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***Official*** Australia in South Africa

Woodster

Woodster

International Captain
No doubting this was a fantastic Test to watch, it ebbed one way then the other thorughout with neither side being able to grab the game by the throat when they had the advantage and take it away from the opposition.

Important contributions from the men under pressure in Ponting and Haddin. Ponting looked solid and memories of his finer days were brought back to mind with some convincing pull shots, drives down the ground and some lovely punches off the back foot through the cover region. Will it be enough to keep his position in the side ? I certainly hope it does, his form has been patchy at best and I think he can still have a big impact on this side, unless he decides to call time on his career.

Haddin too made a much needed half-century, was more circumspect due to the situation of the game, and rode his luck with a few loose wafts outside his off stump. But he still attacked where possible, I like how he plays, he's easy on the eye and, imo, should also retain his place in the side.

Johnson batted very well also, yet he was only under pressure with regards the game situation. He has failed miserably in his specialist discipline so his place in the side did not depend on how he did with the bat on that last day. He just had to go out and bat like he does, putting bat to ball with little to lose, this time it paid off for him. But his bowling is the big concern, he cannot surely keep his place in the side despite this vital innings because his bowling is what he gets selected for and it has been woefully below par for some time, and there are decent alternatives now.
 
robelinda

robelinda

International Vice-Captain
"I just want 20 wickets and I want to get more runs than the opposition. It was Paddy's day. First Test in Brisbane could be Peter Siddle's day or Mitchell Johnson's day." - Clarke.

oh oh. Mitch aint gone.
 
Briony

Briony

International Debutant
Great win but SA doesn't seem to beat anybody in a home series so we have to keep it in perspective.
 
Nate

Nate

You'll Never Walk Alone
In what ways were the continued selections of the underperforming Johnson and Siddle good ones, then?

EDIT: Or is applying context to your bullying not part of James' selection of his Cricket Web frontmen?
 
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Howe_zat

Howe_zat

Audio File
Bullying, really?

You can't admit you were being the teenisiest bit over the top when suggesting that anyone who disagrees with you "needed to learn the basics of cricket"? Even when your complaint was about someone merely saying you ought to calm down a bit?
 
Nate

Nate

You'll Never Walk Alone
Howe_zat said:
Bullying, really?

You can't admit you were being the teenisiest bit over the top when suggesting that anyone who disagrees with you "needed to learn the basics of cricket"? Even when your complaint was about someone merely saying you ought to calm down a bit?
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If you discerned that from reading it, I feel bad for you.

When the grown ups were talking a few pages back, we were discussing how winning this Test could possibly be even worse for Australia long term, as it looks like we're stuck with a bunch of underperforming players for even longer, relying on miracles from an eighteen year old.

Pessimism. :cool:
 
heathrf1974

heathrf1974

School Boy/Girl Cricketer
social said:
Anyone that had seen SL play in Eng wouldve known that they are pretty woeful atm, so us winning there was not a huge surprise

SA was a toss-up for me as the conditions should suit our attack and one had to think that Ponting would eventually come good

Having said that, the fact that we drew 1-1 after giving away a test & unearthered top young talent in Khawaja and Cummins in the process implies that it was a good result.

However, my feeling is that if it had been a 5 test series, it wouldve gone the same way as the Ashes as we simply have too many players out of form/depth

As such, the real worry is if the selectors decide that they wont change a winning side
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I thought the Aussies could beat SL. Some people judging teams focus too much on batting lineups when it is the bowling lineups that make the major contribution to the outcome. Although SL have some great batsmen, the retirement of Muralitharan and no recognised quick meant the SL side was on the decline.
With the SA series that was drawn; I was a bit surprised we pulled it off and it was all due to Cummins. The SA bowling lineup was much stronger than I had expected (Philander's fine bowling and SAs discovery of a good spinner in Tahir).
SA cricket is a bit like Liverpool at the moment, they do some great things and are a very good side but just can't reach that next level.
 
TumTum

TumTum

Banned
Scaly piscine said:
Australia in South Africa 2011-12: Young Cummins stands out for Australia | Cricket Features | South Africa v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

Gotta love Cricinfo's scores out of 10. How exactly are a number of batsmen who managed a stunning average of around 20, ahead of Lyon and Harris - who did a serviceable job with the ball?
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Only 8 out of 10 for Cummins.... I don't see what more he would have needed to do, he took a catch as well, maybe a run out? That's ridiculous.
 
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