Australia tour of South Africa, 2008/09

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

North has really made a costliest mistake : i just hope we dont hav to pay a big time

 

[sifter132]

Not using him as a stock bowler its just whenever Ponting wants a wicket Johnson is the guy he turns to.
Yes he is being overbowled though an i worry about how long before he breaks down.

Why oh why wont Ponting ever bowl Katich hes always looked dangerous when he bowls and is surely the guy to turn to if North isnt threatening an Clarke has back issues

Well there was a Katich sighting But he didn't really bowl that well Too many '4 balls' I think is the jargon that applies to him. He could get a ball that surprises the batsmen though, that's the joy of facing a part-timer.


Strange how SA has always started well recently in these massive run chases. Perth, J'Burg and now here too. Let's see:
*Perth they were chasing 414 and were 3/303 before the almighty Duminy 'saved' South Africa /sarcasm - won with 6 wickets in hand
*Melbourne they were chasing 183 and were 0/121 - won with 9 wickets in hand
*Sydney they were chasing 376 and were 1/68 (not a real great start and they died in the middle order) - lost by 103 runs.
*Jo'burg they were chasing 454 and were 2/206, but collapsed in the middle again to lose by 162 runs.
*And now in Durban they are chasing 546 and are 2/244, result: who knows?


I can't remember a team that has started chasing big scores so well so consistently and I really don't know why Australia is so susceptible to giving up big 4th innings scores. Just looking at a list of scores in the last couple of years and there's been a few times recently when Australia has conceded big runs in the 4th innings: WI made 387 when chasing 475 in June '08, SL made 410 when chasing 507 in Nov '07 (The match were Sangakkara was wrongly given out on 192), England made 350 and 370 in the 06/07 Ashes but were chasing scores over 550. And of course Australia conceded the world record run chase of 418 to WI in '03. That's not a huge amount of big chases, but I'd say it's unusually high.

I blame two things: 1) Shane Warne retiring and 2) Ponting's reluctance to follow on. In the past Australia's big strength has been bowling and fielding and it made sense to bat on and use your greatest strength when the game is on the line in the 4th innings. But now batting is the more reliable discipline for Australia and it makes more sense in that case to rely on your batsmen to win the match in the 4th innings than your bowlers. Especially since we don't have a spinner to take advantage of the breaking pitch.

 

[IloveGilly]

North has really made a costliest mistake : i just hope we dont hav to pay a big time

Thats what Crickets about, making errors and moving on. It's a regulation catch an international Cricketer has to take.

Probably will be very hard for them to maintain a constant run-rate with just a few batsmen to spare. It might well be a long day and the rotation of bowlers probably will be important. A shame Clarke can't bowl because of his back. Ponting should bowl some of his amazing medium pacers.

 

[aussie1st]

Not taking a specialist spinner or at least another strike bowler is hurting us. MJ seems to have problems backing up his 1st inns spell, a number of times during the summer he has a great 1st inns spell but then struggles to take a wicket in the 2nd.

Hilfy has looked average bowling way too short. Certainly not looking great when the pitch is flat. He needs to find a cutter and get his pace above the 140km/h consistently.

Siddle has been the star and the only one that really looks like taking a wicket. Problem is his foot injury has flarred up again.

 

[Highlander999]

Kallis and De Villiers for double centuries tomorrow, so that South Africa win by 5 wickets. You heard it here first

 

[IloveGilly]

What I hate is how the papers percieve Australia have this in the bag or say there will only be 2 possible results... 302 runs, not impossible. Only reason I'd like to see them chase it down is to prove those writers wrong.

 

[stefan]

Siddle gets a massive breakthrough, Amla gone. He never seems to make a big score, just gets in, looks pretty and gets out, like Ian Bell.

a Bit unfair thats only happened against australia . Against india and england he has gone on to get hundreds when he got in and also against new zealand. He usually goes on to get hundreds as his first class career will also show. I think its just a phase.

Good fight from the boys. Too bad Graeme can't bat else I would give us an outside chance today.

 

[aussie1st]

Poor Hilfy should have had Kallis but Clarke drops him. Johnson picks him up anyway with not much damage done.

 

[Cricketdude]

Need a quick wicket here because Duminy is a very good batsman.

The whole complexion of the innings has changed now. Mark Bouchet, the stand-in captain, walks in

Who is Bouchet?

 

[aussie1st]

Great start to the morning both overnight batsmen are out. Siddle has been the star bowler this inns and that ball to get De Villers was a ripper.

 

[piriyanth]

Now if we can get Duminy and Boucher out the series will be ours.

 

[Cricketdude]

Even if we can get Duminy we have won.

 

[aussie1st]

We had JP but Haddin drops him. All I can say is thank God we have the big lead as that is 3 dropped catches in this inns alone. Poor Siddle has another one dropped.

 

[Cricketdude]

And Duminy has been dropped.

 

[0601731]

dont think it ll matter much,just a matter of time before the aussies wrap it up