***Official Australia in South Africa***

[James]

This could be good for Australia in a way with McGrath not touring.

As others have said, it gives Lee the chance to try and become the next leader in the Aussie bowling action and either way it will definately give him good experience for the Ashes later in the year.

Another advantage is it gives Australia the chance to perhaps blood a Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark or even re-look at Gillespie or Kasper. If McGrath didn't tour, this wouldn't have happened.

When McGrath does come back, he'll hopefully get back to his best, and be in the mood to tear through some opposition batting lineups.

 

[Slats4ever]

if mitchell johnson, shaun tait or kasper play against south africa in test matches it'll be a travesty.

Stuart Clarke's the only one who really warrants a position because his form has been solid in ODI's

 

[James]

Does form in ODIs really count though? Isn't that 7 foot tall WA fast bowler (forget this name) tearing apart state sides this year?

Shaun Tait looked promising from what I saw of him in the Ashes last year. Has his bowling gone off the boil this domestic season?

 

[social]

Does form in ODIs really count though? Isn't that 7 foot tall WA fast bowler (forget this name) tearing apart state sides this year?

Shaun Tait looked promising from what I saw of him in the Ashes last year. Has his bowling gone off the boil this domestic season?

Tait's injured his shoulder and has only returned of late.

 

[James]

Tait's injured his shoulder and has only returned of late.

Oh right.

Perhaps I should keep my comments on Aussie cricket to myself

 

[howardj]

This could be good for Australia in a way with McGrath not touring.

.

Nah. I think the last time we left these shores without him, for a whole Test tour, was in 1997/98 versus India. We lost that series, and copped two absolute hidings in the first couple of Test Matches. And we all saw what happened without McGrath in England last year. Without the Metronome, and with South Africa unlikely to produce wickets that assist the spinners, I think this series could actually be very close.

 

[andyc]

Even without McGrath, I'm tipping Australia to win the tests 2-1 or 2-0.
The one-dayers should be closer, and I daresay it'll be 3-2 Australia.

Are Nell and Ntini going to be fit for these, or at least the tests?

 

[Autobahn]

Even without McGrath, I'm tipping Australia to win the tests 2-1 or 2-0.
The one-dayers should be closer, and I daresay it'll be 3-2 Australia.

Are Nell and Ntini going to be fit for these, or at least the tests?

Nel and Ntini will be fit by the sounds of it.

The problem i have with Lee leading the attack is that if anyone in the bowling attack is out of form it will force ponting to bring lee back into the attack or bowl warne for 40 odd overs a day which happened in the ashes.

Plus it might force Lee to bowl within himself which isn't the best way of bowling him.

 

[Scaly piscine]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18206073-23212,00.html

The Pre-tour verbals begin. Boucher's taken aim and fired, apparently one or two of the Aussies have lost his respect after 'nasty things' were said during post-match drinks, which he thinks are done "just for the sake of it".

There's some other bits here:

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/237930.html

I especially like this:

Graeme Smith regularly promoted Australia's faults during the tour and Boucher has joined in with a list that includes the players and supporters being in denial over the Ashes loss last winter. "Australia were lucky to stay alive in the Ashes for as long as they did," he said. "Except for the first Test they were completely outplayed.

"I don't think they knew how to take that. It was a shock to their press, their past players and their current players. The past players in particular made a lot of comments on this tour. Maybe they should keep their mouths shut and focus on watching the game. Let the teams do the talking in the middle."

 

[andyc]

Maybe they should keep their mouths shut and focus on watching the game. Let the teams do the talking in the middle."[/I]

Says Graeme Smith!?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Says Graeme Smith!?

Says Boucher.

 

[aussie]

if mitchell johnson, shaun tait or kasper play against south africa in test matches it'll be a travesty.

Stuart Clarke's the only one who really warrants a position because his form has been solid in ODI's

if Kasper or Tait were to play it wont be a travesty, but if Johnson plays it will..

 

[andyc]

Says Boucher.

Oh. Hehe. How stupid of me

 

[TT Boy]

This would be a competitive South African test line up in my mind. McKenzie is a no nonsense middle order player, he knows the score. Peterson in my mind is a far better option than Nicky Boje, whose time has surely come and gone. If the test pitches are offering nothing for the slower bowlers than just drop Peterson and bring in another batsmen, ideally J Duminy.


G Smith
AB de Villiers
H Gibbs
J Kallis
N McKenzie
M Boucher
S Pollock
J van der Wath
R Peterson
M Ntini
A Nel

 

[howardj]

This would be a competitive South African test line up in my mind. McKenzie is a no nonsense middle order player, he knows the score. Peterson in my mind is a far better option than Nicky Boje, whose time has surely come and gone. If the test pitches are offering nothing for the slower bowlers than just drop Peterson and bring in another batsmen, ideally J Duminy.


G Smith
AB de Villiers
H Gibbs
J Kallis
N McKenzie
M Boucher
S Pollock
J van der Wath
R Peterson
M Ntini
A Nel

I'd definitely have another batsman in there. Prince, in my view, showed real signs of improvement in Australia. I wouldn't be dropping him for the 1st Test.

 

[Autobahn]

This would be a competitive South African test line up in my mind. McKenzie is a no nonsense middle order player, he knows the score. Peterson in my mind is a far better option than Nicky Boje, whose time has surely come and gone. If the test pitches are offering nothing for the slower bowlers than just drop Peterson and bring in another batsmen, ideally J Duminy.


G Smith
AB de Villiers
H Gibbs
J Kallis
N McKenzie
M Boucher
S Pollock
J van der Wath
R Peterson
M Ntini
A Nel

Why no hall? he seems a very compact bowling all-rounder and i think prince would be peferred over Mckenzie

 

[TT Boy]

Why no hall? he seems a very compact bowling all-rounder and i think prince would be peferred over Mckenzie

Never fancied Hall with the bat, he gets caught in two minds of going El Loco or just playing at maidens. He can’t rotate the strike as well.

McKenzie has no chance of playing I just like him, Prince or Rudolph will play which is a shame.

 

[TT Boy]

I'd definitely have another batsman in there. Prince, in my view, showed real signs of improvement in Australia. I wouldn't be dropping him for the 1st Test.

I don’t know, I think with the added reasonability of batting higher, Pollock and Boucher might fulfil the talent their actually have. Both are better and more capable than Prince, Kemp or even Rudolph and the burden of coming in higher might be the incentive their need.

 

[Autobahn]

Or they may act like fish out of water and get confused on how to play.

I mean if boucher (a man who likes to play his shots) comes in at six there's a big chance he might try to play more cautiously thinking that's how a number 6 batsmen would play and just ruin his overall game.

Even Gilly bats at 7.

 

[marc71178]

Plus it might force Lee to bowl within himself which isn't the best way of bowling him.

I'd actually say that would be better for him to be honest.