Anyone for cricket?

[montasaurus 0]

Are you guys suggesting you would not like to see NSW stripped of the 20/20 flag?

I agree its the shield that matters, but who wouldn't like to see NSW on the recieving end. Launch an appeal against their win!

[titan_uranus 25,016]

McGain not selected in first test in Sth Africa. North looks a though he has a start. Interesting..

You could see this coming from the way Boonie was talking over the last few days. It's a seamers wicket, with only the best of the world's spinners having mild success there (Warne aside, only Kumble and Vettori have managed to get some good turn at this ground).

I can't see Hilfenhaus playing alongside Siddle, Johnson and Bollinger. I think Hilfenhaus will be 12th man for this test, but will be a good chance for the second if Bollinger doesn't play well. Similarly, if McDonald doesn't play well, McGain surely will take his spot.

[Rogue 585]

Oh yeah, that really pleased me. No more of this horses for courses business. South Africa managed to beat us twice and contest well in the third test without changing their team once. Meanwhile, we're about to enter our 15th consecutive test in which we have played a different team to the test before. Let's get a squad (the one we've got now I think is good) and take them to England, play them at home, then take them wherever we go next year.

For sure

But I still think McGain should play.

He's been pretty unlucky, with his injury in India and then gastro in SA.

I hope he gets a cap at some stage on this tour.

I can't see Hilfenhaus playing alongside Siddle, Johnson and Bollinger. I think Hilfenhaus will be 12th man for this test, but will be a good chance for the second if Bollinger doesn't play well. Similarly, if McDonald doesn't play well, McGain surely will take his spot.

Since we're playing North, who is a legitimate middle-order bat, at six I'd like to see our four best bowlers picked.

In that case Hilfenhaus gets the nod over McDonald.

McDonald would definitely strengthen the tail but that would leave us with just there front-line bowlers, and the aim of the game is to take 20 wickets. IMO let the top six - and the keeper - worry about scoring the runs, and choose the bowlers most likely to take 20 wickets.

[titan_uranus 25,016]

He's been pretty unlucky, with his injury in India and then gastro in SA.

I hope he gets a cap at some stage on this tour.

Should happen. I can't see North taking too many wickets against the Proteas' batsmen. They're going to be much better at picking him off than the practice team was. They had no trouble with Krejza or Haurtiz, who specialise in bowling off-spin.

Since we're playing North, who is a legitimate middle-order bat, at six I'd like to see our four best bowlers picked.

In that case Hilfenhaus gets the nod over McDonald.

McDonald would definitely strengthen the tail but that would leave us with just there front-line bowlers, and the aim of the game is to take 20 wickets. IMO let the top six - and the keeper - worry about scoring the runs, and choose the bowlers most likely to take 20 wickets.

Not such a bad plan, actually. I just would feel sad for McDonald for getting left out of the team after doing a pretty good job in Sydney.

[Rogue 585]

I read this in 'The Age':

Australia haven't played three debutants in the same Test match since Merv Hughes, Geoff Marsh and Bruce Reid helped Allan Border's side draw the Adelaide Test against Kapil Dev's India in December 1985.

Not a bad trio.

It's a shame Hughes got a duck in his first innings.

Should happen.

Yeah, I agree. Apparently the second venue won't be so pace-friendly.

I just would feel sad for McDonald for getting left out of the team after doing a pretty good job in Sydney.

McDonald's hung on, which is good for the one-eyed Victorian fans - now we've got two Test players, and I'm sure Rogers will be feeling a little frustrated after Hughes' failure.

I don't really like the idea of picking a number 8 based on his batting ability, but it might come in handy during the fist innings considering we lost three quick wickets up front.

[titan_uranus 25,016]

McDonald's hung on, which is good for the one-eyed Victorian fans - now we've got two Test players, and I'm sure Rogers will be feeling a little frustrated after Hughes' failure.

I don't really like the idea of picking a number 8 based on his batting ability, but it might come in handy during the fist innings considering we lost three quick wickets up front.

At 5/254, things could go either way, so I'm glad we've still got McDonald to come. It's not such a bad selection for mine, his bowling in Sydney was fine, he got Amla twice, got Kallis for almost nothing (with a great return catch), and broke the Steyn-Ntini partnership on Day 5. He takes wickets, and is accurate. But if McGain is to come back in, it's his spot he'll be taking.

