***Official Australia in South Africa***

[howardj]

It wasn't arrogant to think you would have won. It is arrogant to not accept you were stupid to bet yrou life on it.

You shouldn't even be alive. And don't blame me or the rest of the forum for some thing you said.

Calm down, ladies.

Everyone's still a bit shell-shocked by last night's events.

 

[Jono]

It wasn't arrogant to think you would have won. It is arrogant to not accept you were stupid to bet yrou life on it.

You shouldn't even be alive. And don't blame me or the rest of the forum for some thing you said.

The way you said that was hilarous.

Aussie next time just bet your avatar or something, not your house and life

 

[alternative]

Tell me about it.. after losing a bet of 3 cartons of beer.. i know and feel the pain..
altho i thought saffies hav a strong chance, i was stupid enough to make a bet.. grrr thats the last time i am ever going to bet for the aussies..

 

[social]

I strongly disagree with that. If - like with lawyering - you needed a license to practice captaincy, Ponting would have been dis-barred last night...with no prospect for re-admission. I'm always loathe to say a captaincy decision cost a side the match, however Ponting's blind faith in Lewis absolutely did.

There's six overs to go, and Lewis has conceded 74 runs off 7 overs, while Clarke and Symonds (particularly in the latter part of their spells) were going for 3 or 4 runs an over less. Anyway, Ponting bowls Lewis...and after 8 overs he has conceded 87 runs! Then he bowls him again...100 off 9 overs. Then he bowls him again....113 off 10 overs.

Honestly, it was professional negligence from Ponting. It was disgraceful. Was Lewis's bowling bad? Yes. Did Ponting have a choice whether or not to bowl him? Absolutely. Poor show. Poor show.

Ponting and whoever he discussed this decision with were probably the only people in the world that thought Lewis should've been brought back on last night.

However, that decision did not cost Aus the match.

Brilliant batting from Gibbs, appalling bowling from everybody, a couple of dodgy umpiring decisions and a ridiculous team selection combined to do so.

Aus lost a match that, in the scheme of things, will do them more good than harm where the WC is concerned.

Of more significance is the performance of our selectors.

Questions need to asked as to:

a. why Lewis was ever awarded an ACB contract, let alone play for Aus in the first place

b. why Watson, one of our best in the first 3 games, was dropped from the final 2

c. why Hogg, one of our most consistent performers of the past few years was dropped against a team that is weak against spin

d. why Martyn was played if he was only going to bat at 6 at the highest

e. why Martyn was selected for the tests when he is so out of touch that he is being shuffled down the batting order

f. why Johnson was selected when he if he was only going to be given 3 overs on tour to prove his worth when he could have been bowling a hundred or more overs in the Pura Cup

 

[sqwerty]

Ponting and whoever he discussed this decision with were probably the only people in the world that thought Lewis should've been brought back on last night.

However, that decision did not cost Aus the match.

Brilliant batting from Gibbs, appalling bowling from everybody, a couple of dodgy umpiring decisions and a ridiculous team selection combined to do so.

Aus lost a match that, in the scheme of things, will do them more good than harm where the WC is concerned.

Of more significance is the performance of our selectors.

Questions need to asked as to:

a. why Lewis was ever awarded an ACB contract, let alone play for Aus in the first place

b. why Watson, one of our best in the first 3 games, was dropped from the final 2

c. why Hogg, one of our most consistent performers of the past few years was dropped against a team that is weak against spin

d. why Martyn was played if he was only going to bat at 6 at the highest

e. why Martyn was selected for the tests when he is so out of touch that he is being shuffled down the batting order

f. why Johnson was selected when he if he was only going to be given 3 overs on tour to prove his worth when he could have been bowling a hundred or more overs in the Pura Cup

Good questions those.

Here's the answers:

a. you just have to look at the guy's fat little face and stumpy body to know he should never bowl for Australia.

b. beats me, not that his batting strength over Lewis would have been needed yesterday

c. see 'b'

d. see 'c'

e. I'm prepared to give him a chance...just

f. who cares...they always seem to make these pointless selections.

 

[bigstu]

What a weird game, unfortunately missed it coz I was working a night shift.

