***Official*** South Africa In Australia

[JBH001]

Hapless Brett Lee may lose spot for MCG Test

Ricky Ponting getting stuck in to Steve Waugh's favourite bowler.

Jeez, bit rough on Binga. I reckoned he would have been given the full series to prove he was still up to it.

 

[Uppercut]

Hapless Brett Lee may lose spot for MCG Test

Ricky Ponting getting stuck in to Steve Waugh's favourite bowler.

The ridiculous thing is, Lee didn't even bowl badly. Is his spell to de Villiers and Kallis on the fourth evening forgotten? What about the McGrath-esque accuracy of his first spell in the first innings? He came up against a determined batting lineup on a flat pitch and didn't get a go at the tail in either innings. The ball didn't find the edge, not much went his way. He's still a real quality bowler who picked up nine in his last match. Nothing that happened at the WACA changed that.

 

[aussie]

Hapless Brett Lee may lose spot for MCG Test

Ricky Ponting getting stuck in to Steve Waugh's favourite bowler.

LOL @ the media. First Hayden now Lee, next might be Ponting i feel.

 

[Top_Cat]

The ridiculous thing is, Lee didn't even bowl badly. Is his spell to de Villiers and Kallis on the fourth evening forgotten? What about the McGrath-esque accuracy of his first spell in the first innings? He came up against a determined batting lineup on a flat pitch and didn't get a go at the tail in either innings. The ball didn't find the edge, not much went his way. He's still a real quality bowler who picked up nine in his last match. Nothing that happened at the WACA changed that.

Yep, dropping Lee after this Test would make one think the wheels had well and truly fallen off.

 

[Langeveldt]

Bit disappointed in Krejza, thought he would go alright against the Saffies. But 1 for 204 or somesuch certainly does not count. Although, I might be being a little harsh on him. After all, he only has 25 FC matches under his belt, and is coming back from an injury. But apart from an occassional ball he seemed little to offer in being able to create pressure on the SA batsmen, and seemed to be leaking a hell of a lot of runs too easy. Too high expectations?

Never thought he would be an exceptional spinner, but did think he had/has the goods (decent tweak, flight, unafraid) to be a quality test off-spinner.

To be honest, if Paul Harris put in a performance like that, there would be people on here calling for his execution..

 

[Langeveldt]

LOL @ the media. First Hayden now Lee, next might be Ponting i feel.

Suits me

 

[Uppercut]

To be honest, if Paul Harris put in a performance like that, there would be people on here calling for his execution..

If Paul Harris put in a performance like that he'd pick up five wickets anyway due to Aussies dancing halfway down the track shouting "i whant sixezzzzz".

 

[JBH001]

Thats probably down to expectations and perception. Harris looks anything but a classical left arm finger spinner with that weird round arm action he has got. Krejza probably had too much placed on him after a good performance against the Indians. I can see the rationale for dropping him for the MCG, although if the SCG remains a traditional turner, he (or Hauritz) should return to the test squad.

 

[howardj]

And I hate the idea of Watson in as a specialist bowler - it ruins the batting lineup (wastes Haddin at eight) and he's no more penetrative than Krejza or Siddle. The only time Watson should come in is to replace Symonds and, as of now, Symonds is by far the more proven performer.

I violently disagree with that.

Watson, in India, snared 10 wickets @ 32, and was probably our best quick.

Back here in Australia, he snared 2 wickets @ 27 versus New Zealand, and then went back to Weet Bix Cup and got a hatful there too.

 

[howardj]

The ridiculous thing is, Lee didn't even bowl badly. Is his spell to de Villiers and Kallis on the fourth evening forgotten? What about the McGrath-esque accuracy of his first spell in the first innings? He came up against a determined batting lineup on a flat pitch and didn't get a go at the tail in either innings. The ball didn't find the edge, not much went his way. He's still a real quality bowler who picked up nine in his last match. Nothing that happened at the WACA changed that.

Yes, dropping Lee would be foolish.

I thought he bowled well in this Test.

Siddle though must go.

 

[Johnners]

Lee won't be dropped, we'll see Dougy (hopefully) or Huffenpuff in for Siddle.

 

[oldmancraigy]

I violently disagree with that.

Watson, in India, snared 10 wickets @ 32, and was probably our best quick.

Back here in Australia, he snared 2 wickets @ 27 versus New Zealand, and then went back to Weet Bix Cup and got a hatful there too.

Agreed on Watson.

Bat him at 8 though - OR pick Noffke and bat him at 8?

None of the spinners at first class level are worth selecting - so why bother with Krejza/ Hauritz/ anyone!

 

[Jamee999]

South Africa, **** Yeah! Levitation is the only way yeah!

 

[Son Of Coco]

Great win by SA, congratulations to the Saffa supporters! I think we have to have a hard look at ourselves (as Ponting indicated), 4 wickets in the 2nd innings is poor.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Nah this is bull****. There was 18 wickets in the first two days, remember?

It's not been an extremely lively wicket but it's produced a great test and produced a good result. Like I've said before, wickets in Australia always get flatter as the match goes on. Bowling first in Aus isn't such a bad idea IMO, unless it's Adelaide.

They haven't always gotten flatter, but certainly in recent times. I guess it's due to the drought etc for the past so many years but I was just thinking about how strange it is that some wickets get better these days rather than worse like they used to. It kind of makes losing the toss and batting second seem like a good idea

 

[howardj]

...intersection of climate change and la nina, in my opinion.

 

[vic_orthdox]

MCG wicket has supposedly been a bit better this year with a new curator. Got rid of Tony Ware, and new bloke has come in. Still be pretty slow, one would imagine.

Sorry, but I still really don't understand the calls for four quicks. Our second and third quicks got two wickets between them, and an underdone spinner got exactly the same. You really think that the fourth quick would have done much more?

 

[sirdj]

Great win by SA. Whats with the Aussie media?? And Ponting with the passengers comment?? 0 &32 is not much to talk about is it?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Its been over a year since the star players retired..I don't think that can be an excuse anymore.Sorry.

Right, because obviously within that year they've all been replaced by players of exactly the same ability...I don't think it's looking for an excuse when you state the obvious, i.e: Australia won't be as good as they were when we had McGrath, Warne, and Gilchrist, for quite some time to come.

 

[Son Of Coco]

...intersection of climate change and la nina, in my opinion.

Do you think there might be an element of overpreparation (or mid-game maintenance) on the wickets now considering how well they hold up?

And for those prone to jumping the gun...I'm not suggesting SA shouldn't have won. Again, 4 wickets in the last innings from our bowlers for ****'s sake!