***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[stephen]

Really disappointed that 13 overs in an A game will probably lose Copes his spot in the test side. Bloody shame that would be.

 

[Ruckus]

**** this means that Copes misses out

Well not necessarily, there will surely be a second innings for the bowlers given the current state of the much.

 

[uvelocity]

34.6 Johnson to Tsolekile, no run, no shot offered. Clarkie apparently called for a review on the previous ball, but unfortunately there is no reviews this match. Good spirit all around.

 

[Xuhaib]

Saf bench seems pretty weak to me apart from Parnell and Duminy I don't see any of these guys to even be moderately successful on the senior circuit.

 

[Spark]

looks like johnson has the infamous inswinger going

 

[Spikey]

is it a proper A team or is it just a mixture of actual A players and kids they have a little bit about them

 

[TumTum]

**** this means that Copes misses out

Wait what? really? no?! You mean I have waited all this time just to watch Johnson and Siddle spray it around again?

 

[Briony]

This match could be over quickly unless SA A pull up their socks.

All the signs on this tour point to an oz test victory with the Aussies up and running and the Saffas looking lacklustre.

Surprising to see that Australia is getting practice in the longer form of the game while the undercooked home team cools its heels.

Also pleasing to see Siddle move ahead of Copeland in the queue.

 

[uvelocity]

copes just did something

 

[Briony]

Saf bench seems pretty weak to me apart from Parnell and Duminy I don't see any of these guys to even be moderately successful on the senior circuit.

Yet their emerging players were stronger than ours in the tournie in oz this July,

 

[Ruckus]

Johnson using up his once in 6 match good performance it seems...Spikey to be angry.

 

[Spikey]

no I'm much more angry about the prospect, and have been for awhile, of the stuff in yr other post. siddle and mj star in SA and another two years of over-looking their below par performances because of it

 

[Howe_zat]

Somewhat perplexing new player bias going on here.

If Siddle had Copeland's figures so far...

 

[TT Boy]

Yet their emerging players were stronger than ours in the tournie in oz this July,

Only because Aus don’t take it serious. South Africa has sent test cricketers to that tournament before, Aus pick guys who don’t even play shield cricket.

No surprises to see RSA A struggle here, was a poorly selected side. Should have been one of McLaren, Philander and Parnell, not three of them. Can’t read much into it though, Imraan Khan/RSA A smashed the Aus quicks all over the shop the last time Aus toured yet come the test series, the Aus quicks were all over the South Africans. Potch is a road, so Aus should at least stick 400 on in reply.

 

[Spikey]

it's not really perplexing is it? we've literally been through this before and it wasn't fun. and it's not as if Siddle has had a season in the shield to remove our fears of him not being any different. surely you can understand why we're not overflowing with joy?

 

[Briony]

Johnson thrives in Saffie conditions. The Aussie attack looks more powerful than that of the hosts, especially when you add Harris who is the best form out of all the bowlers in both teams, into the mix.

 

[uvelocity]

overflowing with joy?

aussie aussie aussie

 

[Ruckus]

Somewhat perplexing new player bias going on here.

If Siddle had Copeland's figures so far...

It's not because Copeland is new, it's because of what he represents. His style of bowling and mentality is almost the opposite of Siddle really. When you see your attack being so inconsistent, for so long, when a bowler like Copeland comes along it's a breath of fresh air. He may or may not be successful in the long term, but the idea that he has to potential to provide a lot of stability to the side is very appealing. That's why he is pretty popular around here.

 

[Riggins]

is this being streamed at all?

 

[Briony]

Only because Aus don’t take it serious. South Africa has sent test cricketers to that tournament before, Aus pick guys who don’t even play shield cricket.

No surprises to see RSA A struggle here, was a poorly selected side. Should have been one of McLaren, Philander and Parnell, not three of them. Can’t read much into it though, Imraan Khan/RSA A smashed the Aus quicks all over the shop the last time Aus toured yet come the test series, the Aus quicks were all over the South Africans. Potch is a road, so Aus should at least stick 400 on in reply.

Philander and McLaren at least offered some resistance with the bat. Perhaps Albie Morkel could have been selected but the Saffa batsmen have let the team down or maybe the oz bowlers are in super form.

Anyone think that SA can lift its performance come the tests or will Australia beat SA at home as it usually does? It looked a bit underwhelming throughout the ODIs and the bulk of its team will have had no longer format practice under their belt.