***Official*** South Africa In Australia

[pup11]

Pretty sure that they were "hot spots" rather than stress fractures (i.e. a stress fracture in the very early development). In the foot, from memory.

Lee too had pretty much the same problem, though his problem was slightly more serious then Siddle', but still he had to get a surgery done and he is out for six months as a result, so even if it isn't that bad, still things don't look that good for Siddle.

 

[howardj]

If Siddle, Clark and Lee are all out for the SA tour, my attack would be:

Johnson
Bracken
Hilfenhaus
McGain

 

[Johnners]

As I mentioned in the Stuey Clark thread....how long has it been since Australia has fielded the same team 2 games in a row? Honestly can't recall it happening for a good 14 or so tests now.

 

[TT Boy]

South African side for tomorrow...

Amla, Gibbs, McKenzie, AB, JP, VB, Albie, Botha, Morne, Parnell, Tsotsobe.

Youngest side they have fielded in over 10 years and 7 of the side are 25 or younger.

As for Australia, Tait and White are out, Bracken and Clarke are in. Tait isn’t injured, according to Punter, Tait suffered cramp, a byproduct of being extremely nervous at playing at home and he couldn’t eat leading up to the game. Bracken is fit; he was ‘ok’ for the last game but apparently didn’t fancy it and was looking towards the New Zealand series but was told he had to turn up on Friday.

 

[Precambrian]

@ Tait!

at McKenzie continued inclusion in the ODI squad. He surely is Botha's bitch. Otherwise how can such a shmuck player like him be repeatedly retained in the ODI team despite failures?

 

[four_or_six]

It's interesting that Tait's seen as such a critical player that his workload is being 'managed' even just in ODIs. There are plenty of other players who just have had to get on with it.

 

[inbox24]

Too many players like Tait and Symonds being treated like gold class citizens, with CA and selectors doing everything they can to get them to succeed. Indeed to a degree it should be done, but at the end of the day if they are unfit, don't perform or have bad attitudes then you shouldn't be begging them to come good. Instead you should go for the next gen and be ruthless and make them work to get back into the team.

 

[TT Boy]

@ Tait!

at McKenzie continued inclusion in the ODI squad. He surely is Botha's bitch. Otherwise how can such a shmuck player like him be repeatedly retained in the ODI team despite failures?

There are no other batsman left on tour and Neil Mac is de facto VC. I will be surprised if he featured in the return ODI series.

 

[longtom]

South African side for tomorrow...

Amla, Gibbs, McKenzie, AB, JP, VB, Albie, Botha, Morne, Parnell, Tsotsobe.

Youngest side they have fielded in over 10 years and 7 of the side are 25 or younger.

Well - I like that. It is a dead rubber and young players need to be developed somehow. What a fantastic opportunity to do so.
Maybe SA can avoid the huge break Aus are experiencing when key players retire or are injured.

@precambrian

agreed! Old Mac has used up his "played well in a couple of tests" bonus well and truly. Maybe they want to give him even more practice?

Having said that, I'm not entirely sure about the level of intimacy in his relationship with Botha...

 

[Ernest]

Australia without Stuart Clark in South Africa? In one word? Carnage..

I might even tip the saffies 3-0 at home. Can't see us flourishing over there when the only test we were competative in was won by 5 balls and a broken hand.

We need a full clean out. I'd take this side

1. P. Hughes
2. P. Jacques
3. B. Hodge
4. M. Clarke (c)
5. S. Katich
6. M. Hussey
7. L. Ronchi (wk)
8. M Johnson
9. B. Hilfenhaus
10. B. McGain
11. D. Nannes

3 good quicks and an actual spinner who spins the ball. No useless captain and a number 3 who I am sure would do just as good maybe better than Ricky. Attacking wicket-keeper batsman and solidity in the middle order.

 

[longtom]

Australia without Stuart Clark in South Africa? In one word? Carnage..

I might even tip the saffies 3-0 at home. Can't see us flourishing over there when the only test we were competative in was won by 5 balls and a broken hand.

We need a full clean out. I'd take this side

1. P. Hughes
2. P. Jacques
3. B. Hodge
4. M. Clarke (c)
5. S. Katich
6. M. Hussey
7. L. Ronchi (wk)
8. M Johnson
9. B. Hilfenhaus
10. B. McGain
11. D. Nannes

3 good quicks and an actual spinner who spins the ball. No useless captain and a number 3 who I am sure would do just as good maybe better than Ricky. Attacking wicket-keeper batsman and solidity in the middle order.

