Australia in South Africa

big lead of 78 now.....Saffers must be tempted to declare

This looks set to be another excellent match, though as things stand you would have to think that SA will need to implode or Australia play exceptionally well for the visitors to win it. Every day of Test cricket in the series has been absolutely absorbing, which makes it all the more sickening that there is only 2 Tests.

Australia really missed out in the first test - should have led by 400 and won. Still in shock with what happened. South Africa need to collapse yet again for Australia to have a chance.

Any script writers here? How about writing a fairytale for Ponting... matchwinning ton in what is supposedly his last innings!!

I wish Sam, Ponting is a legend but his performances have not been up to test standard. He has been a burden, and it's frustrating for everyone because we don't want him to go, but he can't justify his spot. Eventually he'll walk away if he can't make any runs, because he'll know he has become a liability. Hayden did the same thing, even though we could see from IPL where he was scoring a lot of runs that he still had it in him.

Hashim has been in lovely form, no doubt about that, he has shown fluency for a long period of time now and is much improved. He won't be a test captain though after we saw his ODI performance and his comments, so I think that'll be a great benefit to his batting and he'll continue to improve.


I do think however, that Johnson is playing his last match. He's bowling off about 10 strides now, and it's kind of pathetic to be honest. Extremely non penetrative here, while Siddle as usual can't even buy a wicket. The selectors need to move on. Against NZ at the 'Gabba I expect the attack to consist of Cummins, Harris and Copeland, unless they feel that Cutting deserves a debut at his home ground. Lyon should retain his spot, although O'Keefe is my pick.

Personally, I feel that Cummins has proved himself in this test. To be the best bowler for his nation and probably the 2nd best after Steyn (who is the no1 bowler in the world in my opinion) in this match is a great show. He has a very good technique and action, bowls accurately and has genuine pace and bounce. His lack of experience is of course a worry, but his selection was an inspired one and I'm satisfied with his performance and his 3-for so far. Only thing that worries me about his style is his huge gallop and leap, which can be a burden on the knees and ankles.

Edited by Mikey - 20 November 2011 at 8:18am

I get the feeling that if Ponting makes another low score he may voluntarily bow out before being pushed out...

wow! we are in for a thrilling final day, Ponting is still there and for the first time I have seen Khawaja display the talent that he has, for the first time I felt he really is some find. 

He'll go out on a winning note against NZ

It's a toss up as to who will win this one , I think we'll have a few hiccups before the winner emerges sometime today.  It's been an absorbing encounter with some quality batting and bowling. Steyn's reverse swing on Friday afternoon was simply fantastic and would've troubled any batsman playing the game today.  Imran Tahir will be in the spotlight today and could be the match winner , although I think he overreacts when taking a wicket - he bowls a lot of rubbish interspersed with the good ones as well.   Young Cummins has had a dream debut and fully deserved his 6 fer and Johnson does look shot - how long will they persevere with him ?
               I think the 1st hour will determine the winner - lose a couple quickly and I don't think we'll get past lunch. But if Ponting and Clarke get set I'd fancy the Aussies to make it 1-1.  A lot will depend on how SA play this - I'd like to think they'll be attacking and not waiting for something to happen.  If there are sweepers on both sides of the wicket , third man and fine leg I want them to get beaten!  It's a 5th day pitch and will be a little up and down and should turn , so surely Smith should attack - but SA are known to sit back.............

Johnson will probably go and cloud the issue over his place in the side again with a matchwinning innings here.

Wow!! great match is going on here. I like SA team more but today I want Australia to win.  Johnson and Haddin are going good at the moment. 

The most proud Australian right now. Such an amazing match. Patrick Cummins, fittingly, hits the winning runs. What a magical debut. One of the most fascinating series I have watched in a long, long time.

Clobber called it right, Johnson's well paced 40 made the difference.

Two of the worlds great sporting nations, truly. Australia, after the debacle in the first test, which they should have won, have come back and taken victory. Is this another South Africa choke?

Originally posted by MalhotraRaj84 Don't worry guys , the same Aussies team (maybe with 1 or 2 changes) will level the series.

As expected , they levelled the series.

Edited by MalhotraRaj84 - 21 November 2011 at 4:42pm

Michael Clarke: "I didn't score many runs in this Test but it feels like I just got my first double hundred for Australia, I couldn't be happier."..... To me this line looks very artificial and I feel Clarke is trying to be too good too soon , none of these cliches' will work when selector sit and disect success/failure percentages, its only results as a captain that counts in their eyes .

Down to the wire with all results possible until the winning hit !   Haddin looked dreadful early on and rode his luck , but after that played with freedom and peppered the boundary.  Johnson played positively as well and showed great maturity in picking which ball to free the hands at.   I didn't have many thoughts on Smith's captaincy until he chose Tahir for that fateful last over. Philander had been the best bowler for the home side for most of this match and certainly in the 2nd innings.   His length and late swing troubled everyone and the ball that did for Haddin was a beauty. I expect Smith thought that Johnson was more comfortable against the seamers , but offsetting that was the dross that Tahir managed to find at least once in every over.  No matter that he's knocked a few over I think he's some way from being a test bowler of note and his consistent traipsing all over the pitch will get him in trouble before long. Someone of his age and experience simply shouldn't be doing it!
                 Everyone's diappointed about the length of this series - it's like having two squares of chocolate - delicious , but nowhere near enough!   Both countries' cricketing bodies must make it known to the ICC that this mustn't happen again - in fact 2 test series shouldn't happen at any time , even with the weakest nations.

                All in all SA came close to 2-0 , but it could well have been 2-0 the other way - that shows just how fascinating the matches were and how little there is between the sides.  The return series in Oz could well be just as exciting.    Cummings could be something special , but they need to keep him grounded. The papers today will have him thinking he's superman.


Edited by Sledger - 22 November 2011 at 5:10am