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Can Steyn test the aussies ?

SirBloody Idiot

Cricketer Of The Year
I don't see South Africa beating us - nor Steyn causing us much trouble. I get the feeling if any bowler will be the key, it will be Morne Morkel.

No doubt the Saffers will talk themselves up something chronic in the lead up to the series, though.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Personally, I think he'll average in excess of 45 for the series. Even amongst his most magical demolitions of teams he's had the ability to bowl really poor overs which release the pressure and given the lack of swing in Australia I don't think he'll consistently threaten here.

If you have a look at the seamers who have actually done well in Australia against Australian batsmen in the last few years, it's mainly been the consistent types who keep the pressure on and enjoy the extra bounce. Collymore, Flintoff, Dillon, Nel, Ntini, Sharma etc have all looked the most threatening, even if without the results to show for it, than those you'd consider to be "strike" bowlers such as Malinga.

He may bowl a testing spell or two with the new ball but I don't see him demolishing the middle order or being a sustained threat throughout the innings. He certainly has the ability to prove me wrong on this one but I think he'll leak runs and struggle with the conditions.
 

Top_Cat

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Personally, I think he'll average in excess of 45 for the series. Even amongst his most magical demolitions of teams he's had the ability to bowl really poor overs which release the pressure and given the lack of swing in Australia I don't think he'll consistently threaten here.

If you have a look at the seamers who have actually done well in Australia against Australian batsmen in the last few years, it's mainly been the consistent types who keep the pressure on and enjoy the extra bounce. Collymore, Flintoff, Dillon, Nel, Ntini, Sharma etc have all looked the most threatening, even if without the results to show for it, than those you'd consider to be "strike" bowlers such as Malinga.

He may bowl a testing spell or two with the new ball but I don't see him demolishing the middle order or being a sustained threat throughout the innings. He certainly has the ability to prove me wrong on this one but I think he'll leak runs and struggle with the conditions.
Maybe more through inexperience, though. Akhtar struggled on his first tour but was Pakistan's best second time 'round and he's a swing bowler. Success can be had, just takes a bit to figure out how.
 

Mister Wright

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Don't think Steyn will do too much myself over here. Over in South Africa it could be a different story.
 

Precambrian

Banned
Depends on how much od practise SA gets prior to the series. I think he'll be ok. Perhaps around 30 with the ball.
 

pup11

International Coach
I agree with Wrighty on this, can't see him doing much in Australia given the Aussie conditions may not really suit his style of bowling, i expect likes of Morkel and Ntini to be more dangerous in Australia despite them not showing any serious form in recent times, but Steyn can't be written off completely either, if he can get that new ball to swing he can cause some damage, but playing in South Africa would be very different, he bowls very well there and it would be a huge test for the Aussies to overcome his threat there.
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Certainly hope he can offer serious threat in South Africa but I can't remember where the games in Australia are.

If they're at Bellerive and Adelaide Oval, forget it. If they're at The 'Gabba and The MCG there's an outside chance and not much more than that for mine. If they're at The WACA and The SCG then I'll have some amount of hope.
 

grapedo

Banned
Personally, I think he'll average in excess of 45 for the series. Even amongst his most magical demolitions of teams he's had the ability to bowl really poor overs which release the pressure and given the lack of swing in Australia I don't think he'll consistently threaten here.

If you have a look at the seamers who have actually done well in Australia against Australian batsmen in the last few years, it's mainly been the consistent types who keep the pressure on and enjoy the extra bounce. Collymore, Flintoff, Dillon, Nel, Ntini, Sharma etc have all looked the most threatening, even if without the results to show for it, than those you'd consider to be "strike" bowlers such as Malinga.

He may bowl a testing spell or two with the new ball but I don't see him demolishing the middle order or being a sustained threat throughout the innings. He certainly has the ability to prove me wrong on this one but I think he'll leak runs and struggle with the conditions.
Interesting you say that because I don't think they are consistent bowlers at all
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
Collymore certainly is, by-and-large (though he does occasionally go horribly off-the-boil). Ntini can be, and can also be all-over-the-shop. Nel, ditto really. Sharma so far in the home series has been pretty well on the button most spells, even if he wasn't in Australia (and not surprisingly didn't take many wickets). Flintoff, funnily enough, normally is but actually was below his usual standards when he faced Australia, but this didn't matter as he managed to magic-ball produce regularly, something precious few bowlers have EVER been able to do.

Not quite so sure about Mervyn Dillon though. :huh: Apart from anything else he's hardly had sterling success against Australia.
 

grapedo

Banned
Certainly hope he can offer serious threat in South Africa but I can't remember where the games in Australia are.

