*Official* Australia vs South Africa -2022/3

[Sunil1z]

If the overreaction to this pitch is big enough that we go back to years of roads it could happen

I think next 2 Test wickets maybe slightly flat after criticism by SA captain

 

[honestbharani]

He may have just gotten more consistent. Its a mental change more than a technical one for some folks. Ishant was similar, Ashwin in SENA since 2016 was the same. These guys tended to not bowl their good balls often enough to get wickets.

 

[Gob]

He won't get near the most test runs or most test centuries. In fact, it is likely that he won't even get the national records. i.e. don't see him going past Ponting's Test tally of around 13,300 runs. Or even his 41 Test 100s.

So only think making him appealing is his average. If he has a couple of poor series especially where pitches are low scoring too, his average will come down to 58-59. Don't see him managing to keep it close to 60 in the near future.

There is so much more to Smith than the average

looks to be in the best shape for ages too. Was barely troubled in the first innings here

 

[Gob]

I also wanna know what Starc is doing differently that’s seen him turn around his test bowling. If anything he doesn’t seem to be bowling quite as full as he used to, but I’d have thought that would have worked against him.

I can’t really see anything in his action which he’s changed but he’s just in a really good space rn with the red ball.

And I don’t jmean his raw numbers are flattering, because he seems to have really tightened up a lot

Wobble seam back of length

Used to float it up. Good if it swings otherwise dead

 

[Burgey]

So only think making him appealing is his average

Gotta say the fact he’s won us a couple of series on his own and kept us in other contests while carrying an at times spud level batting unit makes him pretty appealing to me

 

[Gob]

RSA needs to play another batsman at Ngidi's expense

 

[Burgey]

RSA needs to play another batsman at Ngidi's expense

Yeah he looked the least likely of their quicks didn’t he?

 

[TheJediBrah]

RSA needs to play another batsman at Ngidi's expense

In hindsight their team balance looked pretty bad for these conditions

 

[StephenZA]

Yeah he looked the least likely of their quicks didn’t he?

Problem is he gives these spells that can be unplayable. I think if they do decide to drop a bowler for a batsmen (big IF based on last 12 months) it would be for Maharaj , and it would be if they see a pitch similar (or near enough) to something like they got here.

 

[StephenZA]

In hindsight their team balance looked pretty bad for all conditions

ftfy

 

[Dendarii]

They're not dropping Ngidi for the same reason that Zondo played...

 

[Starfighter]

I also wanna know what Starc is doing differently that’s seen him turn around his test bowling. If anything he doesn’t seem to be bowling quite as full as he used to, but I’d have thought that would have worked against him.

I can’t really see anything in his action which he’s changed but he’s just in a really good space rn with the red ball.

And I don’t jmean his raw numbers are flattering, because he seems to have really tightened up a lot

He has changed his action though. He's stopped attempting to imitate Trent Boult and has gone back to one closer to when he was most successful.

 

[StephenZA]

They're not dropping Ngidi for the same reason that Zondo played...

I`m not so convinced of that... they've done it before. And Zondo over de Bruyn is much of a muchness batting wise at this stage. 4 BA is not a requirement. And if we went on pure numbers its actually Nortje that has been the least impressive.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Marco Jansen is not a no. 7 IMO. He's a fantastic bowler and could be anything but he looks more like tail-ender that can bat a bit and his FC numbers reflect that. It would be like Aus batting Starc at 7.

 

[Dendarii]

4 BA is not a requirement.

It's not a requirement but they seem to be focusing more on it, which is why Bavuma went to Australia carrying an injury and Rickelton didn't. In addition to that, apparently Bavuma suggested to the selectors that he not be in the T20 side but he was told that wasn't an option.

 

[Starfighter]

I'm personally expecting an unchanged XI from SA. The absence of Mulder (who I don't particularly rate, but that's beside the point) makes it impossible to balance the side. Unless the pitch is very green they'll want five bowlers including Maharaj. The batting is deck-chairs on the Titanic stuff. Zondo out would be the only change yet he batted well in the second innings when everyone else disgraced themselves.

 

[morgieb]

Marco Jansen is not a no. 7 IMO. He's a fantastic bowler and could be anything but he looks more like tail-ender that can bat a bit and his FC numbers reflect that. It would be like Aus batting Starc at 7.

I think all of their tail is batting one spot too high. Agree that Jansen is the most glaring though, especially because 7 is actually a useful position.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I think Maharaj looked more of a batsman than Jansen tbh, judging just from the small sample I've seen of each of them

 

[Burgey]

Jansen looked much more like a bowler though

 

[TheJediBrah]

Jansen looked exceptional as a bowler

They should let him focus on that rather than trying to make him an all rounder