***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Xuhaib]

So SA can score 700 dec in the first innings and Australia 950 dec and at the end of 5 days SA have yet to bat again?

Yup most likely to happen if they can survive their morning drive to the stadium from the hotel.

 

[Nate]

Hey Nath, I'm one of your biggest fans and all, but stop with the self-important "I know everything about cricket because I watched the Shield Final last year" bull****. Been cringing at every single one of your posts over the last few pages.

Only brought it up when he attacked meh. More than happy to let it rest otherwise.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Btw, if getting spanked in this Test means dropping McDonald before the Ashes then it = a win in my books.

Getting spanked in this test most likely means McDonald DOESN'T get dropped.

It seems like the selectors thought process is something like
1. No current spinner is up to test class.
2. We need someone to bowl it tight and dry up the runs
3. It would help if said person could weild the willow a little bit
4. Let North/ Clarke/ Katich spin it up in the second dig if neccessary.

Therefore McDonald gets the nod in the 'spinners' spot - UNLESS McGain can get some wickets.

Oh please Bryce?

 

[inbox24]

Any chance we can draw this match, with only 6 batsmen? Would be hugely satisfying.

 

[pup11]

Bring back Krezja. He would've gone for 100 too, but at least he'd have a few poles.

Hopefully he'll be better tonight. **** can't get worse after all.

Krejza won't pick any wickets on tracks like these either, he needs crumbling tracks to really be any sort of threat, its pretty clear that Australia's best spinner whenever they feel like playing one is Nathan Hauritz.

There could be an argument that, North can do the exact same job as Hauritz, which is true to a large extent, but Hauritz being a bowler is expected to bowl with a lot more consistency as compared to North, and also given the fact that Hauritz hasn't done badly whenever given a chance, and AFAIC he is pretty capable of doing a similar job to what Harris does for South Africa.

I wasn't hoping that McGain would perform any miracles, but atleast I was expecting better accuracy from him, which has come across as one of his strong points whenever I have previously seen him bowl, but yesterday, he was bowling one long-hop after the other.

Tbt, its a shame really, the man is a much better bowler then what we saw yesterday, but I guess he is just not meant to play for Australia, at the age of 37, he was always walking on a very tight rope, and his efforts yesterday, won't have really filled the selectors or the team-management with much confidence to presist with him in the future.

As for the present game, Australia are obviously in a big hole in this game now, with three days still left, can't really see the guys saving this test from here, even if they come up with a stronger batting performance in the 2nd gig.

 

[pup11]

Any chance we can draw this match, with only 6 batsmen? Would be hugely satisfying.

I would say you can also pretty much count Johnson as a batsman now, so that makes it seven, and I would also like to see Mitch bat at 7, ahead of Ronnie McDonald.

 

[four_or_six]

I guess the problem with Hauritz doing a Giles/Harris kind of role is that those teams had Flintoff and Kallis. That said, although I know people are saying he's rubbish, stats-wise I don't really see the logic for dropping Haurtiz for McGain. Hauritz has done a decent job so far with the chances he's been given and also went back to state cricket and took wickets.

I think the Aussies to need a spinner for the Ashes because in a 5-test series that's a big workload for the quicks to carry otherwise. It's worth having Hauritz in keeping it tight and picking up the odd wicket bowling a decent number of overs than having Johnson and Siddle crocked from overwork.

 

[SJS]

Fabulous batting by Kallis.

I am not a great fan of his but this was really special. There was one backfoot on drive which was one of the finest shots I have seen in a decade and he made it as if he could do it in his sleep.

I am going to watch more of him

 

[four_or_six]

Fabulous batting by Kallis.

I am not a great fan of his but this was really special. There was one backfoot on drive which was one of the finest shots I have seen in a decade and he made it as if he could do it in his sleep.

I am going to watch more of him

Kallis is truly immense. Awesome player.

 

[inbox24]

Single strike Hilfeh!~

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

Good start to the day, now we need to some Lazarus like stuff and rip thru them. Keep the lead below 300, Although this game does seem lost already

 

[AlanJLegend]

I hope I don't seem like a n00b here, but I am quite confused.

I was just looking at the scorecard if this tour match Australia played in South Africa not too long ago;

Cricinfo - Tour Match: South African Board President's XI v Australians at Potchefstroom, Feb 20-22, 2009



In the first innings, Simon Katich is 'retired out'. In the second innings, Hughes and North are also 'retired out'. I have never heard this term before.


What the **** is 'retired out'?

 

[four_or_six]

I hope I don't seem like a n00b here, but I am quite confused.

I was just looking at the scorecard if this tour match Australia played in South Africa not too long ago;

Cricinfo - Tour Match: South African Board President's XI v Australians at Potchefstroom, Feb 20-22, 2009



In the first innings, Simon Katich is 'retired out'. In the second innings, Hughes and North are also 'retired out'. I have never heard this term before.


What the **** is 'retired out'?

They came off from batting without getting out, so that their teammates could get some batting practice.

 

[Bracken]

What the **** is 'retired out'?

Basically, if you retire due to an injury ('retired hurt'), you can return to the crease at a later stage to continue your innings. If you retire because you decide that you can't be arsed batting anymore, your innings is finished, you can't resume your innings later, and you are 'retired out'.

 

[AlanJLegend]

Oh ok, thanks.


If you retire out does it count as a not out in terms of your average?

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

Oh ok, thanks.


If you retire out does it count as a not out in terms of your average?

When you you retire out (ie can't be arsed any more) it counts as a dismissal in your averages. At the top levels it generally only happens in tour/ warm up matches. In test cricket it would be considered disrespectful to the opposition.

 

[Evermind]

Duminy out damnit

 

[Craig]

Been really impressed with AB this morning. Been so busy and always looking for quick singles here and there and they have already added nearly 40 this morning.

 

[Evermind]

DeVilliers averages 87 in this series, what a champ!

 

[Uppercut]

AB doesn't want to keep because he wants to be the best batsman in the world. Watching him bat, i reckon it's possible. There's no obvious weakness there at all.