***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Cabinet96]

Siddle gives Australia a real problem.

 

[Furball]

Why did Siddle miss the first two Tests against Sri Lanka?

I don't see how he can't be picked for the first Test on the basis of a decent Ashes, a decent showing in his only Test in Sri Lanka and a good showing in this tour game. Harris aside, it's not like he's up against fellow quicks who have been pulling up trees.

 

[Prince EWS]

Why did Siddle miss the first two Tests against Sri Lanka?

Dropped.

 

[Redbacks]

I don't see how he can't be picked for the first Test on the basis of a decent Ashes, a decent showing in his only Test in Sri Lanka and a good showing in this tour game. Harris aside, it's not like he's up against fellow quicks who have been pulling up trees.

His ashes were pretty poor bar two good spells. He needs to sort his game out by being a bit more clever about his bowling, we know he's got the character to keep running in all day and giving 100%.

 

[centurymaker]

What a Line-up-

Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Watson

 

[adub]

His ashes were pretty poor bar two good spells. He needs to sort his game out by being a bit more clever about his bowling, we know he's got the character to keep running in all day and giving 100%.

Exactly, and that's all his critics have ever said about him. He bowled two great spells in the Ashes and the rest was mostly tripe. Copeland took his spot because he out performed him in the tour matches in Zim and SL and with MJ in the side we simply couldn't afford the risk of Siddle dropping it short and releasing the pressure.

When he got his chance in the third test he took it by bowling well, and now he looks like he's kept it up here in the tour game. By contrast Copeland's last fc wicket was in SL. I'm a massive Copeland fan and wanted him playing in the Ashes, but he's left the door open and Siddle has stepped through it and I don't doubt for a second Copeland has lost his spot. That's ok so long as he or someone else who can be relied on to bowl lots of overs and keep it tight is putting pressure on the test attack.

It does mean that Watson's bowling will become even more important though as he will be asked to take on some of the overs Copeland would have bowled. His spot as opener then comes under even more scrutiny with each low score.

Not a Marsh fan, but I am a fan of guys who come into the side and perform. Great to see.

 

[Spikey]

Why did Siddle miss the first two Tests against Sri Lanka?

'cause he took 1 wicket in three tests during the ashes and only got tail-enders in the Aus A tour and SL tour match.

 

[Sylvester]

Problem for Copeland from this match was his economy. He might have been able to get away with a wicketless spell but his bread and butter was not there yesterday. Not a fan of having Johnson and Siddle together but they do perform in SA and usually are economical. What happens when we get back to Aus will be the true test for them.

 

[TumTum]

They can tear apart any weak batting order, but once they face the best of Smith, Amla, ABdV and Kallis, they are the ones that will be torn to shreds. South African's love to face fast and straight bowling (like any non SC team) and it's highly unlikely Siddle and Johnson can repeat what they did 2 years ago, and it was easy to notice that a slow containing bowler is the best against SA even if it was just McDonald. It wasn't Johnson or Hughes that changed our fortunes against SA, but McDonald who doesn't get the credit he deserves. Big mistake if Copeland doesn't play.

 

[robelinda]

Smith and alma don't have great records against Australia, and all you have to do is bowl straight full balls to dismiss Kallis.....

*PURE GOLD* JACQUES KALLIS - CLEAN BOWLED COMPILATION...... - YouTube

 

[uvelocity]

Haha nice vid. Some rippers there by binga. Strange how he is bowled after a ton just as much as early on, and he was all over the place on the Sidebottom one, seems to be scared of the ball hitting his foot

 

[NUFAN]

So good to see the 3 Aussie quicks take all 10 wickets!

Hopefully our openers and Punter get some decent time in the middle in the second innings.

 

[Spark]

so...
the scorecard if you take out marsh/clarke:

6
4
2
10*
0
0
0*
14

where 10* is muss and 14 is extras...

 

[adub]

so...
the scorecard if you take out marsh/clarke:

6
4
2
10*
0
0
0*
14

where 10* is muss and 14 is extras...

It's pretty dire isn't it. Ponting especially better make some runs in the tests or the calls for his head are going to be deafening.

 

[adub]

so...
the scorecard if you take out marsh/clarke:

6
4
2
14*
0
0
2
0*
14

where 14* is muss and 14 is extras...

updated

 

[Howe_zat]

Hell of a collapse.

Mussey to rescue, as always.

 

[Spikey]

It's pretty dire isn't it. Ponting especially better make some runs in the tests or the calls for his head are going to be deafening.

yeah. the one good thing about this collapse is that it means his 2nd innings is gonna mean something, most likely. whereas before it was looking like it'd be an 100 target and he'd chip in with a neat 35* and they'd all be really enthusiastic about him..

 

[Ruckus]

Wouldn't Clarke have declared relatively soon anyway though? A lead of much more than 100 would probably mean Ponting et al. wouldn't be able to get much practice in the second innings.

Edit: as Spikey said.

 

[enteprizer]

Hussey shouldn't be batting at 6 in this kind of form. There's been too many collapses as of late and he's been forced to up the ante with the tail and got out in that way far too often in recent times.

 

[Spark]

Wouldn't Clarke have declared relatively soon anyway though? A lead of much more than 100 would probably mean Ponting et al. wouldn't be able to get much practice in the second innings.

Edit: as Spikey said.

Sure, and it's good to see Marsh and Clarke in good nick, but even so... 6/28 (thus far) is a bit extreme.

We can add another 2 to that list btw. Although extras has added a single.