australia since Ashes 2005 in test cricket

[vic_orthdox]

That was the only respect they were inferior in.

At the very least, you'd add spin bowling.

 

[Richard]

South Africa were in the game for a few days in Perth certainly, but they had to chase almost 500 in the 4th innings and the only possible positive outcome they could have managed was a draw. Sure Hodge was dropped early on in his double century, but he was hardly the only contributer in Australia's second innings total of 528. And to blame a dropped catch for a guy making 200 is simply absurd, it's not like they didn't have another 300+ balls with which to get him out.

He'd not have got that 200 if the catch had been taken, there's no two ways about that. And I seem to recall other dropped catches in the second-innings, too - wouldn't be surprised if every batsman was dropped, in fact.

And Australia were very clearly the better team in the second test, and were never behind at any stage after Hussey's ridiculously good innings.

A "ridiculously good" innings which... yes, wouldn't have been played had Kallis taken that catch. And Australia would have been behind the eight-ball. And there's no reason to suspect things would have panned-out differently to how they did later on.

Also, the first two tests of the South African home series were absolute hammerings. Australia weren't far from winning the first test by an innings, and the best South Africa ever could have managed in the second was a draw, if they hadn't fallen apart to Warne. And, incidentally, your arguments about the rain in Sydney would surely apply there as well. If all 450 overs had been bowled, Australia would have won the second test without breaking a sweat, rather than cutting it close on the 5th evening.

Yes, obviously.

 

[Richard]

At the very least, you'd add spin bowling.

Spin-bowling, yes, but bowling overall - no. And if South Africa's seamers are as good as Australia's seamers+spinners, what does it matter that South Africa's spinners are inferior?

 

[Ikki]

Taking a catch is a simple thing. Bowling a wicket-taking delivery is not. People fail to do that most deliveries they bowl. People should never, ever fail to take an easy catch.

Even though the impact of "not bowling a 93mph inswinging Yorker to Hussey" might be the same as "dropping Hussey", you don't expect the former; you most certainly do expect a catch to be taken.

None of which are really remotely difficult most of the time.

Taking a catch is a far, far easier thing to do than bowling a delivery that will get Batsman X out. It really is that simple. A small mistake can impact 20 times (figuratively speaking) more upon a game than can "not getting X out" (speaking in terms of bowlers).

But the point is not taking A catch but many of them. Usually you will drop very few easy ones and catch the others. The fact is it DOES happen and if it was as easy as you suggest to catch them all then one must wonder why you're not a test standard fielder.

 

[vic_orthdox]

And there's no reason to suspect things would have panned-out differently to how they did later on.

Except for the fact that it was a damp wicket, and Australia had the worst of the conditions. If they had've been bowled out earlier, then they would have also had the chance to bowl on it whilst it was giving heaps of assistance. As it was, they didn't get to till much of the moisture was out of the wicket.

 

[Richard]

Good - so South Africa would probably have struggled early on, and it's likely it'd have been first-innings parity.

What's not up for dispute, though, is that South Africa would have been in a hell of a better position by taking the catch than they would having dropped it.

 

[Richard]

But the point is not taking A catch but many of them. Usually you will drop very few easy ones and catch the others. The fact is it DOES happen and if it was as easy as you suggest to catch them all then one must wonder why you're not a test standard fielder.

More worrying is how such simple things are not done at the international level. Simple catches are floored, more than ever of late, and it's unacceptible.