***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Simon]

We used to mock the Poms for picking 30+ year old blokes who had moderate records and who could do a bit of this and a bit of that.

A 29 year old batsman with 8880 runs @ 44.17 at first class level was never considered "moderate" for the Poms. He was the star batsman.

 

[Julian87]

I know he'll probably get picked, but capping guys such is North is such a dead end thing. I really resent 30 year old debutants with a moderate FC record getting capped. He averages below 45 in FC cricket. Mike Hussey is very much the exception, rather than the rule in terms of picking 30 year old debutants. They should take a punt on someone like Ferguson at six - someone who has time and room for improvement.

If North's First Class record is "moderate" then Ferguson's is "****ing shocking". You don't get bonus runs for picking young blokes - North is a better batsman than Ferguson and he's been picked as an allrounder anyway. No brainer.

^ This.

Like an Ealham or Chris Lewis..

North is hardly a bits and pieces all rounder. McDonald is perhaps comparable to them, but not North. North is a good batsman who bowls a bit and has some bowling form.

A 29 year old batsman with 8880 runs @ 44.17 at first class level was never considered "moderate" for the Poms. He was the star batsman.

Exactly.

 

[Prince EWS]

Most players get dropped from Test cricket

That perhaps indicates that they were selected too early and needed to refine their games more at First Class level before being ready. Hussey hasn't been dropped, for example.

 

[brockley]

HowardJ please what are callam fergurson's bowling figures this year,since you are recommending him be the allrounder in our test side.
If thats the case he is an allrounder can he bowl instead of dave hussey or cameron white they are ****e.

 

[Redbacks]

Series Result: SA 1-0
Top SA Runscorer: Smith
Top Aus Runscorer: Ponting
Top SA Wicket-taker: Steyn
Top Aus Wicket-taker: Bollinger
Player of the Series: Smith
Surprise Packet: Hughes
Dropped Player(s): Aus #6/McKenzie
Miscellaneous Event: Clarke and Katman to put together an important partnership

 

[cowboysfan]

there is no way the aussies are winning this one.my prediction is 2-1 south africa but i think a 1-1 is also possible.the aussies will surely give a better account of themselves though.

 

[Howsie]

Series Result: SA 2-0
Top SA Runscorer: Amla
Top Aus Runscorer: Hussey
Top SA Wicket-taker: Ntini
Top Aus Wicket-taker: Siddle
Player of the Series: Amla
Surprise Packet: Mitchell Johnson with the Bat
Dropped Player(s): Bollinger, McKenzie
Miscellaneous Event: This will be the last test series Ponting is captain of Australia.

 

[howardj]

That perhaps indicates that they were selected too early and needed to refine their games more at First Class level before being ready. Hussey hasn't been dropped, for example.

Ponting, SWaugh, Slater, Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Warne, McGrath - all picked too early were they?

Or was the fact that they were promoted early, learnt what Test cricket was all about and then came back better players, more likely the case?

Honestly, you are deluded if you think that Australia will rebuild by picking 30 year old debutants who don't even average 45 in FC cricket

But oh hang on...they can bowl a bit of offspin.

 

[howardj]

HowardJ please what are callam fergurson's bowling figures this year,since you are recommending him be the allrounder in our test side.
If thats the case he is an allrounder can he bowl instead of dave hussey or cameron white they are ****e.

I'm not recommending him as the allrounder.

I never even knew he bowled.

 

[Julian87]

Ponting, SWaugh, Slater, Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Warne, McGrath - all picked too early were they?

Or was the fact that they were promoted early, learnt what Test cricket was all about and then came back better players, more likely the case?

Honestly, you are deluded if you think that Australia will rebuild by picking 30 year old debutants who don't even average 45 in FC cricket

But oh hang on...they can bowl a bit of offspin.

Waugh, Hayden, Martyn and Langer were probably all picked too early.

 

[howardj]

....and it was good for them

How and why they turned out like they did is the point.

