***Official*** South Africa In Australia

[JBH001]

Wow, a complete and utter pasting. Expected better, even from a sub-standard Australia. So much for so-called 'depth'.

Found this comment from cricinfo surprising and telling.

In the past five home one-day series Australia have beaten only New Zealand and Bangladesh.

 

[Mister Wright]

You are taking one big factor out of account here, the batting powerplay, had it not been for the batting powerplay the Aussie bowlers might have very well done the job in the earlier games too, but Morkel ripped them apart in the batting powerplay.

You are being too harsh on Tait and Hilfenhaus, whereas Tait is making his comeback into international cricket, Hilfenhaus is just starting his career, and both did relatively well enough in the earlier games, i think Tait's problem are more related to his body rather then skills, whereas Hilfenhaus has been good with the new ball and in the middle overs (apart from today), and has copped bit of stick in the batting powerplay during the death overs.

Hilfenhaus did relatively well in the earlier games? Didn't he go for 18 in the final overs in the first game? I'll admit he bowled alright in the 2nd game, but you should be able to defend 18 or whatever it was from the last over. He also went at over 6 an over at the start of last night's game. Hasn't exactly done all that well afaic.

 

[howardj]

Geez how many times have our middle order, and our batsmen in general, squandered dominant positions this Summer! Granted, yesterday we were at no stage dominant, but surely we are capable of bigger totals than the 220 (on an absolute road) that we got yesterday. It's all about application really - there were no absolute ripsnorting deliveries that got us yesterday. Rather, guys again got themselves out. It's all about application really. If you don't think you can dominate, then put your head down and put a high price on your wicket.

 

[Top_Cat]

Geez how many times have our middle order, and our batsmen in general, squandered dominant positions this Summer! Granted, yesterday we were at no stage dominant, but surely we are capable of bigger totals than the 220 (on an absolute road) that we got yesterday. It's all about application really - there were no absolute ripsnorting deliveries that got us yesterday. Rather, guys again got themselves out. It's all about application really. If you don't think you can dominate, then put your head down and put a high price on your wicket.

The pressure has been right on the top-order because the lower order is so crap, though. When numbers 6, 7 and 8 are Haddin, White and Hopes, the top-order needs to fire big time. Most of the top-order have been solid, some decent scores without utter domination. Same as in the past a lot of the time. Big difference? No Symonds coming in at 6 to finish the job and put the Aussies past 250 and into the 300's. Mike Hussey getting out when he did was a turning point in the innings and it shouldn't have been. In the past, when you still had a player like Symonds to come, you had the capability to absorb a wicket or two, re-build and surge to the end, the lower-order only required to smack some quick runs rather than bat for 20 overs. Instead we saw panicked swings to fairly innocuous deliveries and, unsurprisingly, a steady flow of wickets.

The top-order needs some beefing up. Yesterday's loss was a bit embarrassing for the Aussies, as well as SA played. There were a few decisions which certainly made me raise my eyebrow but individually they weren't game-breakers. Aus have fallen into England's trap of picking a couple of specialists and a bunch of others who can 'do a job', I reckon. The middle of the innings' in the series have been when the Aussie momentum has generally been lost and the middle-order is the most anaemic part of the line-up. Coincidence? Doubt it.

 

[Corbin]

Time to bring Hauritz back in.

 

[Furball]

The pressure has been right on the top-order because the lower order is so crap, though. When numbers 6, 7 and 8 are Haddin, White and Hopes, the top-order needs to fire big time. Most of the top-order have been solid, some decent scores without utter domination. Same as in the past a lot of the time. Big difference? No Symonds coming in at 6 to finish the job and put the Aussies past 250 and into the 300's. Mike Hussey getting out when he did was a turning point in the innings and it shouldn't have been. In the past, when you still had a player like Symonds to come, you had the capability to absorb a wicket or two, re-build and surge to the end, the lower-order only required to smack some quick runs rather than bat for 20 overs. Instead we saw panicked swings to fairly innocuous deliveries and, unsurprisingly, a steady flow of wickets.

The top-order needs some beefing up. Yesterday's loss was a bit embarrassing for the Aussies, as well as SA played. There were a few decisions which certainly made me raise my eyebrow but individually they weren't game-breakers. Aus have fallen into England's trap of picking a couple of specialists and a bunch of others who can 'do a job', I reckon. The middle of the innings' in the series have been when the Aussie momentum has generally been lost and the middle-order is the most anaemic part of the line-up. Coincidence? Doubt it.

Can't blame the top order. OK, they've not posted 100s, but they've done their job this series, it's hardly their fault the middle order has been ****.

 

[Furball]

Geez how many times have our middle order, and our batsmen in general, squandered dominant positions this Summer! Granted, yesterday we were at no stage dominant, but surely we are capable of bigger totals than the 220 (on an absolute road) that we got yesterday. It's all about application really - there were no absolute ripsnorting deliveries that got us yesterday. Rather, guys again got themselves out. It's all about application really. If you don't think you can dominate, then put your head down and put a high price on your wicket.

Correct.

As much as I think Heals is a knob in commentary, he was spot on when commentating on the Aussies between the 20th and 40th overs. Botha bowled well, I won't take that away from him, but I don't think the Aussies milked him as much as they could have.

