***Official*** Australia in South Africa + South Africa in Australia 2016/17

[sonnench]

It's really just a matter of trying a guy. But the selectors go for 'experience' because it's 'safe'.
The bowling's great except they're always injured. Starc getting some better control and not bowling long hops all the time would make it even better.

Read all about it. Mennie was top wicket taker in the shield but Bird had a better average and was off playing tests. But Mennie's wickets don't even seem to have been why he was picked!
Bird's a close to the stumps away swing bowler - a bit like a cross between Philander and Abbott - and quicker than both - and would have been quite useful. I wonder if the selectors think Mennie's 10 and 0 justified his selection.

Jon Holland averages 39 and played in Sri Lanka after O'Keefe was injured. Didn't do much though. After O'Keefe and Lyon it's just taking a punt.
The thought of the C9 commentators tripping over his name...

Exactly. It's come to the point where risks need to be taken. It's clearly not working with the so called "safer" picks.

I was actually pretty critical of Starc before the series, as I have always seen him as more of ODI bowler. Was literally bagging him to the missus, then that spell happened...

That is quite incredible. Had no idea. Hes a number 11 ffs, if you count so much on his batting, it's your top order that need looking at! And it's like you say, was Mennie's 10 and 0 worth it?

It would be quite incredible. Maybe KP can stick around and help out like he did with Kagiso's pronunciation.

 

[Black_Warrior]

People used to complain about guys like Watson and North but they'd really be upgrades to this side

Yepp already raised this. Watson walks into this side with his eyes closed and hands tied.

 

[Starfighter]

The advantage of losing this quickly is there's more time to argue about the team for Adelaide. A least part of the team better play in the next shield round.

 

[Red Wingz]

Australia are very vulnerable against the moving ball. So SA have the opportunity to make it 3-0, in day night test

Whitewashing Australia in their backyard is rare n would be monumental

 

[Daemon]

It's not all doom and gloom for Australia imo. Still got two absolute guns in Starc and Haze, two top class bats in Warner and Smith. Khawaja and Smarsh are decent and the rest of the side is average but on tracks that suit them they'll still be a really tough side to beat. In fact they're still favourites against any other team in the world besides SA at home.

 

[StephenZA]

SA always had the bowling to bowl any side in the world out cheaply, it has been fantastic. However, the importance of QDK and Bavuma, in this and the last test is immense. If not for the 50`s scored in the 1st innings in Perth by both we would have had nothing on the board and would have been in similar position to what Aus were in this match. And in this match we could easily have been bowled out for far less. It is probably the thing that makes me the happiest, that our 2 youngest and inexperienced batsmen under pressure at 6 and 7 have made sure we don`t get bowled out for nothing.... that is brilliant for SA future and shows a great mindset.

 

[Stefan9]

Fantastic series win. Doing it without our guns ab and Steyn is the most pleasing aspect.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Abott you effing beauty. Hopefully the selectors will finally start having faith.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Haha vernon philander looks so disappointed when he took that last catch.

 

[Gob]

Both Gob and TJB have gone missing

Well would have posted more if i was a 40 year old loser with no social life living in mother's basement like you but some of us have to work for living and sometimes pretty hard

 

[Burgey]

Well would have posted more if Australia was winning and Voges was making runs.

Ind33d.

 

[Gob]

Ind33d.

nah. Certainly not Voges

 

[harsh.ag]

Think they will be able to set SA around 200 to chase and it will come down to a QdK-Philander make-or-break partnership.

10/10

 

[TheJediBrah]

Well would have posted more if i was a 40 year old loser with no social life living in mother's basement like you but some of us have to work for living and sometimes pretty hard

Yeah funny that. I really should just call in sick everyday that cricket's on so I can post regularly here lest faceless individuals from across the internet point out I'm not posting regularly enough

 

[anil1405]

If Australia do lose the final test, would it be the first instance where Aus have been whitewashed at home?

 

[vcs]

Both Gob and TJB have gone missing

TBF, I've seen TJB post quite regularly, dunno about Gob.

 

[vcs]

South Africa are generally very conservative in terms of selections, so perhaps CSA didnt think he was quite ready for the longer format earlier. He did suffer a bit of a loss of form last year, which is why Vilas was taken to India instead. Vilas is a nonsense though, who knows what they were thinking with that one!

That's really a shockingly bad pick in hindsight. As a cricket fan, now I'm gutted we didn't get to see QdK play in that series though it might possibly have even changed the result. The 3-0 scoreline is a bit misleading.

 

[TheJediBrah]

How about that Big Bash though? Should be good.

 

[Starfighter]

Oh, by the way, if one thing comes out of this series can it be that we get rid of Pat Howard?
Everything that comes out of that idiot's trap annoys me.

 

[Black_Warrior]

'3-0 is the mission for us now' - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo