***Official Australia in South Africa***

[Demolition Man]

How much of that is injury related though?

Ahh mearly a smokescreen to soften the blow of being demoted to number 11 for Kasper.
I am going to claim it anyway.

 

[luckyeddie]

For the record, Boucher`s edge behind was the biggest one I`ve ever seen that wasn`t given. Simply a huge deflection, with a noise to boot.

A leathery thud?

 

[Tom Halsey]

yeah Warne hasn't really batted that well that often, he seems to have good innings every now and then but not consistent good scores.

Obviously right about Warne but Lee too hadn't scored a run in the series before this match, so he's hardly consistent.

 

[sqwerty]

But do they actually have the "luxury" of carrying him?

Especially with Gilchrist in the form he's in.

yes I totally agree Gilchrists form affects that comment and I considered exactly that before I posted it.

I just figured they beat a decent side 3-0 on their home soil and I was counting on Gilchrist coming good again though I actually have doubts he will. He has looked WAY below his best for a long time now

 

[Autobahn]

yes I totally agree Gilchrists form affects that comment and I considered exactly that before I posted it.

I just figured they beat a decent side 3-0 on their home soil and I was counting on Gilchrist coming good again though I actually have doubts he will. He has looked WAY below his best for a long time now

He just doesn't seem to be able to cope when people go round the wicket and move it away from him, can't seem to resist a pathetic waft at the ball.

I wouldn't be susprised if the bangladesh bowlers tried it as well against gilly.

 

[sqwerty]

He just doesn't seem to be able to cope when people go round the wicket and move it away from him, can't seem to resist a pathetic waft at the ball.

I wouldn't be susprised if the bangladesh bowlers tried it as well against gilly.

I reckon he's lost his passion to a degree. I'm sure he's just hanging out for the World Cup after which he'll say goodbye.

 

[andyc]

Combined team?

Hussey (257 @ 64.25)
Hayden (231 @ 38.5)
Ponting* (348 @ 58)
Kallis (227 @ 37.83, 7 @ 32.85)
Martyn (225 @ 56.25)
Boucher (175 @ 35)
Gilchrist+ (24 @ 10, 11 catches, 1 stumping)
Lee (88 @ 29.33, 17 @ 19.52)
Warne (82 @ 20.5, 15 @ 28.2)
Clark (31 @ 15.5, 20 @ 15.85)
Ntini (23 @ 5.75, 19 @ 22.36)

The only potential dispute there is with Gilchrist, who I put in the team for his keeping (and because I'm Australian), while the others pick themselves really. I've got Hussey opening as none of the regular openers, Hayden aside, did anything.

 

[TT Boy]

Combined team?

Hussey (257 @ 64.25)
Hayden (231 @ 38.5)
Ponting* (348 @ 58)
Kallis (227 @ 37.83, 7 @ 32.85)
Martyn (225 @ 56.25)
Boucher (175 @ 35)
Gilchrist+ (24 @ 10, 11 catches, 1 stumping)
Lee (88 @ 29.33, 17 @ 19.52)
Warne (82 @ 20.5, 15 @ 28.2)
Clark (31 @ 15.5, 20 @ 15.85)
Ntini (23 @ 5.75, 19 @ 22.36)

The only potential dispute there is with Gilchrist, who I put in the team for his keeping (and because I'm Australian), while the others pick themselves really. I've got Hussey opening as none of the regular openers, Hayden aside, did anything.

Yeah, I'll have to disagree, Mark Boucher was one of the only South Africans who went down fighting. He was symbolic of the words gritty and determined. When his team was in a hole he was one of the only players who wanted to fight it out. Also the fact that he played Shane Warne with relative ease (unlike his team mates), and looked very comfortable against the great man both in South Africa and Australia.

Gilchrist was better behind the stumps but for contributions made to the team all around I would have to go with Boucher.

 

[andyc]

But then who would you have as a batsman for Gilchrist? Hardly anyone else performed in the series, and therefore I felt he deserved a spot for his keeping efforts, even though his batting may not have been too good. Then again, I'm pretty sure I'm letting my bias towards Gilly get in the way here.

 

[Mister Wright]

But then who would you have as a batsman for Gilchrist? Hardly anyone else performed in the series, and therefore I felt he deserved a spot for his keeping efforts, even though his batting may not have been too good. Then again, I'm pretty sure I'm letting my bias towards Gilly get in the way here.

Gilchrist could not be selected in a combined team, he is terrible with the bat, has been for a while. Someone like Prince or de Villiers would have to come in.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

But then who would you have as a batsman for Gilchrist? Hardly anyone else performed in the series, and therefore I felt he deserved a spot for his keeping efforts, even though his batting may not have been too good. Then again, I'm pretty sure I'm letting my bias towards Gilly get in the way here.

I'd have Ashwell Prince batting at 6 and Boucher at 7 keeping, I'd say. Gilchrist kept very well all series, but you have to do at least something with the bat. Prince played a great knock in the third test, and so I'd pick him.

Other options are Langer (average), Symonds (rubbish), Smith (average), Gibbs (rubbish), De Villiers (average) an Rudolph (average). Prince outplayed all of them.

 

[Nate]

I`d go the same as Andy, swapping Martyn with Kallis batting-order-wise.

Gilchrist was just amazing with the gloves. And Boucher batted well. Room for both.

 

[alternative]

As to both keepers, Boucher outplayed Gilchrist..
But considering if they actually play the match as the team suggested by andyc, i would choose Gilly there as there is a quality spinner like Shane Warne there and i don't see boucher doing a good job with the golves..

Other than that Andy has summed it up in nut shell..

 

[Nate]

How did he out-play Gilchrist? He out-batted him, definately, but Gilchrist dominated with the mits.

 

[Dasa]

How did he out-play Gilchrist? He out-batted him, definately, but Gilchrist dominated with the mits.

...but it's not as if Boucher was terrible with the gloves either. I can't remember any mistakes from him actually...and he obviously batted far better than Gilchrist.

 

[Nate]

Room. For. Both.

 

[Loony BoB]

This thread still stickied? Could have sworn Australia had already landed in Bangladesh and South Africa were already hosting NZ.

 

[Jono]

There's no point going on about how Gilly 'out-kept' Boucher, when Boucher did nothing wrong. The fact that Gilly got to keep to Warne gave him more opportunities, and Clark and Lee were giving Gilly more chances as well compared to the SA bowlers. The only drop I can think of from Boucer is the tough one off Ponting in the 1st test down the legside, and really that one was ridiculously tough.

IMO you just can't gave Gilly in a combined XI with the way he batted in this series, and if you are having him in, you have to bat Lee ahead of him because he did better with the bat anyway.

 

[James]

This thread still stickied? Could have sworn Australia had already landed in Bangladesh and South Africa were already hosting NZ.

Threads are sticked until a week after the tour has ended

 

[vic_orthdox]

...but it's not as if Boucher was terrible with the gloves either. I can't remember any mistakes from him actually...and he obviously batted far better than Gilchrist.

I remember him dropping Ponting down leg side. Can't remember though what test it was, and if he was "made to pay" for it.