*Official* Australia vs South Africa -2022/3

[Slifer]

What a fall for Smith.

From being compared with Bradman, to being compared with Voges.

Yeah what's with this Smith hate? He made a crucial 36 in the first innings and was part of the partnership that likely won Australia the match.

 

[Gob]

Yeah what's with this Smith hate? He made a crucial 36 in the first innings and was part of the partnership that likely won Australia the match.

It's halba who is a fool

 

[Burgey]

Just like how Ponting's average ended up being '65' after he was hovering around 60.

Reality is most players who play into their mid 30s, lose a few to several points. In Ponting's case he went down to 51. Hope Smith doesn't suffer something similar or the taste of so many tears will be very salty for you all tbh.

Mate relax ffs

Fmd imagine if I’d said 75. Could have had a dozen on the line

 

[Ashes81]

The narrative about this pitch was largely set by Australia's mini-chase.

If they'd chased it 1 wicket at most down or not allowed SA's 10th wicket to even set a target, I think the focus would've been more on SA's batting than the pitch.

As it was, that last innings bowling performance by SA gave them some important consolation. Especially with their dismissal of Head after his 1st innings was the difference in the match.

The pitch was shocking mate. The game only lasted 140 odd overs and there were only 2 scores over 50.

The Aussies won but lost 14 wkts in the 50 odd overs they faced - thats a wkt every 25 balls or so.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Since his 335* .......Warner has had - 33 innings:

Runs: 854
50s: 4
100s: 1
Ducks: 3
Not Outs: 2
Average: 27.54

It's a weak era in Aust cricket. Has been for past decade. In a stronger era Warner doesnt play Test cricket. In terms of the era we are in there isn't enough depth to force him out.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

People complaining about the pitch at the Gabba. My thoughts:

1. The pitch probably did a bit too much but it was a good test for the batters technique.

2. The experience on this green deck will be invaluable for the Aussie batters when they tour England next year. We know the ball will move around in the air and seam off the pitch in England.

3. Too many people focus on the "here and now" rather than look forward. The Aussie batters will be better for the experience instead of batting on pitches which are roads with no life in them.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Surely they have to drop Warner this summer, after all the drama he's causing on top of underperforming. Only thing that would save him is a 100 or 2 in the coming Tests against SA which hopefully doesn't happen.

 

[social]

Since his 335* .......Warner has had - 33 innings:

Runs: 854
50s: 4
100s: 1
Ducks: 3
Not Outs: 2
Average: 27.54

It's a weak era in Aust cricket. Has been for past decade. In a stronger era Warner doesnt play Test cricket. In terms of the era we are in there isn't enough depth to force him out.

The backup opener has a test batting average of 25

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Surely they have to drop Warner this summer, after all the drama he's causing on top of underperforming. Only thing that would save him is a 100 or 2 in the coming Tests against SA which hopefully doesn't happen.

Unfortunately it's a debate that has to be had, Warner's form or lack thereof to be more accurate is definitely a worry. There really is no clear replacement jumping off the page though. Harris is an unequivocal no, as is Bancroft. Hunt is someone I do rate as potentially Test standard, but throwing him in the deep end by handing out a dayboo for two of the toughest overseas tours imaginable (England especially) is not something likely to yeld positive results at all, same goes for Ward and Street. Whitemam doesn't really seem to be in the conversation, even though on domsetic performance there is an argument he should be, so that leaves pretty much only Renshaw. Now I really don't love how he only decided he wanted to open again for this year, but honestly looking at what is around he probably seems about the least worst option. Went okayish in India last time, as for England he does at least have some decent County form to his name. It is not exactly something I am enthused about but there is probably less of an argument against him than the other possible choices

 

[Burgey]

I can see Renshaw being picked for India, iirc he wasn't awful there last time. Can see him having issues playing around his front pad to the moving ball in England though.

Also, big shout out to SA for removing a significant distraction for the first half of this week as I try to clear a backlog of decisions.

