*Official* Fifth Test at the SCG

[Faisal1985]

Both. As dire as Australia have been, good sides ram home the advantages they get and win matches.

Gonna be controversial here, but if India had had England's ruthlessness this series they'd have won 2-1 in South Africa.

But SAF is much better then Australia...much much better.

 

[Furball]

But SAF is much better then Australia...much much better.

Not at tail end batting they're not.

 

[Prince EWS]

OK.. yeah I get your point now. Yeah that's pretty fair, we were certainly a bit lucky at times in the 2nd Test and the performance was far from flawless (especially the batting), just good enough to get the job done.

On a side note, I'm happy to be able to actually use "kallisball" in serious posts as well now.

 

[Furball]

Haha, I think that's a great example of what I was saying though! Across the series, South Africa played the better kallisball as their win in the first Test was more impressive than India's in the second, and the third Test ended up quite even by the end. Yet despite that, it was a drawn series and India were the only team that really had a proper chance to win it halfway through Day 4. India are good at performing in those key moments to make that happen - they played worse overall but they still managed to get themselves into by far the better position in the series with a day and a half to go.

I think you're misinterpreting me when I say South Africa played the better kallisball. I'm saying that excluding the factor of performance-timing (for lack of a better word), because India's timing of performance was precisely the factor I was trying to isolate and comment on. They'd played worse overall but were still in the better position because they played better at key moments - it's not a fluke and it's not a criticism of them; it's a compliment. That's part of what makes them so hard to beat in a series.. you have to really outplay them or it just doesn't happen.

Yeah, fair point. After the pasting they took in the 1st Test, the fact I'm criticising them for not ramming home an advantage and winning the series is a mark of an impressive turn around and team.

At the same time, England could have wilted after Perth, but we've won these two Tests about as emphatically as I can remember against a team who wasn't Bangladesh.

 

[Howe_zat]

Not at tail end batting they're not.

Interestingly, since their re-admission South Africa were often the best in the world at this, Shaun Pollock and Klusner being left at 8-9 and the like. Either those sides were the rarity or perhaps SA are beginning to trust their bowlers and be more aggressive in selection these days. I would hope it's the latter - so would Imran Tahir.

Over the last year or so I would have said England have had the best 7-11 batting with Prior, Broad, Swann and Bresnan and no real rabbits at 11. However, this Ashes has had me reconsidering, perhaps Australia have that now.

Johnson is a good #8-9, if I ignore my overall issues with him, Siddle, Harris and Hilf can all wield a good long handle and if the Aussie selectors picked Hauritz or O'Keefe the tail would be almost non-existant. Of course, what is holding them back is that the Australians may no longer even know what their tail looks like anymore, such is the inconsistency of selection.

EDIT: South Africa's "tail",

 

[vcs]

Steyn looked like a very capable tail-end batsman to me from what little I saw yesterday, and even showed good balance playing his strokes. Reckon he should average 15+.

 

[Cevno]

Didn't know we were debating India - South Africa in the ashes forum too.

Would have posted here more then.

Honestly who cares about the 3rd and 6th team in the world playing against each other ?

 

[Howe_zat]

Didn't know we were debating India - South Africa in the ashes forum too.

Would have posted here more then.

Honestly who cares about the 3rd and 6th team in the world playing against each other ?

tbh It's only ever been Cribbage, with 30 or so accounts, having a constant row with himself. No-one has the heart to tell him to stop.

It's been fun but also quite sad watching his mind fall apart over 1000 or so pages of posts.

 

[James]

Just a note to anyone in Sydney who wasn't aware of this - Free Entry on Day Five

 

[GIMH]

I can't believe we are about to win the series. The win last week was epic, and we got what we came for, but this just seems so huge! Four years ago was so painful, but this makes amends for it in every way. 2009 got us our bragging rights back, and obviously our Ashes...but this...three innings victories...away to Australia? Yeah, this will never be topped. So proud right now.

 

[kp4captain]

This is going to be epic, watching us actually win the series in Australia, and see a repeat of the fantastic celebrations of Melbourne!

Is the weather holding out in Sydney?

 

[MW1304]

Guh. Its raining. Really want to watch us get those last three wickets, it better not last too long or i will be shot.

 

[GIMH]

Just showers right?

 

[Jacknife]

Sky interviewed Atherton and it was showering, but we shouldn't miss too much even if the rain delays things. I just sat watching the repeats again, with a big smile on my face, really really proud of them all. The bowling from the boys was excellent, real top notch bowling.

 

[kp4captain]

The Sydney Morning Herald: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Australia's leading newspaper.

Weather looks set well enough for us to finish it off some time during the day

 

[ripper868]

With any luck this Brisbane weather will head down there and it will be shown in the books a s 2-1

 

[Woodster]

Just watched the Watson run out again and it doesn't get any better. Firstly there is a comfortable two if they both run the first one hard rather than strolling, secondly Hughes takes an age to turn at his end not sure what he's doing, then Watson sets off and doesn't look again at Hughes till he's shaking his hand!Awful.

 

[grecian]

gawd that reminded me why i despise 80s music, bland over-produced ****e.

Hope we can polish this off early, and I can get some sleep.

 

[GIMH]

Indeed, oh sleep how I have missed thee

 

[BoyBrumby]

I thought you lot said Bresnan was just an average backup bowler? Jeez man, every time I've watched him he's looked the goods and is getting the wickets to prove it.

I always thought he was unfairly underrated, but he's even surprised me, by what he's done on this tour.

Agree with Jack here. I was always reasonably confident Bres would keep things tight and he'd be a better fit for Jimmy & Tremmers than Finn's wicket-taking waywardness was, but his wickets have been a very nice surprise.

Has clearly grown as a bowler: swings the new ball, reverses the old and has (I'm guessing) probably been the fastest of all of our chaps.

Does Tony Greig have a weak allegiance to England or something? I always feel he gets somewhat excited when Australia are doing well...

Had a court case against the TCCB (forerunner of ECB) during the WSC thing and is a Yarp with Scots blood who's spent the majority of his adult life in Oz, so probably has mixed allegiences at best.