I can't comment on your team - haven't seen most of them. I am also not to familiar with Australien batting talent in general and can only comment on what I have seen in recent times.
If you have No 3's lined up who are as good or even better than Ponting - where have they been all the time? For mine - I can't think of a better No 3 in the last couple of years - and I am no fan of his in any way... You might want to think that one over...

 

[pup11]

South African side for tomorrow...

Amla, Gibbs, McKenzie, AB, JP, VB, Albie, Botha, Morne, Parnell, Tsotsobe.

Youngest side they have fielded in over 10 years and 7 of the side are 25 or younger.

As for Australia, Tait and White are out, Bracken and Clarke are in. Tait isn’t injured, according to Punter, Tait suffered cramp, a byproduct of being extremely nervous at playing at home and he couldn’t eat leading up to the game. Bracken is fit; he was ‘ok’ for the last game but apparently didn’t fancy it and was looking towards the New Zealand series but was told he had to turn up on Friday.

Yeah mate i think it pretty easy to say such stuff in hindsight, i don't think even if Bracken would have played the result at Adelaide would have been much different, as for Tait playing back to back ODI's isn't a possibility for him yet and since Australia have a ODI against New Zealand on Sunday, they probably want him playing in that game rather than a dead rubber.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Lee too had pretty much the same problem, though his problem was slightly more serious then Siddle', but still he had to get a surgery done and he is out for six months as a result, so even if it isn't that bad, still things don't look that good for Siddle.

...Lee had hot spots, bowled through them in the second innings and ended up fracturing them so that they could be fixed up, and then had further surgery on his nagging ankle.

 

[Nate]

Really happy to see Tait and White out for tomorrow. Looks to be a really good line-up for Australia, without being perfect.

Reckon we'll win comfortably tomorrow.

 

[Mister Wright]

Also happy to see Tait out. Reckon he should be selected as a 20/20 specialist.

 

[four_or_six]

I still think the Aussies are a bowler short.

 

[Howsie]

Australia without Stuart Clark in South Africa? In one word? Carnage..

I might even tip the saffies 3-0 at home. Can't see us flourishing over there when the only test we were competative in was won by 5 balls and a broken hand.

We need a full clean out. I'd take this side

1. P. Hughes
2. P. Jacques
3. B. Hodge
4. M. Clarke (c)
5. S. Katich
6. M. Hussey
7. L. Ronchi (wk)
8. M Johnson
9. B. Hilfenhaus
10. B. McGain
11. D. Nannes

3 good quicks and an actual spinner who spins the ball. No useless captain and a number 3 who I am sure would do just as good maybe better than Ricky. Attacking wicket-keeper batsman and solidity in the middle order.

Why drop Haddin, he actually looked half decent against NZ and South Africa in the test series.

 

[inbox24]

I still think the Aussies are a bowler short.

Definitely, considering Hopes is a specialist bowler at the moment. I guess our only Hope is to drop either Marsh or Warner and slot Hopes at the top, then we can bring in an extra bowler. Don't know who though considering there aren't any decent options left.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Australia without Stuart Clark in South Africa? In one word? Carnage..

I might even tip the saffies 3-0 at home. Can't see us flourishing over there when the only test we were competative in was won by 5 balls and a broken hand.

We need a full clean out. I'd take this side

1. P. Hughes
2. P. Jacques
3. B. Hodge
4. M. Clarke (c)
5. S. Katich
6. M. Hussey
7. L. Ronchi (wk)
8. M Johnson
9. B. Hilfenhaus
10. B. McGain
11. D. Nannes

3 good quicks and an actual spinner who spins the ball. No useless captain and a number 3 who I am sure would do just as good maybe better than Ricky. Attacking wicket-keeper batsman and solidity in the middle order.

Yeah, Brad Hodge is clearly just as good if not better than the best batsman in the world this decade. Spot on. Haddin should definitely be dropped after a very good home summer as well.

Your bowling attack is the only decent thing about your team, aside from Nannes who definitely won't be picked ahead of Bollinger, who is essentially the incumbent. I think McGain is a fair chance to get picked, and Hilfenhaus will get a go if Siddle is still injured. If Siddle is fit, it will be the same attack as in Sydney, perhaps with McGain in for Hauritz.

 

[four_or_six]

Definitely, considering Hopes is a specialist bowler at the moment. I guess our only Hope is to drop either Marsh or Warner and slot Hopes at the top, then we can bring in an extra bowler. Don't know who though considering there aren't any decent options left.

Hmm, I dunno. I think I'd play a spinner. If Hauritz is good enough to play tests, he's definitely good enough to play ODIs.