***Official*** South Africa in Australia 2012

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by andyc

Pretty interested to see who they give the ball to when (if) it comes time for some spin. IIRC despite bowling a bit earlier in his career, Smith has since made it clear that he doesn't really want to bowl?

Yeah Smith and Rudolph (who was an allrounder as a youth cricket, with his leg breaks) have given up bowling entirely. Amla (offies) bowled a bit in the tour game and Petersen bowls both medium pace and off spin - neither to anywhere near the standard of Duminy though, and Duminy is hardly what you'd call a frontline bowler anyway.

[Briony]

Originally Posted by Scaly piscine

It's a pretty regulation game of Test cricket. Australia could easily have taken wickets early but it didn't quite happen for them - a lot of Kallis edges went past 2nd slip as well. Good batsmen cash in. Australia lost three quick wickets early on but have the beginnings of a platform.

It is partly the psychology of the situation that makes my hypothetical scenario interesting. Batting first up is completely different to batting when you're merely trying to avoid defeat. Australia would know that they have everything to gain and could surround the bat.

South Africa have been for a few years been capable of grinding out massive scores against any attack in world cricket, but also getting knocked over for 150-200 against any attack in world cricket. It's because they're so top heavy.

Possibly but remember they played a lot of loose shots partly trying to push the rate and Amla wasn't really out anyway.
If SA loses from here it does not deserve to be #1.

[Garson007]

I don't think enforcing the follow on is even on Smith's mind. Could too easily backfire.

[Noble One]

It's also an issue of bowling depth considering they have Morkel. I havnt seen much of him in Test cricket over the last couple of years - however he was never a great bowler for backing up in multiple spells.

[AndyZaltzHair]

First session of tomorrow will decide a lot of things, can't wait

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Yeah, as I said, they all have some work to do. Warner is the best technically but the worst temperamentally at this point. I think that probably has a lot to do with just straight up not playing a lot of long-form cricket so far though. For someone who has only played 21 First Class games amongst a whole heap of one day cricket, T20 cricket, three-day Futures League cricket and two-day grade cricket, his methods on how to build a substantial innings at this level are actually pretty good for the most part IMO; his hundred against New Zealand being one innings I always think of in this regard. He does go a little too hard too early at times but I think that's just what he's used to from playing shorter formats and against lesser opponents than actually being "ego" as such. It's all a bit of a stereotype though, this Warner stuff; he's not a T20 specialist slogger.

Warner's not that good technically though. He's not a slogger, but he's far from compact.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Briony

Possibly but remember they played a lot of loose shots partly trying to push the rate and Amla wasn't really out anyway.
If SA loses from here it does not deserve to be #1.

No they didn't. Aside from about 45 minutes at the end they just batted normally. No place for revisionism here sorry.

[TumTum]

Ponting's dismissal was so bad, you could see it in his face as he played the shot, just pushing out without any purpose. It will be so hard to watch him this summer, not just that it's already time for him to go, but against the quality SA attack it will be quite an embarrassment.


Philander is the man to get Clarke I feel, with Pup's loose technique and Vernon's accuracy it's just heaps of plays and misses till he nicks it or gets bowled. If Clarke and Cowan can hang on and have some luck go their way, we can secure the draw. Or it all turns to **** and Ponting/Clarke will be batting evening again

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Ruckus

Did Ponting even have to play at that ball? It looked like a pretty soft dismissal to me, but I might have to see it again when I can find highlights.

Top Cat to crack the ****s.

[MrPrez]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Well if he left it his stumps wouldn't have been in trouble, but yeah you're going to play at that 95+% of the time when you're on 0 and it's delivered at that pace. I really don't rate Morkel at all and I hate it when he takes jammy wickets but credit to the bowler there.

Wait what, so it's okay for a batsman to flash at a ball that should be left just because the bowler is quick and he's on nought?

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by MrPrez

Wait what, so it's okay for a batsman to flash at a ball that should be left just because the bowler is quick and he's on nought?

Wait what, so you think Ryan Sidebottom is the world's best batsman?

[Jono]

PEWS

Quality.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by Burgey

Warner's not that good technically though. He's not a slogger, but he's far from compact.

TBF to PEWS he just said he's better technically than Hughes or Khawaja. That's a pretty low bar, IHMO.

Watched the highlights earlier; not sure if Quiney's innings was the ballsiest or the twattiest I've seen from a debutant. Might well be both, I suppose. Comes with the disclaimer that it's the first time I've seen the boy and that might just be his (only) MO.

Kleinveldt just looks, eeuuww, not good. Not a test seamer's arsehole. Normally one can see something in every bowler that makes their selection understanble but he just looks awful. No pace, no control, no rhythm.

[Daemon]

Love the way he ambles in like an overweight orangutan

[MrPrez]

Yep I wasn't too happy with his selection, remember him playing T20s and pretty much bowled how you'd expect a batting allrounder to. Doesn't really do much but got enough pace and accuracy to be considered more than a part-timer by test standards.