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

[Bolo]

With the exception of Cummins, whom I think is a level above the other Australian bowlers, Oz didn’t move the ball much in either 2nd or 3rd tests

Probably down to the ball as Kookas are rubbish and quality varies a lot

Not big no. But enough to get wickets much earlier. Philander was getting some monster reverse in Capetown

 

[Spark]

Feels like SA are quite a ways ahead of where the scoreboard suggests

 

[social]

Not big no. But enough to get wickets much earlier. Philander was getting some monster reverse in Capetown

The Australians allegedly weren’t convinced that it was achieved by legitimate means and rest is a Warner brain explosion

Anyway, one of the many criticisms of the Kookaburra is that many don’t do a thing irrespective of conditions

Today, the old ball was still swinging conventionally up until the 80th over and it’s a shame that’s not the norm

 

[social]

Feels like SA are quite a ways ahead of where the scoreboard suggests

Yep

Good bowling conditions but Haze and Lyon were miles below par

 

[quincywagstaff]

Lyon was dreadful after lunch; bowled around the wicket far too much and never was able to tie the batsmen down.

Felt like at one stage that each of the commentators were taking turns in bagging an aspect of Sayers technique. Most of the day he wasn’t great but thought he was OK; did a decent job overall even if he was overbowked a bit in the first half of the day.

 

[wpdavid]

Feels like SA are quite a ways ahead of where the scoreboard suggests

Not least due to what's left of Australia's top 6.

 

[quincywagstaff]

Yep

Good bowling conditions but Haze and Lyon were miles below par

Is overlooked how much weaker Hazlewood is overseas compared with his home performances. Hasn’t averaged under 30 in an overseas Test series since the 2005 Ashes and is heading for over 30 here.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Is overlooked how much weaker Hazlewood is overseas compared with his home performances. Hasn’t averaged under 30 in an overseas Test series since the 2005 Ashes and is heading for over 30 here.

Hazelwood's never been awful in any of his overseas tours, but never been much more than meh either. Even in the 2015 Ashes when he averaged 25, if you'd watched the series, he didn't actually bowl that well.

 

[StephenZA]

Fantastic innings from Markram.... SA futures still looks alright. Pity about the wickets in the end, but overall pretty happy with the position. Not unexpectedly Aus just looked flat. And watching Sayers I continue to realize how ridiculous SA bowling conveyor belt is....

 

[vcs]

Hazelwood's never been awful in any of his overseas tours, but never been much more than meh either. Even in the 2015 Ashes when he averaged 25, if you'd watched the series, he didn't actually bowl that well.

Did Siddle replace him in the last Test? Who then went on to have a very good match.

 

[Bijed]

Did Siddle replace him in the last Test? Who then went on to have a very good match.

Yeah, took 6-60 or thereabouts for the match. Think Hazlewood had picked up some kind of shin injury

 

[quincywagstaff]

Is it even the worst this decade?

An Oz Test side in India in 2010 was: Katich, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, North, Paine, Johnson, Hauritz, Hilfenhaus & Peter George that was probably the weakest until this one (would be close run imo)

 

[vcs]

An Oz Test side in India in 2010 was: Katich, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, North, Paine, Johnson, Hauritz, Hilfenhaus & Peter George that was probably the weakest until this one (would be close run imo)

The 2013 team that toured India was probably worse. They were dismal in that 2nd Test, especially. Which led to Homework-gate.

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Wade
Henriques
Maxwell
Siddle
Pattinson
Doherty

 

[Heboric]

Well done Markram

They must put a huge sign in the South African dressing room:

"Faf you have a bat"

 

[Stefan9]

Good day for SA, could have been better. Markram was excellent.

Sayers despite the 2 late wickets is just pedestrian. I don't recall seeing a opening bowler being much slower then this.

 

[GRAB]

Good day for SA, could have been better. Markram was excellent.

Sayers despite the 2 late wickets is just pedestrian. I don't recall seeing a opening bowler being much slower then this.

One of the Indian openers opposite Srinath in the 90's? Prabhakhar/Ganesh/Prasad/Mhambrey/Johnson. Think in India they may have opened with Ganguly or Jadeja a couple of times?

But he kept a tight line, and with a strike bowler on the other hand things could have turned out differently...

 

[Stefan9]

One of the Indian openers opposite Srinath in the 90's? Prabhakhar/Ganesh/Prasad/Mhambrey/Johnson. Think in India they may have opened with Ganguly or Jadeja a couple of times?

But he kept a tight line, and with a strike bowler on the other hand things could have turned out differently...

Ganguly only opened india never in SA and only bowled about 3 overs.
Prasad was faster then this and swung the ball.

Don't recall the others so Can't comment on them.

 

[harsh.ag]

Didn't see any play today but Sayers was slower than Venkatesh Prasad??

 

[sunilz]

One of the Indian openers opposite Srinath in the 90's? Prabhakhar/Ganesh/Prasad/Mhambrey/Johnson. Think in India they may have opened with Ganguly or Jadeja a couple of times?

But he kept a tight line, and with a strike bowler on the other hand things could have turned out differently...

Prasad averages 25 in SA with 2 five wicket haul and 1 10fer in a match. Please show him the respect he deserves

 

[Bolo]

Didn't see any play today but Sayers was slower than Venkatesh Prasad??

Sayers was throwing half the stuff I watched down at 120km exactly, so nearly 10kms slower than Philander. Didn't watch the first half of the day, and he may have been quicker when fresher. No idea how quick prasad was