Well batted from Ponting and Clarke, but both had lapses in concentration to lose their wickets. It's a problem that's become more evident in recent months, as players who are set fail to get to 100. Clarke really threw his wicket away, Ponting's was a shocking error in judgement.

North looks like he could be our answer at no. 6 (touch wood). Pity it's taken so long to find him (he's almost 30 years old).

[H_T 3,043]

7/386 at present. Magnificent fightback from virtually 3 for nothing. C'mon boys..

[grazman 7,432]

Great century on debut from North. He just looks so composed. 96 not out from Mitchell Johnson. I don't know why the selectors are dicking around with trying to 'produce' an allrounder. MJ is one already, he's all class when he bats.

I'm glad Hilfenhaus has been given a go, I think he'll be important in England. Just a pity that McGain was ill and couldn't be selected.

[dreamin' man 0]

North is a v. impressive package -- talented, unassuming, great temperament ... what a pity he's an Essendon supporter!!

Was just thinking how Hilfy, Miitch Johnson & North are just good blokes. different from so many previous players who were snarling sledgers.

[titan_uranus 25,016]

North is our no. 6. A composed batsman. Stabilises the order, has a cool head and knows the game well. And bowls handy off spin.

The team is starting to come together nicely. We have a proper top 6 (though IMO Hussey should be batting at 5 and Clarke at 4), three good pacemen who all bring something different, and a wicket-keeper-batsman who can bat well enough at 7 but needs to work on his keeping.

Johnson should bat at no.8, leaving the door open for another bowler. Having said that, McDonald does bowl well, has a habit of getting wickets when we need them, and, despite his two innings so far, can bat. McDonald could be played as a bowler at 9 if there was no need for a spinner.

As for the match, we shouldn't lose from here, but I'm not convinced we're going to win. Bad light seems to end each day prematurely, there's been rain about, and South Africa won't be bowled out for 220 again I don't think. But the lead we've got should mean we can set a target of 450 and still have enough time to bowl them out.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

North looks composed at 6. Good bye Andrew Symonds.

I will be interested to see how Hughes goes today. I hope he get amongst it.

Johnson is really developing quickly into an elite cricketer as a bowling all rounder batting 8 in the mould of Hadlee and Imran. There is no excuse for us not playing 4 specialist bowlers. We have been lucky playing 3 specialist plus McDonald and North this time.

We have lost 2 hours play and may lose more due to weather. Lets hope we can seal it.

Its been a fantastic performance all round given we were 3/38 on a green top. A win is a huge scoring punch against the SA on their home turf.

[grazman 7,432]

I almost feel "unVictorian" for saying this, but Ronnie is in no way shape or form a test batsman. Doesn't move his feet and never looks comfortable. His bowling is serviceable, but hardly penetrating. His last test today I think.

Looks like Ricky is dragging the chain with the declaration.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Looks like Ricky is dragging the chain with the declaration.

At 2/170, he was right to bat on. I always thought 450 would have been the target anyway. Its a pity the middle order did not do likewise. Its going to be an intriguing final day.

Does this Test match highlight that Michael Hussey is running out of "lives" at Test Level? After a poor summer in Australia, he needs to fire on this tour. His English experience when in form will be invaluable.

Having only 3 specialist bowlers will really test us. I can only hope McDonald and North chip in. But Hilf, Mitch and Siddle must strike in the first hour and the first session. The first session will be vital.

If we win it will be one of the most audacious victories Australia has had in a long time. Three debutants, North, Hughes and Hilf. Two others with less than six tests, McDonald and Siddle and Haddin, Johnson and Katich have only really stepped into the Australian side in the past 12 months or so.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus200...ory/392926.html

Now Bollinger out...Brett Geeves to replace him in the touring team.

Geez, we have had an appalling time with injuries.

[grazman 7,432]

At 2/170, he was right to bat on. I always thought 450 would have been the target anyway. Its a pity the middle order did not do likewise. Its going to be an intriguing final day.

Does this Test match highlight that Michael Hussey is running out of "lives" at Test Level? After a poor summer in Australia, he needs to fire on this tour. His English experience when in form will be invaluable.

I'm a big fan of Ricky Ponting the batsman, not so much Ricky Ponting the captain. When you're 240 runs ahead after the first dig a test match has to be won, not saved from losing, particularly in a game that's lost time every day to adverse weather. Three or four overs before lunch to try and grab a quick wicket may not have worked, but if it had it would certainly have tightened the screws. We were plenty ahead anyway, SA needed to make the biggest ever second innings score at Wanderers to win on a pitch still offering assistance to the quicks and now turning as well.

