***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[four_or_six]

McDonald is a lot better than Hauritz as a bowler. In the two tests he's played he's kept it tighter than any spinner reasonably could, and chipped in with big wickets in every innings he's bowled in. The conditions suit him much better, and he can hold a bat. And if the pitch isn't turning medium-pace is a much better "change-things-up" idea than spin because the ball will actually move quite a bit more.

No-brainer of a selection, that. Hauritz shouldn't even have been in consideration.

I guess I'm not saying he should be selected, just that if he's nowhere near selection, why is he there? Surely it'd be better to have him playing for NSW and have an extra quick there. They've already had to fly a first extra quick over when there was just one injury.

Also, someone needs to be able to bowl more overs, and I think a spinner allows them that option. They already (almost?) broke two of their bowlers in the first match, and SA didn't even put on a big total. Presumably Clarke can't bowl too much atm due to his back, so either North or McDonald needs to bowl more overs.

 

[Uppercut]

I guess I'm not saying he should be selected, just that if he's nowhere near selection, why is he there? Surely it'd be better to have him playing for NSW and have an extra quick there. They've already had to fly a first extra quick over when there was just one injury.

Also, someone needs to be able to bowl more overs, and I think a spinner allows them that option. They already (almost?) broke two of their bowlers in the first match, and SA didn't even put on a big total. Presumably Clarke can't bowl too much atm due to his back, so either North or McDonald needs to bowl more overs.

As it happens, North has more FC wickets than Hauritz and at a better average too. He has one five-wicket haul to Hauritz's none. Off-spin bowling's a bit of a joke like that. Look at South Africa, picking Harris as a specialist then bowling Duminy instead because there were left-handers at the crease. Can't forget the times in the past year when India have picked Harbhajan as a specialist finger-spinner then Sehwag's got the wickets.

Basically, any fool can rip a few. There's no point in picking someone purely for that purpose unless they're properly especially good at it. I've no idea why Hauritz is anywhere near the squad.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

and he can hold a bat.

So can Hauritz.

iirc he had strong performances for his state this season.

Not even close. Was picked for tests from the NSW 2nd XI.

 

[four_or_six]

As it happens, North has more FC wickets than Hauritz and at a better average too. He has one five-wicket haul to Hauritz's none. Off-spin bowling's a bit of a joke like that. Look at South Africa, picking Harris as a specialist then bowling Duminy instead because there were left-handers at the crease. Can't forget the times in the past year when India have picked Harbhajan as a specialist finger-spinner then Sehwag's got the wickets.

Basically, any fool can rip a few. There's no point in picking someone purely for that purpose unless they're properly especially good at it. I've no idea why Hauritz is anywhere near the squad.

Well, Harris works for SA because they have Kallis, in the same way that Giles (albeit a slow leftie) worked for us when Flintoff was firing. But I guess with North now presumably in for a run at six Australia don't have that option. Perhaps they were thinking of the situation where McDonald was at six.

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

Just out of interest... what did Nathan Hauritz do wrong? I know he's not a superstar in the making, but I thought he did a reasonable job in the tests he played in Australia, and also iirc he had strong performances for his state this season. I would have thought he was someone who could play a holding role and take a few wickets, much like MacDonald but giving a bit more variety and bowl a few more overs if necessary. If they weren't going to play spinners, why did they bother to take two of them on tour?

Cameron White in India
Mat Runs HS Bat Av Wkts BBI Bowl Av Econ SR Ct
4 146 46 29.20 5 2/71 68.40 3.67 111.6 1

Nathan Hauritz in Oz this Summer
Mat Runs HS Bat Av Wkts BBI Bowl Av Econ SR Ct
3 57 41 14.25 9 3/98 38.77 2.47 94.0 0

Well I actually started this post not exactly knowing what the comparrison would be like. The only reall difference is Hauritz took more wickets at a better average (although its a lot closer if the NZ match is excluded) and was carted at a rate of 1 less an over. White more than doubled up on bat average, so you could say both did a job but a stop gap one that wouldn't want to be repeated in a long term fashion (by either)

Conclusion to: "what Hauritz did wrong";
-have an ordinary bowling record, only likely to get a wicket 3 overs quicker than C.White (who has been unanamously canned and was facing far superior "to spinners" batsman, on their turf)
-not make up for his crapness with any batting that would warrant a spot above 11 in current team
-be a ***** and move to NSW knowing that guarantees Baggy Green
-look like a child

Don't hate the bloke, just don't like Sydney grade Cricketers being picked for Aus

Cheers

 

[irfan]

