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South Africa vs Australia

[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=47481.msg1428372#msg1428372 date=1321670787]
Ha....what do you say now about Hughes Ryan?


He is not in the class of a Mark Waugh, Hayden or even Langer as an opener. But he can do a job like Slater. I think he gets way too much stick from the fans. Australia will benefit immensely by sticking with him.
[/quote]

Mate, he's got a long long way to go yet.
 
At one stage Amla was 72 off 189 balls I think. Against an Australian attack shorn of it's two best bowlers. He's fucking crucifying to watch.
 
I'm liking Pat Cummins a lot. He could be a terrific bowler i think. The problem for Australia now is that there is no bowling spearhead/leader kind of character, but they do have a decent pool of fast bowlers in Harris, Cummins, Copeland, Johnson, and might i add Hilfenhaus (he is doing extremely well for Tasmania)). Siddle and Dougey have gone south as bowlers i'm afraid. But Dougey is still handy in that he is a left armer. Starc could well get ahead of Dougey in the left-armers queue.


As for Amla......Situation demanded a steady head....i guess. At least he is not a downright ugly batsman like Chanderpaul to watch.

But this is the sort of innings Dravid and Chanderpaul have played very well over the years.
 
A collapse was averted today by Steyn (who's always been handy with the bat) and Philander .... 48 run partnership by lunch. SA 314-7.
 
Steyn and Philander were great together - set Australia 310 to win.

Philander has already got two quick wickets, 26-2 after 7.
 
Ooohhh...Match is very evenly poised.

It would be a hell of a time for Punter to turn his fortunes around.

Imran Tahir must earn his bread on a fifth day wicket. If he doens't then he probably is not as good a bowler as we all thought. I really thought the lad will be great for SA, but so far he has done anything special compared to Harris. Harris was a better bat lower down the order too.
 
I noticed you didn't mention Hughes there KJ? Another cheap wicket up to a catch behind. He really needs to eradicate that need to play at everything.

Anyway, the close of play came at a bad time for Australia. Ponting looked comfortable out ther, and is going to have to start all over again tonight (my time!). The first 30-45 mins tonight will decide the outcome; if Ponting and Clarke can staright bat and keep put of trouble from the inevitable Steyn and Philander onslaught they're a huge chance.

Pat Cummins FTW by the way.
 
True. He clearly needs to work on his weakness against the short stuff and fishing just outside offf, but its nothing that cant be overcome and he shows that he has the stomach to fight....it will be very cruel to drop him now.


Pat Cummins is looking the goods.But we have to rember how good Johnson looked when he firat toured SA. It all depends on how he reacts to a poor match, which he will inevitably have. But something tells me he will handle it better than Johnson.
 
what a fucking ball earlier to Hussey from Steyn.

started outside off and kept getting big. Hussey was lucky to survive that.
 
lol and then he rattles Haddin on the grill...proper hospital ball that.

He has definitely bowled much better than this on many occasions, but he is just irresistible. I thoroughly enjoy watching the game, whenever Steyn is on.
 
Go Midge Go!!!

Go Steyn Go!!! He has got a wicket finally....sometimes he has bowled a peach, without a reward unfortunately.

What a cracking match it has been.
 
[quote author=kingjulian link=topic=47481.msg1429938#msg1429938 date=1321887306]
What a cracking match it has been.
[/quote] Need more pitches like this.
 
So where does this leave Punter? Is his innings enough to earn him a breather? Or is it too little too late?

Will Khawaja make way once Marsh returns?

For what it's worth i think he should be given a little bit more time....he still has at least year of Cricket in him - but unfortunately he needs a big innings in the next test. That how it is..
 
One last series for Ponting. He'll finish against India after that 4 match series in Aus.
 
South Africa seriously puzzle me!

Why aren't they the run away number 1 team in the world in test cricket?

Any Test team would be glad to have a bowling trio of Steyn, Morkel and Philander (alright their back up is dire...but not like Steyn and Morkel are injury prone.) They have the best allrounder in the game currently, who also is probably an all-time-great. Mark Boucher is a very decent keeper/batsman (although he has had a bit of slump in batting in the recent years). Amla and AB are world class batsmen, and would walk into any test-x1. Smith is one of the best openers going around. Prince has improved a great deal too. Their only weakness used to be that they didn't have a good spinner, now they have one in Tahir. Steyn and Morkel can even score a few runs lower down the order for good measure.

What the fuck is wrong with these bunch of Chokers?

I really hope Kirsten works his magic and fast....this is dire!
 
They are not #1 because England are a much better team and when Smith Kallis and Boucher finish they will be average again. Also I think you rate then higher than they are. Especially their top order.
 
[quote author='Dave' link=topic=47481.msg1430061#msg1430061 date=1321904011]
They are not #1 because England are a much better team and when Smith Kallis and Boucher finish they will be average again. Also I think you rate then higher than they are. Especially their top order.
[/quote]

I think you're being overly harsh here - while KJ is a bit too high on the Proteas (Prince is kak, Smith blows hot n' cold and Philander has only played one series so far). There's some really good talent coming up now too - and I think there won't be much of a drop off after Boucher (who AB will replace) and Kallis go (Smith is what, 30? He's got 5-6 years).

England aren't a 'much better' team ... It would be an even series if we played them (unlike last time, where England had to rely on Swan to save the series).
 
Ok firstly I thought Smith was older than that and I agree de Villiers is very good but I am not convinced by South Africa's top order or their lower order where as England's top order is excellent and the amount of times England's tail has got them out of trouble recenty just shows in my opinion we are ahead of any other team batting wise but I would say that wouldn't I?!

Can't wait till July.
 
What a game. I can't wait for the deciding 3roh wait that's right, cos the fucking game is saturated with tv-required T20 bullshit these days, we won't actually have a 3rd and deciding test. What a crock of shite.

Anyway, I think it's fair to say not many would have forecast Australia doing that so fair play to them. Ponting's innings has saved him for the summer. Khawaja is a future opener, and in Cummins they have an absolute diamond. How not to overplay him has to be the focus from here in.

A word on Philander too who looks a beauty. His two balls to get Watson and Clarke were millimetre-perfect. He looks a beauty.
 
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