***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Nate]

Hughes off the markkkkk

 

[Briony]

Can't believe how crap SA has been. Australia has total dominance over them.

 

[Uppercut]

I think it was the right call. All comes down to the urgency in the batting.

If rain is a factor: a bat hard->rains->declare->bowl fresh... strategy
is in my opinion more likely to get a result than
sending SA back in with tired bowlers and possibly facing nervous small chase on wet pitch

But then again...................

But conditions are good for bowling. By the time South Africa bat again the pitch could be easy-pace, the weather hot and sunny and the three-man Aussie attack ineffective. There could be time lost due to rain and not a lot of time to bat out. You don't know.

All you know is that as of now, conditions are good for bowling and your bowlers have bowled extremely well. So send them back in.

 

[inbox24]

Hughes' batting mannerisms are almost identical to Haddin's. His voice and calling sounds exactly like Clarke's. NSW clones.

 

[Craig]

So when AB raises his bat at the sky when he gets a ton, is he a religious bloke or is that paying his respects to a loved one that passed away?

 

[Uppercut]

So when AB raises his bat at the sky when he gets a ton, is he a religious bloke or is that paying his respects to a loved one that passed away?

He's a deeply religious fellow AFAIK.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Cuts well, does Hughes.

Biggest nose to open batting for Oz since Lawry?

 

[Briony]

He's a deeply religious fellow AFAIK.

He and Morkel are meant to be religious freaks but you wonder what AB thinks of the 'man upstairs' when he fails.

Australia's three man attack did pretty well. Looks a darn side better than SA's one man attack actually.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Biggest nose to open batting for Oz since Lawry?

At least since G. Marsh.

 

[Nate]

So when AB raises his bat at the sky when he gets a ton, is he a religious bloke or is that paying his respects to a loved one that passed away?

The term 'religious' incorrectly used a bit tbh. AB is a Christian though, yeah.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

The Prince has the ugliest technique, love it though. His biggest charm.

 

[Noble One]

Terrific performance thus far from Australia. Dominating with both bat and ball, will be interesting to see what position they are in by say lunch tomorrow.

Impressed with Peter Siddle, the fact is he picked up 3 wickets whilst probably being Australia's worst bowler in the innings. The guy was largely criticised for being selected too premature in India, yet he performed respectfully there, was impressive at home, and is still picking up wickets now. He has had a seamless transition to the international arena, and really does look the sort to cause batting line-up’s trouble for the next decade.

Hoping Phil Hughes makes a 50.

 

[silentstriker]

Considering what happened back in Australia, how much are they going to want to score? I hope not more than 500.

 

[Top_Cat]

Smith making a tactical error giving Morkel the new nurry, one feels. Don't know what Ntini did to lose it, to be honest.

First really good look at Hughes for me, certainly makes a huge effort to cover off-stump!

 

[silentstriker]

So when AB raises his bat at the sky when he gets a ton, is he a religious bloke or is that paying his respects to a loved one that passed away?

If he wasn't religious, why would he think there is a loved one up there?

 

[four_or_six]

The Prince has the ugliest technique, love it though. His biggest charm.

Ugliest opening partnership ever?

 

[Johnners]

Considering what happened back in Australia, how much are they going to want to score? I hope not more than 500.

Reckon Ponting will declare with a lead around 450.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Ugliest opening partnership ever?

Yeah just said it to Gelman on MSN a while back. Would be very close if not.

He's very good though, his technique deceives. Same thing with Katich, the way he bats draws you to bowl at him in areas that benefit him.

 

[Noble One]

Ugliest opening partnership ever?

Like an episode of "Dancing With The Stars" watching these two at the crease.

 

[Briony]

It's a pity that he didn't enforce the follow-on because we can't win by an innings now. Hard to see SA fighting back now, they've used up all their luck.