• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

***Official*** South Africa In Australia

Uppercut

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Not as a specialist death bowler, but he's been talked up for his death bowling. Mind you, that third last over wasn't the worst ever death bowling you'll see, just some poor fielding and good strokes meant that it was made to look worse than it was.
Certainly, i didn't think he did too badly on the whole. I was just wondering why he was left with so many death overs on debut.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
Would counter-argue that he made sure that the game wasn't left to drift. Even when there was the good partnership going, he brought back some pace bowlers, seeking for that wicket, whilst not letting the spinning combination bowl too many in a row, which is often dangerous because they get used to the bowling.

And as soon as they got the breakthrough, he tightened up fields to the new batsmen, and that helped to bring about the 4/6.
Yeah. If anything I thought Ponting's captaincy was notably good tonight. Both the things you mention (bringing back the seamers and bringing in the field, especially for VVJ) were good moves that could have paid off well. His use of Tait was really good too, in fact I think Tait bowled pretty well tonight throughout, and a lot of that had to do with his short spells and the times he was brought on to bowl.

Australia lost because of a good 4th wicket partnership, and still would have won from there if it wasn't for Morkel's hitting. Could also argue the total was a bit short, but it was definitely defendable. Either way, neither of those things are Ponting's fault, and blaming him just seems like desperation.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
Yeah. If anything I thought Ponting's captaincy was notably good tonight. Both the things you mention (bringing back the seamers and bringing in the field, especially for VVJ) were good moves that could have paid off well. His use of Tait was really good too, in fact I think Tait bowled pretty well tonight throughout, and a lot of that had to do with his short spells and the times he was brought on to bowl.

Australia lost because of a good 4th wicket partnership, and still would have won from there if it wasn't for Morkel's hitting. Could also argue the total was a bit short, but it was definitely defendable. Either way, neither of those things are Ponting's fault, and blaming him just seems like desperation.
Admittedly, we are responding to fairly even minded criticism. It's not like the guy has never once made a postive post about Ponting.

..

Oh.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
If someone can name one thing Ponting did wrong, outside of not bowling a player with a career ODI economy rate of 6.34, in a captaincy sense, then I might bother listening to them.
He definitely could have changed the field a bit when Duminy and McKenzie kept working the ball to third man for mine. That partnership was really frustrating as the batsmen were just let do exactly what they were intending. Ponting should looked to shake things up a bit, not by changing the bowling every 20 seconds but by making the batsmen change their plan and hit down the ground via the use of a short third man position.

I don't think he did a terrible job at all tonight but that particular incident is something that missed the trick on.
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
If someone can name one thing Ponting did wrong, outside of not bowling a player with a career ODI economy rate of 6.34, in a captaincy sense, then I might bother listening to them.
Okay.

Nathan Bracken after bowling 4 overs for 7 runs comes on to bowl with South Africa needing 6.5 or so per over to win.

The field that was set was terrible for Bracken as the batsman just ran nearly every ball to third man. Surely someone close to 4th slip would have been a wise field placing..

Milking Bracken for close to 6 an over without risk was a big factor in the win.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
He definitely could have changed the field a bit when Duminy and McKenzie kept working the ball to third man for mine. That partnership was really frustrating as the batsmen were just let do exactly what they were intending. Ponting should looked to shake things up a bit, not by changing the bowling every 20 seconds but by making the batsmen change their plan and hit down the ground via the use of a short third man position.

I don't think he did a terrible job at all tonight but that particular incident is something that missed the trick on.
Especially with regards to McKenzie, that was fantastic batsmanship. His dropping and running was of the highest quality, and for mine was actually the best thing about the partnership. About the only thing you could've done to stop that was employ a gully, which would've only opened up further gaps in the field.
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
He definitely could have changed the field a bit when Duminy and McKenzie kept working the ball to third man for mine. That partnership was really frustrating as the batsmen were just let do exactly what they were intending. Ponting should looked to shake things up a bit, not by changing the bowling every 20 seconds but by making the batsmen change their plan and hit down the ground via the use of a short third man position.

I don't think he did a terrible job at all tonight but that particular incident is something that missed the trick on.
AWTA. [face]
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Especially with regards to McKenzie, that was fantastic batsmanship. His dropping and running was of the highest quality, and for mine was actually the best thing about the partnership. About the only thing you could've done to stop that was employ a gully, which would've only opened up further gaps in the field.
Opening up other gaps in the field is something he should have done though, IMO. McKenzie showed he was quite able to work a good ball for a single with very minimal risk virtually every time he attempted it. That's not a good situation to get yourself into as a fielding team: Ponting should have employed a short third man / gully to stop that happening so often IMO.

I'd like to make it clear that I'm not bashing Ponting here; I thought he did a pretty good job tonight. I certainly think he missed the trick during that partnership with his field placings though.
 

Briony

International Debutant
Well you saw it tonight. So you can put that in your pipe....

Off topic but what the **** is up with this forum? I couldn't get on here at all this afternoon.

