***Official*** South Africa in Australia

[parttimer]

**cough cough* **tumbleweed blows across**

 

[luckyeddie]

Hey it worked for Steve Waugh for 17 tests in a row.

So Ponting's captaincy plan is to put himself in the position of another captain - that makes a lot of sense, actually.

Apart from the fact that Steve Waugh wouldn't have said "We'll have a bowl" five minutes after losing his strike bowler in a hopscotch-related incident.

 

[Linda]

It will be interesting to see what Symonds does tomorrow. He's not worth a spot if all he can do is hit out before a decleration.

 

[parttimer]

So Ponting's captaincy plan is to put himself in the position of another captain - that makes a lot of sense, actually.

Apart from the fact that Steve Waugh wouldn't have said "We'll have a bowl" five minutes after losing his strike bowler in a hopscotch-related incident.

I think you'd lasted 5 posts without mentioning that, nice one Scrappy

 

[Josh]

Rediculous umpiring today. Some really poor decisions.

The Warne-Prince dismissal. As soon as I saw it I thought "You're kidding, Shane", then I saw the crooked finger go up and that turned to "Billy Billy Billy... what have you done??"

MacGill-Boucher... I can't believe no-one could have seen that hit the ground.

I'm not one that likes to swipe on the umpires but today... that was a bit deplaurable.

 

[Josh]

Well with the rate of recycling of the aussie team at the moment, I'd dare say Hodge's career is over.

 

[howardj]

Well with the rate of recycling of the aussie team at the moment, I'd dare say Hodge's career is over.

Elliot or Blewett must be due for a recall soon! Or, god help us, Bevo.

 

[luckyeddie]

I think you'd lasted 5 posts without mentioning that, nice one Scrappy

Yes, I'm surprised it took me so long too.

I'll better put it in my sig - just for you.

 

[GotSpin]

MacGill-Boucher... I can't believe no-one could have seen that hit the ground.

I'm not one that likes to swipe on the umpires but today... that was a bit deplaurable.

Thats harsh, the commentators only realised it had hit the ground after using the super slow mo thing. Tough decision

 

[GotSpin]

Well with the rate of recycling of the aussie team at the moment, I'd dare say Hodge's career is over.

He scored a double century not long ago, and the rate of recycling isnt high at all

 

[Scaly piscine]

He scored a double century not long ago, and the rate of recycling isnt high at all

Over the last decade as a whole it isn't high, but since The Ashes it has been pretty high. Katich, Martyn and Clarke gone and replaced and there may be more. Half a batting lineup in 5 months.

 

[andyc]

Katich, Martyn and Clarke gone and replaced and there may be more.

And Kasper and Gillespie.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Just seen it on the highlights, Hodge's dismissal was quite staggering, it was quite obvious what they were going to do. Langer's was also a terrible shot.

From an English point of view, this is lovely to see, and I can only hope this form continues into the next Aussie summer.

 

[Tom Halsey]

A gritty battling innings in fairly tricky conditions against bowlers who'd previously had the wood over him?

There were 1 or 2 others in that match who could've done with playing knocks like that.

He gets the blame, yet when he was dismissed the score was 323-3 (then 4) and the side ended up 367 all out.

Good knock personally, but it wasn't what the team wanted was it? If he'd scored quicker, and they'd already been ahead of us by that fourth morning, the others wouldn't have had to bat quickly in awful conditions.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Why not ask Rudolph?

http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005-06/RSA_IN_AUS/SCORECARDS/RSA_AUS_T1_16-20DEC2005.html

What relevence does that have? Rudolph was batting when South Africa were going for a draw, Hayden's side needed to win at The Oval.

 

[Linda]

From an English point of view, this is lovely to see, and I can only hope this form continues into the next Aussie summer.

Ahem, did you catch the last two sessions in Melbourne?

 

[Tom Halsey]

Haven't read this thread yet but from what I heard today, the commentary was abysmal.

Ian Healy OUT

Michael Slater IN.

Healy is just a cheerleader for Australia.

Agreed, Slater impressed me a lot during the Ashes series, even if he did get a bit excited when it was going Australia's way (Warne getting Strauss out on the 2nd day at Edgebaston comes to mind).

 

[Tom Halsey]

Ahem, did you catch the last two sessions in Melbourne?

Well in the first two matches, South Africa didn't take advantage of good positions, and in the 1st Test Australia failed to finish them off. Australia haven't impressed me this series.

 

[Prince EWS]

To those who crucified Kallis for his slow innings, he scored a hundred in what were originally trying conditions against a good attack for crying out loud.

I really dont think first innings batting, regardless of the series situation, is something that should be manipulated in terms of strike rate. Thats what your second innings is for. In the first innings, you go out there, bat for as long as you like and try to post the largest score you possibly can. The second innings is different - your approach should greatly depend on the situation of both the match and the series - but your first innings, especially if you are batting first, is not something you should try and be "cute" about.

 

[Dasa]

Good knock personally, but it wasn't what the team wanted was it? If he'd scored quicker, and they'd already been ahead of us by that fourth morning, the others wouldn't have had to bat quickly in awful conditions.

It was the batsmen taking the light, not Hayden's slow knock that cost them that Test (and the series). Either way, you can blame Hayden.