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***Official Australia in South Africa***

social

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
FaaipDeOiad said:
Certainly is. I thought the McGrath comparisons were pretty silly before this test, but he certainly put in a solid mini-me performance. Doesn't move it as much as McGrath when conditions are helping, isn't quite as accurate and isn't as clever with his variations, but he's close on all counts.
"Only played one test and is not one of the greatest quicks ever" also springs to mind.
 

FaaipDeOiad

Hall of Fame Member
social said:
"Only played one test and is not one of the greatest quicks ever" also springs to mind.
Well obviously. I'm not trying to talk Clark up, I was just saying that the comparisons with McGrath in terms of style as a bowler are valid, even if he doesn't match up with ability.
 

LongHopCassidy

International Captain
I reckon that's another assumption. Who's to say Clark isn't as naturally talented as McGrath, especially after what he's shown us?
 

social

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
LongHopCassidy said:
I reckon that's another assumption. Who's to say Clark isn't as naturally talented as McGrath, especially after what he's shown us?
Aus success over the past 10 years was always going to cause problems down the line as very few players get "blooded" early in their careers.

However, given the rate they play tests these days, it's conceivable that Clark could play 50 tests despite the fact that he's made his debut at 30.
 

social

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
FaaipDeOiad said:
Well obviously. I'm not trying to talk Clark up, I was just saying that the comparisons with McGrath in terms of style as a bowler are valid, even if he doesn't match up with ability.
Guy is obviously talented. On this showing he's certainly up there with Nel, Hoggard, etc who are forging good careers.

Aside from what I said earlier, I like the fact that he's mature and professional in his approach. He has an action where not too much can go wrong and seems to know how to land the ball in the right areas.

All in all, he "could" have a few solid years for Aus with what he's shown in this test.
 

pskov

International 12th Man
Just a word of warning, there are players who have had better debuts with the ball than Clark and ended up petering out into mediocrity.
 

Rich2001

International Captain
pskov said:
Just a word of warning, there are players who have had better debuts with the ball than Clark and ended up petering out into mediocrity.
Thats very true, but I guess by having such a good debut he will be given a pretty decent run in the side so it's in his own hands to how long he plays for now.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
good win overall, kind of reminds me of the lord's when Australia beat England convincly but yet their were little area's in which England could have done better in which they didn't & same case with South Africa. Ponting will know that the batting even though strong wasn't totally convincing so with Pollock likely to be back they definately have to becareful.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
FaaipDeOiad said:
I've been disappointed with Kasprowicz personally. His figures this game aren't that bad, but he just hasn't impressed me with his bowling, aside from his new ball spell on day 1 when he was getting some outswing. I'd very much like to see Gillespie there. Could be quite a formidable attack with Lee in form and Clark bowling like he did in this test.
yep totally agree here, Dizzy or Bracken along with Lee & Clark would have been a really good trio indeed.
 

social

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
aussie said:
good win overall, kind of reminds me of the lord's when Australia beat England convincly but yet their were little area's in which England could have done better in which they didn't & same case with South Africa. Ponting will know that the batting even though strong wasn't totally convincing so with Pollock likely to be back they definately have to becareful.
Bit concerned about the middle order - Martyn looked very good in this test but hasnt scored runs for a while whilst Symonds needs to convert talent into hundreds.

Once again, Lee was excellent but Kasper needs to lift.

However, despite Barry Richards' sentiments, still a very comprehensive win and achieved despite sub-par performance from Warne.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
social said:
However, despite Barry Richards' sentiments, still a very comprehensive win and achieved despite sub-par performance from Warne.
True, thats something SA should be worried about.
 

andyc

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Great win by the Aussies, very comfortable in the end. Top stuff from Clark there, 9 on debut is no easy feat, let's just hope he can keep it up for the rest of the series. Pity about losing three wickets in chasing 90 odd there, especially with Ponting out for one, which ruins his good streak for the year. All the same, a very strong first showing, although the batting seemed a bit weak. Good to come back after that last one dayer, and nothing like proving Graeme Smith wrong again. I seem to remember him saying something about targeting the new Aussie bowling lineup, and then Clark gets 9/89 :D
 

Ikki

Hall of Fame Member
Well, great reply to the one-day shock. Aussies pretty much man-handled this one. Surprising performance by Clark, but great debut, and I'm not all that worried about Kaspa. I mean, he may have not been excellent, and I'm sure he was nervous, but he was a good fill-in for me. As disappointed I was about our pace attack during the Ashes and somewhat after, I'm glad to see it was shaping up well in this series.
 

Demolition Man

State Vice-Captain
I do feel for the southies, they produced one of the most entertaining games of cricket ever in the 5th ODI and then to see such a poor turnout for the test was quite dissappointing. One of the positives to take from the loss in the ODI from an aussie POV was the hope that it may increase interest and thus crowd numbers for the test series unfortunatley this did not really occur. Test crowd numbers in south africa have not been in good shape for quite some time, I did hope that the amazing ODI series would help (perhaps it did a bit) but it appears not to have had the effect I was hoping for.
 

alternative

Cricket Web Content Updater
I thought that was a great win by the aussies, i was quite imperssed with kasper.. he looked pretty good.. altho i would have liked to see bracks there.. but he is doing the job now..

as for the batting issues.. aussies don't seem to have many, apart from the fact that Martyn needs to score runs to cement his spot..

South africa really needs to get out of the ODI mode and get back into terms and would be an interesting side with Pollock back in..
 

Demolition Man

State Vice-Captain
alternative said:
I thought that was a great win by the aussies, i was quite imperssed with kasper.. he looked pretty good.. altho i would have liked to see bracks there.. but he is doing the job now..

as for the batting issues.. aussies don't seem to have many, apart from the fact that Martyn needs to score runs to cement his spot..

South africa really needs to get out of the ODI mode and get back into terms and would be an interesting side with Pollock back in..
Martyn looked very good in the second innings, it is a pitty they were chasing such a small total in that respect. He looked in control and played some very nice strokes.
 

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