Back to the game, top knock by Neil Mac, loved the slog sweep. He was only kept on tour so he could help in the background but he may have just got another shot in ODI's. VB will now be the man to make way once AB is fit.

Both teams are currently one bowler short.
I had seen Albie do that in the IPL but not against a good international team. His hitting was awesome.

Parnell jarred his neck attempting that catch the other night so may not be ready. If AB is fit, you would expect Jaarsveld to go after his poor effort in the field and he's done nothing with the bat as yet.

Australia's fielding was sloppy towards the end under pressure.

Just on Botha and batting, the commentators shouldn't underplay his ability because I thought the last time he came out he batted well in the test in Sydney and displayed a good technique. His bowling action his ugly.

Good, exciting game, pity the crowd is below par for Melbourne.
 

Uppercut

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Okay.

Nathan Bracken after bowling 4 overs for 7 runs comes on to bowl with South Africa needing 6.5 or so per over to win.

The field that was set was terrible for Bracken as the batsman just ran nearly every ball to third man. Surely someone close to 4th slip would have been a wise field placing..

Milking Bracken for close to 6 an over without risk was a big factor in the win.
Yeah that was pretty shocking but Bracken's a senior player. He can't get milked for 6 an over while bowling well and say "skipper knows best", it's up to him to object if he has a problem with it. But then again, it was Bracken who got the breakthrough, so that worked out fairly well for Australia.
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
Yeah that was pretty shocking but Bracken's a senior player. He can't get milked for 6 an over while bowling well and say "skipper knows best", it's up to him to object if he has a problem with it. But then again, it was Bracken who got the breakthrough, so that worked out fairly well for Australia.
Yeah I must admit I haven't seen the breakthrough yet. Left for work just before Duminy got out.
 

Uppercut

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Yeah I must admit I haven't seen the breakthrough yet. Left for work just before Duminy got out.
Flicked a straight one directly to midwicket. Could possibly be that Ponting didn't want an outside-off-stump line from Bracken but that's what he got.
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
Flicked a straight one directly to midwicket. Could possibly be that Ponting didn't want an outside-off-stump line from Bracken but that's what he got.
Oh okay cool.

Bracken is usually good at bowling the line that he's aiming for so I don't think Ponting would have told him to not bowl outside off.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
Yeah I must admit I haven't seen the breakthrough yet. Left for work just before Duminy got out.
Haha, wow, puts a different perspective on things.

Basically got him out trying to hit down the ground, to Bracken's consistent changes of pace. Bracken bowled fuller, and was trying to make them hit to long off and on.
 

popepouri

State Vice-Captain
I think a full strength SA side should look like this.

Smith (c)
Amla
Kallis
McKenzie
Duminy
AB (wk)
A Morkel
Botha
M Morkel
Steyn
Tsotsobe

McKenzie hasn't been a bad ODI player and was unlucky to be dropped the last time. After 50 innings he averages close to 40. I think McKenzie can play at no. 4. He's not flashy but he certainly can see an innings through and then AB takes the gloves and comes down the order.

I was thinking Parnell instead of Tsotsobe but I think for quota reasons, Tsotsobe would likely play. Both are fine players though.
 

TT Boy

Hall of Fame Member
I think a full strength SA side should look like this.

Smith (c)
Amla
Kallis
McKenzie
Duminy
AB (wk)
A Morkel
Botha
M Morkel
Steyn
Tsotsobe

McKenzie hasn't been a bad ODI player and was unlucky to be dropped the last time. After 50 innings he averages close to 40. I think McKenzie can play at no. 4. He's not flashy but he certainly can see an innings through and then AB takes the gloves and comes down the order.

I was thinking Parnell instead of Tsotsobe but I think for quota reasons, Tsotsobe would likely play. Both are fine players though.
Parnell is 99.9% to my knowledge 'black'. I maybe wrong though. :mellow:
 

popepouri

State Vice-Captain
Parnell is 99.9% to my knowledge 'black'. I maybe wrong though. :mellow:
If he is, then Parnell in above Morkel and Tsotsobe out.

Smith (c)
Amla
Kallis
McKenzie
Duminy
AB (wk)
A Morkel
Botha
Parnell
M Morkel
Steyn
 
Last edited:

stephen

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Yeah, because White's renowned for keeping it tight in ODIs. If Ponting had bowled him and he'd been smashed for 15 off an over, people would be on here bashing him. Ponting captained pretty well tonight, but the team was definitely a bowler short.
This.

Really Hopes should only be in the team if he's opening. Australia should have played:

Hopes
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey M
Hussey D
Haddin
Hauritz
Bracken
Hilfenhaus
Tait

What a huge loss both Gilly and Symonds are to the team. Those players together really add a 12th man to the side.

We were a bowler light tonight, which is a shame really as it has been shown time and time again that long batting lineups do not equal more runs (usually just more sloppiness).

Was impressed mostly with how Bracken, Hilf and Tait bowled, poor fielding and good batting notwithstanding. Hopes did the job that should be expected of him with the ball (allrounder, keeping it tight in the middle overs), while Clarke and Hussey were way too overbowled out of necessity.
 

Top