***Official*** South Africa in Australia

[GotSpin]

What was the official attendance for today's play?

 

[meatspx]

Symonds is a good player, he's just had a bad run in tests. It happens with all batsman at some stage in their career, and unfortunately for him its hit him at the start of it

If his role in the team is to play as a batsman who bowls abit (a batting allrounder), then I would give him another chance. If he's in the team purely as a batsman, then replace him with either Clark or Katich.

Nel was outstanding today. How many overs were bowled on the trot in his last spell? 9,10,11? That was pretty impressive to continue bowling in the high 130's with good accuracy.

 

[tadeusz]

What was the official attendance for today's play?

A shade under 72,000, from memory

 

[marc71178]

Marto at 34 prolly too old to be picked. I don't think its that smart to pick someone who'll for age reasons be out of the team in a year. Do we really want a 35 year old Martyn facing Eng next Ashes?

Looking at some of the alternatives, as an Englishman I'd be delighted if Martyn weren't in the side.

 

[marc71178]

The finger needs to be pointed at someone in the Aus team hierarchy - I assume they all discuss the desision before they toss.

In the space of ten tests, we've;

a. sent the oppo in on a road on a tiny ground having lost the world's best bowler just before play;

b. batted on a pitch when play was delayed due to rain; and

c. batted on a pitch wnen play was delayed due to the wicket being wet.

Ponting is a brilliant, brilliant batsman - probably the best in the world at present.

However, either his man management skills are totally crap or he's an absolute imbecile.

Either way, he's got no idea as a captain.

But had he bowled first today in a side with only 2 seamers and SA got through them, then he'd probably have been shot at anyway!

 

[Dasa]

A shade under 72,000, from memory

Official attendance figures put it at 71,910.

 

[social]

But had he bowled first today in a side with only 2 seamers and SA got through them, then he'd probably have been shot at anyway!

In Aus, its conventional wisdon that wet wickets not only seam but spin.

 

[James90]

Clarke and Bracken should have played ahead of Symonds and MacGill. Anyone who thinks Symonds has deserved six tests really must be quite blind. I'm also sick of people thinking i'm a typical Queenslander who complained about Symonds not being in the team and then slammed him after a couple of bad performances. He should never have replaced Katich in Sri Lanka and should never have played test cricket ever.

 

[GotSpin]

Official attendance figures put it at 71,910.

Ok thanks

 

[GotSpin]

should never have played test cricket ever.

Thats a bit harsh, might as well give him a go after his ODI performances. But unless he scores a double ton i say the selectors give him the boot

 

[Josh]

Hayden was boring the crap out of me and it was annoying, too. Corpse with pads on.

 

[GotSpin]

Hayden was boring the crap out of me and it was annoying, too. Corpse with pads on.

Yeah wasn't that entertaining, but i guess thats what you get with a lively pitch

 

[James90]

Thats a bit harsh, might as well give him a go after his ODI performances. But unless he scores a double ton i say the selectors give him the boot

Why...his one-day performances were too few and far between. Useful to fill up 10 overs during the shorter form aswell as score runs at the death but you simply don't get those situations in test cricket. His bowling was never up to standard and he wouldn't be picked as a batsman ahead of Hodge, Hussey or Katich.

 

[marc71178]

Hayden was boring the crap out of me and it was annoying, too. Corpse with pads on.

Showing skill to battle through a tricky period is what Test Cricket is about - if you want run a ball fun, stick to limited overs stuff.

 

[Josh]

Showing skill to battle through a tricky period is what Test Cricket is about - if you want run a ball fun, stick to limited overs stuff.

Yeh, I know that but today I dunno it just seemed weird don't ask why.

Day was ruined when Hodge went out lol.

 

[Dasa]

Showing skill to battle through a tricky period is what Test Cricket is about - if you want run a ball fun, stick to limited overs stuff.

Exactly..it was a fantastic day of proper Test cricket...the best I've seen at the 'G in the last few years. They've largely been flat pitches recently, it was good to see the batsmen having to work hard for their runs.

 

[Zinzan]

Disappointed with the lack of S.Africans supporters on this thread, particularly after the good day today. I thought the bowlers toiled away brilliantly. A 1st innings lead of 120-150 is a genuine possiblilty if the wickets flattens out more....huge day 2moro!!

 

[Josh]

Yeh bowlers definitely did well. Ntini got smacked around a bit at the start so did Nel but recovered brilliantly.

Nel lost his cool a bit but that's all normal.

Who's that umpire?? I've never heard of him.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeh bowlers definitely did well. Ntini got smacked around a bit at the start so did Nel but recovered brilliantly.

Nel lost his cool a bit but that's all normal.

Who's that umpire?? I've never heard of him.

Asad Rauf & me neither until today. One of the commentators said it was only his third test. I liked the look of him, myself. Gave the benefit of any doubt to the batsmen, which is as it should be.

Just been watching the highlights, good day's play. Good (although far from chanceless) knock from Punter, impressive opener's innings from Hayden (who is showing more adaptability as a player than I'd given him credit for, so kudos to him), couple of quality snaffles at first slip from Fat Gray & entertainingly hostile stuff from Nel. Thought him having a go at Hussey for staring at him was possibly the biggest kettle-pot-black scenario I've seen for ages tho!

 

[Pratters]

tbh SA batting wasn't that strong in perth & Ponting was in his right to believe he could run throught that brittle looking middle order with his 2 champions leading the attack in 1 day.

And what was the logic behind delaying the declaration?