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

[vic_orthdox]

No-one in NSW ever rated him either. Just last week I was talking to a bunch of grade cricketers who were convinced Matt "still not even played FC cricket" Day is a better cricketer.

No one ever does, but he just keeps on taking wickets. You never feel that uncomfortable against him, but his record speaks for itself, over a fair while now.

I heard he was playing last night, few of his mates flew over. I can see the logic behind it, he can do the job into the breeze at the WACA. I wouldn't be surprised if he joins his best mate McKay as a one Test wonder, but I think it's an understandable one-off choice.

 

[Spark]

Its so good if a nightwatchman actually survives a good deal of overs. Good bowling with the new ball is basically wasted.

Lyon's sort of the perfect nightwatchman. #11 bat but with a really good defensive technique and really good ticker.

 

[Ruckus]

Not bad that. I'll take it.

 

[CricAddict]

lol at Wade, Hastings, Johnson and Starc at 8-11....strongest tail ever?

The first India-England test in the current series had Prior, Bresnan,Broad and Swann when Anderson got promoted as a night-watchman

 

[uvelocity]

good boy natho, what a top day of test cricket for you. no doubt 50% of punters had him not even playing

 

[sonnench]

Lyon deserves a medal for surviving that, especially that last over.

Good day, pretty even in my opinion. Gonna miss first session tomorrow because I got a game, dammit.....

 

[Burgey]

lights go out, walls come a tumbling dowwwwwnnnn...

Nothing like reprising a mid-1980s school disco.

 

[aussie tragic]

The first India-England test in the current series had Prior, Bresnan,Broad and Swann when Anderson got promoted as a night-watchman

Okay, I'll settle for strongest Aussie tail ever

 

[Justo]

Good stuff. Things are pretty even although Clarke and Hussey are still to come.

As well as Lyon has batted I never understood why teams always choose the absolute worst batsmen in the team as night watchman. Would have thought it'd be better to bring up Johnson who might be able to make a quick fire 50 if he survives. England promoted Anderson in a recent test match which left Swann as the last batsmen. Would have been better off promoting Swann imo.

 

[NasserFan207]

Just quietly, Lyon is turning into a very useful cricketer for Australia.

 

[M0rphin3]

Damn, missed the entire days play. Du Plessis WAG.

Hope Lyon bats out a bit tomorrow, don't wanna miss seeing Ricky bat.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Solidly faffed up.

 

[Spark]

Good stuff. Things are pretty even although Clarke and Hussey are still to come.

As well as Lyon has batted I never understood why teams always choose the absolute worst batsmen in the team as night watchman. Would have thought it'd be better to bring up Johnson who might be able to make a quick fire 50 if he survives. England promoted Anderson in a recent test match which left Swann as the last batsmen. Would have been better off promoting Swann imo.

Nah, you want the batsman with a good defensive technique but one without many shots. Swann's natural game is to basically slog, which would be no good in the situation a nightwatchman calls for. But the idea is that the more limited the batsman, the harder it is to get them out if they really dig in (assuming they have a good defensive technique).

Siddle is our usual nightwatchman, for example, but he bats #8 nowadays.

 

[Spark]

Just quietly, Lyon is turning into a very useful cricketer for Australia.

Lyon is gun. Underrated and understated in everything he does. Just does his job professionally and quietly.

 

[Prince EWS]

Lyon is gun. Underrated and understated in everything he does. Just does his job professionally and quietly.

Yeah; it's like what people on this forum used to say about Hauritz, except this time it's actually true.

 

[centurymaker]

In all honesty I actually think Lyon has been more solid than Ponting would have been so far.

i was thinking exactly that strangely

wow the match is going to be a cracker- every session is going to be crucial here

 

[Ruckus]

What did people think of Hastings today? Had periods where he bowled very well, but overall he just didn't look like he had enough about him... Bit disappointed by his pace too...thought he had at least that over the other candidates he probably shouldn't have jumped in the queue. He didn't do a bad job by any means, but he looks like more of a reserve bowler to me.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Great moment there with the crowd thinking Lyon was Ponting. I remember standing up to boo the living **** out of Mike Brearley at the SCG in a one dayer just after his appalling behaviour in the aluminium bat fiasco, only to discover it was David Bairstow.

They were practically twins, tbf.

Yeah; it's like what people on this forum used to say about Hauritz, except this time it's actually true.

I think it's because both look a little <tries to think of suitably polite euphemism for gay> un-Australian.

Anyway, I'm round my poor Sky-less mother's so haven't seen today's play yet and just read through the thread without knowing the score. Surprisingly gripping stuff, tbf to you all. Few too many NSWelshmen, if one were being picky, but kudos CW.

 

[Noble One]

You never watched him bowl before Ruckus?

Prince and Vic explained it well above. Never looks all that threatening, however he bowls long spells of pitching the ball in the right areas to take wickets. Keeps things very simple.

I don't believe he will forge much of a Test career. As a support bowler for Starc and Johnson he makes a good selection.

 

[Top_Cat]

Watson's wicket makes me sigh every time. Did a little but not a lot and a top order bat really should be covering balls like that in his sleep.

And that's why he'll never be one of those blokes averaging around 50. It's like he took the advice you get as a junior to get forward and the umpire won't give you out just a bit too far.