***Official*** Australia in South Africa 2018

[akilana]

Hope Smith doesn't get banned for the last game. Want him to finish the series so we can reevaluate the big 4.

He can have a poor series and he is still better than the competition.

 

[silentstriker]

It's like the guy with the DUI swearing it's his first time driving drunk. I'm not buying first time either. But I also don't think this is as huge a deal as it is made out to be.

 

[Stefan9]

Sad thing is it's gonna overshadow Steve Smith's amazing batting skills whenever we assess him I wonder if he retains his Australian and IPL captaincy. I think Cricket Australia will let him off pretty lightly here since he scores 50% of the teams runs. It's also going to lead to a very sour taste in oppositions' mouths. There's not going to be much respect left for him as a person.

Well there choices are between smith and warner. Not exactaly blessed with great captaincy material.

 

[SeamUp]

Give this man a bells. His name is Oscar and he suits up on the first day of every test.

Eagle-eyed the ball tampering.

 

[Chrish]

He can have a poor series and he is still better than the competition.

Yes for now. But it can dramatically reduce the gap depending on how poor he performs if he were to fail.

 

[Top_Cat]

There is no world in which this is the first time. Every team in the history of ever tampers with the ball in some non-natural manner.

But.

I don’t see how Smith lasts as skipper after this. This is a major embarrassment for a Test nation which is generally pretty greedy for the moral high ground.

 

[ImpatientLime]

Hope Smith doesn't get banned for the last game. Want him to finish the series so we can reevaluate the big 4.

he can get 3 consecutive ducks through the rest of the series and he's still streets ahead of the other 3.

 

[Chrish]

he can get 3 consecutive ducks through the rest of the series and he's still streets ahead of the other 3.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. He would be ahead but not by that significant margin considering Kohli had a good SA tour. But Kohli needs to do that in England as well.

 

[Top_Cat]

Worst effect is bringing out the shouting from the terraces. **** you Smith forever for loosing that **** upon us, you ****er.

 

[SeamUp]

he can get 3 consecutive ducks through the rest of the series and he's still streets ahead of the other 3.

I would have said that before our summer started but Kohli was so damn awesome in tough SA conditions I think it is closer than we all think.`

Smith of course still has 3 innings but my estimations of Kohli went up massively after the series.

 

[shifty_eyes]

Its uncertain if Australia did similar thing vs England series at home as well. Chances of getting away with ball tempering at home for them are quite high.

 

[ImpatientLime]

I would have said that before our summer started but Kohli was so damn awesome in tough SA conditions I think it is closer than we all think.`

Smith of course still has 3 innings but my estimations of Kohli went up massively after the series.

until kohli goes to england and proves he's not a walking wicket over there the gap is quite considerable.

that is an absolute eyesore on his record.

smith's got out cheaply here but its not like he's looked utterly clueless as to how to deal with the conditions.

 

[anil1405]

Irrespective of how Smith performs with the bat for the rest of this series he will still be ahead of the pack. Things however MIGHT change if Kohli steps up in England later this year.

 

[SeamUp]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Golfhackno1/status/976807928840839168/video/1

May take some explaining!

This might be more deliberate than we all initially thought.

 

[ImpatientLime]

also it being a 'big 4' needs looking at.

root is not doing anywhere near enough at the moment to be ranked with these guys.

2 test match centuries in 2017 for a guy who plays as many games as he does is poor.

 

[SeamUp]

until kohli goes to england and proves he's not a walking wicket over there the gap is quite considerable.

that is an absolute eyesore on his record.

smith's got out cheaply here but its not like he's looked utterly clueless as to how to deal with the conditions.

Oh yeah I agree.

But just judging by the tough SA conditions Kohli was awesome carrying his teams batting. The wickets for India were like snake-pits compared to these 'normal' good SA test wickets.

But I agree - massive series for Kohli to come in England and he needs to get things right there to nail down his ability world wide.

 

[srbhkshk]

also it being a 'big 4' needs looking at.

root is not doing anywhere near enough at the moment to be ranked with these guys.

2 test match centuries in 2017 for a guy who plays as many games as he does is poor.

Yeah but he makes like 3 fifties each test...

 

[anil1405]

Root is unmatched when it comes to the most number of 70-99 scores.

 

[ankitj]

That "frequently bought together" and the product review

 

[smash84]

WTF Australia, you friggin ball tamperers ....