The VB Series 2006

[Gibbsrules]

What great bowling by Lee,he certainly was the difference today.Hogg also managed to expose our weakness against the spinners and all in all,the Aussies simply outbowled us in the end.Van der Wath bowled beautifully and so did Hall,Steyn was severely punished for his innaccuracy,which I put down to the fact that he just arrived in Australia,but I know he can bowl better.I was actually shocked to see Rudolph not in the side and Kruger in it.Kruger has not performed at all and Rudolph has shown that he can bat well.Pollock played a superb knock today,just to remind sides of how dangerous our lower order can be,and Dippenaar and Gibbs played quite well.I think another reason for SA's lack of performance is Smiths lack of form,he was always the one that took it on himself to get the team off to a flyer,but now that novelty is gone.

This is the SA team I would use against Sri Lanka:
Smith,Dippenaar,Rudolph,Gibbs,Prince,Kemp,Boucher,Pollock,Hall,Van Der Wath,Steyn,Botha (super sub)

 

[angryangy]

Lee has always been good early on but as cricket doctor mentioned Lee's death bowling especially when its tight is shocking.
Oh well good win, Jaques unlucky to miss out on the 100 but still a better option than Katich and surely this should oust Katich.

Clarke should get a go as opener as Martyn will be the 4 for the WC and if Punter gets his way Gilly will be opener so no point in changing Martyn's position. Clarke is more moveable as he is wasted down the order.

Not more useful.

So you're saying Clarke should be promoted ahead of Martyn. I'm sure you'll get a few followers, but I'll tell you now you're a confused folk.

 

[ZexyZahid]

I just realised Brett Lee got with this haul his best ever ODI haul with 5-22. And I would say give Martyn again a chance at the top of the innings.

And people are comparing Hussey with Bevan. They are comparable, but Hussey has to play a bit more ODI's then at the current moment. Also has to take his team a lot more times back into the match, when it's in trouble. Bevan has been doing this for a long time now. But Hussey has just shown some glimpses compared with Bevan.

 

[aussie1st]

Not more useful.

So you're saying Clarke should be promoted ahead of Martyn. I'm sure you'll get a few followers, but I'll tell you now you're a confused folk.

Well if you think Clarke is a better 4 than Martyn then keep Martyn opening.

 

[YOTC]

I just realised Brett Lee got with this haul his best ever ODI haul with 5-22. And I would say give Martyn again a chance at the top of the innings.

And people are comparing Hussey with Bevan. They are comparable, but Hussey has to play a bit more ODI's then at the current moment. Also has to take his team a lot more times back into the match, when it's in trouble. Bevan has been doing this for a long time now. But Hussey has just shown some glimpses compared with Bevan.

In Husseys 18 innings, about 7 times he has saved Australia from a bad posistion.

And 9 times he has scored a quickfire 30 to improve the Aussies score.

Glimpses? Hardly, he's always performing. He has only 1 score under 10 where he has been dismissed.

 

[irottev]

come on cut it out

at the moment a fully fit south african side are a better team than new zealand in odi

Gilchrist, Boucher and Sangakara are top 3 keepers in the world imo, but if i wanted one of them in my team it would have to be Sangakara

Well I totally disagree as you forgot about Akmal and Dhoni. Gilchrist has been terrible so on form, hes no where near. Boucher is definatly not in their legaue either. I mean the keeper sof today are all fantastic batsmen, its a tight field led by Sangakara.

I also disagree that a fully fit SA side is better than a fully fit NZ side, in SA then mabee, in NZ then mabee not. 4-0 didn't hurt one bit, I just had to remember back to the series here in NZ when we thumped you.

Well,it's confirmed that Johan Van Der Wath is replacing Kallis.Van der Wath is a Pollock like player,he bowls with swing,not too much pace and he is a mighty hitter of the ball.He scored about 60 off 50 balls not so long ago in domestic cricket.

And just for the record,I have nothing against New Zealand,they're actually my 3rd favourite team,it's just that irrotev's obvious anti-South African attitude gets to me sometimes.

I am not anti-SA. They are certainly not one of my favorite teams. Its just Australia are my second favorites and well NZ, lets just say we have a recent rivalry against you. However I am not basing my opinions on things like that. I feel that Boucher played pretty well when no one else really did, I don't think hes in Sangakara, and all the other keepers league right now. His hitting at the end of the innings has been good this series. He didn't save the day for you last night did he.

What made me post about SA getting beaten to you was because you were obviously very angry yourself after the match and came on here ranting and raving, so I decided to rub it in a little. Don't take it so seriously, its just sport, just a game.


Now on last nights match, Lee was great although I just think it comes down to incompetance from the South Africans. First off they should of been chasing less runs. I guess with soo many injurys it can't be helped much, especially when over half your bowling attack are gone and your best batsman. Still, its SA's own fault, Dippenar, Gibbs got in and then couldn't go on. It was good bowling but I can't say that South Africa batted smartly.

Steyn has no excuses, his bowling was terrible. He may of just arrived, but hes been playing recently yes? He must be in decent form to get selected. It wasn't so much good batting, it was bad balls ball after ball. A 15 year old could of put away those wide ones and leg stump ones.

 

[Gibbsrules]

True,but the way I saw Steyn bowl in the match was by far the worst I've seen him bowl in any form of cricket,so I would atleast give him another chance to show what he can do,I mean,having him in the side instead of Kruger won't be that different coz Kruger sucks and he has had plenty chances.

By the way,I thought the Aussies and New Zealanders also had a bit of a rivalry going?

 

[kodos]

Well I totally disagree as you forgot about Akmal and Dhoni. Gilchrist has been terrible so on form, hes no where near. Boucher is definatly not in their legaue either. I mean the keeper sof today are all fantastic batsmen, its a tight field led by Sangakara.

I also disagree that a fully fit SA side is better than a fully fit NZ side, in SA then mabee, in NZ then mabee not. 4-0 didn't hurt one bit, I just had to remember back to the series here in NZ when we thumped you.



I am not anti-SA. They are certainly not one of my favorite teams. Its just Australia are my second favorites and well NZ, lets just say we have a recent rivalry against you. However I am not basing my opinions on things like that. I feel that Boucher played pretty well when no one else really did, I don't think hes in Sangakara, and all the other keepers league right now. His hitting at the end of the innings has been good this series. He didn't save the day for you last night did he.

What made me post about SA getting beaten to you was because you were obviously very angry yourself after the match and came on here ranting and raving, so I decided to rub it in a little. Don't take it so seriously, its just sport, just a game.


Now on last nights match, Lee was great although I just think it comes down to incompetance from the South Africans. First off they should of been chasing less runs. I guess with soo many injurys it can't be helped much, especially when over half your bowling attack are gone and your best batsman. Still, its SA's own fault, Dippenar, Gibbs got in and then couldn't go on. It was good bowling but I can't say that South Africa batted smartly.

Steyn has no excuses, his bowling was terrible. He may of just arrived, but hes been playing recently yes? He must be in decent form to get selected. It wasn't so much good batting, it was bad balls ball after ball. A 15 year old could of put away those wide ones and leg stump ones.

I find it a bit strange that a kiwi would find the Aussies as their second favourite team I know many Kiwis from NZ and talk about how much they want to beat australia in any sport and how that they find Australia as their arch enemy.

 

[irottev]

Definatly, and thats a good reason why to like them. The only time I hate the Aussies is when we are playing them, otherwise when I am neutral and watching them, I hope they win and I enjoy watching them.

They are our neighbours, they havn't done anyhting to make me hate them really.

 

[aussie1st]

Definatly, and thats a good reason why to like them. The only time I hate the Aussies is when we are playing them, otherwise when I am neutral and watching them, I hope they win and I enjoy watching them.

They are our neighbours, they havn't done anyhting to make me hate them really.

Lol you are one of the few Kiwis that doesn't have the motto "I support 2 teams NZ and anyone playing Australia."

As for SA being better than NZ its hard to say cause NZ always lose to SA although I think in NZ a few years ago NZ got the better of SA. But usually SA win their games but NZ and SA team on paper is even.

 

[angryangy]

I have no doubt South Africa are the better side. Shane Bond may be the best bowler out of the two sides, but SA have a greater number of consistent pace bowlers. New Zealand have a long batting order but the quality of the specialist batsmen is lower. The only areas that NZ are more powerful in are fielding and spin bowling.

 

[ajay2k5]

I am still in doubt who will end up winning this series, we all know Sri Lanka can turn it on sometimes and RSA are about as inconsistant as, um well you know.

Australia IMO are struggling a little, both bowling and batting, we have not put together a good pening partnership yet, it's always one or 2 players doing the scoring. McGraths wickets have dried up, and no one really knows what Lee will do from match to match.

 

[irottev]

Well thats your opinion. We will see at the World Cup/Champ Trophy then I suppose. I agree that your pace bowlers as a group are much better, I mean we have Bond and Mills who are pretty damn good. Then we have all rounders, Cairns, Oram and of course Vettori. But we have a far superior batting lineup I believe. South Africa couldn't make 200 chasing on a good pitch. Our catching/fielding is also better.

SA are definatly better in tests, we are yet to prove ourselves. But in ODI's its 1 home series a piece. We'll see on a neutral ground.

Australia will win the series. Otherwise it will have to be Sri Lanka because at the moment, South Africa are probably playing the worst.

 

[kodos]

I can't believe people are skeptical of SA's chances of winning the series. They are injury stricken but their bowlers have shown pride and have bowled very well. Their top order is a problem, they need to open with Hall to add some flair and release the pressure of Smith. Smith atm tries to be aggressive because Dipenaar bats defensively. They are a much better ODI side than a test match side and their 20 game streak proves that.

 

[aussie1st]

Its still hard to pick who will make the finals. Aus should be one but the other team is harder. At the start everyone was writing off SL after their shocker in NZ, now only after 2 games SA have been written off. SL have yet to win against Aus whereas SA have so I wouldn't write them off.