Group A - Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Holland

[Prince EWS]

Not really, I don't think WI and NZ are too far behind.

In any case, if blame can be pointed at any single person, it's Kallis. His innings really messed up the tempo of the run-scoring; I think the management should have realized that and promoted Gibbs, or even Prince. There needs to be a transitionary player in the middle-order (the likes of Inzamam, Sangakkara, Lara) who can smooth things over from an opening blitz to the lower-order hitting on-slaught and Kallis, unfortunately, isn't cut for that job.

Really, Kallis just isn't cut out for massive chases. He's perfect for that number 3 slot when you're chasing 300 or under, but as you said, he's not right for the job when the total is massive.

Really though, should you plan your whole side around the chance that your bowlers will bowl pies and go for 370 odd? I don't think so.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Just caught up with it all. The really impressive thing about the performance in the field, and the difference between this game and the failed defences recently, was the way Australia really hung in there with great discipline after the first wicket went down. The Watson run out was sensational and obvious changed the game, but the overs that followed it from Tait and Watson in the powerplays were great, and ensured that the advantage wasn't quickly wiped out by another dominant partnership. Smiths and De Villiers were incredible, but nobody could get a foothold after that.

Tait was fantastic in his later spells, and showed why he's so important to Australia's chances in this WC. It wasn't just McGrath and Bracken who were able to bowl good, tight overs, and that took heaps of pressure off those bowlers. And obviously Hogg was good as well, got a lot more out of the wicket than anyone else, and the stumping of Gibbs was the moment at which Australia took total control of the game. You couldn't really say any of the bowlers bowled poorly, and the work in the field was sensational, particularly from Symonds.

 

[Beleg]

PEWS,

Admittedly, I haven't watched a lot of Kallis in the recent era but IMO he has serious issues with pacing his innings. Cricket is a dynamic sport and the batting positions aren't set in stone, at the stage Kallis came - Aus had just acquired a crucial wicket from an extraordinary piece of fielding (which doubtlessly boasted their morale), Smith was suffering from cramps and the need was for a player who could pick up from where De Villier's left - i.e, a boundary an over - a situation which warranted a Gibbs (or even a Kemp) much more than the innings building prowess of Kallis.

Kallis is a good player to have if your team is one down or two down with not many on the board on a potentially tricky wicket - in this specific situation, the team management definitely missed a trick.

 

[Prince EWS]

PEWS,

Admittedly, I haven't watched a lot of Kallis in the recent era but IMO he has serious issues with pacing his innings. Cricket is a dynamic sport and the batting positions aren't set in stone, at the stage Kallis came - Aus had just acquired a crucial wicket from an extraordinary piece of fielding (which doubtlessly boasted their morale), Smith was suffering from cramps and the need was for a player who could pick up from where De Villier's left - i.e, a boundary an over - a situation which warranted a Gibbs (or even a Kemp) much more than the innings building prowess of Kallis.

Kallis is a good player to have if your team is one down or two down with not many on the board on a potentially tricky wicket - in this specific situation, the team management definitely missed a trick.

Kallis has improved that part of his game though lately - he has played quite a few more high-paced innings of late.

Really, chasing 377, he shouldn't be coming out at #3, but you shouldn't ever plan to chase such a total ITBT. Kallis is a very good ODI batsman in any match the bowlers bowl respectably in. He won't win you a match that you lose though.

 

[Beleg]

PEWS,

I am not saying you should 'plan' to chase such a total. However, such a total isn't obviously out of the realm of reality and you should be able to adapt to, and read, the situation accurately when and if it occurs.

 

[Prince EWS]

PEWS,

I am not saying you should 'plan' to chase such a total. However, such a total isn't obviously out of the realm of reality and you should be able to adapt to, and read, the situation accurately when and if it occurs.

Well theoretically you should, but that isn't something Kallis is particularly good at.

When you get pasted for 377 though, I really don't think you should blame the batting. The batting of Kallis would have perfectly fine if the bowlers had done their jobs properly.

 

[Matt79]

IIRC at about the 20 over mark of the Australian innings I mentioned that Gibbs should be promoted ahead of Kallis, even while acknowledging the fine player Jacques is. He's a very good player, but his has limitations that Gibbs doesn't - even though Gibbs is overall not as good a player. If Gibbs was already in and firing when Kallis came to the crease, Kallis would have been better able to play his natural game and just farm the strike to Gibbs.

 

[Matt79]

Well theoretically you should, but that isn't something Kallis is particularly good at.

When you get pasted for 377 though, I really don't think you should blame the batting. The batting of Kallis would have perfectly fine if the bowlers had done their jobs properly.