 

[Burgey]

People complaining about the pitch at the Gabba. My thoughts:

1. The pitch probably did a bit too much but it was a good test for the batters technique.

2. The experience on this green deck will be invaluable for the Aussie batters when they tour England next year. We know the ball will move around in the air and seam off the pitch in England.

3. Too many people focus on the "here and now" rather than look forward. The Aussie batters will be better for the experience instead of batting on pitches which are roads with no life in them.

A number of decks in Australia have been pretty lively the past 2-3 years tbf. It's made for some compelling, though not always good cricket. This one was pretty average though. It defied predictions it would get easier to bat on as it hardened up. It actually got a bit worse, contrary to what usually happens up there.

The good news is the Gabba is pretty much being torn down to build the Olympic stadium, thank ****. It's a horrible, soulless edifice in a horrible, soulless town.

I presume I wasn't the only one who noticed the best the camera crews could do in their cutaway shots were pics o blocks of flats. Just the worst joint.

 

[TheGreatest]

A disgraceful pitch which resulted in an unexpected defeat. SA had their moments which unfortunately they didn't capitalized and gifted some easy wickets to the Australians. The first innings collapse cost us dearly...should have scored al least 220. Anyways, our bowling is more lethal than Australia and I'm sure we can bounce back in the next two Tests provided we play on better pitches.

 

[Burgey]

Unexpected?

 

[Ashes81]

People complaining about the pitch at the Gabba. My thoughts:

1. The pitch probably did a bit too much but it was a good test for the batters technique.

2. The experience on this green deck will be invaluable for the Aussie batters when they tour England next year. We know the ball will move around in the air and seam off the pitch in England.

3. Too many people focus on the "here and now" rather than look forward. The Aussie batters will be better for the experience instead of batting on pitches which are roads with no life in them.

There are alot of question marks over the Australian batting line up for the Ashes.

Neither Warner nor Khawaja have done much in England and both have been much stronger at home than away.

Obviously Smith and Labruschagne are very strong but Head has struggled away from home and Green and Carey haven't played a test in England.

Now England's batting is equally flawed and the likes of Head may come good in England but there are significant question marks over both batting line ups.

 

[TheGreatest]

...and why would they prepare a pitch for getting ready for next year Ashes? They have a tough series coming up against India. Why not play on slow turners?

The truth is these Aussie bowlers are not that skillful like SA bowlers and they need assistance from the pitch to humiliate us. If we get proper hard pitches in the next two Tests, SA will definitely win.

 

[TheGreatest]

Unexpected?

We have defeated the Aussies in 2008-09 and 2016-17. They know we are not an easy team to beat. Preparing a two day pitch shows how much they fear us. They are so desperate to win this time.

 

[Spark]

...and why would they prepare a pitch for getting ready for next year Ashes? They have a tough series coming up against India. Why not play on slow turners?

The truth is these Aussie bowlers are not that skillful like SA bowlers and they need assistance from the pitch to humiliate us. If we get proper hard pitches in the next two Tests, SA will definitely win.

what

 

[Spark]

the gabba, famed for its slow turners especially after a year where it's rained about 99% of the time

 

[TheGreatest]

the gabba, famed for its slow turners especially after a year where it's rained about 99% of the time

It rains in India and Sri Lanka as well and they prepare turners not green tops.

 

[Burgey]

We have defeated the Aussies in 2008-09 and 2016-17. They know we are not an easy team to beat. Preparing a two day pitch shows how much they fear us. They are so desperate to win this time.

Yes and we defeated India in 2004 but I don't really know what that has to do with how a team might perform in 2022-23.

There's all of three players left from the SA side which won here in 2017, and one of those is Bavuma ffs. This is the weakest SA batting outfit I've seen since readmission. Easily. If you think they were favourites going into that test then you've got rocks in your dial. The pitch being a lottery made it closer for SA than it would be had it been more batsman-friendly.