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

[Ruckus]

Hughes needs more time, plus Cowan should stay for now imo. Unless it's for a really good reason (like Marsh's obvious downfall), we can't just keep dropping players after 5 or 6 matches. It's a bit ridiculous. The fact is Cowan hasn't been great by any means, but he has shown some potential and doesn't deserve to be dropped yet. It sounds as though Hughes hasn't really corrected his old problems, so if he can't handle Chris Martin, then I think he could get pretty owned by a metronome like Philander. If Cowan continues to fail, then I'd think about giving Khawaja another go, or maybe someone like Cosgrove (fat chance of that though). On bowling, it's pretty simple if it's 3 pace bowlers...has to be Siddle, Hilf, Pattinson. If 4 then it's more up in the air. I'd personally go Cummins before Starc, but wouldn't really mind either way if Starc has allegedly improved so much.

[uvelocity]

yeah cowans should stay, he did his best, nothing terrible.

If you were a ruthless leader though, he's done nothing at all since he did very little in a baggy green. Send Huss up the order and get hughes in at 6. I know it won't happen, but I just know it would work.

[Ruckus]

He had a pretty decent time in county didn't he? Or maybe just the Aus A games afterwards, I can't find his stats. Hasn't started shield that well though, but none of it really means much given it's such a small amount of matches.

[uvelocity]

just went looking, only played 3 matches, scored 1 ton, and I forgot about the 50's for aus a (which aren't much of a deal really are they?)

[Marcuss]

Where the **** is Ryan Harris?

Edit : Shoulder surgery, hoping to play club cricket by the end of the month

[Spikey]

"Hughesy, for whatever reason his game is scrutinised more than any other cricketer in the country. On the flipside, he scratches out 20 and everyone wants him back in the team again.

cowan otm

[Cabinet96]

Originally Posted by Burgey

If Starc plays I hope they don't leave Patto out, much as Hilf and Siddle have bowled well the past year. Can't see four quicks playing, because that would make five with Watson, a ridiculous over-reach you'd think.

Replace Watson with Steve Smith and the issue is sorted.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Marcuss

Where the **** is Ryan Harris?

Edit : Shoulder surgery, hoping to play club cricket by the end of the month

He's ruled himself out of the SA series because of that surgery.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Cabinet96

Replace Watson with Steve Smith and the issue is sorted.

Ewwwwwwwwwwww

[vic_orthdox]

Inverarity insists that keepers spot still up for grabs.

Names Lyon and Holland as the two best spinners in their eyes.

Australia A game won't have a bearing on Test squad, which will be named before the Aus A game is played.

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Names Lyon and Holland as the two best spinners in their eyes.

makes perfect sense

[Marius]

So, what are everyone's predictions?

I reckon possibly a close Aussie win, or 1-1.

[uvelocity]

Aus 3-0

[Spooony]

Originally Posted by uvelocity

Aus 3-0

lol
^You seem to forget what happened last time when SA were over there haha

I think it will be close. Either 1-1 or a 2-1 SA win maybe Aussies taking it 2-1. But Smith, Amla and Kallis in form as well as a establish and good pace attack we have the potential to take it. We can only throw it away

[uvelocity]

smith, amla, steyn and philander would be your keys. I think we can deal with the rest comfortably.

I hope our fielding is top notch, the slip in standard has bothered me over the last however long