketer
If Steyn, Morkel and Philander can string together 30-40 overs of their best then there's not much our batsmen can do about it. They might get lucky, as Clarke frequently did during his mammoth innings in Adelaide. But I'm not sure there's enough talent and technique in our top four to reliably cope with the placement and late movement that the Saffers are capable of.
That said, with the way Warner has been belting the ball out of shape, the Saffers might not get a chance to bowl at their best. If he can do that for another 30-40 overs, Australia should be about halfway to the target.
Papa_Smurf
International Cricketer
A Warner 300 from 200, a Ponting farewell ton and another double from Clarke should see Aus through 
Lol, Ian Healey sure is optimsitic
Lol, Ian Healey sure is optimsitic
Only 3rd time in history left arm pace has taken all 10 wickets. Some SA dudes from 1800s were first, then Zaheer/RP Singh/Irfan Pathan in 2006 was the other time.
Was much better bowling yesterday, this time Aussies were beaten by quality batting by Amla and de Villiers, not so much by their own looseness. Taking 8/339 in the day was pretty good, and those 2 guys probably accounted for 80% of those runs.
LONG way to go in this game, but Australia has to be encouraged by a few things: a) SA made almost 600 themselves, b) they didn't declare even when they had 600+ lead - so they obviously don't feel COMPLETELY safe, c) it's warming up in Perth, going to be HOT on day 5 so if SA are still in the field, with Kallis not bowling, it will be a massive test of the endurance of their 3 quicks.
Break it up into parts and it becomes more manageable. Australia basically needs to win 5-6 sessions in a row to get this. Not completely out of the question when you consider that SA just did that on days 2 and 3. They won all 3 sessions on day 2, and certainly won the first 2 yesterday. If Australia loses more than 1 wicket per session they will be sinking. But if they are 3/350 at stumps tonight (at worst!) it could start to get interesting...
We've had some rare events thus far in this test eg. left armers taking all 10, ABDV reverse sweeping his way through the 90s - mitch johnson bowling straight...why not a chase of 600-odd??I'd just love to see what Aus can do if they are 0/50 instead of 3/50 all the time...
Not completely out of the question? Of course it is. They're not chasing 450, they're chasing 600+, which is what? 200 more than the highest ever run chase? Australia have no chance and South Africa didn't declare because they know they have more than enough time to win this match, so why risk it? Plus South Africa have Peterson who looks a much better bet to keep it tight and keep the pressure on the batsmen, which Tahir struggled with.
For me, Australia might play well and only lose by 200, but there's no way they are winning this and the amount of time left means that a draw looks almost as unlikely. Just a matter of time.
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As an England fan though, good to see Johnson back in the team.
For me, Australia might play well and only lose by 200, but there's no way they are winning this and the amount of time left means that a draw looks almost as unlikely. Just a matter of time.
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As an England fan though, good to see Johnson back in the team.
midgetwars
Club Captain
The saffers nearly made 600 and that was with the tail playing stupid shots. Imagine if they didn't they would be at 700
Sedition
Panel of Selectors
Yeah it's definitely turned into a 600+ pitch at this point. Saf's failure to capitalise on their first innings lead by throwing all their wickets away at the end and falling short of the expected total is gonna come back to haunt them here.
Can't see any reason why we shouldn't end today at around 2/400 and set the game up for a cruisey victory tomorrow to make history. Philander's done nothing on Aussie soil, Morkel's running way above expectation and probabilities say he'll come crashing back to earth in this innings and Steyn is just that.
To say I'm optimistic is a gross understatement, pretty much oozing with confidence right now.
Can't see any reason why we shouldn't end today at around 2/400 and set the game up for a cruisey victory tomorrow to make history. Philander's done nothing on Aussie soil, Morkel's running way above expectation and probabilities say he'll come crashing back to earth in this innings and Steyn is just that.
To say I'm optimistic is a gross understatement, pretty much oozing with confidence right now.
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