***Official*** Australia in South Africa 2013/14

[Pothas]

Sky are showing England u19s instead of this tomorow morning. Not on.

 

[nightprowler10]

Excellent session of cricket. From the bits I watched, SA bowled great and kept the proper batsmen from leaning forward early on. They put so much pressure on you as a unit better than almost any other bowling attack in the world. It almost seems criminal to assign wickets to individuals.

australia with 8. south africa yet to take a wicket

FMD, at least Valer gets it.

 

[Tangles]

Wonder if Clarke has mentally relaxed a notch in the knowledge that they have made runs without him recently.

 

[NasserFan207]

Sounds like a fun session.

Parnell taking wickets, WTF.

 

[NickDB]

"Morkel would be the best bowler in the world, if he just got angry more often." - Dale Steyn.

I do enjoy watching a pissed off Morkel bowl.

 

[Spikey]

oh ffs normal service resumed for our batting line-up, I see.

Parnell still ****; the Australian batting just finding a way to somehow contrive to be more **** today

thus far it's been the same first innings here as in the last 6 tests. possibly better due to a set opener still being in

 

[Hooksey]

Warner, Smith, Haddin & Johnson to rejuvenate the clover day 3. Don't write the best Test cricket team on the planet off just yet!

 

[GotSpin]

Warner, Smith, Haddin & Johnson to rejuvenate the clover day 3. Don't write the best Test cricket team on the planet off just yet!

Yeah our chances of achieving the customary 300-400 run lead have diminished somewhat but I'd definitely be backing us for a lazy 100 on top.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Sky are showing England u19s instead of this tomorow morning. Not on.

Be available on red button, usually is.

 

[Spark]

Wonder if Clarke has mentally relaxed a notch in the knowledge that they have made runs without him recently.

That's my theory. He seems to be batting fine, he just appears to have forgotten how to actually score decent amounts of runs - he'll get to 20, look fine, then do something dumb.

 

[Jono]

Anyone think the Aussies didn't bend their backs enough? They made a rational and fair assessment of. The pitch and adjusted accordingly, but perhaps over compensated. Just a feeling they could have got more out of it.

 

[Second Spitter]

The game is starting to play out like SA vs NZ from PE last year. SA posting a big first innings score, then skittled NZ out twice in 2 days. The pitch appeared to have an new lease of life as the game progressed.

Parnell must be the fastest medium pacer in the world......it was bit like watching Bobby Parnell.

 

[Second Spitter]

Anyone think the Aussies didn't bend their backs enough? They made a rational and fair assessment of. The pitch and adjusted accordingly, but perhaps over compensated. Just a feeling they could have got more out of it.

Definitely got this feeling. Seemed they took it for granted the pitch was dead + mental exhaustion, didn't knuckle down in the tough period and were probably too aggressive. RSA left practically all deliveries not on the stumps alone in the first two hours of their innings.

 

[mintykip]

Impressive spell by Morkel late on in the day. Was genuinely happy to be a fan of test cricket watching a spell like that, nothing better to watch than good aggressive fast bowling with the crowd right behind him.

 

[benchmark00]

Anyone think the Aussies didn't bend their backs enough? They made a rational and fair assessment of. The pitch and adjusted accordingly, but perhaps over compensated. Just a feeling they could have got more out of it.

I said a few times throughout that Australia just threw their hands up and bowled against what has been successful for them in the last six matches. Especially Mitchell Johnson. I mean it's silly to think Johnson is always going to take a bag etc, but it's like someone has said to him to just pitch it up and hope it swings. When he does that he really is only domestic standard because he can't swing the ball consistently.

Harris looked flat and tired and actually did also in the first test while Siddle is a park trundler who won't trouble unless there are real gremlins in the pitch. 120km/h Clint McKay balls won't really hold many fears on this sort of pitch.

Just didn't understand why Johnson was bowled in short bursts if he wasn't just going about his MO as per usual.

Full credit to SA and Morkel and Parnell in particular. Really made it talk.

 

[benchmark00]

Also found it poor that Australia weren't able to make the ball reverse tang for an extended portion. That should really be right up Siddle's alley but it felt like they didn't even contemplate it. Should've ringed the field, keeper up and got it to reverse in and out and look to trap someone on the crease. Just had no real purpose.

It was well batted by JPD and AB though, can't take anything away from then and I suspect even if they did do the above it wouldn't have mattered.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Parnell adds so much to this SA bowling lineup. He's moved up a notch in pace since I last saw him too. SA should seriously consider a speed quartet outside the subcontinent, seeing how whatever spinner they try turns out to be ****.

 

[Ruckus]

Ha Marsh like clockwork...makes a very solid hundred then nicks off for nothing liked a stoned batsman soon after. Selectors should be placing their finger on the eject button.

 

[subshakerz]

Parnell adds so much to this SA bowling lineup. He's moved up a notch in pace since I last saw him too. SA should seriously consider a speed quartet outside the subcontinent, seeing how whatever spinner they try turns out to be ****.

I second this and have been saying this for some time. If your best four bowlers are pacemen, then you should play them. Doesnt make sense for either Parnell or Abbott to be sitting on the sidelines so long when Peterson and Tahir play musical chairs. Duminy as part time spin is not that much of a step down from the regular spinners IMO.

 

[dermo]

a lyon 50 would be so amazing