Cricket in South Africa February-March 2014

[JohnK]

But just remember 2011.Australia led by 188 on the first innings.Still lost by 8 wickets.Siddle and Lyon being the only 2 to reach double figures.All out for 47 after being 9 for 21.

Anytime Australia does remotely well the media and Australians love to label tbem the best team in the world.

Lets forget South Africa has lost 1 series since 2006 and 2 test matches in their last 21 tests.

Lets forget that 4 South African batsmen are averaging 50+ in test cricket. Lets forget that 2 (could read 3) South African bowlers are averaging <23/wicket in test cricket. All this without Kallis one of the greatest of all time.

But no. We will judge the best team in the world on the result of 1 series with our over inflated averages thanks to recent Ashes series.

Yep. We are the best.

 

[Warks]

Conversely, JohnK, every time Australia does badly like in PE they are the worst in the world and half the team should be sacked. It works both ways for the media.

If we win every game it's boring. If we lose we're hopeless. We can't win. Well we can win - I prefer winning.

As someone said "I don't like playing against sore losers but it's better than playing against any kind of winner."

 

[RB]

Anytime Australia does remotely well the media and Australians love to label tbem the best team in the world.

Lets forget South Africa has lost 1 series since 2006 and 2 test matches in their last 21 tests.

Lets forget that 4 South African batsmen are averaging 50+ in test cricket. Lets forget that 2 (could read 3) South African bowlers are averaging <23/wicket in test cricket. All this without Kallis one of the greatest of all time.

But no. We will judge the best team in the world on the result of 1 series with our over inflated averages thanks to recent Ashes series.

Yep. We are the best.

Some interesting early thoughts in this previous thread. Some people change opinions
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ustralia-2013-14-a-55508.html?highlight=ashes

 

[Justinf]

That spell last night when Morkel was bowling around the wicket to Clarke was absolutely spine tingling stuff. Massive respect for the captain for not backing away and digging in even harder and making a century.

 

[Rallo]

Some interesting early thoughts in this previous thread. Some people change opinions
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ustralia-2013-14-a-55508.html?highlight=ashes

Nothing wrong with that , one thing that John cannot be accused of is sitting on the fence.

 

[Warks]

4/434 at lunch. Watson was nearly out first ball (review) but may have a day out. Perfect situation for him. Smith looked good for a ton but played on. Clarke got his - took a long time on 99 but has gone on with it. Steyn won't bowl in this innings they say. It's looking pretty good for Australia.

But as they say "it's a funny old game."

 

[docjames]

Watson gone for 40, Clarke gets 150.

 

[drron]

Now 7 for 489.
Can someone stay with the captain so he can get 200?

 

[Shelf]

Now 7 for 489.
Can someone stay with the captain so he can get 200?

N. Lyon will see him through.

 

[docjames]

Rain delay. Maybe time to ask SAf to bat.

 

[QF WP]

Time for bed but a great innings thus far today. No need to hurry and allow SA too much batting practice.

Loved watching the groundsman be taken by the wind and dragged with the covers - just shows the strength of the wind and hoe covers are great sails

 

[turtlemichael]

It was like sitting in a wind tunnel. Horizontal rain too. I and most others gave up and headed home but tomorrow is forecast to be dry and windy. Another good performance by the Aussies. They made Philander in particular look very average. I suspect they'll declare overnight or at least very early on Day 3 and have a bowl in the morning.

 

[QF WP]

That would leave Duminy stranded on a hat trick - which is there isn't another Australian innings...oh that's mean

 

[Warks]

Clarke declared overnight and Aus got Smith pretty quickly again. Now 3-120 with the two best batsmen at the crease. Scoring pretty fast but have lost wickets. Will be a big ask to bowl them out twice.

 

[drron]

But now 4 for 121 with Amla gone.

 

[JohnK]

Some interesting early thoughts in this previous thread. Some people change opinions

So I was wrong. So were a lot of other people.

It does not change the fact that Haddin and Johnson changed the course of the Ashes. In fact Johnson went from 32 avg/wicket to something like 27.5 avg/wicket and is unprecedented for someone with over 200 wickets to reduce their bowling average so much. Was very quiet last match though.

The current Australian cricket team is a good team. They are not the best in the world. Far from it. They need to win on sub-continent pitches including Dubai first.

And do me a favour. Look at the ages of the current Australian team and tell me how long you think they will last. And then tell me who you think is coming through to replace them. Wade? Hughes? Khawaja?

 

[drron]

Now 5 for 138 with de Villiers gone.The Aussies look good.

 

[drron]

6 for 146 with Duminy out.4 caught behind,1 in slips and 1 bowled suggesting the bowlers are well and truly on top.

 

[QF WP]

Faf du Plessis and Philander now wresting back some control (well enough not to follow on and perhaps enough for them to eke out a draw).

Australia will rue missing du Plessis twice in the same over from Lyon when he was 30 - once to a stumping and the next was a catch at short mid on.

Bed time now and Si hope I wake to SAf being all out and 3/30 in the follow on innings.

 

[markis10]

Faf du Plessis and Philander now wresting back some control (well enough not to follow on and perhaps enough for them to eke out a draw).

Australia will rue missing du Plessis twice in the same over from Lyon when he was 30 - once to a stumping and the next was a catch at short mid on.

Bed time now and Si hope I wake to SAf being all out and 3/30 in the follow on innings.

Psst F du Plessis c Warner b Johnson 67 (171m 135b 6x4 0x6) SR: 49.62