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

[Bolo]

Shootout between RSA and India in my mind. RSA should win a higher percentage away and India a higher percentage at home. RSA have a bunch of question marks in the batting lineup in my mind. I'm not sure they are problems, but definitely uncomfortable questions

 

[GotSpin]

Amla looks to be a bit of a concern for SA and I know he just scored some good runs, I really don't rate Bavuma

 

[StephenZA]

Shootout between RSA and India in my mind. RSA should win a higher percentage away and India a higher percentage at home. RSA have a bunch of question marks in the batting lineup in my mind. I'm not sure they are problems, but definitely uncomfortable questions

Only real problem is # 6... some ageing stars but good for another 2 years or so. Somebody always seems to perform, even if we don't always get to our big totals of old. But we have a bowling attack to defend just about anything.

 

[vcs]

I think the teams can now be put into fairly distinct tiers (as it stands now, if India get smashed later this year in England/Australia, they will slide down)

Tier 1 : India, SA
Tier 2 : Australia, England, NZ
Tier 3 : Pakistan, SL
Tier 4 : Bangladesh, WI

 

[Motorwada]

India's pace attack thoroughly outperforming Australia's was a surprise but much of it was down to the pitches.

Not necessarily. This Indian attack is good. People underestimate them due to historical reasons but with BCCI's push towards better infrastructure with their greater finances will ensure that good fast bowlers keep coming out of the system. Indian fast bowlers outperformed Australian ones during the 2017 series and have generally been top class for the past few years in conditions unfavorable to fast bowling (average of 28.17 in the last three years compared to Australia's 28.07).
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

And who knows how much of the Australian fast bowler's performances were by "fair" means. Considering the hush-up job of the CA and previous indiscretions (brainfade) Australian fast bowling stats might be slightly inflated.

 

[Burgey]

But it is seriously weird to think that 15 days ago this was an absolutely even and completely unpredictable series

Winning papers over so many cracks. See also, England 2013 Ashes.

 

[GotSpin]

Not necessarily. This Indian attack is good. People underestimate them due to historical reasons but with BCCI's push towards better infrastructure with their greater finances will ensure that good fast bowlers keep coming out of the system. Indian fast bowlers outperformed Australian ones during the 2017 series and have generally been top class for the past few years in conditions unfavorable to fast bowling (average of 28.17 in the last three years compared to Australia's 28.07).
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

And who knows how much of the Australian fast bowler's performances were by "fair" means. Considering the hush-up job of the CA and previous indiscretions (brainfade) Australian fast bowling stats might be slightly inflated.

Yeah I forgot that bowling in Australia is a real paradise

 

[StephenZA]

Winning papers over so many cracks. See also, England 2013 Ashes.

Similar happened in the tour to Aus by SA, after 2nd test. Maybe not quite the issues as here, but still real problems. Changed the team and won well in 3rd test and I think the powers that be thought everything was alright...

But it really says a lot about the Eng team that they got beaten so badly, and pisses me off that we lost to them home and away recently. That is my next big revenge I want, I want to embarrass the Eng next.

 

[Borges]

And who knows how much of the Australian fast bowler's performances were by "fair" means. Considering the hush-up job of the CA and previous indiscretions (brainfade) Australian fast bowling stats might be slightly inflated.

Ah, c'mon now. Let's not keep harping back on that over and over again. It's over.
PS: There are a couple of other threads for that, if you still want to keep talking about it.

 

[Tec15]

Naah. Recency bias. India too have defeated SA and Aus at home during their last tours. And SA's win in Oz is cancelled out by their home loss against Eng (Ind have an away loss in Oz and a home win against Eng). Not to mention Ind's wins are often by bigger margins.

Keep trying. India have lost all their last away series in South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand. Watch them get towelled again by a weak England and depleted Australia this year.

 

[stephen]

Surprised at how similar Cummins and Rabada's stats ended up. Basically one wicket between them. And yet Cummins efforts felt far less impactful.

I guess that's what happens when you're on the losing side but 22@21 in 4 tests is a pretty good effort, especially bowling first change.

Our second highest wicket taker being Lyon with 16@42 says a lot. Hazlewood averaging roughly 40 is woeful. He should have averaged half that on these pitches with his talents. Trying to bowl too fast for his own good.

 

[Borges]

Surprised at how similar Cummins and Rabada's stats ended up. Basically one wicket between them. And yet Cummins efforts felt far less impactful.

Cummins was absolutely superb, in this series. He's up there with Rabada, in my book.

 

[SeamUp]

Got so much time for Tim Paine. He basically missed 2.5 years of his peak career with finger issues and where he was a year ago is well documented. I think he has done well to try pull forward a sinking ship.

Like what he just said that the SA team have invited us into their change room for a beer and they have a few young guys who will learn a lot from going in there.

 

[SeamUp]

Surprised at how similar Cummins and Rabada's stats ended up. Basically one wicket between them. And yet Cummins efforts felt far less impactful.

I guess that's what happens when you're on the losing side but 22@21 in 4 tests is a pretty good effort, especially bowling first change.

Our second highest wicket taker being Lyon with 16@42 says a lot. Hazlewood averaging roughly 40 is woeful. He should have averaged half that on these pitches with his talents. Trying to bowl too fast for his own good.

Cummins didn't have as good a support as KG did. Suppose that is down to SA batting better partially too.

Cummins is a star and I would seriously consider making him vice-captain.

 

[Marius]

Cummins was absolutely superb, in this series. He's up there with Rabada, in my book.

Definitely, and he showed he can bat a bit too. Could be a decent bowling all-rounder for Aus in the future.

 

[kykweer.proteas]

Yeah but right now India is no 1. And not like SA performed well on their last tour to Eng.

India shoukd organize another grueling away series to sri lanka or bangladesh.

 

[stephen]

I just realised that Australia have not won an away series for over two years now. I can't even remember the last one we won.

We've lost to:

SA
India
Sri Lanka

And drawn Bangladesh.

The last one I remember us wining was against either NZ or WI. That was a long time ago with the tail end of the golden years boys Voges.

 

[stephen]

India shoukd organize another grueling away series to sri lanka or bangladesh.

 

[vcs]

I can't remember how you guys did on your last trips to SL and Bangladesh..

 

[sunilz]

India shoukd organize another grueling away series to sri lanka or bangladesh.

Considering SA's performance in Bangladesh when they toured there last time I wouldn't be making such a comment. Lost ODI series and saved by rain in test series.