**Official** West Indies in South Africa Thread

[Jono]

Did Lara give a reason as to why he put SA in to bat because I can't logically think of one at all. His decision sure back fired whatever the reasoning.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Lara's decision is pretty obvious in basis. The pitch will expectedly be a batting paradise, but there was rain until this morning, so there was some moisture on the pitch early in play. He figured that the West Indian bolwers would have a good chance to exploit such conditions and thus their best chance at getting into the South African order.

Dillon backed this up, but with absolutely no luck. I'd say that Dillon could have had Gibbs and Smith out two or three times each with any luck at all. After the morning session the track dried out and flattened out consequently. Also, the West Indian bowlers figured to bowl on Smith's pads for whatever reason...

 

[gibbsnsmith]

WIndies were pretty unlucky indeed, but Gibbs and Smith made darn good use of that pitch,

 

[Craig]

3rd triple ton partnership. These two are coming close to being the best opening combo in the world. Their record is suburb.

 

[PY]

The pitch is a road.

Watched about 10 overs before tea and Gibbs was whacking decent-looking balls to the boundary just because they were sitting up for him. One especially from Edwards was six inches outside off stump on a length and it just went because there was no deviation at all.

Good work by Edwards on Rudolph though. 3 short 'uns and then a yorker-ish length sent stumps flying. Didn't have to use the pitch.

 

[Adamc]

Stumps called 8 overs early: looks as though Nel will make it to the altar after all.

 

[Jono]

What an absolute cracker of a series for Kallis. Beautiful batting throughout the 4 test matches and he has now registered a test hundred in each test match. That's just brilliant. It makes me wish there was a fifth test just so he could have a chance at scoring the most runs in a test series.

 

[marc71178]

What an absolute cracker of a series for Kallis.

Most runs in a 4 Test Series EVER (beating R T Ponting)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The West Indies bowlers bowled considerably better today and Drakes and Collymore in particular were very unlucky not to take some wickets.

Dwayne Smith also looked very useful. Brilliant knock from Kallis. You really can't fault him at all.

Defensive? Slow? Boring? Kallis?

 

[Tim]

It'll be interesting to see how South Africa play coming from belters in South Africa to seamers in New Zealand.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I think Ntini and Nel should open the bowling for South Africa from now on, with Pollock first change. Pollock is still a top bowler, but I think the aggression of Nel combined with Ntini would be a better use of the new ball and they could form a deadly partnership.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Ntini is having West Indies for breakfast.

WI 38/2 at the moment, Ntini 2/11, Sarwan clean bowled for 13, Gayle edged it to the slips for 7.

Nel taking over from Pollock.

EDIT: Is the pitch still that road it was on the first day? If so, Ntini is doing pretty well out of it...

 

[PY]

The big wicket of Lara falls for 34. He was needed to make a big score by me (Predictions) and WI to get up near the follow-on mark. Especially as Sarwan and Ganga were out cheaply.

Score Update:
West Indies 139/3 (39.3 overs)

Gayle 76*
Chanderpaul 0*

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ntini is having West Indies for breakfast.

WI 38/2 at the moment, Ntini 2/11, Sarwan clean bowled for 13, Gayle edged it to the slips for 7.

Nel taking over from Pollock.

EDIT: Is the pitch still that road it was on the first day? If so, Ntini is doing pretty well out of it...

Conditions are allowing for the ball to dart about, but the pitch istself is still good.

Dwayne Smith looks clueless right now.

 

[Pratters]

I had this feeling yesterday the pitch isnt exactly a batting paradise as every one was saying it was. South African bowling has reiterated what I felt.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

WI 301 all out, and will probably follow on. 24 overs to go of the day, so Ntini, Pollock and Nel will have a proper bash at the top order with the new ball and pretty dark conditions.

Innings defeat on the cards, perhaps?

 

[Arrow]

Pathetic showing from the windies.

 

[iamdavid]

Is it just me or has Nel got a lot quicker over the last 12 months , saw him bowling for South Africa A in Canberra last season & he was just getting through , around the 130-135kph mark it seemed.
Watching him bowl today he is really putting in & appears to have got alot zippier.

Just when they seemed to be getting back on track with a creditable performance against the Aussies & Sri Lanka , the Windies have let it all slip with arguably thir most dismal effort since Australia in 2000/01 .

They just need one reliable bowler , someone to build their attack around , the batting is young , energetic & world class (although not today ) .
But the bowlers would struggle to dismiss alot of first class sides cheaply on the typical international wicket these days.

 

[Langeveldt]

Is it just me or has Nel got a lot quicker over the last 12 months , saw him bowling for South Africa A in Canberra last season & he was just getting through , around the 130-135kph mark it seemed.
Watching him bowl today he is really putting in & appears to have got alot zippier.

Just when they seemed to be getting back on track with a creditable performance against the Aussies & Sri Lanka , the Windies have let it all slip with arguably thir most dismal effort since Australia in 2000/01 .

Nel has got a lot quicker, yes he is genuinly quick now.. The coaches have worked on his wrist position as he delivers the ball, and his seems to be paying dividends with an extra yard of pace..

Sadly the WI setup in Africa has looked "amateurish" for want of a better phrase. And it is not good for cricket in general...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Pathetic showing from the windies.

Indeed.