***Official*** South Africa in Australia 2012

[Briony]

Not sure I buy this talk that the wicket is Wanderers 438 like considering the Aussie dismissals were pretty noteworthy i.e. the ball did something and even my man Kleinveldt for a few balls had Clarke on ice. Think South Africa will lose by an innings and a few runs. To further humiliate Tahir, Lyon will probably take a wicket and have an economy rate under 6 runs an over.

South Africa has no real viable fast or spin bowling options outside this squad. By contrast Aus have a plethora of fast bowlers domestically who are arguably better than their incumbent test bowlers (Patto aside). You take a look at who is taking wickets domestically in South Africa and its guys like Johann van der Wath and Justin Kemp.

There was de Lange, but he was injured. They seem to have batsmen who look promising. While batting is not their problem you also wonder if they should look at revitalising their squad with a guy like Rudolph in question. Sometimes when teams reach #1 they fail to keep evolving.

 

[Spark]

This might be my favourite stat of all:

Aust now 9/1000+ in the series

 

[Spikey]

why hasn't clarke hit 7 fours yet

 

[Spikey]

ok that was unlucky

 

[Spark]

holy **** get this farmers union ad off the air

 

[NUFAN]

why hasn't clarke hit 7 fours yet

Not that easy against a new ball with bowlers bowling proper lines. #notlettingitgo

 

[Spikey]

c9 doing a bit about clarke's foot work. first shot up, a pull shot in which he barely moved his feet

 

[ajdude]

Goddamnit.

 

[Spark]

well that's rare

 

[Spikey]

nice footwork. thanks c9

 

[Bahnz]

Morkel gets it on target for a couple of overs and takes a wicket. Funny that.

 

[andyc]

Booooo Morne you killjoy

 

[NUFAN]

Fancy our three most experienced batsman all getting out clean bowled on an absolute 'road'. All due to good bowling and some assistance from the pitch.

 

[Jono]

Hmmm, Saffers have a new pill. Could end this quickly if they're good enough and with so much time in the game...... who knows??????????????

 

[TT Boy]

Morkel gets it on target for a couple of overs and takes a wicket. Funny that.

Which is way I think South Africa have no chance preventing a defeat here. They strung two-three good probing overs together and got a wicket and in between that there was some decent bounce and carry. Unless the Aus quicks bowl all over the shop like Morne and Rory, then they should do better.

 

[Spikey]

all in all, wade cost us more clarkeh runs again imo

 

[centurymaker]

Fancy our three most experienced batsman all getting out clean bowled on an absolute 'road'. All due to good bowling and some assistance from the pitch.

dude the ball's new.

once it gets slightly older, the conditions will again be very friendly for batting..

 

[TT Boy]

Surely Pattinson before Siddle?

 

[centurymaker]

sucks how clarke looked like he was totally new to the pitch today even though he had batted all day on it yesterday. i guess he prob lacked a bit of motivation.

 

[hendrix]

Morkel gets it on target for a couple of overs and takes a wicket. Funny that.

For real.

Good over from Steyn there as well. Really no excuse, these bowlers should've been able to keep it there all day yesterday.