Beleg is talking about the Saffie team management being able to adapt, not Kallis personally...

 

[Blaze]

Just caught up with it all. The really impressive thing about the performance in the field, and the difference between this game and the failed defences recently, was the way Australia really hung in there with great discipline after the first wicket went down. The Watson run out was sensational and obvious changed the game, but the overs that followed it from Tait and Watson in the powerplays were great, and ensured that the advantage wasn't quickly wiped out by another dominant partnership. Smiths and De Villiers were incredible, but nobody could get a foothold after that.

Tait was fantastic in his later spells, and showed why he's so important to Australia's chances in this WC. It wasn't just McGrath and Bracken who were able to bowl good, tight overs, and that took heaps of pressure off those bowlers. And obviously Hogg was good as well, got a lot more out of the wicket than anyone else, and the stumping of Gibbs was the moment at which Australia took total control of the game. You couldn't really say any of the bowlers bowled poorly, and the work in the field was sensational, particularly from Symonds.

It helped having Kallis bat like a ******...

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I don't really think Kallis was all that bad while the game was still even. Until the wickets started falling the required rate was well under control given the hitters to come, and Kallis did fine. He really stuffed up later on when he needed to take the initiative with the scoring, from around the time Gibbs got out, but in the end I doubt he could have done much to change the result. He needed other batsmen to stay with him.

 

[Nate]

First up, can we just take a moment to remember that we once had Simon Katich opening for us in One-Day Internationals. May it never happen again.

I watched 85% of the match, and absolutely loved it. The Australian innings was incredible, the opening drives and hits from Gilchrist and Hayden were a treat to watch. I felt the South African pacers lacked a bit of variation in pace and movement. In comparison, I love the variety in the Australian attack, Tait is a must I reckon. Bracken was gun. Just awesome. Again, one of the most enjoyable matches I`ve ever watched. Up Australia!

 

[Nate]

I don't really think Kallis was all that bad while the game was still even. Until the wickets started falling the required rate was well under control given the hitters to come, and Kallis did fine. He really stuffed up later on when he needed to take the initiative with the scoring, from around the time Gibbs got out, but in the end I doubt he could have done much to change the result. He needed other batsmen to stay with him.

Buddy, he was dreadful. Some absolutely beautiful and timed cover-drives, but this is modern ODI cricket, and Kallis can`t adapt.

 

[The_Bunny]

I don't really think Kallis was all that bad while the game was still even. Until the wickets started falling the required rate was well under control given the hitters to come, and Kallis did fine. He really stuffed up later on when he needed to take the initiative with the scoring, from around the time Gibbs got out, but in the end I doubt he could have done much to change the result. He needed other batsmen to stay with him.

He came out and did what Clarke and Ponting did in the middle overs... steady the ship.. I mean 48 from 63 balls... thats a good effort, I imagine that being settled in he would start hitting hard soon.
Just because he scored at less than a run a ball is no reason to blame losing the game on him.

SA really felt not having a spinner.... and they could'nt regain momentum after the middle overs.
Well thats m take on the situation

 

[Johnners]

Great win that. The batting was spectacular, and it was good to see Clarke back in form against the World no.1.

It's probably one of the only times it's ever been said but McGrath was arguably our worst bowler. Tait & Hogg were great, and i thought Watsons spell during the 3rd powerplay also helped turn the tide. I was happy and shocked that they sent Kallis in before Gibbs, had Gibbs come in @ 3 and got going, and then Kallis @ 4, SA would've got a lot closer imo. Probably would've won.

Probably comes as no suprise that the 4 leading run-scorers in the tournament so far come from this group.

Smith leads with 232, Ponting 227, Clarke 200, & Hayden/Imran Nazir 190.

Brad Hogg is currently the leading wicket-taker as well with 8, next best being Malinga with 7, then 4 players including McGrath & Hall with 6.

 

[Matt79]

Wonder what odds you would have got before the start of the tournament on Hogg being the leading wicket taker. Obviously there's a fair way to go yet, but he's done good hasn't he?

 

[Nate]

Expecting Bangladesh to make an impact on the stats after the Bermuda match Claps.

 

[LA ICE-E]

hopefully another shock will happen to shut ricky ponting up about the minnows...(unlikely though)

 

[JASON]

Lol! Hayden and Gibbs becoming honorary citizens of St Kitts and Nevis.

That was brilliant gesture by the Prime Minister of St.Kitts and Nevis....I guess these 2 guys will not require visas to go to the West Indies any more..

 

[Craig]

Geez Jacques Kallis has to be the worst player to come in when you need quick runs.

 

[Matt79]

What about G.D. McGrath?