***Official Australia in South Africa***

[Neil Pickup]

Regarding Ponting's 23 not outs - 12 have been in successful run-chases.

 

[Langeveldt]

That Lee descion was pathetic, boucher knew he got nowhere near the ball. LBW are a part of the game but blatant dishonesty like that is quite sad. Don't think that I beleive this problem is confined to south african players but they do have some of the biggest offenders.

So they are only allowed to appeal when they are certain it was out? Bring back Woolmer's earpieces so he can tell them if the batsman got a nick or not

 

[grecian]

Regarding Ponting's 23 not outs - 12 have been in successful run-chases.

Interesting that Neil, I was thinking that may be the case, but couldn't be bothered to look it up

May also explain why Lara has so few, West Indies lack of wins in recent times.

 

[Arjun]

What are your comments on Andrew Hall, from what you've seen so far? On present form, he seems a better choice for a stock bowler than Justin Kemp, but lacks the batting firepower.

 

[TT Boy]

What are your comments on Andrew Hall, from what you've seen so far? On present form, he seems a better choice for a stock bowler than Justin Kemp, but lacks the batting firepower.

Hall is not playing...

 

[TT Boy]

What are your comments on Andrew Hall, from what you've seen so far? On present form, he seems a better choice for a stock bowler than Justin Kemp, but lacks the batting firepower.

I think most people know what Andrew Hall is about, his a decent, honest, hard working cricketer. He bowled well in the first test and batted reasonably well in both innings but he lacks that je ne sais quoi to succeed at test level. Justin Kemp on the other hand is not a particularly good bowler, not even for one day cricket let alone test and his usefulness as a batsman only extends to the last ten overs in a one day game.

 

[Goughy]

For some reason I really like Hall but that does not mean I think he is a great player.

Hall is a cricketer without portfolio. He is a decent batsman and a bowler but it is hard to nail down what job he is capable of doing in the long term.

To be a member of a successful team a guy must have a clearly defined set of responsibilities and the ability to accomplish them. Hall is a nice cricketer but not special enough in any area to have a long and successful career.

Its a shame as I really like him but he is destined to have a unfulfilled career being in and out of the team.

 

[luckyeddie]

Hall in my mind is a 'journeyman pro' who makes the most of his talents - in short, tries his guts out.

 

[marc71178]

You chaps won't let it lie, will you.

Their just dalm pests...

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Their just dalm pests...

thats rite dawg.

 

[Demolition Man]

What was Boucher meant to do?, say Steve, Brett did not touch it, come on. The appeal was half hearted because they all knew or had doubt weather Lee hit the ball but Bucknor was the man who gave him out, not the appealing South Africans. It was poor umpiring nothing else.

I'm sorry if that comment gave the impression that I thought boucher did not have some doubt. He did clearly show he was not confident in the semi-appeal, this is normally a big indicator for the umpire. Steve was very quick to put up the finger, which as we all know is very unlike him. Smith acted as if he had no doubt Lee was out, strange that, because I would have thought a man who was so disgruntled with the umpiring in the last match (evidenced by his $ fine) would have been wanting the umpires to be getting the decisions correct and giving the batsmen the benefit ot the doubt.

Boucher clearly was not convinced lee hit the ball and only went up following his captian. Gilchrist does not do that, but then again he does not have to.

I accept actions like those are common in sport these days, indeed if I was put in the same position at the end of a long day and my reputation as an individual who talks the talk but does not walk the walk (as is the case with graeme smith this summer) I can't say that maybe I would no try anything to get a wicket but I would like to think I wouldn't appeal for a nick that I didn't think touched willow or glove.

N.B. LBW appealing is a different kettle of fish so please don;t try and compare the two.

 

[andyc]

Very slow start here from Symonds and Hussey, 1 run so far off 5 overs. Hopefully these two and Gilchrist can get Australia up to anywhere above 320-350. To anyone watching, has it just been good bowling the whole time or is the pitch and conditions that are making it hard batting?

 

[Mister Wright]

Very slow start here from Symonds and Hussey, 1 run so far off 5 overs. Hopefully these two and Gilchrist can get Australia up to anywhere above 320-350. To anyone watching, has it just been good bowling the whole time or is the pitch and conditions that are making it hard batting?

A mixture of both. Nitini & Pollock a both bowling perfect lines and lengths, and there is some uneven bounce.

 

[marc71178]

N.B. LBW appealing is a different kettle of fish so please don;t try and compare the two.

And I presume it's a different story when it's your team fielding as well...

 

[andyc]

Haha what the hell? 3 runs in the first 8 overs of the day, then Hussey hits a four and a six off Ntini.

 

[Mister Wright]

Haha what the hell? 3 runs in the first 8 overs of the day, then Hussey hits a four and a six off Ntini.

The pull shot for four was a spectacular shot, the top-edged pull for 6 wasn't. If the ground was a little bigger he would have been caught.

Nice couple of shots from Symonds too.

 

[andyc]

Bugger, Symonds out lbw to Nel for 14.

 

[oz_fan]

Symonds out LBW to Nel for 13
Really need Gilly and Hussey to fire or could be all out for under 300

 

[alternative]

symonds out for 13

as i write a catch has been dropped..

 

[oz_fan]

symonds out for 13

as i write a catch has been dropped..

I don't think the South Africans could catch a cold