If they're at Bellerive and Adelaide Oval, forget it. If they're at The 'Gabba and The MCG there's an outside chance and not much more than that for mine. If they're at The WACA and The SCG then I'll have some amount of hope.
If i am correct they are at the adelaide oval, MCG and the SCG so possibly at the SCG and Adelaide oval but less likely at the WACA but you never know maybe he will manage to swing it with some bounce as well I am sure he will be in good form as they are playing Kenya and Bangladesh in the leadup
 

Richard

Cricket Web Staff Member
How many bowlers have managed to get much swing at Adelaide Oval (or The MCG) recently?

I can't think of any.

At The MCG though you can get a greasy, uneven surface sometimes (certainly have 4 out of the last 5 years), which obviously helps bowlers. Though clearly the taller and more accurate you are the better your chances of cashing-in on this, and Steyn has neither of those virtues to his credit.
 
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Protean

State Regular
If i am correct they are at the adelaide oval, MCG and the SCG so possibly at the SCG and Adelaide oval but less likely at the WACA but you never know maybe he will manage to swing it with some bounce as well I am sure he will be in good form as they are playing Kenya and Bangladesh in the leadup
Except Steyn isn't actually playing at the moment, he has had some mysterious illness, not sure whether he will play Bangladesh either, anyone know?
 

TT Boy

Hall of Fame Member
Except Steyn isn't actually playing at the moment, he has had some mysterious illness, not sure whether he will play Bangladesh either, anyone know?
Apparently Dale will play in the 20/20 this week against the Bangla boys.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Collymore certainly is, by-and-large (though he does occasionally go horribly off-the-boil). Ntini can be, and can also be all-over-the-shop. Nel, ditto really. Sharma so far in the home series has been pretty well on the button most spells, even if he wasn't in Australia (and not surprisingly didn't take many wickets). Flintoff, funnily enough, normally is but actually was below his usual standards when he faced Australia, but this didn't matter as he managed to magic-ball produce regularly, something precious few bowlers have EVER been able to do.

Not quite so sure about Mervyn Dillon though. :huh: Apart from anything else he's hardly had sterling success against Australia.
Dillon took 16 wickets at an average of just under 30 in Australia. It might not look brilliant but I suspect it'd be right up there if you compare it to other tourists in the last ten years. Averaging under 30 in Australia has been a rare thing for touring bowlers.

I'm not aware of his record against them overall but how he did on West Indian pitches isn't relevant to my point.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
grapedo said:
Interesting you say that because I don't think they are consistent bowlers at all
I wasn't suggesting that the bowlers I mentioned had been consistent throughout their careers - merely that when they are bowling well, it comes from consistently hitting a length throughout a match and building pressure rather than bowling the odd peach. There's not a lot of movement in Australia so those who look to pitch it up and swing it tend to get hit around a bit while those who bowl a "good" length consistently enjoy the extra bounce. That was my point.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Maybe more through inexperience, though. Akhtar struggled on his first tour but was Pakistan's best second time 'round and he's a swing bowler. Success can be had, just takes a bit to figure out how.
Yeah that's a fair point, but Akhtar bowled with good accuracy and discipline on his second tour. Obviously his experience contributed to that but I don't think Steyn quite has that sort of bowling in him at the moment.
 

Uppercut

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Personally, I think he'll average in excess of 45 for the series. Even amongst his most magical demolitions of teams he's had the ability to bowl really poor overs which release the pressure and given the lack of swing in Australia I don't think he'll consistently threaten here.

If you have a look at the seamers who have actually done well in Australia against Australian batsmen in the last few years, it's mainly been the consistent types who keep the pressure on and enjoy the extra bounce. Collymore, Flintoff, Dillon, Nel, Ntini, Sharma etc have all looked the most threatening, even if without the results to show for it, than those you'd consider to be "strike" bowlers such as Malinga.

He may bowl a testing spell or two with the new ball but I don't see him demolishing the middle order or being a sustained threat throughout the innings. He certainly has the ability to prove me wrong on this one but I think he'll leak runs and struggle with the conditions.
Hmm, but in the event that there is any lateral movement on offer, Australia are a lot more vulnerable to that than they are to extra bounce. Think RP and co. at Perth last summer, or Praveen Kumar in the one-dayers. Steyn could potentially be a match-winner in one match and get pelted in the others.
 

pasag

RTDAS
Will be hard to dispute his status as outright best fast bowler in the world if he does well in Aus.
 

TT Boy

Hall of Fame Member
Will be hard to dispute his status as outright best fast bowler in the world if he does well in Aus.
Steyn already has a one up on his main competition, Brett Lee, for Dale has taken wickets in India and the subcontinent, Lee hasn’t. Brett was blasted in Bangladesh and has been wayward on this tour.
 

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