Cricket in South Africa February-March 2014

[QF WP]

Oh brilliant, must have happened after I turned off the TV and came to bed. See what happens when you are in a different time zone

 

[markis10]

Oh brilliant, must have happened after I turned off the TV and came to bed. See what happens when you are in a different time zone

I was wondering why I was tired when it's only 9.15!

 

[turtlemichael]

Great day's cricket. Would have been better but for some sloppy fielding and keeping. Johnston and Harris were outstanding but the others were average. Australia can press for a victory but South Africa will never give up.

 

[QF WP]

Woke up to cricinfo telling me SAf 287 all out and Australia 0/27 with Warner as usual hitting mostly 4's in his score of 25. So we are ahead by ~230

 

[Warks]

Warner on 25 and Rogers on 1. At that rate Rogers will have 4 when Warner gets a ton.

At the start of the SA innings I would have been happy with them all out for about 300-350. When they were 6-146 I was thinking they'd be out for less than 200. I wonder if Clarke would have enforced the follow on then. They say that no one wants to bat last but with a 300 run lead they could have pressed home their advantage. With only one more innings to bowl and a long break ahead they could have gone for broke.

I would guess this is set up well for the sloggers to score quick runs and get the lead to 450 and leave 4.5 sessions to bowl SA out. But who knows?

In other news Graeme Smith has retired from all forms of cricket. I guess with 42 runs in the series he knew his time was up. But he's only 33 years old - has been playing forever. Apparently he's played 117 Tests and been captain for 110 of those. Amazing if that's correct.

 

[QF WP]

It's always a pity to see good players going out on a low, rather than a high - but I don't judge a player by his last innings/Test/Series. It what they did throughout that I appreciated watching.

Mitchell Johnson will be disappointed.

 

[JohnK]

Sad news about Smith. One of the greatest openers of all time and certainly one who has one of the highest batting averages as a captain and to do it for so many tests.

 

[markis10]

LOL, as posted on cricinfo

dunger.bob: "The big improvement in Warner's batting is that he no longer tries to hit every to the fence. It's now every second ball."

 

[drron]

Lead is now over 350.Wonder when the declaration will come.

 

[Cossie]

Last bit before lunch has been very boring, why did they send Doolan in after Rogers stupidly ran himself out, Australia was going along very nicely at over 5 an over then slowed right up, remember they still have to get 10 South African wickets to win.


Maybe Doolan was read the riot act at lunch.

 

[markis10]

Last bit before lunch has been very boring, why did they send Doolan in after Rogers stupidly ran himself out, Australia was going along very nicely at over 5 an over then slowed right up, remember they still have to get 10 South African wickets to win.

Agree, the screw were loosened a tad.

 

[JohnK]

Lehmann does not look too happy.

Looks to be a time based declaration with a carrot dangled in front of South Africa.

 

[drron]

Lead now 450 but Watson out.

 

[Cossie]

and Clarke.

 

[Cossie]

Not how Smith would have wanted to end his career, however well done Mitch, eight to go.

 

[markis10]

2 for 12 now with Smith gone, Boof is worth every cent he is paid.

 

[QF WP]

Better make that 3/15. Woo hoo, this red wine is going down well (2.5 glasses later). On the flipside, also watching Australian story on Gavin & Gus Larkin. Makes me feel very lucky to have dodged that bullet.

 

[JohnK]

Very impressive performance.

Would not be surprised if all over before stumps tonight.

 

[QF WP]

Wow, what a ball from Johnson to get Elgar.

Scrambled seam, straightens off the pitch and takes off stump.

Poor Smith got a ball under the rib cage which all he could do was pop it to short leg.

I don't want to go to bed - but I must

 

[QF WP]

Aaaarrrrgghh, the Proteas have decided to block every ball between now and stumps tomorrow. Time for bed.