All I want to know is.... Does a team seriously go out to chase 435 thinking they have a chance at all or is it just "let's just smack it around for a while & see where we are then"? Forget flat pitches, short boundaries, high altitude, even bad bowling (you don't know at the start of an innings how bad the bowling will be), how do you even put yourself in the right mind-set to chase a total like that? Usually when teams are chasing a huge total the pressure gets to them & they crumble very quickly.

Can we just put this game down to a freak one-off?

 

[social]

What a weird game, unfortunately missed it coz I was working a night shift.

All I want to know is.... Does a team seriously go out to chase 435 thinking they have a chance at all or is it just "let's just smack it around for a while & see where we are then"? Forget flat pitches, short boundaries, high altitude, even bad bowling (you don't know at the start of an innings how bad the bowling will be), how do you even put yourself in the right mind-set to chase a total like that? Usually when teams are chasing a huge total the pressure gets to them & they crumble very quickly.

Can we just put this game down to a freak one-off?

Unfortunately, no.

Aus were beaten in another high-scoring game by NZ earlier this year (? - maybe late last).

I think we have enough evidence to be convinced that these bowlers arent that good.

 

[Demolition Man]

What a weird game, unfortunately missed it coz I was working a night shift.

All I want to know is.... Does a team seriously go out to chase 435 thinking they have a chance at all or is it just "let's just smack it around for a while & see where we are then"? Forget flat pitches, short boundaries, high altitude, even bad bowling (you don't know at the start of an innings how bad the bowling will be), how do you even put yourself in the right mind-set to chase a total like that? Usually when teams are chasing a huge total the pressure gets to them & they crumble very quickly.

Can we just put this game down to a freak one-off?

Gibbs played his game, and kept playing, often when he is needed to stick and gets out people say he just slogs it and does not care. well in this match he did slog it and he did not care , and the ball absolutley smashed through the covers, then when a fielder went out there he managed to work a boundary on the on-side causing ponting to react and open up deep-cover, which is gibbs high-run getting region.

Then when gilly came up to the stumps the fours would be scored through third man and fine leg. The outfield was like lightning.

The only person to strike at under 125 in the aussie innings was katich who was flying along (at his standards) at a SR of 80 odd. In hindsight on that deck it would have been more beneficial for him o get out I would think, much the same as dippenanr got out early for the southies. Yes you could argue that this may have held the aussies back a bit but keep in mind the number 1 and 2 batsmen in ODI would have been at the crease.

Regardless of this no team should not be able to defend anything over 350 IMO.

Once Gibbs got out the aussies had a chance, ponting applied the pressure by bringing on the slower bowlers and taking the pace of the ball, if the southies were going to score boundaries, they would have to make the pace. this workled well, then for some reason he believed that Mick Lewis would do better , he did not, the he tried him again, the same result occured, then Lee who we all know goes for4 plenty because of his pace, and then well he tried lewis again. Why ?? probably to prove a point give lewis the opportunity to answer his critics, well boy did he answer them, he answered yes critics I am a dud.

 

[social]

Good questions those.

Here's the answers:


b. beats me, not that his batting strength over Lewis would have been needed yesterday

c. see 'b'

d. see 'c'

.

Drop Martyn and Lewis for Watson and Hogg gives you better batting (assuming Martyn will only be called on to slog at the death), better bowling options and infinitely better fielding - no brainer IMO.

 

[Demolition Man]

Drop Martyn and Lewis for Watson and Hogg gives you better batting (assuming Martyn will only be called on to slog at the death), better bowling options and infinitely better fielding - no brainer IMO.

Martyn looked terrible in the field, katich although I think he bats way too slow looked the best he has in a long time in the field today. Very sharp.

 

[bigstu]

I think it's just a matter of "well, we've got nothing to lose so just go for it". maybe chasing a total like that actually takes the pressure off. I mean really, who would expect them to win? Opposite effect to teams chasing a very low total & losing.

 

[Demolition Man]

Does anyone dispute that the match had the collective best batting and worst bowling ever seen in a ODI ???

