***Official*** Australia in South Africa 2013/14

[Shri]

Big hearted.

 

[Ruckus]

Siddle been impressive this match. Getting seam movement more than the others.

 

[Spark]

That's just horrid for a batsman

 

[NUFAN]

Oh yessss Siddy his 185 Test wickets moving him past Morne Morkel once again and level with Mushtaq Ahmed in 69th spot All-Time.

 

[Johnners]

That's gotta suck. Not complaining though

Gj M00bs

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, don't be reviewing that Faf.

Not a lot he could do about it, tbf. Proper guzunder.

 

[Cabinet96]

Wide of the crease is a really good way of getting the ones that keep low to cause trouble. Usually the area of the pitch where it might keep low is too wide outside off stump.

 

[adub]

That's just horrid for a batsman

Yeah, you have nightmares about that ****. Can't play that. Bad news for Saffers if it's going to stay low and seam.

 

[Spikey]

Has Warner ever bowled seam up stuff before?

Talented boy, even if he is a bit of a ****.

Once Smith returned to the test team Warner switched to seam up. Hasn't been called upon in a test team but he bowled it in one of the Ashes tour matches

 

[Jono]

Can someone let me know if this is a pressure situation for AB or is it a lost cause and hence any runs here don't mean much?

 

[Jono]

LOL @ this pitch on the first session of day 4. Brutal.

 

[Garson007]

Man, I hate variable bounce. It doesn't actually point out any prowess from bowler or batsman - just plain luck.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I guess the Real Politik is it's a lost cause, but there's still hope however faint, so the pressure's on, IMHO.

Pretty village effort from Haddin at the end there. Tough take, but his feet were nowhere near the ball.

second line of defence and all that.

 

[Prince EWS]

Can someone let me know if this is a pressure situation for AB or is it a lost cause and hence any runs here don't mean much?

This will depend on if he gets runs or not.

 

[Garson007]

This will depend on if he gets out or not.

If South Africa goes on to win this then it was clearly not a pressure situation.

 

[howardj]

Always find myself cheering more for Australia when they play OS, for some reason

Am fairly indifferent as to whether they win or not when they play out here

 

[Shri]

Man, I hate variable bounce. It doesn't actually point out any prowess from bowler or batsman - just plain luck.

Variable bounce can be managed if you are a batsman with good balance who can get quickly onto his front foot and back foot shots with good off stump awareness(apart from soft handed shots and all that ****). Its ****ing difficult but its not all luck. Those twin half centuries by Dravid on a West Indian pitch that was much worse is a great example.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/239923.html

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Man, I hate variable bounce. It doesn't actually point out any prowess from bowler or batsman - just plain luck.

Nah, you get well forward and play late. Sure you need a bit of luck but it's absolutely a test of skill.

That said, not a hell of a lot you can do sometimes vs a bowler like Mitch, so it depends. But I can think of a few good knocks on pitches going massively up and down where a batsman just outplayed the conditions.

Ponting's here is one that comes to mind: 1st Test: Bangladesh v Australia at Fatullah, Apr 9-13, 2006 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Garson007]

Nah, ****s. I just prefer swing and seam above bowling for cracks.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah, ****s. I just prefer swing and seam above bowling for cracks.

Absolutely agree but saying there's no batting/bowling skill involved is taking it too far.