Cameron White in India
Mat Runs HS Bat Av Wkts BBI Bowl Av Econ SR Ct
4 146 46 29.20 5 2/71 68.40 3.67 111.6 1

Nathan Hauritz in Oz this Summer
Mat Runs HS Bat Av Wkts BBI Bowl Av Econ SR Ct
3 57 41 14.25 9 3/98 38.77 2.47 94.0 0

Well I actually started this post not exactly knowing what the comparrison would be like. The only reall difference is Hauritz took more wickets at a better average (although its a lot closer if the NZ match is excluded) and was carted at a rate of 1 less an over. White more than doubled up on bat average, so you could say both did a job but a stop gap one that wouldn't want to be repeated in a long term fashion (by either)

Conclusion to: "what Hauritz did wrong";
-have an ordinary bowling record, only likely to get a wicket 3 overs quicker than C.White (who has been unanamously canned and was facing far superior "to spinners" batsman, on their turf)
-not make up for his crapness with any batting that would warrant a spot above 11 in current team
-be a ***** and move to NSW knowing that guarantees Baggy Green
-look like a child

Don't hate the bloke, just don't like Sydney grade Cricketers being picked for Aus

Cheers

Probably shouldn't but

 

[Uppercut]

So can Hauritz.

Not in comparison to McDonald. Although I guess it hasn't exactly worked out that way in tests so far.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Not in comparison to McDonald. Although I guess it hasn't exactly worked out that way in tests so far.

Never said anything different, but if you want to say it that way, no one in history bar Bradman can "hold a bat".

 

[Ausage]

-be a ***** and move to NSW knowing that guarantees Baggy Green

If that's all it takes, Nathan Bracken should move to NSW.

 

[mikeW]

Siddle was on SEN this morning and said he's right to go for the 2nd test.

 

[Top_Cat]

Siddle was on SEN this morning and said he's right to go for the 2nd test.

Never in doubt. Seriously, a win in the first Test and with him on the cusp of being one of Aus's genuine go-to guys with the ball? Nothing short of an amputation was going to keep him out.

 

[Matt79]

If that's all it takes, Nathan Bracken should move to NSW.

lol. Quality response.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I can understand the reaction with beefed up security in SA after Pakistan...but it's possibly a bit of an over-reaction in my opinion.

 

[Briony]

I can understand the reaction with beefed up security in SA after Pakistan...but it's possibly a bit of an over-reaction in my opinion.

It has one of the highest crime rates in the world so as a visitor you'd want as much security as possible.

 

[stephen]

Would be very funny if Geeves were to get a game and bat at 11 and be stranded on 99* by McDonald getting out.

 

[Son Of Coco]

It has one of the highest crime rates in the world so as a visitor you'd want as much security as possible.

Yeah, but the crime rate didn't go up between the first and second tests...it's a reaction to what happened in Pakistan and that's a completely different kettle of fish.

 

[Langeveldt]

Yeah, but the crime rate didn't go up between the first and second tests...it's a reaction to what happened in Pakistan and that's a completely different kettle of fish.

The criminal elements in SA don't crave publicity, and we don't have any terrorism to speak of, so I think it is a bit of an over reaction, they aren't exaclty going to want a bus load of cricketers or be intelligent enough to get them.. Visitors to SA always seem to get away lightly when it comes to being affected by our criminality and total incompetence when it comes to enforcing law and order, and I hope the same is true when the Soccer world cup comes into town for their sakes..

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

Run down by 15/2000 tests played on swept concrete.

Want to see 2 teams that are coming off 4 encounters that have each been close, entertaining and with moments of extreme skill.

It's 2-all for the Summer, momentum is with the Aussies but home conditions favour the Saffies.

It seems certain that SA will be unchanged, while its likely that the Aus have pushed aside the soreness of their bowlers and will also be unchanged.

I think that the previous games point towards a very unpredictable outcome, so my predictions will be only wild speculation and conjecture.

Winner: SA in close finish
MoM: Smith
Centuries: Smith, Amla, Ponting
5fors: Steyn
talking points: -hot spot to condem/save 3 or 4 batmsan
- one of Aus bowlers to have match ending injury
- McRanga to fail twice with the bat (again)
- Johnson makes another 50

 

[Top_Cat]

I reckon no matter whether they bat or bowl, Saffies will be keen to hit the Aussies hard in the first session and knock them out of the match on day 1. How Aus bowls and how SA bats will be key. Wouldn't back against the side who wins the toss bowling first either. Doubt this'll be like the first match, reckon it'll be real close.

 

[pasag]

Have a bad feeling about this match, hopefully we can win the toss, bat for a long time, secure a draw at least which means we can't lose the series and then go for the win. Can't wait.