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

[Spikey]

how do you know he isn't taking every single tab

 

[Spikey]

that's actually the real reason they dropped hauritz for doherty

 

[Burgey]

Great stuff by our blokes.

Lyon to clean up tomorrow.

 

[Briony]

South Africa in Australia 2012-13 : CSA, CA willing to discuss Boxing Day impasse | Cricket News | Australia v South Africa | ESPN Cricinfo

Looks like we could be playing SA at Christmas again in Melbourne.

 

[howardj]

# 1 rankng is beckoning

 

[uvelocity]

would be monumental to draw this from sa

but perth we still need to win for the ranking too

 

[Ruckus]

We'll only be number 1 in my mind if we can beat England as well.

 

[uvelocity]

they are all pretty close together, whoever holds the actual ranking doesn't mean much bar bragging rights imo

 

[Briony]

they are all pretty close together, whoever holds the actual ranking doesn't mean much bar bragging rights imo

Yes there are teams vying for the top ranking but surely India doesn't deserve to be talked about in the same breath as SA, England and oz given their recent performances, though many say there are a big four.

SA has been strangely listless though. They looked a better team on paper for this series than their last tour but performed better then when they seemed more single-minded and prepared.

Mickey Arthur?

 

[Spark]

SA in looking better on paper shocker

 

[Briony]

Proteas call up Ryan McLaren | Sport24

McLaren is on his way.

 

[uvelocity]

I'd have a top 3 and a second 3

aus, sa, eng

ind, sl, wi

but India are underperforming and predominantly due to attitude at the top

 

[Ruckus]

SA is still a clear first for me. The main problem for them this time around has been their two strike bowlers. Steyn and Philander haven't been at their best in this series, with the latter obviously injured for this test. And when their not firing weaknesses in their attack, like Tahir, are more detrimental.

 

[Spark]

That's always been their weakness though. It's not like it's surprised anyone that they've struggled when Steyn has been a little below par (which was always on the cards, to be frank, given how many left handers we have and one of our two right handers has always played him OK)

 

[Ruckus]

That's always been their weakness though. It's not like it's surprised anyone that they've struggled when Steyn has been a little below par (which was always on the cards, to be frank, given how many left handers we have and one of our two right handers has always played him OK)

It used to just be Steyn though. It's only recently he has had Philander to share the load. And yeah you will get periods when both bowlers aren't at their best, but that will obviously be a more rare occurrence than when Steyn was the lone wolf.

 

[Spark]

Morkel's been good though. I mean, the pacers have bowled pretty well in patches, mostly at the top order, but they just happen to run into two world class batsmen every time, one of whom is in really good form and one who is in obscene form.

 

[Burgey]

It used to just be Steyn though. It's only recently he has had Philander to share the load. And yeah you will get periods when both bowlers aren't at their best, but that will obviously be a more rare occurrence than when Steyn was the lone wolf.

Philander is not a 19-22 average bowler though. He was always going to come back to earth at some stage, relatively speaking.

I'm not saying he's a dud at all, but lets be honest, a 25 or less career average for a bowler of his height, pace and skill set is miles too low.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Philander is not a 19-22 average bowler though. He was always going to come back to earth at some stage, relatively speaking.

I'm not saying he's a dud at all, but lets be honest, a 25 or less career average for a bowler of his height, pace and skill set is miles too low.

Careful, I said that in a harsher way and got pelters for it.

 

[Ruckus]

I don't see him as a 19-22 average bowler, but I do see him as a <25 one. I don't really read much into his performance in the first test tbh. Every single bowler struggled to get anything out of the pitch after the new ball (maybe bar Pattinson for a spell or two), and I reckon his form was actually a bit off as well in that match. Pace etc. aside, I think his consistency, which his obviously his forte, was a little off. And that's unusual for him, but hey these things happen.

 

[Burgey]

I'm not slagging the bloke, just saying he will get worked out a little as he goes along, like everyone does. He's a good bowler for sure, just not the next McGrath, let alone the next SF Barnes.