***Official Australia in South Africa***

[FaaipDeOiad]

Wasn't going on to hit the stumps - outside and too high! They reckoned there was only another ball left as well!!! But, fair play to Warne - magnificant player.

Personally I think it might have gone just over off or hit it, definately turning enough to get back to off, whatever hawkeye said.

Normally that had enough doubt to give it not out, but usually if you don't play a shot you won't get much consideration from the umpires, and so it was. Ntini was a bit unlucky, but he should have been looking to use his bat.

 

[Timewell]

Oh I agree...and I feel that it was only a matter of time before he went - his nerves got the better of him (as demonstrated with his attempted slog down the ground)!

 

[Ikki]

According to the radio - Kallis, Smith's, Prince wickets were all poor decisions. Thats pretty sad and being an Aus fan makes for a bit of a hollow victory. If we win, of course

Kinda evened out as other decisions that should have been called weren't. No hollow victory here my friend. Well deserved by the Aussies.

 

[Ikki]

Don't know what the radio guys are smoking, but you'd have to be blind to think Prince wasn't out. The ball bounced off his glove, on to his arm and up in the air, and Hussey caught it a mile off the ground. Not sure where the doubt would have been.

That was as clear as daylight. Right on.

 

[Ikki]

GILLY DROPS NTINI!

Wow.

In all honesty, wasn't one of the easiest catches.

 

[Ikki]

Good bowling by the Aussies to take this one. Especially Warne, this guy is a legend. Every single ball is magic. Personally, I never get this feeling with any other bowler. He's a freak, every single bloody ball...

 

[Jono]

In all honesty, wasn't one of the easiest catches.

Definitely agree, but when you look at the situation, light getting worse and only one wicket needed, and me having money on the line, it could have been crucial

 

[Ikki]

Definitely agree, but when you look at the situation, light getting worse and only one wicket needed, and me having money on the line, it could have been crucial

Pardon me? Money? Damn that Gilchrist to heck!

 

[howardj]

Shane Warne - you are a champion. Leg-spinners are so valuable. Imagine trying to chisel out a win with pace bowlers and off-spinners on that wicket - never could have done it in one day's play. The ball turning away from the bat is so effective. I think all Test playing countries should look at establishing leg-spin clinics for teenagers. Seriously, it is such a huge advantage to even have a decent bowler of that ilk.

 

[Jono]

Pardon me? Money? Damn that Gilchrist to heck!

Lol

Yeah I've been lucky with my sports bets recently (Bar the England to make less than 340 in the first test against India, but who knew Harmison would score so many runs ), but not without heart attacks.

I puta fair bit of money pre-Aus tour of SA for SA to take the ODI series (especially when I looked at Australia's bowling squad), and when SA were 2-0 up it looked cosy, and even in the 3rd and 4th matches they could have easily won it but didn't. Then they looked dead and buried in the 5th chasing 434 so I kissed my money goodbye, only to watch them pull off a miraculous victory.

This time I put money on Australia to win the 2nd test when Kallis and DeVilliers were going because the odds crawled up a bit and I figured if Australia could snag Kallis they'd run through them. That happened but then suddenly that damn Tony Greig starts mentioning the forecast of rain on days 4 and 5 and I was spewing. Add that with the bad light and I thought it was gone. Warney turned it on though so all is good.

 

[Langeveldt]

Absolute farce from South Africa, its a disgrace that we have tools like Boucher and Smith opening their mouths about the Aussies, and the best bowler in the world when we come up with dross like that.. Not to mention Nel.. Makes me embaressed to assosciate myself with them to be honest.. They could at least concentrate on what they are doing on the field.. Words only work when you back them up

Whatever happened to letting the bat do the talking? (Joburg 2 weeks ago)

 

[Francis]

First and most importantly I want to congratulate Jono on winning money and I suggest he share it with us all!

