South Africa in Australia

[Sando]

Nothing Warne said about the South African's was out of line.

He credited their strong batting and bowling.... they do have strong bowling and batting.

He claimed their attack lacked variety...... it did, all bowling around the same pace, no genuine swing bowler.

He claimed Smith showed a lack of imagination........ he did, not utilising part-time spin until massive damage had been done, sticking to fielding plans longer than they should have been.

He said Kemp's 55 wasn't all that convincing.... watch the footage, it wasn't.

Some people might dislike him discussing his potential 'bunnies', but that's just Warne trying to bring something to typically dour press interviews. Most of you would probably prefer him to say the opposition is great, we're great, I'm gonna give 110% yadda yadda yadda, but Warne prefers to go against athete's predilection for talking without saying anything. I personally enjoy an athlete stiring the pot, speaking his mind and you might not, that's fine.

As for Ranatunga, his integrity is about as impressive as his physique. Anyway you cut it Warne's impact on cricket is immense. He's broken pretty much every record possible, and lead the Aussie team to every trophy ther is to win, and he re-invented the art of leg spin bowling. He's arguably been the most important member of a sporting team that has achieved levels of success pretty much unheard of in modern international sport. Arjuna should stick to what he does best, and go find a group of school children to detain and assault.....

 

[sachin]

Here it is----->

WARNE:
vs ENG- 172 wickets
vs SAF- 107 wickets
vs NZL- 103 wickets
vs IND- 43 wickets avg 47.19
vs BAN- Havn't played a test yet.
vs ZIM- Only 1 test so far.

MURALI:
vs BAN- 34 wickets avg 8.00
vs ZIM- 89 wickets.
vs IND- 73 wickets.

I'll update these stats later.
For now, you guys decide who's better?

I personally prefer Murali

I saw Bucknor again,in Subway!

 

[irottev]

I guess he likes subway.

 

[ajay2k5]

I find this all funny.

If Australia was ranked last in test cricket and was an easy beat for any team, I bet no one will bag any of the players out, regardless of what they do or say. It just shows how jealous some people get.

He is the best bowler in the world, and MURALI takes so many cheap wickets, over 100 against the bottom 2 rankes teams just shows that, if Australia played as many matches against them then warne would have another 100 wickets as well.

I don't care or want to hear what anyone else has to say as what I have said is the truth.

As far as a role model is, I would not pick Warne. There has never been proof for most of the issues that he has been in involved with, and I think that a few of the women claiming what they did is the biggest heap of bull ****, they just want attention.

 

[irottev]

Both Warne and Murili are amazing spin bowlers. But Warnes record speaks for itself. A wicket is a wicket.

 

[Indiangod]

Here it is----->

WARNE:
vs ENG- 172 wickets
vs SAF- 107 wickets
vs NZL- 103 wickets
vs IND- 43 wickets avg 47.19
vs BAN- Havn't played a test yet.
vs ZIM- Only 1 test so far.

MURALI:
vs BAN- 34 wickets avg 8.00
vs ZIM- 89 wickets.
vs IND- 73 wickets.

I'll update these stats later.
For now, you guys decide who's better?

Thanks for the stats, Warne wins the contest hands down. Warne has turned around so many matches for the aussies, remember world cup 96 semi-final Aus vs Wi when the windies only needed 40 odd to win in 9 overs and Warne bowled brilliant and took 4 wickets. And we all seen Aus vs Sa world cup 99 semi-final another match of Warnes magic.

 

[cricket doctor]

Thanks for the stats, Warne wins the contest hands down. Warne has turned around so many matches for the aussies, remember world cup 96 semi-final Aus vs Wi when the windies only needed 40 odd to win in 9 overs and Warne bowled brilliant and took 4 wickets. And we all seen Aus vs Sa world cup 99 semi-final another match of Warnes magic.

ya,quite rightly. These are just 2 extraordinary perfomances out of 100s of great ones.

 

[Sando]

Thanks for the stats, Warne wins the contest hands down. Warne has turned around so many matches for the aussies, remember world cup 96 semi-final Aus vs Wi when the windies only needed 40 odd to win in 9 overs and Warne bowled brilliant and took 4 wickets. And we all seen Aus vs Sa world cup 99 semi-final another match of Warnes magic.

Good point. I'm not taking anything away from Murali, he's one of the finest bowlers this world has ever seen, and along with Vaasy has held the Sri Lankan side together for many years.

