***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[TT Boy]

very interesting to say the least...

Cheers.

 

[Manee]

Im with you on this. He is one of the most instinctive ball strikers Ive come across. And T20 has nothing to do with it, he plays that way in any game.

He has a wild, uncontrolled, striking ability but the rawness makes him hard to tame. Legacy of growing up as a bowler.

I know Ive said this before, but I developed my slower ball from having to bowl at him in the nets twice a week. No matter how fast, he is on it and hits it a long way.

Despite him looking like a hack, there is only 2 ways to bowl to him to stop getting destroyed. Vary the pace and be prepared to drop it short (with protection).

I have to give you credit because I recall you mentioning him some time ago in the South African domestic season thread as a talented hitter.

 

[Manee]

In no context does your post look like you were joking. Use a smiley or something. (Y)

Haha, and just because I called you out on some things doesn't mean I'm in a bad mood.

I thought the common knowledge that I'm not a total idiot was enough to realise that it was somewhat offbeat.

 

[Burgey]

I thought the common knowledge that I'm not a total idiot was enough to realise that it was somewhat offbeat.

No, I won't......

 

[Son Of Coco]

what about Healy and the other chaps?.If there is 1 ball to go and 10 runs to get then Healy will say that that the Aussies still have a shot to win it.that kind of homerism doesnt belong in a international commentary box.At least mark nicholas tries to keep it neutral which is more than i can say for the Aussie commentators.

Welcome back...missed you during the tests.

 

[Noble One]

Really impressed by Johan Botha again. Becoming one of the best limited over’s spin bowlers in the game. His record over the past year has turned in some incredible statistics.

Batsmen are finding him almost impossible to hit out against. Flights the ball very well, and has excellent control of his pace. Very smart cricketer. Amazing he has improved to this level, testament to a guy who has worked very hard on his game.

 

[Briony]

One for thierry henry, but how small does Yusuf Abdulla look?

At a guess I'd reckon 5'7/5'8 and would that qualify him for the smallest specialist seamer in International cricket?

Harold Larwood's height then.

 

[TT Boy]

- Van der Merwe is a gun player! Get him in the ODI team!

Done

Mike Procter - "Roelof as an all-rounder provides us with cover for Jacques Kallis who is recovering from a groin injury. Jacques's fitness will be assessed by our medical team when the squad assembles in Durban today."

Not sure how van der Merwe can fit into the side. He is an unadulterated slogger, bit like Yusuf Pathan and for me he couldn't bat top six unless he is employed as a pinch hitter. Also think his bowling isn't much, bowled poorly yesterday, too many full tosses and hardly got in his yorkers. SA (and Aus) played the recent one day series a bowler light and van der Merwe inclusion won't solve that.

Abdulla will also train with the squad this week. He should be in the squad ahead of Ntini.

 

[Steulen]

Looked good, Abdulla. Other than his run-up that is, which looked suspiciously like he didn't measure it out. But the ball that got Ponting was a proper line&length ball that got the proper feather behind.

 

[TT Boy]

Looked good, Abdulla. Other than his run-up that is, which looked suspiciously like he didn't measure it out. But the ball that got Ponting was a proper line&length ball that got the proper feather behind.

Didn’t really get much swing yesterday and due to the two paced nature of the wicket he bowled a lot of slower balls but Yusuf can bowl huge banana inswingers at good pace. I would have added him to the side for Friday especially considering it is his home ground and Kingsmead under lights, the ball swings big.

 

[Goughy]

Done

Mike Procter - "Roelof as an all-rounder provides us with cover for Jacques Kallis who is recovering from a groin injury.."

Not sure how van der Merwe can fit into the side

Yeah, two completely different players. Roelof is not a suitable replacement for Kallis.

 

[oitoitoi]

How the hell is Botha not in the IPL, he's so consistently awesome, strikes me as an excellent captain too. I had my doubts when he was given it in Australia but he's been fantastic. van der Merwe's innings was hilariously schoolboy in character, Ponting must have been tearing his hair out. He's certainly earned himself another go but he's going to have play a few cleaner shots than those to prove his batting mind. Definitely a good option though as a back up. Abdulla looked decent, Louw looked absolutely ****e. Poor old Jusin Ontong. I was impressed with Laughlin, looked the real deal in this format, don't understand the point of playing Shane Harwood when there are so many younger (and dare I say better) quicks around in Australia. David Hussey looks like he's starting to click in international cricket but it won't be long before people start plugging that deep extra cover boundary.

 

[cowboysfan]

question for the aussies-when was the the last time your top 4 avg above 50?.was there a time when both clarke and katich averaged 50 along with hayden and ponting?.

 

[Prince EWS]

question for the aussies-when was the the last time your top 4 avg above 50?.was there a time when both clarke and katich averaged 50 along with hayden and ponting?.

Clarke doesn't bat 4 in Tests; Hussey does. The last time Katich averaged 50 in Tests was actually in 2004, so he's out.

The last time the entire top 4 averaged 50+ would have been at the end of this Test. Jaques got his average back over 50 briefly before the tour of the West Indies.

 

[cowboysfan]

Clarke doesn't bat 4 in Tests; Hussey does. The last time Katich averaged 50 in Tests was actually in 2004, so he's out.

The last time would have been at the end of this Test. Jaques got his average back over 50 briefly before the tour of the West Indies.

thanks EWS.appreciate it.

 

[popepouri]

Watched the highlights. Holy **** that was a nice stop by Robbie P on the boundary.

How the hell is Botha not in the IPL, he's so consistently awesome, strikes me as an excellent captain too. I had my doubts when he was given it in Australia but he's been fantastic.

Good question. He's not a monkey with the bat either.

 

[oldmancraigy]

question for the aussies-when was the the last time your top 4 avg above 50?.was there a time when both clarke and katich averaged 50 along with hayden and ponting?.

I don't get the intent of the question? Is it to show how badly the Aussies are going?

Is there any team where the top 4 average over 50 at test level?

As far as the Aussies top 4 go, they've had 3 out of 4 averaging over 50 for every test in the last few years except for the first test in SA.

It's just that 2 of the 3 averaging over 50 were in pretty bad nick (Hayden and Hussey) - and then Hussey remained in bad nick after Hayden retired.

Be interesting to see how Hussey goes in the Ashes....

 

[oldmancraigy]

Really impressed by Johan Botha again. Becoming one of the best limited over’s spin bowlers in the game. His record over the past year has turned in some incredible statistics.

Batsmen are finding him almost impossible to hit out against. Flights the ball very well, and has excellent control of his pace. Very smart cricketer. Amazing he has improved to this level, testament to a guy who has worked very hard on his game.

Completely agree - he's a great thinker of the game, and very difficult to get away in the limited overs formats.

Personally I think Botha is a dead-set chucker - but since they modified the rules there's not really any such thing anymore...

 

[oitoitoi]

I don't get the intent of the question? Is it to show how badly the Aussies are going?

Is there any team where the top 4 average over 50 at test level?

Actually right now India's top 4 all average over 50 (Gambhir's average has gone up to 52 after this last match).

 

[cowboysfan]

I don't get the intent of the question? Is it to show how badly the Aussies are going?

Is there any team where the top 4 average over 50 at test level?

As far as the Aussies top 4 go, they've had 3 out of 4 averaging over 50 for every test in the last few years except for the first test in SA.

It's just that 2 of the 3 averaging over 50 were in pretty bad nick (Hayden and Hussey) - and then Hussey remained in bad nick after Hayden retired.

Be interesting to see how Hussey goes in the Ashes....

nope-just trying to find out the last time it happened.