South Africa in Australia - Page 108

ArShad · 7 Jan 2009, 01:26

What a great finish to an exciting test series , if matches like these happens often then test cricket will survive for longer years

Kram81 · 7 Jan 2009, 03:41

Lucky for Haydos that dropped catch didn't cost us.

The430king · 7 Jan 2009, 04:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljp86

The South African batting order is pretty well set so tinkering with it is not in their best interests. Morkel opened because South Africa didn't want to switch around their top six which probably wasn't the right thing to do considering they have nunerous opening options.

Morkel was a sacrificial wicket more then anything and was unlikely to score anything significant should he have batted in his usual spot on day five.

Morkel is getting paid to bowl and the batsman are getting paid to bat. they've got two blokes in that side who have opened the batting before in international cricket and another bloke who has opened in first class cricket. Surely they would've been better options to face the new ball with a rested fired up attack with 15 overs to go in the days play than a bloke who can't spell bat and has bowled his guts on a pretty hot day.

Great game of cricket, great series. In the top 3 series I have seen alongside 2005 Ashes and Aus tour of India in 2001. Smith, one the most courageous acts i have seen in a sporting field. Very deserved player of the series.

grapedo · 7 Jan 2009, 07:20

What a series !
Well done to all parties.

Will be interesting to see the follow up series in South Africa and as well as the up coming 20 20s and odis.

What a gutsy effort by Smith I am sure on this day the team if they haven't already will appreciate and acknowledge the gutsy skipper they had.

**Ljp86** · 7 Jan 2009, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by The430king

Morkel is getting paid to bowl and the batsman are getting paid to bat. they've got two blokes in that side who have opened the batting before in international cricket and another bloke who has opened in first class cricket. Surely they would've been better options to face the new ball with a rested fired up attack with 15 overs to go in the days play than a bloke who can't spell bat and has bowled his guts on a pretty hot day.

Great game of cricket, great series. In the top 3 series I have seen alongside 2005 Ashes and Aus tour of India in 2001. Smith, one the most courageous acts i have seen in a sporting field. Very deserved player of the series.

As much as I agree with you, the South African "Think Tank" didn't see it that way. It was a silly thing to do in hindsight as South Africa were always going to be one down early (two if Smith didn't bat). They probably should have opened with McKenzie and Amla, putting Kallis at three and then de Villiers at four.

South Africa will run into a problem should McKenzie's poor form continue though, they will then have to make a choice on who opens with Smith. Do they bring Prince back in and bump either Amla, de Villiers or Duminy into the opening spot or do they bring in another specialist opener, a Herschelle Gibbs perhaps?

tristo · 7 Jan 2009, 17:48

Squads for 20/20 and one day series.

Quote:

The KFC Twenty20 squad is:

R. Ponting (c): TAS, 34
M. Hussey (vc): WA, 33
D. Hussey: VIC, 31
B. Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
J. Hopes: QLD, 30
N. Bracken: NSW, 31
B. Haddin: NSW, 31
S. Marsh: WA, 25
S. Tait: SA, 25
D. Warner: NSW, 22
R. Harris: QLD, 29
C. White: VIC, 25
N. Hauritz: NSW, 27

The Commonwealth Bank Series squad is:

R. Ponting (c): TAS, 34
M. Clarke (vc): NSW, 27
B. Haddin: NSW, 31
J. Hopes: QLD, 30
N. Bracken: NSW, 31
S. Marsh: WA, 25
M. Hussey: WA, 33
D. Hussey: VIC, 31
N. Hauritz: NSW, 27
B. Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
C. White: VIC, 25
S. Tait: SA, 25
P. Siddle: VIC, 24

Commenting on the selection of the squads, NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:

“The announcement of these squads for the KFC Twenty20 Internationals and the Commonwealth Bank Series is a clear indication we are now in full-scale planning for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC World Cup.

