Pre Christmas Tests

HonalD

Anyone watching the cricket at the moment - It's great, SA are putting it up to the Aussies - quite amazing, as for India v England, India are unstoppable at the moment. I saw Alex Stewart being interviewed and saying England should take the initiative to India....sounds like an innings defeat to me!

NZ and WI are proving they are both as good (or as poor) as each other - Ch'paul 126 no and 50 avg for tests, great stuff!

Marshy

Yeah, its been good alright. India look pretty secure to take the series anyway unless England play extraordinarily well over the last 3 days.

Australia have looked quite frail against SA I think and its only been SA letting them off the hook a couple of times thats meant they've such a large target to chase. Mitchell Johnson aside, Aus have struggled to take wickets of late and their top order has been blown away so far in this match.

WI v NZ has been up and down. Both sides have struggled at times but without Chanderpaul, who'd like to contemplate where WI would've been over the last few years. Looks like he'll average over 100 now for the 2nd successive year now which is some achievement.

DMC

Three very good test series taking place at present, and it should serve as a reminder of how good test cricket is, and that the longer form is the purest form of the game.

HonalD

Marshy wrote: »

Looks like he'll average over 100 now for the 2nd successive year now which is some achievement.

Spare a thought for Ramp's - I think he averaged over 100 in county cricket 2 years in a row but was nowhere to be seen outside of Blighty!

C'paul is class - especially the way he marks the ground with the bail and then takes guard at 45 degrees to the bowler as if to say - there you go have a look at the stumps, it doesn't bother me! Compared to Graeme Smith they are worlds apart in shape, size and position but I guess they both see the ball from hand to bat!!!! Sounds easy! :)

dfx-

If ever South Africa could do without one of their regular crazy collapses, it's now. Kallis, De Villiers, Boucher. Probably need another 100 from these two

Edit: Well it's fifty now..277/3

mikeruurds

It's great to be a South African cricket fan today :cool:.

Now the two highest successful run chases have been against Australia, with SA having the highest chase against SA ain Ozzie. 414-4... damn good batting.

DMC

Good. Well done SA.

Marshy

mikeruurds wrote: »

It's great to be a South African cricket fan today :cool:.

Now the two highest successful run chases have been against Australia, with SA having the highest chase against SA ain Ozzie. 414-4... damn good batting.

Yeah, have to say I was even emotional for SA after the final run was scored. It was great to see them close out a victory out so convincingly and defy the chokers tag.

As for the Aussie bowlers, don't know how Siddle deserves a place in the team and its certainly worrying for them if he's the best they have. Also, Krejza is not even a Macgill never mind a Warne. They're really struggling in that department as seen in India and know here against SA. Looking further down the line, England will probably be favourites to retain the Ashes in the summer.

lee_arama

HonalD wrote: »

I saw Alex Stewart being interviewed and saying England should take the initiative to India....sounds like an innings defeat to me!

I thought the same myself. Glad I had no option to bet on it. Due a sweet 4 figure profit if India can manage to bowl out Ingerland tonight...assuming they declare first thing.

The lead they have is more than adequate on a Day 5 pitch afterall.

dfx-

SA do it again..meander through 10 and 11 for 68 runs and then collapse with the bat. 198-7 from 101-2. :rolleyes:

Rjd2

dfx- wrote: »

SA do it again..meander through 10 and 11 for 68 runs and then collapse with the bat. 198-7 from 101-2. :rolleyes:

It might sound churlish to criticise a batting line up that chased down 400 plus last week but I will! Mc Kenzie has being brutal this series, to be fair he done little of note against bloody Bangladesh and his performances in the English tour drifted of as well. Boucher is not the batsman he was and the tail are pretty average.

dfx-

McKenzie could be in big trouble - it looked an atrocious five balls he faced and inevitable he'd go and after dropping Ponting on 27..

304-8 now at Lunch with the new ball 10 or so overs old. Steyn and Harris getting 50 partnerships with Duminy...the problem is next in is Ntini :pac:

mikeruurds

Well the tail weren't average this time round.

SA build from 198-7 to 459 all out. I'm really impressed by the SA attitude in this series down under. We used to be all talk and no delivery in previous years, but now we're starting to come good.

Granted Warney, Gilly and Glen are no longer a thorn in our side, but SA are really doing their best to get rid of the choker tag.

Marshy

That was some turnaround by SA there. Looking like they'd face a 150+ deficit after the first innings and end up getting a lead of 65. Duminy seems very impressive and I was amazed to see Steyn play so well and last so long.

The Aussie attack is very pedestrian though, it must be said. Yes they were without Lee but from what I saw they never consistently pressured the SA lower order. It looked like they may be getting things together having got their top order out cheaply yesterday, but now they're facing another defeat and a home series loss unless they bat very well.

lee_arama

Wow is all I can say. I had been looking at the spreads b4 SA's 1st Inning. 370.5 and thought that unders was in. Of course due to the Chicago Bulls collapse in the 4th I was busto and never placed it.

Nearly cried waking up to see the spread now 250.5 thinking I had been guaranteed free munies...

And then watched last night in the pub, and at home after, as the Saffers did mean mean things to the Aussie bowlers.

Draw is locked in IMO.

mikeruurds

lee_arama wrote: »

Draw is locked in IMO.

I hope you put some money on an SA win

Day 4 has been all SA bar a captain's knock of 99 by Punter. Everyone else has wilted around him so far.

lee_arama

Had no bet on... Saffers were 2/1 at 70/3 last night... Had no money though...

mikeruurds

Aussie on the ropes in this match and the series.

