Cricket......

[fabes]

 

I fully agree that Dale Steyn is the world's best fast bowler. The numbers don't lie. HOWEVER, Mitchell Johnson is by far the scariest fast bowler on the planet right now!!

So what your thoughts today?

[milky4130]

So what your thoughts today?

G Smith needs to step down as captain, if Oz managed until close of play today it might very well have ended in a draw. His lack of "Killer Instinct" when in the tail is very frustrating & this has been coming on for a longtime now. I'm pretty sure he has the worse record as a captain when it comes to balls/overs needed to wrap up the tail.

[fabes]

G Smith needs to step down as captain, if Oz managed until close of play today it might very well have ended in a draw. His lack of "Killer Instinct" when in the tail is very frustrating & this has been coming on for a longtime now. I'm pretty sure he has the worse record as a captain when it comes to balls/overs needed to wrap up the tail.

So Mitchell Johnson still the scariest bowler around you say?

[fabes]

So glad I am not Graeme Smith. You bowl a team out in just over 2 sessions and people still criticizing

Edited February 23, 2014 by fabes

[milky4130]

So Mitchell Johnson still the scariest bowler around you say?

not a chance he is "a has been" Centurion wicket suited him but couldn't replicate it on the St George's pitch, a couple of bad games & I'm pretty sure he'll be dropped from the squad...again.

[milky4130]

So glad I am not Graeme Smith. You bowl a team out in just over 2 sessions and people still criticizing

he has been getting away with murder for a long time now cause the bowlers & batsmen have been bailing him out most times. What is his batting avg over the last 10 games? Edited February 23, 2014 by milky4130

[Christie]

I would rather see Elgar replace Petersen first. Smith has had a weakness against full bowling on his legs by left armers for a long time, especially at the start of his innings. It is Smith's achilles heel, and MJ with a new bal must be a nightmare for him. I hope he can find a counter in time.

 

Who will replace Parnell? I vote for Abbot, or another specialist bowler. JPD and Philander are the all-rounders, not need for McLaren imo.

[milky4130]

I'll get in a fast left arm bowler, who ever that may be.

[GaryP]

Guys, we won! Graham S has flaws but he is still a good cricketer and not a bad captain. Nice to see Morne coming to the party eventually and Hashim in the runs again. MJ is a rejuvenated fast bowler who has helped Aus to come back strongly in world cricket, for the good of world cricket imho. Will he always be the destroyer in chief? No, no one ever is. Will he be scary fast on faster pitches? Yes! Just ask some English and SA batsmen!! Dale Steyn is a class act in his own right but he bowls differently to MJ. And MJ bowls like Ausies always have played cricket - with aggression, looking to take the other team out physically and psychologically. However, we still won and at least have leveled the series! Well done Proteas, I did not think you would do it.

[Gavmeister]

 

Steyn.....on top of the Aussies.

[GLuvsMtb]

What a test! Day 1 we were criticized for batting too slowly. We managed 423 on what looked like a lifeless pitch by tea on day 2. The Aussies went at it with their typical aggressive (some might say stupid) manner and ended on 112 / 4 by day 2.

Day 3 proved to be moving day. Shortly after lunch the Aussies took the field after scoring 246 at a rate of 4.3 runs per over. It was little consolation and probably one of the biggest contributors to their loss in this game. 300 after 80 overs would definitely pushed the game into day 5. We scored briskly with a lead of 177 and through a very focussed batting effort by Amla and De Villiers we managed to get to 192 / 4 after 47 overs. From here there could only be one winner. The only threat was a forecast of heavy rain on day 5.

Day 4 started with speculation on when the declaration would come. SA played it cool and got to 270 / 5 after contributions by Duminy and De Kock. SA had a good crack at it before lunch, but only managed the first wicket after 126 runs. By tea time the score was 141 / 1 with little hope of a result by tonight. Morkel got rid of Doolan and Marsh followed in the next over. Smith brought on Steyn which proved to be a stroke of genius as he ripped out the Aussie middle order with one of the finest spells of bowling seen all summer in SA. Johnson and Harris did their best to hang around, but the bowling was simply just too good.

The light was fading and Smith chose to bowl Duminy and Elgar to try and stretch the extra time he got a little. It worked with a bit of luck and Elgar trapped Lyon LBW. The decision proved to be another poor one as there was a feather of an edge, but SA will call it justice as Rogers nicked one before tea that was not given out.

 

The SA selectors now have a few decisions to make before the next test.

Do they stick with Elgar at the top of the order or do they drop him down the order in place of QdK? It is rather ironic that Elgar lost his Proteas contract earlier this week... He proved useful as another bowling option.

Parnell should not play in Cape Town with any doubt over his fitness. Do we play the spinner instead "(Robbie P is probably praying for another chance) or do they go for Abbot, young Hendricks or (heaven forbid) Kleinveldt?

