***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Flem274*]

I thought I was reading a New Zealand thread until I realized we were calling for Johnson, not Martin, to be dropped.

We'd offer you Ross Taylor, who is used to rescue jobs from 20/2, but nah.

Bring back Katman.

 

[andyc]

Show me the cases in recent times when a prolific batsman averaging over 50 for their career, with good FC and ODI form, when given a lengthy chance to perform at test level hasn't recaptured form?

The issue is that these lines have been trotted out for the last year or two and he still fails to show signs of improving in the Test arena. Looking at his dismissals in this Test, both of them were due to him simply missing balls that he would've middled four or five years ago. When you couple that with his pull shot suddenly becoming a weakness rather than a strength, you can't help but think it's an age thing.

And there's also the question about whether it's worth sticking with a guy who's clearly underperformed for two years for another summer in the hopes that he'll hit form, perform well for another year or two, and then retire anyway. It gets to a point where it's time to move on, and that time seems to be fast approaching.

 

[NUFAN]

Regarding Hussey, he got a full half-volley, he just didn't move his feet and edged it. That happens. Haddin's dismissal was far worse. He didn't play any sort of percentage shot, that was a death over shot. It's one thing coming down to pitch, but moving to leg and hacking at the ball? You have to attack with more composure than that.

Bingo. I know this place would be boring if we all just agreed with each other, but FMD I don't understand how anyone on here could disagree with that.

The issue is that these lines have been trotted out for the last year or two and he still fails to show signs of improving in the Test arena. Looking at his dismissals in this Test, both of them were due to him simply missing balls that he would've middled four or five years ago. When you couple that with his pull shot suddenly becoming a weakness rather than a strength, you can't help but think it's an age thing.

And there's also the question about whether it's worth sticking with a guy who's clearly underperformed for two years for another summer in the hopes that he'll hit form, perform well for another year or two, and then retire anyway. It gets to a point where it's time to move on, and that time seems to be fast approaching.

Yeah I don't think we'll see R. Ponting playing again after the Indian series. Hope he has a great Aussie summer though!

 

[benchmark00]

The issue is that these lines have been trotted out for the last year or two and he still fails to show signs of improving in the Test arena. Looking at his dismissals in this Test, both of them were due to him simply missing balls that he would've middled four or five years ago. When you couple that with his pull shot suddenly becoming a weakness rather than a strength, you can't help but think it's an age thing.

And there's also the question about whether it's worth sticking with a guy who's clearly underperformed for two years for another summer in the hopes that he'll hit form, perform well for another year or two, and then retire anyway. It gets to a point where it's time to move on, and that time seems to be fast approaching.

lol expert analysis. Don't insult me.

 

[TT Boy]

How many openers average or have averaged more than Smith in the 4th innings (55)? Remarkable record and RSA have never lost a test in which he has scored a hundred.

Bruce Mitchell (89), Sir Conrad Hunte (61), Gavaskar (58), Boycott (58) and Sir Jack (57) is all that I have...

Haydos (49), Sehwag (30), Cook (40), Gambhir (44), Strauss (37), Langer (40), Haynes (43), Slater (31), Kirsten (38), Gibbs (33), Atherton (41), Trescothick (26), Taylor (40), Gooch (44), Greenidge (53), Katich (27), Saeed Anwar (34). Gayle (39), H Sutcliffe (53), B Sutcliffe (21), Trumper (35), Roy Fredericks (40), Hanif Mohammad (43), Kanhai (38), Amiss (29).

 

[TT Boy]

If not for Clarke we might have lost by an innings...

If not for Imran Tahir South Africa may have lost by an innings.

 

[morgieb]

Bruce Mitchell (89), Sir Conrad Hunte (61), Gavaskar (58), Boycott (58) and Sir Jack (57) is all that I have...