However, Warne to me is as clutch as Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant in the NBA. Time after time, on the biggest stages, under the largest possible amount of pressure, Warne has at times but the entire Australian team on his back and carried them to victory, he's one of the greatest winners the sports world has ever seen. He never gives up the fight either, his performance in the Ashes series this year (despite his team being behind of the majority of most games) was one of the finest series I have ever seen an individual have.

 

[sachin]

I guess he likes subway.

The six-inch Seafood(i.e. Crab)! He's really quiet......

 

[pal]

The six-inch Seafood(i.e. Crab)! He's really quiet......

Did you get their autographs?

 

[sohum]

I don't care or want to hear what anyone else has to say as what I have said is the truth.

You sound like an ignorant little baby.

Did yall read Smith's take on Warnie's interview?
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa/content/story/230703.html

This is kinda humorous, too.

 

[Maxkarter]

A little bit of news, Kemp is a doubt ful starter for tomorrow too.

Kemp in doubt for 2nd test by Neil Manthorp
Posted on 24 December 2005 - 08:59

Justin Kemp ? TouchlineJustin Kemp, one of South Africa's stars in the drawn first test in Perth last week, is a doubtful starter for the second test at the MCG in Melbourne starting on Monday.

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The Titans skipper hasn't trained for the last two days because a niggling injury in his right shoulder and, although treatment is progressing well, is rated no more than a 50-50 starter and faces a final fitness test on Christmas day.

It would be a cruel blow to the 28-year-old who set a national record of 47 Tests between appearances after waiting over four and a half years to make his reappearance in the national side.

Despite surviving against Shane Warne for 52 overs in Perth, the great leg spinner still dubbed Kemp his new bunny - or "Darryl" as he called him - because he didn't always look comfortable in using his height and reach to smother Warne's prodigious spin.

Warne did eventually get his man, caught at silly point for 55, but by then Kemp had batted over three and half hours and all but saved the game with centurion Jacques Rudolph.

The draw in Perth has undoubtedly lifted South Africa's spirits with captain Graeme Smith beleiving his side has a far more positive approach to life on and off the field than on previous tours.

"Australia has always been a scary and daunting prospect for South African teams," Smith said.

"We are very similar and it is a very hard place to come and tour. In the past South Africa have had a big fear of failure but I think we have come to terms with that. We have come here and I know people have called us unimaginative but we are more open," Smith said. "We are looking forward to playing in front of Australian crowds and playing in Australia."

Smith has quietly enjoyed recent reminders from Australia's players - Warne and Glenn McGrath in particular - and has been quick to 'play up' to the perceptions of his countrymen that Australians seem to have.

Asked whether his team needed to find a steely recolve to beat Australia, Smith said "it's the other way around ... the steely resolve has been a South African trait for a long time," said a chuckling Smith.

"We have come here a little bit more open and enthusiastic and open to advice and to see things. We have really enjoyed ourselves here. We are as best prepared as we can be.

"We came out here expecting a lot of verbal in the papers and things being said. If anything they have been under more pressure than us going into this test match. We have just got on with what we have been doing. We have been very focussed on the things we have been able to control which is our preparation," Smith said.

With Jacques Kallis likely to return to the starting XI after injury and Kemp in doubt, Smith cast doubt on whether specialist spinner Nicky Boje would be included as had been assumed for weeks before the test. But the sight of the green and grassy MCG pitch has forced the captain into a rethink.

"It's a tough one. If a spinner is only going to play a defensive role there is always a question mark over whether you are going to use him. We want to play guys who are going to pick up wickets," Smith said.

"The wicket has a lot of grass on it and we want to choose the options that give us the best chance of taking 20 wickets to win the test match."

*-*-* Courtesy of Supersport *-*-*

 

[aussie1st]

This test match should be a very good one. I am hearing 80,000 people could be possible. Should be good seeing how Jaques goes, and if McGrath returns to form.

 

[cricket_lover]

Yea, kallis has replaced Kemp. It'll be interesting to see if McGill will be in the side. It might turn later in the match and its always good to have two quality spinners in the side.

 

[Maxkarter]

It's a pitty to see Kemp out. I really think that Kallis should be slotted in somewhere, hopefully at no. 3 , and Kemp should replace Prince (when he is fit). Even if Kemp looked bit bad or horrible against Warne, I think Prince is even more lost in general. Even if it just for this series.


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