I saw the last two overs and they were very exciting. I think it's safe to say Symonds was never gonna take the final wicket. I couldn't figure out why he was bowling and then I heard about Symonds bowling because of bad light. With 6 overs left, that really gave Australia only three Warne overs to get a wicket. Just great drama when you know it's entirely down to one person. The looks on the Saffies face in the dressing room added to the drama. Warne winning it for Australia was entertaining, even though Ponting has to be the only person in history make twin hundreds and not get MOTM.

Is it just me or was Warne lucky today? I didn't see most of the game today, but when I saw the fall of wickets I got the assumption that Warne was lucky. He dismissed the "Young One" when the ball hit his arm. He dismissed Rudolph when the ball hit his glove off his pad... very unlucky when you consider his gloves were above his head. Then there was the Kallis dismissal that probably would have missed the stumps. Ntini's dismissal really was fair enough. Personally I think if there's a good chance it's hitting the stumps and the batsman is playing negatively, he should be out. On first glance I thought it was out. On first replay one commentator thought it was out. It was only until hawkeye showed what was happening that all of a sudden SA were screwed. But you can't blame Billy Doctrove, who really is the worst umpire since Billy Bowden.

Can somebody tell me what was going on between Gilchrist and Nel yesterday?

 

[marc71178]

Sensational bowling from Warne. Came on when South Africa looked comfortable and turned the match with three before lunch

Why exactly did it take so long for him to be brought on though?

 

[Francis]

Absolute farce from South Africa, its a disgrace that we have tools like Boucher and Smith opening their mouths about the Aussies, and the best bowler in the world when we come up with dross like that.. Not to mention Nel.. Makes me embaressed to assosciate myself with them to be honest.. They could at least concentrate on what they are doing on the field..

Whatever happened to letting the bat do the talking? (Joburg 2 weeks ago)

Your a great man. I love South Africa. Always one of my favorite countries. So it would suprise people to know that I cannot stand Smith or Nel. Well maybe it wouldn't suprise them since it's Smith or Nel.

Dunno what Boucher said but that bloke is Steve Waugh tough when the situation calls for it. Sounds like he couldn't have done much more today. When he faces Warne and Murali he needs to pretend SA are in trouble. Gotta respect Boucher for being a back-to-the ball, time in need batter!

 

[Langeveldt]

Can somebody tell me what was going on between Gilchrist and Nel yesterday?

Champion v Champion Buffoon to be honest..

Its similar to what happens outside of many pubs at kicking out time, and if something isn't done about it, we might as well all go and watch some Football role models..

 

[howardj]

Can somebody tell me what was going on between Gilchrist and Nel yesterday?

Gilchrist was promoted up the order, as the Aussies were chasing quick runs. Anyway, Gilly blasted Nel for four consecutive boundaries, and as the fourth boundary rattled into the fence, Nel had a verbal shot at Gilly. Gilly fired back "you're having a crack at me because I hit you for a boundary. Show some respect". Nel was really only doing what McGrath does when he gets tonked.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Why exactly did it take so long for him to be brought on though?

The seamers were bowling well, particularly Lee. Plus I suppose Gilchrist didn't want to rely exclusively on Warne for the whole day. Might have left it a little late, but it wasn't too bad I don't think.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Report for the final day.

 

[Francis]

Sorry I forgot to ask. What did Smith and Boucher say Langeveldt?

 

[Jono]

Nel was really only doing what McGrath does when he gets tonked.

Yeah but don't tell anyone that though, that way it'll seem like Nel is the only one that does it and can then be singled out by everyone. The way Haysman continously has a go at him is a bit ridiculous IMO. Does Nel go overboard? Yeah. Did he do it with the Gilly situation? Obviously. But he's not the only one that does it, he just has a bigger reputation of it because he does it throughout the match, when the chips are down or when SA are on top.

Plus, it must be said he didn't start doing it after Gilly smacked him for 4 boundaries in a row. He did it after Gilly was dropped in that over after hitting him for 4 in the previous ball. Nel laid into him, and then Gilly hit him for more boundaries, annoying Nel even more because he should have had Gilly out anyway had DeVilliers taken the catch (tough one though).

I like Nel so meh to all his detractors