South Africa in Australia

[vibs89]

Damn Ntini nails 5 wicket. I'm happy at first stage Ricky Pointing and Langer had build a great patnership and that too thye both played aggressive. Then I thought the Aus target will be like over 400. But it didn't Ntini strikes again after removing Langer. Good bowling by South Africa. Hope Smith and Villers carry on.

 

[Alex87]

I hope so 2...those 2 are the best openers in sa...well ok ur gonna think im crazy but smith is and just give ab time 2 settle,he has an ave of 53...

 

[aditya123]

I just checked the scores and was surprised ! Great stuff from theproteas but the Aussie bowling still has it in them to win it for them .
Why the hell was Martyn dropped. Just because he failed in the Ashes where he got 3 poor decisions against him ?
The Aussie middle order does look a different one with Martyn in it . A lot of sides will now be queing up to play against Australia seeing this middle order .
They should have persisted with Clarke because he has it in him to become the next Ponting kind of a player .

 

[Alex87]

whats ur view on AB...aditya123

 

[duffarama]

I just checked the scores and was surprised ! Great stuff from theproteas but the Aussie bowling still has it in them to win it for them .
Why the hell was Martyn dropped. Just because he failed in the Ashes where he got 3 poor decisions against him ?
The Aussie middle order does look a different one with Martyn in it . A lot of sides will now be queing up to play against Australia seeing this middle order .
They should have persisted with Clarke because he has it in him to become the next Ponting kind of a player .

I'd knew someone would agree with me on the Martyn issue. I'd say we put together a petition to get him back.

 

[angryangy]

I just checked the scores and was surprised ! Great stuff from theproteas but the Aussie bowling still has it in them to win it for them .
Why the hell was Martyn dropped. Just because he failed in the Ashes where he got 3 poor decisions against him ?
The Aussie middle order does look a different one with Martyn in it . A lot of sides will now be queing up to play against Australia seeing this middle order .
They should have persisted with Clarke because he has it in him to become the next Ponting kind of a player .

Clarke isn't exactly a fearsome player, at least no more fearsome than any of the players in the lineup.

There's nothing much wrong with "this" middle order. Can you deny Mike Hussey is doing what he can?

His scores; 1, 29, 137, 31*, 133*, 30* and 23.

So too, Brad Hodge is scoring runs; 60, 18, 23, 41. A large score is no doubt in the making.

Andrew Symonds, on the other hand, is under pressure, he must improve, though how can you doubt his ability?

Anyway, as I don't approve of this quest for an allrounder, so he would be the person I'd drop to bring back Damien Martyn. The main reason people are up in arms about the middle order though, is the form of Adam Gilchrist, someone you can not doubt. The greatest wicketkeeper-batsman ever, the most dynamic Test batsman, the man most feared as an opponent in world cricket. You certainly can't just ask this man to leave, he has earnt a fair go to prove himself.

 

[ZexyZahid]

Pretty good stuff from South Africa. I didn't expect this. South Africa is well on top now. Australia looked well set to get a big score till Hussey fell. After that it was dramatic falldown.

And the quick runs that South Africa got in the seven overs kept the pressure on Australia. I think South Africa will gain a first innings lead. Have yet to see if Australia can provide a better batting effort.

And I wouldn't mind seeing Martyn back for Australia. And don't know what's wrong with Symonds if he plays Tests.

 

[Indiangod]

South africa in control at the end of day 1. Australia bowled out for 258 thanks to Ntini, and in reply the South Africans are 38-0 without no loss. Could South africa possibly end Australias dominance at home tests streak, its been since 93 that any side had beaten Australia in thier own back yard.

 

[aditya123]

whats ur view on AB...aditya123

I think AB has some flair and something about him which makes me watch his batting.
Some of his square drives and backfoot strokes look very elegant .
The problem with him is that he plays too many strokes too early in his innings . If he can curb it early on, he can be a very good batsman for SA .

It would be better for SA to utilize AB as a middle order batsman rather that playing Gibbs there . That would shield him from the new ball .

Gibbs , I feel is their best bet to open with Smith . He can bevery destructive at that position .

 

[Alex87]

It would be better for SA to utilize AB as a middle order batsman rather that playing Gibbs there . That would shield him from the new ball .

Gibbs , I feel is their best bet to open with Smith . He can bevery destructive at that position .[/QUOTE]

Gibbs prefer batting 4 or 5

 

[jdbais]

And I wouldn't mind seeing Martyn back for Australia. And don't know what's wrong with Symonds if he plays Tests.

This will almost certainly be Symonds last test match if he doesn't make a good score in the second innings.

 

[moza1]

Yeah, Matyn should never of been dropped.
It was stupid.
I dont think Hodge should be in the team.

I think the team should be:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Bracken/Mcgill
Mcgrath

 

[angryangy]

South africa in control at the end of day 1. Australi bowled out for 158 thanks to Ntini, and in reply the South Africans are 38-0 without no loss. Could South africa possibly end Australias dominance at home tests streak, its been since 93 that any side had beaten Australia in thier own back yard.

258, not 158, not that we can't all check the scores ourselves.

It would be better for SA to utilize AB as a middle order batsman rather that playing Gibbs there . That would shield him from the new ball .

AB deVilliers doesn't strike me as a player who should need protection from the new ball. A player who "plays too many shots" is always something of a danger to himself.

 

[Indiangod]

258, not 158, not that we can't all check the scores ourselves.

AB deVilliers doesn't strike me as a player who should need protection from the new ball. A player who "plays too many shots" is always something of a danger to himself.

Sorry about that I most have pressed 1 by accident.

 

[aditya123]

I'd knew someone would agree with me on the Martyn issue. I'd say we put together a petition to get him back.

Duffo, dont worry about the petition thing, we Indians know how to protest against players being (unfairly) dropped from the side .
Martyn scored 6 test hundreds last year and those hundreds came in India and Sri Lanka, two of the toughest places to bat . I don`t know how he can be dropped. I thought selection blunders occur only in India but I was wrong .
Martyn is a real good player to be dropped just due to one bad series.

Also, I don`t know why Australia hav been hit by the `all rounder fever` ,
They must not forget that they have been winning all thee years without an all rounder. Sometimes specialists can do the job just as well .
Steve Waugh`s side never had an all rounder and he lost just one series !

Shane Watson`s won`t take them too far. His bowling is at best honest and his batting is decent .
Symonds , has not done anything that great in tests either and I have a feeling this might be his last test