“Winning a fourth consecutive ICC World Cup and our first ICC Twenty20 title is an ambitious project. For this reason there will be very few players selected from this point that we can not see playing a role in achieving this goal.

“The omission of Matthew Hayden from the KFC Twenty20 and Commonwealth Bank Series squads is not a reflection on his performances in the recent Test series but rather a strategic decision made by the National Selection Panel as we plan for these signature events. His possible selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa will be discussed as with all players when we select a squad after the round of interstate matches at the beginning of February.

“New South Wales opener David Warner has been selected in the KFC Twenty20 squad after some eye-catching performances particularly this year. He adds a dynamic nature to the top of the order and we look forward to seeing his performances at the international level.

“Queensland all-rounder Ryan Harris has also been added to the squad for the KFC Twenty20 games. Ryan has had a very good season for Queensland and has the ability to swing the ball at good pace. He is also very good in the field and handy with the bat and it will be interesting to see his progress in these two matches.

“Mitchell Johnson will not take part in the two KFC Twenty20 matches or first two of the Commonwealth Bank Series matches. It has been advised by team medical and fitness staff that due to his workload over the last few months he should continue to be monitored. For this reason he will not be available for selection in these matches.

“Nathan Hauritz has been added to both the KFC Twenty20 and Commonwealth Bank Series squads after some impressive performances in interstate one-day cricket over several seasons. While we have not selected a specialist spinner in these forms of the game recently, it will be nice to have the flexibility of a specialist spinner when necessary.

“It is exciting for Australian cricket that Shaun Tait has been selected in both the KFC Twenty20 and Commonwealth Bank Series squads. Although he has had some injury problems since playing a leading role in the 2007 ICC World Cup, he is an explosive weapon at his best and we hope he will play a key role in both forms of the game this summer,” Hilditch concluded.

Commenting on Michael Clarke’s unavailability for the KFC Twenty20 International games, Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said:

“Michael Clarke suffered some ligament damage to his right thumb during the first 3 Mobile Test against South Africa in Perth. This injury has required pain killing injections in every batting innings since and for this reason we have decided the best course of action is for him to miss the first two KFC Twenty20 matches. We will continue to monitor the injury over the next four to five days and we are very hopeful of him being fully fit for the beginning of the Commonwealth Bank Series.”

Jolldo87 · 7 Jan 2009, 18:06

Looks like some very good selections. For once i think they have made the right choices.

grapedo · 7 Jan 2009, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljp86

As much as I agree with you, the South African "Think Tank" didn't see it that way. It was a silly thing to do in hindsight as South Africa were always going to be one down early (two if Smith didn't bat). They probably should have opened with McKenzie and Amla, putting Kallis at three and then de Villiers at four.

South Africa will run into a problem should McKenzie's poor form continue though, they will then have to make a choice on who opens with Smith. Do they bring Prince back in and bump either Amla, de Villiers or Duminy into the opening spot or do they bring in another specialist opener, a Herschelle Gibbs perhaps?

If they bring in another specialist opener I doubt it will be Herschelle Gibbs unless he has an extremely good odi series.

I am sure Mckenzie will recapture some form back in South Africa though.

mid wicket · 7 Jan 2009, 22:03

the courage it took for smith to get back out there was amazing, hes got my respect.

The430king · 8 Jan 2009, 04:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljp86

As much as I agree with you, the South African "Think Tank" didn't see it that way. It was a silly thing to do in hindsight as South Africa were always going to be one down early (two if Smith didn't bat). They probably should have opened with McKenzie and Amla, putting Kallis at three and then de Villiers at four.

South Africa will run into a problem should McKenzie's poor form continue though, they will then have to make a choice on who opens with Smith. Do they bring Prince back in and bump either Amla, de Villiers or Duminy into the opening spot or do they bring in another specialist opener, a Herschelle Gibbs perhaps?

I reckon De Villiers should of opened. He has opened in Australia in the past, but when your 2-0 up in the series, i don't think they were really fussed who opened.