***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Precambrian]

It actually seamed quite a bit imo. Swung in, pitched, and seamed straight through the top of Ponting's right pad into the stumps. Beautiful ball, and Ponting's disbelieving statue impersonation right after was priceless.

Ponting always gets out with balls pitching in the corridor and jacking in. Was the story of the 2007-08 Summer, repeated in winter tour to India. That he has acknowledged, yet not corrected is not good on him.

 

[Steulen]

Ponting always gets out with balls pitching in the corridor and jacking in. Was the story of the 2007-08 Summer, repeated in winter tour to India. That he has acknowledged, yet not corrected is not good on him.

He was actually leaving the ball very well throughout his innings, and this particular ball started out far wider than some others he'd left before. It just deviated amazingly.

 

[pasag]

Thought we've batted pretty well since the early wickets, ball's doing quite a bit and we've shown some good application in tricky conditions. Sucks that Ponting and Clarke got out when they did, Ponting in particular should have played a shot, it was a sensational delivery but it had kept pretty low all the down. Intriguing day of Test cricket so far, hopefully it rains now before we lose anymore wickets.

 

[Demolition Man]

North looks very solid, not suprising though with nearly 10,000 first class runs to his name.

EDIT: that was a drive, shot of the day for mine.
59.4 Ntini to North, FOUR, shot! Overpitched wide of off stump again and this time North says ah what the heck, lets have a go, and square-drives that beauty smack between cover and point

 

[pasag]

It's like the Little Miss Springfield pageant all over again.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

"GLORIOUS, GLORIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS off drive from Brad Haddin!"

Let's play "Guess the Commentator". Shouldn't take you long.

 

[Demolition Man]

"GLORIOUS, GLORIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS off drive from Brad Haddin!"

Let's play "Guess the Commentator". Shouldn't take you long.

Jeff Thompson ??



EDIT:
On a serious note has he commentated since he got in trouble for swearing a couple of times on air in England a few years back ?

 

[pup11]

"GLORIOUS, GLORIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS off drive from Brad Haddin!"

Let's play "Guess the Commentator". Shouldn't take you long.

Sir Gaylord Nicholas... who else.

 

[Steulen]

Let's get back into hex mode.

Have we had a single LBW shout today? I can't remember one.

 

[pup11]

North and Haddin have stringed a tremendous counter-attacking partnership, but this game is giving me a deja'vu feel of the Perth test.

There too Clarke got out in the 60's playing a lose shot, and which was followed by a counter-attacking partnership of Haddin and Symonds, somewhat similar to the current one, hopefully there won't be a similar lower-order collapse.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Sanity prevails.

 

[Redbacks]

"GLORIOUS, GLORIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS off drive from Brad Haddin!"

Let's play "Guess the Commentator". Shouldn't take you long.

That was a brilliant drive, worthy of an overreaction

 

[pasag]

Very happy to be here after 3/40. SA still slightly ahead due to our lack of bowlers, but disaster averted and hopefully McDonald and Johnson can kick on tomorrow.

 

[oitoitoi]

Very tough to tell who's ahead in this match. It all depends on how well Australia bowls, remember SA have a very strong batting line up and the pitch could dry out a touch even with the rain. I reckon 2 of Aus's right arm quicks have to fire for them to have a chance.

 

[social]

Very happy to be here after 3/40. SA still slightly ahead due to our lack of bowlers, but disaster averted and hopefully McDonald and Johnson can kick on tomorrow.

Aus did pretty well consider that they were excellent bowling conditions

SA should be disappointed because the main bowlers generally bowled a lot of 4 balls and Morkel/Ntini didnt make the batsmen play nearly enough

Mark my words, McDonald will be a handful because he'll swing the ball and bowl accurately

 

[social]

Very tough to tell who's ahead in this match. It all depends on how well Australia bowls, remember SA have a very strong batting line up and the pitch could dry out a touch even with the rain. I reckon 2 of Aus's right arm quicks have to fire for them to have a chance.

That doesnt make a lot of sense

 

[Redbacks]

Kallis unable to bowl was certainly a plus for Australia. He would have likely bowled with greater control than the others and perhaps taken a wicket or two.

We will have to weather the storm early tomorrow and then another dose of the new ball after 12 overs. 320+ is the minimum required.

 

[Uppercut]

254/5 is a great effort given the conditions and quality of the attack. Whether it's good in the context of the match isn't the same thing, it's pretty even really. Very entertaining first day's play.

Also, Marcus North looks a player.

 

[Precambrian]

Aus did pretty well consider that they were excellent bowling conditions

SA should be disappointed because the main bowlers generally bowled a lot of 4 balls and Morkel/Ntini didnt make the batsmen play nearly enough

Mark my words, McDonald will be a handful because he'll swing the ball and bowl accurately

No, He will struggle.

 

[Precambrian]

Stop it.