***Official*** South Africa In Australia

[Ernest]

Hugely dwta. There are a number of crucial selections that will play a part in us losing the series.

Don't blame the selectors if the material they have to work with is second rate.

I'd say that nationally we have been guilty of overestimating the strength and standard of our domestic competition. It's been a kind of jingoism ever since we knocked the windies off in 95.

Mind you love the commentators shocked voices and the excuses starting.

 

[Nate]

Let me guess:

North instead of White

Heal instead of Hauritz

It's a start. (linkeh)

 

[Precambrian]

Bring back BRAD HODGE!!!!!

 

[inbox24]

Let me guess:

North instead of White

Heal instead of Hauritz

No, it's more playing only 3 specialists bowlers? Name one team in international cricket that does that?

Then playing Cam White as a specialist batsman and Hopes and a specialist bowler.

 

[Zinzan]

Haha, this is a massacre.

Indeed, amazing to think SA have hardly won a toss all tour, in fact I don't recall them winning one but I could be wrong

 

[Ospi]

Aus need to take a verrrrry good look at themselves after this series with SA and make some major changes, and not just with players.

 

[pup11]

Fair enough, but I thought Botha in particular bowled superbly

Dwta, i think he was allowed to bowl superbly, when you are playing with as many as 8 batsmen, then surely you have gotta to take some chances to put a bowler off-line, but there was no attempt as such, and the Aussies almost played into his hands, to sum it up too much respect has been shown to Duminy and Botha, through this series for my liking.

 

[four_or_six]

No, it's more playing only 3 specialists bowlers? Name one team in international cricket that does that?

Then playing Cam White as a specialist batsman and Hopes and a specialist bowler.

There's too many batsmen that don't bowl. You need two decent bowlers in your top seven.

 

[Precambrian]

Interesting. Both sides have the same score after 23 overs. 126. While Aus lost 4, SA has lost only 2.

 

[Redbacks]

Aus need to take a verrrrry good look at themselves after this series with SA and make some major changes, and not just with players.

Ricky Ponting in most of the matches has played more ODI games than the other 10 players in the team combined is a point worth noting!

 

[pasag]

The main selection issue for mine was resting Johnson for so long, we went without our best bowler of the summer for the first two matches and when he came back he was clearly underdone and still is. Made this call before he was rested ftr.

 

[pasag]

Doesn't get said enough for mine, but really missing Brad Hogg.

 

[pup11]

No, it's more playing only 3 specialists bowlers? Name one team in international cricket that does that?

Then playing Cam White as a specialist batsman and Hopes and a specialist bowler.

What's wrong with playing Cam White as a specialist batsman, isn't his List A record good enough to justify selection, though i doubt he has been picked as a specialist batsman, and what's with this constant anti-Hopes views all the time, the guy has been one of Australia's most economical bowlers and is more than handy with the bat, sure he is no match winner but he can't be turned into a scapegoat for this lose.

The three bowler+Hopes+Watto+Clarke+Symonds combination was working just fine, but with no Lee, Bracken, Clark, the standard of front-line bowling has fallen, and therefore its hardly fair enough to expect back-up bowlers to win you ODI games, when the front-line pacers have failed to make any impact.

 

[duffer]

The running has been nothing short of outstanding from the Saffies. They're flat out playing brilliant cricket all over the place.

 

[pasag]

What's wrong with playing Cam White as a specialist batsman..

He keeps on failing, for one.

 

[inbox24]

I disagree. Brad Hodge has a phenomenal List A record, has bucket loads of experience and spins the ball more than White. I feel the selectors (this issue in hindsight) have missed a trick by not picking him.

There is a place for Hopes in the team, I agree. But I think it's best to use him at the top of the order to open so we can use specialists in the middle in case of a collapse. Time has shown that bits and pieces will not get you through a heavy situation (even with his 40 odd today).

In terms of bowling, because of the quality of the bowling is not great with specialists like Tait and Johnson, we need 4 specialist bowlers to make up for that. In the times of a fit and firing McGrath and Lee you could probbably get away with 3 and then Hopes plus part timers, but now you can't but if one gets carted then you're left with rubbish.

I just don't understand, the formula of 7 bats and 4 bowlers has worked for 15 years of world dominance, why now in this time of need change it to 5.5 bats and 3 bowlers.

 

[Zinzan]

Dwta, i think he was allowed to bowl superbly, when you are playing with as many as 8 batsmen, then surely you have gotta to take some chances to put a bowler off-line, but there was no attempt as such, and the Aussies almost played into his hands, to sum it up too much respect has been shown to Duminy and Botha, through this series for my liking.

Sorry, but that too simplistic. Surely Botha deserves some credit for have a series economy 4.05 (not to mention his 7 wickets) in a series where scores of 250 have been about par. You don't think his success has anything to do with the fact he's actually varied his pace, flight & he's executed an effective over-spinner. Smashing an accurate spin bowler with good variation isn't as easy as you make it sound. Same reason Vettori is near impossible to murder in limited-overs cricket. Granted they could have played him better, but he's still bowled extremely well as Tim Nielsen alluded to in the innings break.

 

[pasag]

'Duminy gets his 50 with a 6'

Shambles.

Great shot though.

 

[Zinzan]

'Duminy gets his 50 with a 6'

Shambles.

Great shot though.

Duminy?

 

[Ospi]

Hmm guess you are getting live coverage whilst I am not in Bris

edit: maybe not.