***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Prince EWS]

Katich is definitely better than McKenzie. I'm actually a fan of McKenzie and I still don't think it's even close.

 

[pasag]

Okay, ta. Seems a bit of a weird decision, especially if they don't get back on today.

Looked pretty dark. All you need is a Ntini special like to Langer last time we were here and your series is over, not really worth it when you're this far ahead.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Katich is definitely better than McKenzie. I'm actually a fan of McKenzie and I still don't think it's even close.

This.

 

[Nate]

Haha, player vs player comparisons when judging a side just don't work. Made a gun post about it somewhere else.

 

[pup11]

They did, it was asked and they walked off. Very surprised myself, but looking very dark.

With only three bowlers to fall back upon, Australia might need all the time in the world to bowl the Saffers out the second time around, and considering that full day's play in the next two days is also very unlikely to take place, the decision to accept the light at this stage, might not prove to be the greatest.

 

[TT Boy]

Mmm. TT was saying not long ago that they don't prepare many greentops these days because they seem to lose a lot on them. It doesn't always work out as you say. If a pitch is fast but not showing much seam and the ball's not swinging, their attack can still take wickets to some extent while the Aussie one can't. On seaming tracks, both attacks can take wickets but the really long, top-quality Australian batting lineup can deal with it better than the Saffer one can.

Maybe. It's all very theoretical. In truth whoever performs better on the day will win tbh.

Seam is Krypton for the South Africans.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Morkel has been ****ing woeful this match bar the odd ball. His brother would've been a better option on this deck.

 

[four_or_six]

Looked pretty dark. All you need is a Ntini special like to Langer last time we were here and your series is over, not really worth it when you're this far ahead.

Yeah, I guess. I just thought they'd want to get as far ahead as soon as possible, because presumably they want to be declared by lunch.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Yeah, I guess. I just thought they'd want to get as far ahead as soon as possible, because presumably they want to be declared by lunch.

They still will be. Will declare 20 minutes before, they should have 400 by then assuming they flay the willow a little, which you imagine they will with 9 in hand and 300 ahead.

 

[TT Boy]

Morkel has been ****ing woeful this match bar the odd ball. His brother would've been a better option on this deck.

Albie hardly bowls in 4 day cricket and when he does it isn’t pretty.

 

[social]

No idea why Ponting didnt enforce the follow on as it was always going to be a shortened day, the Saffies only hope is to bowl Oz out cheaply and chances are they're mentally ****ed any way

As for the people who keep on referring to Oz as a 3 man attack - sorry boys but you're talking crap

McDonald was hardly hit off the square in the first dig, took a wicket and the only reason he wasnt used more was because he wasnt needed

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Albie hardly bowls in 4 day cricket and when he does it isn’t pretty.

Would've landed more than 4 balls a spell in a decent area imo.

 

[Manee]

Did anyone see McDonald timed at 149.4kph earlier today? Effort ball, imo.

 

[Steulen]

Did anyone see McDonald timed at 149.4kph earlier today? Effort ball, imo.

Joburg altitude + faulty speedgun = Andrew "Akhtar" McDonald

 

[popepouri]

SA in a predicament about who they can replace if no one performs. A bunch of them are suspended and Tsotsobe is injured. Next in line is probably Friedel De Wet and he's just come back from injury after being out for a year.

 

[Evermind]

They still will be. Will declare 20 minutes before, they should have 400 by then assuming they flay the willow a little, which you imagine they will with 9 in hand and 300 ahead.

I don't think Australia will declare with 400 ahead. I'd say 450 minimum. I'm sure they haven't forgotten Perth yet.

They might declare half hour after lunch, which still leaves SA 4.5 sessions to survive on this wicket. I think this game is Australia's, no matter how conservatively Ponting plays his cards.

 

[oitoitoi]

Regardless of the result I'd leave the SA team as it is. The only player I'd consider dropping is Morkel, like you said though, there isn't really anyone pushing as a replacement.

 

[inbox24]

Don't think the South Africans should have prepared a greentop (although some things are out of control). You see, the less spicy the wicket is, the less effective our bowlers are, and this decline is much greater for our team than theirs. This should be a pattern for all international sides competing against us.

 

[Nate]

On a more batting friendly pitch, how many more would South Africa have leaked though?

Our bowling attack is just better imo and I said that before the Test.

 

[ozone]

Our bowling attack is just better imo and I said that before the Test.

Thats probably true on this type of pitch, but would be interested to see how they fare on a flatter pitch where the side have to get through 100+ overs.