Oh how the great have fallen.

AnimalRights

Looks like they will be losing their 1st home test in what is it...16 years?

mikeruurds

AnimalRights wrote: »

Looks like they will be losing their 1st home test in what is it...16 years?

Yes... first loss in 16 years and SA's first ever test series win in Australia. I believe the previous loss was in '92 to the Windies.

Marshy

Very well played SA, bar a dramatic collapse tomorrow(that we might have seen from them in the past) they will be deserving winners of the series. Will they take over the top test team ranking in that case I wonder?

Aus on the other hand are really struggling. This is the weakest they've looked in a long time. Several batsmen in poor form and Johnson the only one they've really been able to rely on with the ball. They don't seem to have any quality spinners coming through so could be a while before they dominate the test arena like they did for so long.

mikeruurds

Marshy wrote: »

Will they take over the top test team ranking in that case I wonder?

SA have to pip them 3-0 to take the number one ranking. SA are ranked no. 3 at the moment.

Marshy

mikeruurds wrote: »

SA have to pip them 3-0 to take the number one ranking. SA are ranked no. 3 at the moment.

Oh Ok, wouldn't say thats beyond them the way things are going! Though they did let the last test in England slip, if I remember right, having already sealed the series.

In reality, SA probably are the best test side at the moment. India are close but I'd give the South Africans the edge.

Rjd2

Marshy wrote: »

In reality, SA probably are the best test side at the moment. India are close but I'd give the South Africans the edge.

Really? I go for India they just have a better team when you look at it..
Openers Sehwag/ Gambir v Mc Kenzie/ Smith
Sehwag/ Gambir win that one by a mile...
Middle Order
amala/Kallis/De Villiers/ Duminy v Sashin/Dravid, Laxman, Yuvraj
Ok the saffers win that!
Wicket keeper
Dhoni v Boucher
Dhoni by a mile, Boucher has being poor this year...
Fast bowlers
Steyn v Khan = Draw
Morkel v Sharma = Sharma by a mile...
Spinners
Harris v Harbajan
Erm would Harris's mum even be bold enough to say her son is in the class of Harbajan?;)
Lets not forget the likes of Rohit, Badarinth, Raina will be coming through through soon, this time next year India will be number 1.

Marshy

Well they're fairly evenly matched I'd say. Not much between them in the batting. India have the better spinners alright, but I'd give SA the edge in the pace department, especially away from the subcontinent. Granted it was a slightly different Aus side that India played last year but they didn't consistently trouble the Aussie batsmen like the South African quicks are in this series.

The Indians might have some better individual players but team wise I think SA have the advantage. Graeme Smith is a strong captain and has led very well down under.

SA have just about had the better of it in the recent series' played by the sides too. They got a 1-1 draw in India back in March after they'd won 2-1 at home 2 years ago.

DMC

There is still not much between the top 3. Australia have been brought back to the pack, and that is the key. Australia are mortal again.

SA, as Marshy pointed out, did well last time in India, and India are not a complete side, yet. All three have chinks in the armour. McKenzie can't open a village fete, Kallis is suspect at present. And is this the same Paul Harris who was vilified by Boycott in reference to his mother's batting skills? The Aussies woes are well documented, and India have almost got a pace attack.

But each team, on any given day, can still beat each other. Some are in the ascendency, some are going back down. Its making for great test cricket.

I've changed my opinion on Graeme Smith. Before now, I didn't like it him one bit, but now, on the verge of a series win in Australia, he has to be applauded. He has been fantastic.

And with the selectors trigger set to be pulled on Symonds and Hayden, 2009 is starting to look up

I've been watching and listening to this test all weekend, can't wait for tonight.

DMC

Shane Watson is out for 6 months with a stress fracture of the back. Bad timing for him.

Symonds has a reprieve.

Play starts on time in the 'G, there was a threat of rain.

dfx-

All over..183-1 in the end and McKenzie with an ahem..slow 50

McKenzie or Prince - not a bad dilemma

DMC

and thats that. SA win by 9 wickets and lead the 3 test series by 2-0. The first series victory in Australia by South Africa ever, and the Aussies first home series loss since the West Indies did them in 1992/3. wow! Congrats to all Saffie boardsies!

mikeruurds

DMC wrote: »

and thats that. SA win by 9 wickets and lead the 3 test series by 2-0. The first series victory in Australia by South Africa ever, and the Aussies first home series loss since the West Indies did them in 1992/3. wow! Congrats to all Saffie boardsies!

Thanks DMC. Only pity is that I'll be in the air on my way home to SA on the 5th day of the Sydney test. I hope it's a ripper!

dfx-

But if it's a 4 day test.. :cool:

It'll be an interesting return series in March and whether SA can keep that performance level up. Also read that Australia and South Africa won't play each other at Christmas again because South Africa want to play at home and Australia refuse to visit..

No SA tour to Australia before 2012 looking at the tour schedule, so Kallis, Boucher and Ntini just got there..

Sure Australia couldn't get 20 wickets against a well balanced team, but I doubt England can put the same pressure as Kallis, Steyn, Morkel, Ntini and Harris did

DMC

I think its very weird that SA-Aus is not a 5 test series already since the end of exile, and that all series between them are back-to-back. A bit like NZ-England.

As for the Boxing Day issue, the Aussies are too cosy always having the Boxing Day test at home, but yet, the good argument is that only in Melbourne could you get 70,000+ in on a first day. You won't get that in Port Elizabeth or Durban.