***Official*** South Africa v West Indies

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Predictably, Ganga falls without troubling the scorers.

Very predictable for Ganga. That's his Boarda rhythm. Cast your mind back to his last and only other match at Boarda. 0 off 3 (?) balls and a maiden Test ton in the second innings. Look out for another ton.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Just seen the highlights of the first session after I arrived home from work.

Pagon looks to be made of the right stuff, seems to wonderfully unhurried when playing his shots which is often a sign of a promising talent. He has a lovely looking cover drive too.

Hinds has had a couple of lives already, dropped by Gibbs (not too difficult a chance either) which woulda been 24-3 & big inside edge onto pads off Nel which coulda easily been onto his stumps.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Pagon got out to an extremely disappointing shot, but certainly looked the part while he was there. Chanderpaul looks very determined and Hinds looks good for a hundred. Hinds never actually looks good, but I do see him possibly getting a ton.

Rain at the moment. Shocking...

 

[sledger]

hey we can do the job in batting so long as ganga anf chanders fire up.the bowling well thats were we're lost.collins and collymore cant do the entire job on their own.and whu is our bloody spinner even i dont kno.would be cool to see the tiger bowl a few.

BIGGEST GANGA AND CHANDERPAUL SUPPORTER.WE CAN WIN WITH THIS PAIR BATTING WELL

the spinner is ryan hinds, i believe the last time he played a test (correct me if i am wrong) was when harmy skittled the team out for 40 or whatever it was, he bowled the second over of the innings, vaughn hit him for six and england won the test.

On a lighter note Pagon looked very good whilst he was out on the square, some really beautiful shots, shame he got out cheaply, looked as if he could have gone on to make quite a decent score.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

the spinner is ryan hinds, i believe the last time he played a test (correct me if i am wrong) was when harmy skittled the team out for 40 or whatever it was, he bowled the second over of the innings, vaughn hit him for six and england won the test.

Focus on the downside why dontcha. Don't mind Hinds scored a very good 84 in the first innings of that match. He also played the final match of the series and scored a good 36 alongside Brian Lara. Was out to a disappointing shot though. He dismissed Butcher and Hussain in that match.

He's never really gotten a proper bowl in Tests as a spinner and that because he's picked as a batsman who can bowl. 99 FC wickets at less than 25. He's not THAT bad. Doesn't generally give it time to turn though.

 

[Langeveldt]

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen such a lifeless test pitch, even in the West Indies.. I think Pagon could have gone home and made tea before hitting the shot that got him out, and Langes is bowling with a sponge at the moment

Coze and Haysman make a good commentary duo

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Hundred for Hinds.

If the wicket is so bad, perhaps the West Indies will get away with picking three bowlers.

 

[wpdavid]

100 for Wavell Hinds, which pleases me no end. I remember him looking good at the start of the 2000 tour of England but suffering from a number of rough decisions. Maybe this will kick start his test career. I hope so, as he's a joy to watch when in form.

 

[Langeveldt]

I reckon Garner, Roberts and Holding would have issues with this pitch..

Saying that, lovely knock by Wavell Hinds

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Wow, I don't think I have ever seen such a lifeless test pitch, even in the West Indies.. I think Pagon could have gone home and made tea before hitting the shot that got him out, and Langes is bowling with a sponge at the moment

Coze and Haysman make a good commentary duo

You've not watched much cricket in the West Indies. You missed 400 not out?

Langeveldt looks hugely unimpressive at the moment. Not looking like taking a wicket and trying to bowl to a plan, but not getting it in the right areas often enough.

FOUR more to Hinds.

 

[wpdavid]

Fascinating stuff. These two look so comfortable, but, if one of them goes now you could still see WI failing to reach 300.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Fascinating stuff. These two look so comfortable, but, if one of them goes now you could still see WI failing to reach 300.

It would take some rubbish cricket from the West Indies to collapse on this pitch. The South Africans aren't likely to take advantage of the inexperienced Ryan Hinds and Narsingh Deonarine otherwise. Courtney Browne can bat too.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Why is Smith persisting with Kallis?!

He's clearly unfit and getting creamed. 12 boundaries surrendered in his 7 overs. 56 runs in total.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Is it me, or does Kallis look like he really doesn't fancy bowling at all? Even allowing for his injuries he's bowled well within himself. Hardly touched 80mph all day.

Hinds looking pretty damn good now; bit of luck last over with the inside edge for 4, but he's deserved that. Cramp will be the only thing that'll stop him.

 

[superkingdave]

Hinds never actually looks good

Just turned it on 20 minutes ago and loving this passage of play since tea, Kallis n Ntini getting murdered and Hinds smashing some beautiful shots - he's looked good for 20 mins at least (and that when he has cramp)

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ridiculous captaincy by Graeme Smith. You pick 3 specialist seamers, one bowling allrounder, one spinner and yet you put a fruitless burden on your best batsman.

 

[superkingdave]

and that one where it went through the vacant slip area for four, then Graeme does the old bolted horse thing, that was hilarious

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Why is Smith persisting with Kallis?!

He's clearly unfit and getting creamed. 12 boundaries surrendered in his 7 overs. 56 runs in total.

He must have heard of the CW XI sims...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

He must have heard of the CW XI sims...

Or considered the performance of a healthy Kallis against a poor Zimbabwe side.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Why is Smith persisting with Kallis?!

He's clearly unfit and getting creamed. 12 boundaries surrendered in his 7 overs. 56 runs in total.

How can he be clearly unfit when he was bowling so well two weeks ago?

Ohh, I remember. There was the prospect of cheap wickets two weeks ago.