 

Aus will also have to look at their selection. If Watson is fit, he surely will replace Doolan who looked out of sorts on the PE pitch. He will also add another bowling option to an Aussie attack that looked rather ineffective after 100 overs in the field. Its difficult to see any changes to the bowling attack, but if there is a niggle, Faulkner may get the nod over Bird and Henriques.

 

The toss will be interesting for the next game. Smith will surely bat first should he manage 3 tosses on the trot. Clarke should also want to bat first. His bowlers will need some R&R after this test

[Shebeen]

he has been getting away with murder for a long time now cause the bowlers & batsmen have been bailing him out most times. What is his batting avg over the last 10 games?

in the ten games from the second test on 11 Jan 2013 to this last test against Australia in PE, Graeme Smith has scored 687 runs at an average of 42.93. Sure it's a bit below his career average of 48.72(btw, pretty much all at opener), but a lean spell is ok here and there when you've proven yourself over 12 years and scored over 9000 runs. I do wonder if joe idiot public will realise how good he was once he's gone or will they still be blaming things on him?

[Shebeen]

What a test! Day 1 we were criticized for batting too slowly. We managed 423 on what looked like a lifeless pitch by tea on day 2. The Aussies went at it with their typical aggressive (some might say stupid) manner and ended on 112 / 4 by day 2.

Day 3 proved to be moving day. Shortly after lunch the Aussies took the field after scoring 246 at a rate of 4.3 runs per over. It was little consolation and probably one of the biggest contributors to their loss in this game. 300 after 80 overs would definitely pushed the game into day 5. We scored briskly with a lead of 177 and through a very focussed batting effort by Amla and De Villiers we managed to get to 192 / 4 after 47 overs. From here there could only be one winner. The only threat was a forecast of heavy rain on day 5.

Day 4 started with speculation on when the declaration would come. SA played it cool and got to 270 / 5 after contributions by Duminy and De Kock. SA had a good crack at it before lunch, but only managed the first wicket after 126 runs. By tea time the score was 141 / 1 with little hope of a result by tonight. Morkel got rid of Doolan and Marsh followed in the next over. Smith brought on Steyn which proved to be a stroke of genius as he ripped out the Aussie middle order with one of the finest spells of bowling seen all summer in SA. Johnson and Harris did their best to hang around, but the bowling was simply just too good.

The light was fading and Smith chose to bowl Duminy and Elgar to try and stretch the extra time he got a little. It worked with a bit of luck and Elgar trapped Lyon LBW. The decision proved to be another poor one as there was a feather of an edge, but SA will call it justice as Rogers nicked one before tea that was not given out.

 

The SA selectors now have a few decisions to make before the next test.

Do they stick with Elgar at the top of the order or do they drop him down the order in place of QdK? It is rather ironic that Elgar lost his Proteas contract earlier this week... He proved useful as another bowling option.

Parnell should not play in Cape Town with any doubt over his fitness. Do we play the spinner instead "(Robbie P is probably praying for another chance) or do they go for Abbot, young Hendricks or (heaven forbid) Kleinveldt?

 

Aus will also have to look at their selection. If Watson is fit, he surely will replace Doolan who looked out of sorts on the PE pitch. He will also add another bowling option to an Aussie attack that looked rather ineffective after 100 overs in the field. Its difficult to see any changes to the bowling attack, but if there is a niggle, Faulkner may get the nod over Bird and Henriques.

 

The toss will be interesting for the next game. Smith will surely bat first should he manage 3 tosses on the trot. Clarke should also want to bat first. His bowlers will need some R&R after this test

great summary, after an oh dear here we go again afternoon session till tea, I had to follow the last session on cricinfo from the kirstenbosch concert....a different way to take in the drama!

 

Spot on with aus first innings buying us time to win it in four days, made up for a bit of a slow bat from us first up.

I really though they would declare overnight, mainly on the weather forecast and a 360 run lead(which was plenty in the end, but iffy at 126/0!) i still think it came a bit late, as it got tight in the end. Another factor was not having parnell meant only 3 frontline bowlers, and it being a bit risky to rely on part timers. However spin came on in 13th over

 

bring on newlands...and once again imagine if this was a 4 or even 5 match series?!

 

edit:replacement for parnell, even if maclaren is fit i don't think he's a good enough player for the test team. too much of a bits and pieces player, we need 4 top bowlers. saying that outside the squad, kyle abbot really does need his second chance..oh look he just took 12 wickets this weekend.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Shebeen

[TopFuel]

he has been getting away with murder for a long time now cause the bowlers & batsmen have been bailing him out most times. What is his batting avg over the last 10 games?

 

In addition to Shebeen's good point, if 10 games is too long, his batting average over his last 11 innings is 45.8, which is slightly below is his 48ish batting average.

 

He also hasn't lost a Test series since 2009 Australia tour to SA. The oke is a class captain, why do people give him such a hard time. He is going to be remembered as one of the great players of the game, and possibly one of the greatest captains of all time.

 

Source: cricinfo stats

Edited February 23, 2014 by TopFuel

['Dale]

Diarize 01 March

 

[nickc]

Diarize 01 March

 

 

Can`t wait.