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

[Rasimione]

seems people are waiting for vern to fail. shameful really...

[Senile Sentry]

It's an almighty thumping, and in a befitting fashion SA has retained their hold on the mace. The last two holders proved to be just pretenders, but SA looks the real deal. Yes, it could have been easily 1-1 but for Faf's unbelievable performance in the 2nd test, but then that's what demarcates the winners from the also rans, ability to swallow and grind when required. This was sorely lacking in Australia's approach in the 2nd innings though. No focus, no application, perhaps they were distracted by Ponting's ill timed retirement (should've done it before the test match) and apparently the whole thing about having to win/draw this became just a sideshow.

Australia is slowly looking like the Windies side of the 90s post their greats, when one batsman started to emerge heads, shoulders, waists and some more above their contemporaries, Clark just has been Laraesque, but how long can he carry on the batting burden on his own? The replacements for Ponting are all looking iffy, with no clear candidate kicking and screaming at the door to be selected.

With the top batsmen ageing 26, 31, 31, 32 and 37 not quite sure this side can be called as one trying to rebuild itself either. Also the top 3 now average 34, 41 and 37, not really the kind of a top order one would associate with a team wanting to get back to the top of the rankings either. It looks far too brittle for that and for that alone, I feel Clarke should bat at no.3.

[smalishah84]

seems people are waiting for vern to fail. shameful really...

people were waiting for Ishant Sharma to fail. You weren't there to shed your crocodile tears back then

[Teja.]

people were waiting for Ishant Sharma to fail. You weren't there to shed your crocodile tears back then

Ishant Sharma was never a success, in fairness.

[smalishah84]

Ishant Sharma was never a success, in fairness.

he wasn't exactly i**** sharma when he started out tbf....he did throw down some stuff of legend

Ishant Sharma v Ponting Legendary Spell Perth 2008 - YouTube

[Teja.]

he wasn't exactly i**** sharma when he started out tbf....he did throw down some stuff of legend

Ishant Sharma v Ponting Legendary Spell Perth 2008 - YouTube

It's worth remembering that he averaged 59.66 with the ball in that particular 'breakthrough' series.

As Ishant - several times, Broad in Australia, Hilf in India and hundreds of other examples have proved, Bowling deliveries which move both ways outside off-stump but are too short in length can make a bowler look good and remain economical but they don't make the batsman play, don't really create pressure as they don't threaten the stumps and certainly don't create wickets on a regular basis.

[BeeGee]

... ability to swallow and grind when required.

Indeed.

[NasserFan207]

It's an almighty thumping, and in a befitting fashion SA has retained their hold on the mace. The last two holders proved to be just pretenders, but SA looks the real deal. Yes, it could have been easily 1-1 but for Faf's unbelievable performance in the 2nd test, but then that's what demarcates the winners from the also rans, ability to swallow and grind when required. This was sorely lacking in Australia's approach in the 2nd innings though. No focus, no application, perhaps they were distracted by Ponting's ill timed retirement (should've done it before the test match) and apparently the whole thing about having to win/draw this became just a sideshow.

Australia is slowly looking like the Windies side of the 90s post their greats, when one batsman started to emerge heads, shoulders, waists and some more above their contemporaries, Clark just has been Laraesque, but how long can he carry on the batting burden on his own? The replacements for Ponting are all looking iffy, with no clear candidate kicking and screaming at the door to be selected.

With the top batsmen ageing 26, 31, 31, 32 and 37 not quite sure this side can be called as one trying to rebuild itself either. Also the top 3 now average 34, 41 and 37, not really the kind of a top order one would associate with a team wanting to get back to the top of the rankings either. It looks far too brittle for that and for that alone, I feel Clarke should bat at no.3.

Australia will never fall to the depths Windies fell, since they actually have a semi-competent set-up and have the benefit of hindsight. The people behind Windies cricket assumed they would always be dominant and fell way behind the curb

[Senile Sentry]

Australia will never fall to the depths Windies fell, since they actually have a semi-competent set-up and have the benefit of hindsight. The people behind Windies cricket assumed they would always be dominant and fell way behind the curb

Not saying that they will, as unlike Windies, Aus still have a good bowling unit and reasonably good backup as well. The new pacers coming through too are promising. But sadly that can't be said about their batting. And of course, Aus has a sound domestic structure as well. However I am merely talking about their batting strengths. The only batsman who averages over 42 in that lineup apart from Clarke is the 37 year old Mike Hussey, that's hardly encouraging.

[BoyBrumby]

Just watching the day 4 highlights; how good were the balls Warner and Watson got? Man, play them if you can. Kinda balls you just hope miss everything.

By the way, are SA the first test nation to register wins in England & Oz in the same calendar year?

I suppose they technically did it in 2008, actually, as the series was wrapped up by the third test.

[howardj]

Looking back...

Can anybody believe we went into the "grand final" (Clarke's words) with a completely new pace attack

And that neither Siddle or Hilf could back up in the grand final (yet all fast bowlers of yesteryear have managed to)

And that Hastings opened the bowling (in the grand final)

I think they need to dust off the Argus review....the lunatics are back!

[Top_Cat]

Yeah the bowlers weren't the ones who got dudded for < 200 on a flat deck. Hilf and Siddle in the side would have made precisely zero difference, personally. They're no bowling genius'.

[howardj]

Yeah the bowlers weren't the ones who got dudded for < 200 on a flat deck. Hilf and Siddle in the side would have made precisely zero difference, personally. They're no bowling genius'.

The game was gone when we were conceding SEVEN for the entire Day 3

Hilf and Siddle at least had control, and made us competitive

Again, it's the grand final, and Haystacks is opening the bowling?

[NasserFan207]

Reckon Siddle could've made a pretty big difference in the 2nd innings. Still think SA would've won though. And tbf we don't know how knackered he was? If he wasn't fit there's not much you can do

Hazlewood should've played though

[Top_Cat]

You've been bowled out for 200-odd on day 1 and your bowlers have provided a lead, deck is flat, the oppo's bowling unit has had less than a day's rest and you've got a side full of in-form bats. They had the initiative massively and neither of Siddle or Hilf would have stopped a big total, I'm sorry to say. You're over-blowing their (limited) influence massively.