If not then how can it possibly said that it was the best ODI games of cricket ever ???
If so they may as well just get bowling machines out there because bowlers don;t really matter.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

True but some of the replies, particularly those saying "I'd hate to be a Suddie" (sic) and similar were stupid, and it was pure justice that SA got over the line allowing us neutrals to just quote each and every arrogant post and make them look silly

And in doing so, you look all the more arrogant.

 

[Demolition Man]

And in doing so, you look all the more arrogant.

Jono is clearly a superior being to us arrogant aussie who thought we were going to win. Damm those arrogant betting agnecies who also thought the southies were no chance, those aggorgant fools.

Barry richards said at a lunchtime talk that the southies were "absolutley no chance" (to win the match). That will teach that arrogant fool !!!!!!

 

[bigstu]

I would think that any supporter would be pretty smug if their team just made 434 in a 50 over match.
regardless of the result, I would prefer to see a match of great batting, tight bowling & great fielding than an all out slog fest. Great battles between bat & ball are when cricket is at it's best. I don't think anybody really wants to see any bowler go for 113 runs in 10 overs, that's just painful to watch. Do we get as excited when a team is bowled out for under 100 by great bowling & fielding?

Go back to the ashes (it still hurts), why was that such a good series? It was a constant battle between bat & ball, I have never been so glued to the tv for every ball, you just never knew what was going to happen.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Jono is clearly a superior being to us arrogant aussie who thought we were going to win. Damm those arrogant betting agnecies who also thought the southies were no chance, those aggorgant fools.

Barry richards said at a lunchtime talk that the southies were "absolutley no chance" (to win the match). That will teach that arrogant fool !!!!!!

Look, don't get me wrong. You've made a complete fool of yourself over the last 24 hours and were called on it, and yes, I laughed when you were torn apart for your "I'll go shine my World Cup blah blah" comment.

 

[Demolition Man]

I would think that any supporter would be pretty smug if their team just made 434 in a 50 over match.
regardless of the result, I would prefer to see a match of great batting, tight bowling & great fielding than an all out slog fest. Great battles between bat & ball are when cricket is at it's best. I don't think anybody really wants to see any bowler go for 113 runs in 10 overs, that's just painful to watch. Do we get as excited when a team is bowled out for under 100 by great bowling & fielding?

Go back to the ashes (it still hurts), why was that such a good series? It was a constant battle between bat & ball, I have never been so glued to the tv for every ball, you just never knew what was going to happen.

Exactly and as the risk of being labelled a sore loser, as I am not trying to take anything away from the southies winning because they won the game FAIR AND SQUARE, no question but that was hardly the greates ODI game ever as it is being labelled by some. The best attacking batting in an ODI ever, perhaps but if that was the best ever match then bowlers may as well quit and we should pick 11 batters to play the match and just throw pies down.

 

[Demolition Man]

Look, don't get me wrong. You've made a complete fool of yourself over the last 24 hours and were called on it, and yes, I laughed when you were torn apart for your "I'll go shine my World Cup blah blah" comment.

You can;t win them all, I am just thankfull we won IMHO the more important close ones. Thats all, you have to have something to clutch onto when you side loses the seemingly unloseable match. Clearly I have a chracter flaw in the heat of the moment, I am only human. It is a natural reaction to look for the positives after a match like that, was I clutching at straws, yes, will I apologize for that, no.

 

[kvemuri]

Damn what a game! Had tivoed it and just finished watching. Wow I still cannot believe this game, I still cannot believe South Africa chased that score, in the VB series they weren;t able to chase 250 and they chased 434..damn. One thing has to be certain, Mick Lewis (who was part of the team that got carted all over by NZL when they were chasing a world record score against Aus) has played his last game for Australia in both formats.

 

[Demolition Man]

Damn what a game! Had tivoed it and just finished watching. Wow I still cannot believe this game, I still cannot believe South Africa chased that score, in the VB series they weren;t able to chase 250 and they chased 434..damn. One thing has to be certain, Mick Lewis (who was part of the team that got carted all over by NZL when they were chasing a world record score against Aus) has played his last game for Australia in both formats.

I agree with the last statement, but what do you make of ponting persisting with him ?? I would have benched him after his 4th over.