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***Official*** South Africa In Australia

inbox24

inbox24

International Debutant
Spectacular Sydney with a different golden boy this time.

Definitely the best test series I've watched, even though we lost.

Smithers is such a guy, amazing respect for him, against all odds. Ever since I saw this guy eating a whopper burger, I knew he'd be a world beater.
 
pup11

pup11

International Coach
Give Steyn the MOTS, he has shown great courage with both bat and bowl, Smith has been great too but Steyn would be my choice.
 
Athlai

Athlai

Not Terrible
zinzan12 said:
Definately, although bigger gap between these two sides than there was in the 05 Ashes IMO
Click to expand...
Australia at home to be fair. In 06 they won 5-0 and now they have been beaten at home 2-1.

Smith for player of 2008 easily on cricinfo now, after that bit of heroism surely he'll get a bloody shedload of votes.
 
thierry henry

thierry henry

International Coach
Congratulations Australia

Seriously...look at that Australian side and it's a terrific effort to beat such a strong South African side. Names like McDonald, Bollinger, Siddle, Hauritz. Huge effort.
 
pup11

pup11

International Coach
zinzan12 said:
Definately, although bigger gap between these two sides than there was in the 05 Ashes IMO
Click to expand...
I think the gap has been quite narrow in this series, whereas in the Ashes in 05 Australia were generally outplayed through the Ashes series after the first test at Lord's.
 
FaaipDeOiad

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
zinzan12 said:
Definately, although bigger gap between these two sides than there was in the 05 Ashes IMO
Click to expand...
I disagree personally.

England were the far better team during '05, but Australia stayed in it because England faltered at crucial times and because of Warne. Took an unlikely rearguard to make Edgbaston close, which Australia could have won, but England clearly dominated most of the test, just collapsed in the second innings when it counted and then couldn't get the tail out. OT would have been England's too if Ponting hadn't played a freakish knock.

This series, Australia were ahead after two days in all three tests, pretty comfortably in the case of the first and second tests, and could easily have won all the games, but neither side could really close out the tail. South Africa won the series because they did what Australia used to do, which is win the crucial moments in each game and fight their way back into it. They chased over 400 to win one game and added 300 with their last four wickets in another. And they had the better bowling attack overall, but not by a huge margin IMO.

Was a pretty close series, South Africa just did better when it counted.

edit: I also think there's a lot of positives for Australia to take from this. Siddle bowled pretty well throughout for a new guy against a good batting lineup, Johnson was great, as was about half of the batting lineup. Could definitely have been worse if it wasn't for a few of the newer guys and the way they performed. Same goes for SA actually, who found Duminy in this series, who looks a great player.
 
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aussie

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Backing Australia 100% to win SA with hopefully Clark especially back in a much balanced bowling attack.

With Watson out. I would be looking at a 4-man seam attack of Clark/Siddle/Noffke/Johnson.
 
FaaipDeOiad

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Yeah, deserved man of the series for Smith. Batted well in all three tests. Just edges out Steyn and Johnson for mine.
 
susudear

susudear

Banned
Amazing

Smith WAG!

Amazing series, Smith should be proud of this performance by his team.

Australia :laugh:

But cheers for competing well.
 
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