Australia Vs South Africa

Isn't that the beauty of cricket blades?  Who's to say Boucher won't smash a quick 50 tomorrow and reduce the deficit to less than 100 ?

   That's why it's the greatest game !


Edited by Sledger - 18 December 2008 at 12:24pm

I haven't seen a ball bowled in this test (haven't found highlights as yet) so I don't know how well just is doing but I know he gets wicket with poor deliveries at times and bowl quite a few loose balls but he still picks up wickets.  He only angles the ball across the righties.

Khan is very skillful indeed and he's one of the best around at the moment.  If Johnson can only swing that ball back into right handers at that pace, he'll be a much bigger threat.

Edited by spin wizard - 18 December 2008 at 1:43pm

Mitchell Johnson - has become a gun

Damn, johnson turned it around big time, but i'm still hopeful about RSA winning this series.

Any left hander worth his salt can swing it into the right hander, it is moving it away that is the trick

Very impressive analysis Tykey!  Johnson does have a slingy action , but not quite as exaggerated as that of Thommo. Remember Thommo's left arm was beyond the verticle before he came through , he was quite some sight!

  Back to the cricket , SA all out for 281 , Boucher caught by Katich off Siddle for 26 ending the innings. Siddle bowled very well in only his 2nd test and deserved at least one wicket.  Johnson removed Steyn to end with 8-61 off 24 overs , a remarkable effort and something I don't think he'll better in his entire career.  The end of the SA innings was a muddled brainless affair. Boucher refused countless singles to protect Ntini. I've seen Ntini clear the fence on a number of occasions , he's not the worst number 11 in world cricket.  Obviously if this was the 4th innings , then trying to keep strike makes a lot of sense , but here it just cost the visitors runs.  That it was Boucher who was dismissed makes the plan even sillier.
          Talking of silly , Aleem Dar's decision to send Hayden back just has to be one of the worst of 2008. Adjudging him caught and bowled by Steyn was comical unless you happened to be Australian or worse still , Hayden. It matters little at this stage as Australia are 45-1 at lunch with Katich looking rock solid and Ponting ominously fluent on his 34th birthday.
       That's a healthy lead of 139 , the pitch is flat and I expect Australia to go well past their 1st innings effort of 375.  It'll take something special from the visitors to go into the 2nd test on level terms.


Edited by Sledger - 19 December 2008 at 5:01am

Match in a very interesting state. Difficult to say who would win from here. But my guess would be Australia.

You and many others sam!

I think the Aussies still have the upperhand if they bowl well this morning. Unlike Australia, SA has a tail and with Johnson and Lee bowling the way they are I can't see them chasing down the required runs without Kallis or de Villiers in the middle.

Awful performance from SA to say the least. However the pitch maybe, to chase down 400+ in the 4th innings is not an easy job. Requires lot of mental toughness.

Originally posted by kirankri Awful performance from SA to say the least.

What??

Please JP tell me that i was dreaming about Australia losing and Australia have won please!!

Hayden might be one of those 143, it's a long time he's been rusty!  How is Jacques doing in state cricket?

I am sure I read his post this morning before it started, maybe I dreampt it. Kiran is pretty knowledgable on his cricket so maybe he just mixed the teams up.