Haydos (49), Sehwag (30), Cook (40), Gambhir (44), Strauss (37), Langer (40), Haynes (43), Slater (31), Kirsten (38), Gibbs (33), Atherton (41), Trescothick (26), Taylor (40), Gooch (44), Greenidge (53), Katich (27), Saeed Anwar (34). Gayle (39), H Sutcliffe (53), B Sutcliffe (21), Trumper (35), Roy Fredericks (40), Hanif Mohammad (43), Kanhai (38), Amiss (29).

Jesus!

 

[Prince EWS]

Bruce Mitchell (89), Sir Conrad Hunte (61), Gavaskar (58), Boycott (58) and Sir Jack (57) is all that I have...

Haydos (49), Sehwag (30), Cook (40), Gambhir (44), Strauss (37), Langer (40), Haynes (43), Slater (31), Kirsten (38), Gibbs (33), Atherton (41), Trescothick (26), Taylor (40), Gooch (44), Greenidge (53), Katich (27), Saeed Anwar (34). Gayle (39), H Sutcliffe (53), B Sutcliffe (21), Trumper (35), Roy Fredericks (40), Hanif Mohammad (43), Kanhai (38), Amiss (29).

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...ualval1=innings;template=results;type=batting

 

[andyc]

lol expert analysis. Don't insult me.

Elaborate, please. Myself and others are simply pointing out that many of Ponting's issues seem to be age related; he's getting older and slower - see his pull shots suddenly causing him problems. Would be keen to hear some actual input to the contrary.

 

[Prince EWS]

Jesus!

Only ten innings and four of them were not outs but yeah, fair effort.

 

[Flem274*]

Jesus!

He's not on that list mate.

 

[TT Boy]

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Thanks. I was looking at how to filter the likes of Gibbs, Strauss, Kirsten, Katich, Langer i.e. et cetera but my statsguru skills are pitiful.

 

[Spark]

Photo of the day

 

[Spikey]

taken as he was deciding which one of MJ or Siddle to bowl

 

[benchmark00]

Elaborate, please. Myself and others are simply pointing out that many of Ponting's issues seem to be age related; he's getting older and slower - see his pull shots suddenly causing him problems. Would be keen to hear some actual input to the contrary.

Ponting's second innings dismissal in particular, has absolutely nothing whatsoever with age. And that type of dismissal is typical of how he has been getting out over the last 12 months.

If these people who you are speaking for had any idea of the technical aspects of batting, they would note that his problem is that he is no longer standing tall at the crease. Now, unless he has a degenerative back disorder caused by age, that is concerned with technique. Most of his dismissals over the past 12 months have been. He hasn't been late on balls at all, if anything he is pre meditating them in the persuit of early dominance.

His problems are form related which stems from a failing technique. Not age.

 

[Furball]

Having actually seen Haddin's dismissal, the fundamental problem wasn't his intent, it was that his thought process just seemed to be 'right, this ball is going to the fence' instead of 'next ball that could go the fence is going there.'

 

[Spark]

Ponting's second innings dismissal in particular, has absolutely nothing whatsoever with age. And that type of dismissal is typical of how he has been getting out over the last 12 months.

If these people who you are speaking for had any idea of the technical aspects of batting, they would note that his problem is that he is no longer standing tall at the crease. Now, unless he has a degenerative back disorder caused by age, that is concerned with technique. Most of his dismissals over the past 12 months have been. He hasn't been late on balls at all, if anything he is pre meditating them in the persuit of early dominance.

His problems are form related which stems from a failing technique. Not age.

It's possible that that's the case tbf. I do remember Ricky having back problems once or twice in his career. The fact he spent so much time in the slips would surely make it worse.

 

[Prince EWS]

Thanks. I was looking at how to filter the likes of Gibbs, Strauss, Kirsten, Katich, Langer i.e. et cetera but my statsguru skills are pitiful.

Since 1990 with a minimum of 10 innings:

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[keeper]

back problem as in backinthepavilion problem?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Really surprises me to see 2 sides that on paper possess such quality batsmen come out and bat like amateurs. Is it that hard to play a forward defense these days?

Yes, you're right. Especially on this flat deck. With not one ball showing a hint of movement over the 3 days, they way these blokes batted is an outright disgrace.