 

[Cricket_God]

I think australia do have a chance in this series as pitches in southafrica do tend to seam
more than australia so australian bowling attack which struggled on flat pitches in australia
will be better,

 

[social]

Series Result: Aus 2-1
Top SA Runscorer: Kallis
Top Aus Runscorer: Ponting
Top SA Wicket-taker: Morkel
Top Aus Wicket-taker: Siddle
Player of the Series: Johnson
Surprise Packet: North
Dropped Player(s): Ntini, Harris, Hilfenhaus
Miscellaneous Event: Johnson to be given credit for taking wickets with decent bowling

 

[Langeveldt]

Cricinfo - Aussies impressed by Soweto talent

Nice gesture from the Aussies, they would be welcome in the white ghettos of Summerstrand or Walmer any day, I need some help with my legspin

 

[Jakester1288]

Me too. David Hussey? About time IMO.

David Hussey for sure.

He deserves his chance and has been one of the form players in the Australian and English domestic comps for years now. He is a fantastic player in the longer form as well as his recently exposed shorter forms of the game, and his first class average of 54 supports his case. He would be my first replacement batsmen for Australia in test matches, so perhaps he will get his chance if Michael Clarke's injury is more serious than first thought. A middle order of M Hussey, D Hussey, North and Haddin is much stronger than one of M Hussey, North, Haddin and McDonald.

 

[four_or_six]

If you went on this year's shield form, for players with more than a couple of games, you'd have:

M Klinger 77.85 4 100s
CJL Rogers 76.27 3 100s
LA Carseldine 50.63 1 100s
CJ Ferguson 48.00 2 100s
N Jewell 47.08 2 100s

Ferguson seemed to aquit himself well in the ODI's so he wouldn't be the worst pick for a replacement. I don't think Dussey's really had a good FC season, and I thought he looked **** in the ODIs.

 

[Jakester1288]

If you went on this year's shield form, for players with more than a couple of games, you'd have:

M Klinger 77.85 4 100s
CJL Rogers 76.27 3 100s
LA Carseldine 50.63 1 100s
CJ Ferguson 48.00 2 100s
N Jewell 47.08 2 100s

Ferguson seemed to aquit himself well in the ODI's so he wouldn't be the worst pick for a replacement. I don't think Dussey's really had a good FC season, and I thought he looked **** in the ODIs.

Well, for starters, the only one there you would pick would probably be Ferguson. Rodgers, Jewell and sometimes Klinger are openers, so Ferguson and Carseldine are the best options for mine. Carseldine hasn't really done enough, his average over his first class career is 37 - not a shadow on Dave Hussey. Also, if you want some of Dave Hussey's story and his stats, have a look in Novemember 2008's Inside Cricket magazine on pages 32-36. Well written article about how he has come through as the younger brother of Mike Hussey.

 

[Uppercut]

A 29 year old batsman with 8880 runs @ 44.17 at first class level was never considered "moderate" for the Poms. He was the star batsman.

That's just because they don't play all of their cricket on the M1

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

That's just because they don't play all of their cricket on the M1

WACA's been green for Shield Matches for the last couple of seasons.

 

[four_or_six]

Well, for starters, the only one there you would pick would probably be Ferguson. Rodgers, Jewell and sometimes Klinger are openers, so Ferguson and Carseldine are the best options for mine. Carseldine hasn't really done enough, his average over his first class career is 37 - not a shadow on Dave Hussey. Also, if you want some of Dave Hussey's story and his stats, have a look in Novemember 2008's Inside Cricket magazine on pages 32-36. Well written article about how he has come through as the younger brother of Mike Hussey.

I'm not advocating the openers or Carseldine, I'm just pointing out that Ferguson's had a good season. I do prefer the idea of picking players on form and I didn't think Hussey really looked on form in the ODIs.

And as for Carseldine, his FC average in his 'second' career, ie after his 3-year break, is what he has managed this year which seems more instructive than his career average in my opinion. Though again, I wouldn't pick him, although I might have done in the ODIs/T20s.