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

[Starfighter]

Lovely knock by Khawaja, and patient as well. Was 8 off 59 at one point. Definitely the sort of innings we need to start seeing more often from the Australian side. He's not the one I would have picked to play such an innings either.

 

[vic_orthdox]

This day might have saved Smith the captain and Lehmann the coach.

Nah, never a chance after the clean out of the last Test. What happens this Test is irrelevant - the next series is the one that matters, if we lose to Pakistan as well before going to play India away, then there's some heads on the chopping block.

Not sure that Smith is under much pressure, I just can't see the suits making Warner captain.

 

[Starfighter]

Also well bowled by Abbott. He's looked a class above the others today.

 

[quincywagstaff]

Criticised Starc yesterday for his post-Tea bowling so only fair to praise him for batting effort tonight. Batted much more responsibly than he has in recent times in challenging conditions and able to protect an obviously tired Khawaja in the closing stages.

Important partnership that for Oz as they looked like wasting much of their hard work with that late bunch of wickets.

 

[adub]

Yeah definitely feels like a turning point innings for Usman. Battled through some tough spells, especially from Abbott. This is the **** we need to balance naturally free scorers like Warner and Smitteh. How he handles Shah will be interesting.

Liked Handy's efforts against the spinners, but needs a bit of tightening up against good quicks by the looks so far. Best part of 300 for 6 is a fair day's Test batting. Even more worthy considering what we've been dishing up lately.

 

[honestbharani]

Awesome from Khawaja and Smith. And Handscomb, I guess. Gonna venture and see from what I saw during the last session yest and the first session today, RSA bowlers were not as up for it this time as they were in the last two tests. And the Aussies were much more switched on with all these changes. Finally a good even contest now with Australia ahead 65-35 for me.


Shamsi has been a bit disappointing. Still, obviously has enough skills to be able to develop into a better bowler, surely needs more consistency and try his variations later.

 

[Spikey]

well duh of course usman's breakthrough came when he actually opened

 

[GotSpin]

Awesome from Khawaja and Smith. And Handscomb, I guess. Gonna venture and see from what I saw during the last session yest and the first session today, RSA bowlers were not as up for it this time as they were in the last two tests. And the Aussies were much more switched on with all these changes. Finally a good even contest now with Australia ahead 65-35 for me.


Shamsi has been a bit disappointing. Still, obviously has enough skills to be able to develop into a better bowler, surely needs more consistency and try his variations later.

I thought SA bowled extremely well to be honest. They were perhaps a bit flat in the second session when Khawaja and Smith were running around but they bowled excellently.

 

[Gnske]

Give it an entire Indian series and Khawaja will be back to normal.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Also I don't know if enough people even C9 are saying what a great knock this is by Uzi. Potentially match winning career defining stuff

He has far too many naysayers on CW already who had repeatedly written him off. Not expecting them to come out and acknowledge him now.

 

[Stapel]

He has far too many naysayers on CW already who had repeatedly written him off. Not expecting them to come out and acknowledge him now.

Nah, people's opinion will change, if he has a few more.

A good example is what all of us thought of Jimmy Anderson...

 

[StephenZA]

I thought SA bowled extremely well to be honest. They were perhaps a bit flat in the second session when Khawaja and Smith were running around but they bowled excellently.

SA particularly Abbott bowled very well in first session... 2nd session not so much. Philander and Abbott bowl accurately and keep runs down generally but without movement aren`t penetrative (like most bowlers) First time we really missed Steyn I thought. The ability to throw the ball to Steyn and him make something happen for us was missing. Rabada did not step up today like I hoped, don`t know why he is bowling under 140 consistently, has me concerned.

 

[Gob]

Dunno why people are so surprised by this. Usman is a wonderful player against fast bowling and certainly capable of playing a knock like that. Still remember his knock in Capetown back in 2011. Handled Steyn, Morkel, Vern etc so well before failing to read a wrongun from ****ing Tahir

 

[Gob]

btw not convinced with any of the debutants

 

[Marius]

Dunno why people are so surprised by this. Usman is a wonderful player against fast bowling and certainly capable of playing a knock like that. Still remember his knock in Capetown back in 2011. Handled Steyn, Morkel, Vern etc so well before failing to read a wrongun from ****ing Tahir

Pedant mode engaged

Cape Town.

And it was in the Second Test in Johannesburg, not the first in Cape Town.

2nd Test: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Nov 17-21, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Marius]

This made me raise an eyebrow.

Richardson hits out at CSA's Lorgat | Sport24

 

[DriveClub]

Fafs declaration looking really stupid now, every run matters now and sa would have liked a shorter lead

 

[Gob]

Pedant mode engaged

Cape Town.

And it was in the Second Test in Johannesburg, not the first in Cape Town.

2nd Test: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Nov 17-21, 2011 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

Of course i meant J'burg. They were chasing 300 odd.

 

[Heboric]

Fafs declaration looking really stupid now, every run matters now and sa would have liked a shorter lead

The best captain to ever play the game - IM Hindsight agrees

 

[mr_mister]

should be the final nail in the coffin for FAF's captaincy career