Australia in South Africa

Originally posted by Sledger I'm not convinced that these matches were played with intensity. The death bowling and the choice of who would send them down left me scratching my head.  I wouldn't go so far to say that something was dodgy , but something was fishy. It could be my scepticism surrounding T20 cricket though , so maybe I imagined it , but I hope to see some serious stuff in the 50 over matches.

To let a teenage debutant like Marsh hit 4 sixes like he did was a massive let off from SA. Poor form on their part.
With regard to White's choice of O'Keefe, Cummins and Hussey for the last 3 overs, I think it was down to a pure miscalculation of who he had to bowl with. If he got it right then it should have been Bollinger, Cummins and Pattinson to bowl the last 3 overs and in that case SA may have struggled to win. O'Keefe and Hussey were easy pickings, while Cummins is not exactly the most experienced bloke around to be bowling at the death.

I don't think there's anything fishy going on with either Amla's or White's team - T20 is a bit too hit and miss for that to be the case. But who knows?


In other news, Cummins has been picked in the test squad and presumably they'd consider playing him. I'm unimpressed with this last move made by Hilditch, almost his way of saying that he's going to gamble with him and if it work then his legacy won't be so bad. Pattinson was first in line and he is more experienced and also bowls in the 145kph+ range. I'm really unsure why Cummins needs to play so soon. Australia's fast bowling depth is excellent, and I think a few other guys should be tested beforehand. Bollinger, in my opinion, is extremely unlucky to miss out. With the depth at the moment it makes me wonder if Hilfenhaus will ever play tests again. I used to highly rate him, but after the last Ashes I've given up on him.

The story is that he has worked extremely hard on his fitness and that he is test-ready. But that's according to him. He's a real trier and I wouldn't doubt that he worked hard on his fitness, but he's no workhorse.

If Cummins play who will miss out? Copeland i think has done well atleast to play in this series. 

SA decks are the real fast bowling paradise.  Fast guys will cause problems as the surfaces there tends to lift, unlike in Australia where the bounce, although high, is still very true, which means as long as you get your eye on (and not afraid of bounce), you can score at will.  You gotta do a lot more grinding in SA with the lift of the surface.

Originally posted by spin wizard SA decks are the real fast bowling paradise.  Fast guys will cause problems as the surfaces there tends to lift, unlike in Australia where the bounce, although high, is still very true, which means as long as you get your eye on (and not afraid of bounce), you can score at will.  You gotta do a lot more grinding in SA with the lift of the surface.

 Not if they were playing here in Cape Town today SW - it's bucketing down !!   Fortunately the weather up north is hot and sunny and we should see a high scoring game at Centurion.

Ponting has been in good touch, both in Shield cricket and ODI cricket and I think in the test series vs SL (Where he only played twice) he showed glimpses of his best. Always seems to get run out though, so needs to have a little bit more luck on his side. I've been happy that he has taken on no.4 in tests and has even opened in this ODI because Marsh and Watson are out and Haddin is clearly unsuitable and for me that shows his flexibility and desire to play whatever role he can for Australia.

Khawaja and Hughes are also among the runs in shield cricket, so looks like most of the players have found some good touch.

How about the game yesterday? Hussey, Clarke and Ponting all performed and led from the front as Australia were missing a couple of guys from injury. Mitchell Marsh looks a good all rounder and to me seems better than James Hopes with the bat which is nice to see. On the topic of Cummin, he is quick and he's a genuine strike option. I reckon if they want to play him in tests they should hide him a little bit.

Also, Johnson swung the ball??? He just came off a match winning 5-for in Shield cricket as well. Boy the guy loves to play in SAF. Could be a big series for him.

I have to say, this is best touch i've seen Ponting in for a long time.  He was timing them very well.  Johnson swung the ball and that is something an opposition doesn't want to see.  He may be erratic but is the most devastating bowler around when he's swinging it like that.

Kallis will be their best performer in tests - I have not an iota of doubt about it. Kallis still has it in him.

Talking about the ODI's series, firstly the loss of AB is certainly huge and RSA are feeling it now, other good point Mystery has made, It is difficult to believe someone who looked like getting a wicket every ball in the WC, Imran Tahir is dropped from the playing eleven, ridiculous, Tahir's 10 overs could well be the difference between winning and losing for RSA.

Originally posted by Mikey Ponting has been in good touch, both in Shield cricket and ODI cricket and I think in the test series vs SL (Where he only played twice) he showed glimpses of his best. Always seems to get run out though, so needs to have a little bit more luck on his side. I've been happy that he has taken on no.4 in tests and has even opened in this ODI because Marsh and Watson are out and Haddin is clearly unsuitable and for me that shows his flexibility and desire to play whatever role he can for Australia. Khawaja and Hughes are also among the runs in shield cricket, so looks like most of the players have found some good touch. How about the game yesterday? Hussey, Clarke and Ponting all performed and led from the front as Australia were missing a couple of guys from injury. Mitchell Marsh looks a good all rounder and to me seems better than James Hopes with the bat which is nice to see. On the topic of Cummin, he is quick and he's a genuine strike option. I reckon if they want to play him in tests they should hide him a little bit. Also, Johnson swung the ball??? He just came off a match winning 5-for in Shield cricket as well. Boy the guy loves to play in SAF. Could be a big series for him.

Ponting has got into a habit of getting run out 2-3 times in a series in last few years and since the captaincy Clarke has done so well all the slow scoring thing has gone now. Johnson is again looking dangerous and Smith must be careful this time but they wont mind even if he gets hurt he is out of form anyway.

Originally posted by sam_ahmed Talking about the ODI's series, firstly the loss of AB is certainly huge and RSA are feeling it now, other good point Mystery has made, It is difficult to believe someone who looked like getting a wicket every ball in the WC, Imran Tahir is dropped from the playing eleven, ridiculous, Tahir's 10 overs could well be the difference between winning and losing for RSA.

Its really really funny that for so many years SA were crying for a decent spinner and now when they have found a really star spinner they are not using him.


Edited by mystery - 20 October 2011 at 10:47pm

No doubt that Kallis is the big wicket and when he has failed there's a palpable intake of breath from the crowd.  I still expect him to score runs and at his own pace - everyone else just bats around him.  Tahir's omission doesn't surprise me because it's early in the season and the pitches favour seamers. He will play in the tests I think , even though Harris has his supporters. Gary Kirsten's keeping his cards close to his chest and is giving nothing away , although he must have his preferred starting XI for the 1st test in his head.
                  Jacques Rudolph would be a certain starter if I was selecting the side , but Alviro Peterson has backing and might well hold onto his place.  Of course the quota system (which CSA says is no longer in force , they'll have us believe) sides heavily with Peterson over Rudolph - something that must still stick in Rudolph's throat after the disgusting way he missed out on a debut in Australia some years ago when replaced at the last minute on orders from home , by Ashwell Prince.

Originally posted by Sledger No doubt that Kallis is the big wicket and when he has failed there's a palpable intake of breath from the crowd.  I still expect him to score runs and at his own pace - everyone else just bats around him.  Tahir's omission doesn't surprise me because it's early in the season and the pitches favour seamers. He will play in the tests I think , even though Harris has his supporters. Gary Kirsten's keeping his cards close to his chest and is giving nothing away , although he must have his preferred starting XI for the 1st test in his head.                   Jacques Rudolph would be a certain starter if I was selecting the side , but Alviro Peterson has backing and might well hold onto his place.  Of course the quota system (which CSA says is no longer in force , they'll have us believe) sides heavily with Peterson over Rudolph - something that must still stick in Rudolph's throat after the disgusting way he missed out on a debut in Australia some years ago when replaced at the last minute on orders from home , by Ashwell Prince.

Yes correct thats the reason Tahir is not playing in Odi's they are hiding him for test matches if he does not play in this Odi series than he surely will play in Test matches. Selection is a big reason that SA have never dominated world cricket.

Pleased to see South Africa winning, credit to Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis for the way they played yesterday this series has been a far more competitive one as compared to ENG-IND or ZIM-NZL, 1-1 in the T20's, 1-1 thus far in the ODI's, the decider should be a good one.

Originally posted by spin wizard Australia found it extremely hard to score.  Warner and Hussey is in pretty good nick though.  Seriously, minus Shane Watson and Mike Hussey, this Australian team might get belted in everygame they play.

Mate even without Kallis SA wont be any better.