Since no one as started a thread. I thought I would.
two powerhouses of cricket meet today..Should be a good test series.
south Africa have won the toss and are bowling first.
South Africa team
GC Smith*, AN Petersen, HM Amla, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers†, JP Duminy, R McLaren, RJ Peterson, VD Philander, DW Steyn, M Morkel
Australia team
DA Warner, CJL Rogers, AJ Doolan, SE Marsh, MJ Clarke*, SPD Smith, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, PM Siddle, RJ Harris, NM Lyon
SA vs Aus test series thread
posted on 5/3/14
Really good healthy sledging in this test series.
England should take note.
posted on 5/3/14
if smith stayed for one more england series, Cook would be next on the hit list.
One question is, how flat are those pitches in SA? It certainly wasnt a day 5 difficult pitch. Aus have a good attack and it took them fortunes to get 10 Sa'n wickets.
Now compare that to Indian conditions. If you had a lead of 450 and 140 overs to bowl a team out in the final 2 days, the team would not even last 60 overs. Its definately harder to bat on turning tracks compared to fast bouncy tracks.
Obviously these tracks were far from the typical SA seaming tracks, but Aus have definately outplayed SA. New no.1 in the making. only worry is, do Aus have a replacement for harris. He is an amazing bowler proved that today.
posted on 5/3/14
I think Darren Pattinson will take over from Rhino.
Rhino has been magnificent
24 wickets in 4 matches in the summer of 2013 in England then backed that up by taking 22 wickets in 5 tests matches in Australia.
Real warrior of a bowler. Australia looking lethal all round especially now they got their sledging groove back.
posted on 5/3/14
Viru when Sub Cont sides go to SA they always produce seaming tracks as this is our weakness.
2nd and 3rd test tracks were very flat which makes the result even more impressive. Pakistan will have to create some rank turning tracks when the Aussies come to UAE cos if the track is plain flat then they will beat us with there pace.
posted on 5/3/14
yes. Thats what I 'hate' to see. Yes its definately impressive. Both teams fought quite well, difference was I guess Australia had like 3 impact bowlers, whereas SA could only have one in steyn.
Would love to see how this Aus team would do in turning pitch against ajmal. will be fascinating to see.
A completely transformed Australian team. A team that we are all used to seeing for a long time. Now its a matter of how SA, Eng and to some extent India do their rebuilding for the benefit of the game. Would love to see more of these type of cricket where scorecard reads 2-1 or 1-1 and not 5-0
posted on 5/3/14
Why couldnt this be a 5 Test match series. Both team have great quality and it would have been good to see SA try and fight back again.
If im honest im abit disappointed with SA bowlers in this series actually include the India series too. Something just doesnt quite look alright imo.
Steyn had been good but not at his usual world class standard whereas Philander and Morkel have been quite poor imo.
SA are missing Kallis big time already imo.
posted on 5/3/14
Yes agreed Boss. I think the pitches have had a big say in that as well. Like those pitches didnt have an swing or seam even in the India series. I think SA were probably also suffereing from fatigue after the india series. Amla has been out of form as well, not at his usual best.
posted on 5/3/14
But I think considering the limitations with SA, taking the last game till like the last 5 overs was a massive achievement. Dont think even this Australian would have been able to do that if they were in a similar position
posted on 6/3/14
Johnson's career is very usual. One rarely finds a fast bowler performing at an average to mediocre level for 6 years, and then hitting his best in 7th year of test career and continuing into the 8th.
posted on 7/3/14
*unusual