Australia in South Africa

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Re: Australia in South Africa

excellent bowling by the vic boys. macca keeping it up and straight whilt siddle is bowling quick and making the old ball move off the seam back.

New ball coming soon so this is a huge period of the match. Time to stand up aussies and win this test match.

looks like north will bowl to the new ball.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

Caesar;331016 said:
On the McDonald/Bollinger debate, let me say first and foremost I think we should be comparing them solely as bowlers. We are talking about selecting a fourth bowler here, and our batting lineup is long enough. Any batting proficiency in the player selected is a bonus.


IIRC there isn't much between McDonald and Bollinger's FC records. Last time I checked Micky D had a marginally better average and Bollingball had a marginally better strike rate.

But I think the biggest mistake is making this decision on the basis of statistics. Sure, statistics are an excellent indicator but when they're that close then you should be using other factors to differentiate the players. Most importantly, how do they fit in with the rest of the attack? Bollinger is a strike bowler, McDonald keeps it tight and relies on the other bowlers to build the pressure for him to take his wickets. Of the three other bowlers already selected for this Test, Siddle is already performing that job, Hilfy is a pure strike bowler and Johnson is a happy medium between the two.

Do we really need another bowler who specialises in keeping things tight? Especially without a spinner. Remember, one of the main reasons we aren't playing a spinner is because we didn't have one offensive enough to take wickets aggressively.

I think that if you play four pacemen with McDonald as one of them, you're going to struggle to take wickets when it counts because your attack isn't going to have enough teeth. Sure, maybe if the other three are all aggressive strike bowlers who are going to build the pressure he needs to take his wickets. Sure, if he's playing as an actual allrounder as a supplement to a balanced attack. But not I think under the current arrangements.

We'll see today how he goes, and possibly next Test if he gets a go. But I think the bowling attack has the wrong balance with him in it - either it changes, or he goes.
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Finally, someone mounting an argument on the 4th bowler topic, who backs it up with some sound reasoning. Thank-you, Caesar.

I'm almost willing to accept what you offer, in fact I was almost looking for something to convince me. If McD made runs, we probably wouldn't still be arguing, but he didn't and accordingly his selection is up for hot debate. This last day may be telling however. McD was good on the last day of the 3rd Test in Aus, whereas Bollinger seemed to lack any real evidence of that strikepower you are referring to.

Not sure if the other 3 bowlers are as you classify them. Hilf = strike, Siddle = stock, Johnson in between ... are their roles so clear cut? McDonald makes them play every ball. They miss, he hits. That's not just "keeping it tight". Today, it may count for more than a lot. We wait and see.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

new ball taken, kallis hit on the pads plumb but the problem was it pitched outside leg stump. refered upstairs and the decision is reversed. Good use of the new rule, still think they should just allow the third or forth umpire the chance to radio to the umpire in the middle letting them know when they have made a howler.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

johno!! gone! kallis drives but only brings it back onto his stumps. Aussies can smell victory as the wicket keeper comes to the crease. they will be looking for one more with the new ball.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

I think they should do a lot of work with McDonald's batting, I think he is a proper all rounder option, bowling well.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

3 wkts to go, looks like SA dominance of world cricket will be short lived, Australia in rebuilding mode still has an edge on the rest of the world, we are just to good.:D
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

the hilf gets the important wicket of boucher and the aussies are 2 wickets away from a great win away from home. Lets be honest, this will be one for the ages. Against the new number 1 side at their home with 3 players debuting, an attack with 22 tests between them. It's an incredible effort really.

C'mon aussies, 2 more wickets. Really proud of the boys
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

first over after tea and siddle gets the 9th wicket. katich takes the catchafte attempting to drop it, catches it on the second go.

siddle had 7 for the match so far
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

Harris pops one up off Siddle who banged it in short and Katich juggles a catch at short leg.

9/289, Steyn on four with Ntini to join him. Australia are only one wicket away from a famous victory.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

All over, Steyn tries to smash Johnson out of the ground and is clean ripped. Steyn is bowled for six and South Africa are all out for 291.

Australia win by 162 runs.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

So little expeirence but such a brilliant win.

I really doubted we could match SA on their home turf but I'm glad to be proven wrong.:)
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

johno puts steyns off stump back and thats the test match

AWESOME EFFORT AUSTRALIA!

8 wickets and 96 for johno

7 wickets for siddle

centuary on debut for north

:)
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

Mitch Johnson is Man of the Match for his eight wickets and 96 not out in the first innings.

So, Australia were too good for South Africa in this first test. After being in trouble at 3/38 on the first day it looked like they were going to be on a hiding to nowhere but Ponting, Clarke, North, Haddin and Johnson pulled their side out of trouble and managed to post a pretty good score first up. The bowlers then backed them up and despite a second innings collapse and some worrying signs on day four, Australia came away with a great win.

South Africa will be disappointed with their efforts, they had Australia in all sorts of trouble but couldn't press home the advantage. The same thing happened again after the wicket of McDonald as they let North and Johnson dictate terms. Their batting efforts in the first innings were very poor with the exception of de Villiers and some poor shots and bad luck hurt them in the second innings.

A very surprising result, many didn't expect Australia to win so convincingly. The second test starts in Durban on March 6. South Africa must win the last two tests to win the series and to also become the number one ranked test team.
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

Even back here- we were well in with a chance to win EVERY test match.

The trouble was they took their chances and we didn't.

This time, we took our chances- the North-Johnson partnership was reminscent of the Duminy-Steyn one which won them that match. Smith dropping Ponting was crucial as it would've been all over at that point.

I'm not surprised that we won, but it is still nice to see! :D
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

Maccas ability to keep it tight is required with this team, all 3 bowlers have been smashed around a bit (Siddle in the 1st, Johnson in the 2nd at times, Hilfy in ODIs) so none of them are good at containing a side but Macca can and did which put the pressure on

All 3 quick bowlers are wicket takers as well, all capable of bags of wickets, he fitted the attack perfectly and Dougie may not have lasted long as it was and Australia could have been relying alot more on North

Plus he can bowl long spells which took away the reliability on the 5th bowler but they should go with McGain for the next test
 
Re: Australia in South Africa

Well our bowlers are made of glass! :eek:

Australia's euphoria over their big win in Monday's first Test against South Africa has faded with fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus in doubt for Friday's second Test because of injuries.

Siddle has left-foot soreness and Hilfenhaus is carrying a lower-back complaint.

Steve Magoffin is suddenly in line for his Test debut after chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch announced the West Australian paceman would be flown to Durban "as a precautionary measure".

Uncapped Tasmanian quick Brett Geeves is also chasing a Test debut after joining the squad this week following NSW left-armer Doug Bollinger's abdominal-muscle strain while bowling in the nets after being named 12th man for the Johannesburg Test.

Magoffin, 29, is the second-leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield this summer with 38 at 22.86, one more than the 26-year-old Geeves who has 37 victims at 23.86. (Brett Dorey has 42.)

Geeves has also scored 343 runs at 38.11, almost identical to Magoffin's 381 at 38.10.

Siddle, who was man of the match with eight wickets in Australia's win over South Africa in the third Test in Sydney, claimed a further six wickets in Monday's first Test in Johannesburg.

Hilfenhaus was also impressive, taking three wickets on debut in Johannesburg and getting nice shape on his outswingers.

"With Ben and Peter suffering some soreness following the first Test, and with such a short turnaround between the first and second Test, the National Selection Panel has taken the precaution of adding another bowler to the squad," Hilditch said in a statement released late on Tuesday South African time.
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Magoffin in line for Test debut with Siddle and Hilfenhaus in doubt - Cricket
 
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