 

[Top_Cat]

Can't blame the top order. OK, they've not posted 100s, but they've done their job this series, it's hardly their fault the middle order has been ****.

Pretty much what I was saying. Agreed the top-order has been reasonable without being brilliant. They've done their job. Been let down by the rest.

 

[Spikey]

Clarke and Bracken back for the final OD. Hauritz and Harris out from the squad.

 

[popepouri]

Think SA will play the following XI next game:

Amla
Gibbs
AB (wk)
Duminy
Neil Mac
V van Jaarsveld
A Morkel
Botha (c)
Parnell
M Morkel/Ntini
Tsotsobe

I think Kallis has a niggle and might not play but then again Vaughn may not be fit yet. Boucher is obviously out with the Broken toe. They promised Steyn a rest so it's either Morne or Ntini to fight for the last place.

 

[Pieface]

Well done to South Africa! They have played better all summer and have even stolen a march on the return series by roughing up our one Golden Boy, Mitch Johnson, in the last two one dayers.

Big question marks against White, Hopes, Hilfenhaus and Hauritz in my opinion from this series.

While all these "all rounder" types are getting a run I'd like to see Marcus North get a run, his spin can't be any more abysmal than what we've seen so far.

 

[Athlai]

Well done to South Africa! They have played better all summer and have even stolen a march on the return series by roughing up our one Golden Boy, Mitch Johnson, in the last two one dayers.

Big question marks against White, Hopes, Hilfenhaus and Hauritz in my opinion from this series.

While all these "all rounder" types are getting a run I'd like to see Marcus North get a run, his spin can't be any more abysmal than what we've seen so far.

This series:
White 52 @ 17.33 SR 63 Economy rate 5.33
Hopes 85 @ 21.25 SR 73 Economy rate 4.57
Hilfy 5 @ 32.80 economy rate 5.96
Hauritz 2 @ 30 economy rate 6.66

Hopes has been okay only Botha and Bracken have been more economical. Otherwise everyone has been dire that you named.

 

[pup11]

Hilfenhaus did relatively well in the earlier games? Didn't he go for 18 in the final overs in the first game? I'll admit he bowled alright in the 2nd game, but you should be able to defend 18 or whatever it was from the last over. He also went at over 6 an over at the start of last night's game. Hasn't exactly done all that well afaic.

Isn't that what i said, Hilfy was good with the new-ball and through the middle overs in the first two games of the series, and he got whacked around the park in the batting powerplay overs in earlier games, now bowling at the death when the batting powerplay isn't certainly easy, he is still pretty inexperienced and imo he has the ability do better than this, at the end of the day one can't just go on picking every single bowler or batsman in the country, the selectors got to identify who are the guys who have the pedigree to perform and then back them even if they go through a bit of a rough trot, dropping every new bloke after one or two bad games, isn't really going to take us anywhere tbh.

 

[Pieface]

This series:
White 52 @ 17.33 SR 63 Economy rate 5.33
Hopes 85 @ 21.25 SR 73 Economy rate 4.57
Hilfy 5 @ 32.80 economy rate 5.96
Hauritz 2 @ 30 economy rate 6.66

Hopes has been okay only Botha and Bracken have been more economical. Otherwise everyone has been dire that you named.

Hopes I'll pay as a good 4th bowling option, particularly if he gains some confidence with the bat. The Aussies are desperately lacking wicket taking capability and unfortunately Hopes looks more like the type to tie down an end during the middle overs than a genuine wicket taker which is what we have lacked all summer. Bracks, Lee, Johnson and Hopes could be solid moving forwards for ODI if Johnson and Lee are taking wickets which of course they currently aren't

I guess I've thrown Hopes into the question mark category because although he's been OK he hasn't been what's needed.

 

[biased indian]

i am loving it

 

[social]

Hopes I'll pay as a good 4th bowling option, particularly if he gains some confidence with the bat. The Aussies are desperately lacking wicket taking capability and unfortunately Hopes looks more like the type to tie down an end during the middle overs than a genuine wicket taker which is what we have lacked all summer. Bracks, Lee, Johnson and Hopes could be solid moving forwards for ODI if Johnson and Lee are taking wickets which of course they currently aren't

I guess I've thrown Hopes into the question mark category because although he's been OK he hasn't been what's needed.

The problem is that Hopes should be our FIFTH bowling option at best

Best attack would look something like

Lee
Bracken
Johnson
Siddle
Watson/Hopes

backed up by Symonds, Clarke, maybe North etc etc

 

[social]

i am loving it

Dont get too ****y - last time I looked your middle order had already qualified for the pension and once they've gone ............................

 

[pasag]

Dont get too ****y - last time I looked your middle order had already qualified for the pension and once they've gone ............................

... you've got Sharma, Badri, Raina coming in...

 

[Jono]

Dont get too ****y - last time I looked your middle order had already qualified for the pension and once they've gone ............................

Yeah that Indian ODI middle order is really old.

 

[howardj]

Pretty much what I was saying. Agreed the top-order has been reasonable without being brilliant. They've done their job. Been let down by the rest.

Yes, I agree, the top order has done the job. This talk about them not having done their job because they haven't gone on to a century is rubbish. To not go on to a century in Tests, yes, is a cardinal sin. But quick 50s, 60s and 70s are fine in ODIs. It then falls to the middle order to do their thang.