Anyway poor Mike Hussey. I like him, but completely out of form and the longer it goes on the more frustrating it is. I'm surprised they didn't promote Clark to four and put Hussey at five, I'm stunned they haven't tried it in SA.

[titan_uranus 25,016]

I'm a big fan of Ricky Ponting the batsman, not so much Ricky Ponting the captain. When you're 240 runs ahead after the first dig a test match has to be won, not saved from losing, particularly in a game that's lost time every day to adverse weather. Three or four overs before lunch to try and grab a quick wicket may not have worked, but if it had it would certainly have tightened the screws. We were plenty ahead anyway, SA needed to make the biggest ever second innings score at Wanderers to win on a pitch still offering assistance to the quicks and now turning as well.

Anyway poor Mike Hussey. I like him, but completely out of form and the longer it goes on the more frustrating it is. I'm surprised they didn't promote Clark to four and put Hussey at five, I'm stunned they haven't tried it in SA.

I think Ponting has been vindicated: those runs from Hilfenhaus and Siddle could prove vital. At 2/178, with Amla and Kallis doing fine and de Villiers, Duminy and Boucher to come, Sth Africa can still win. A loss, or even a draw, from here would be morale-destroying for us. When you're in a position to enforce the follow-on, and don't go on to win the match, that hurts. We must take 2 or 3 wickets before lunch, else we'll either lose to Sth Africa or the weather/light.

Agree re: Hussey though. He should be batting at 5. And why don't we have another specialist batsman in the squad? If one of our top 6 goes down with an injury we've got no cover.

[montasaurus 0]

Great win,

Missed this but a friend was telling me that siddle bowled 4 bouncers to stain in the 1st innings, followed by a "Get up you week ______" Great stuff for me, its been a while since we have had a fast bowler like this!

Johnson for me is close to becoming one of the MVP in the world. Lets hope hussey makes runs in the 2nd test and we are well on the way. Great win but i still can't believe we went into the test without a specialist spinner. Maybe I'm just old fashioned.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

We had a number of elements do very well for us. Johnson and North particularly.

However, going in with 3 specialist bowlers was a real gamble. It paid off here. But unless we have similar conditinos to this Test we would be monkeys not to take a fourth specialist (a spinner) into the next Test.

We are going to have to play really well the rest of the series to beat Sth Africa . No room for complacency.

In McGain

Out McDonald.

And Hussey needs to get some runs...quick. His form is horrible.

[deanox 9,914]

i was quite impressed with mcdonalds bowling actually. i thought he contributed to us getting wickets by keeping the pressure so tight at one end (ie about 25 overs for 30 odd runs). he kept things tight and on the spot, wobbled them around just a little to make him hard to play which built the pressure nicely.

i am not saying he will be the first choice for that 4th bowling spot normally, but i imagine that if we had a spinner playing today he would have leaked runs like a sieve (ie kreja or hauritz). maybe mcgain is different, but he seems to be a 'wicket taker' not a tight bowler. thats where warne was different in that he could do both.

including the spinner could increase our wicket taking ability, but it could also diminish our ability to tie down the batsmen, releasing some of the pressure on them.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

including the spinner could increase our wicket taking ability, but it could also diminish our ability to tie down the batsmen, releasing some of the pressure on them.

Exactly. That what you want. Nothing puts pressure on batsmen more than if wickets are falling. Run Rate is irrelevant if you are getting 10 wickets before they get the runs.

We have a real 4th innings weakness to take wickets. We were lucky the pitch still had something in it for the bowlers. Thats not the case normally. Nevertheless, South Africa's 291 is still a credible score in a run chase.

[titan_uranus 25,016]

We had a number of elements do very well for us. Johnson and North particularly.

We are going to have to play really well the rest of the series to beat Sth Africa . No room for complacency.

I read on cricinfo.com that South Africa has come back from 1-0 down to win home series in the last two summers, against India and West Indies. Definitely no room for complacency.

Agree that a lot went right for us, and South Africa played well below their capability. Morkel and Harris were nowhere near as good as they were in Australia. And the batsmen obviously were disappointing for them. The gloss seems to have come off Duminy a little: his last 4 innings have all been 24 or below.

i was quite impressed with mcdonalds bowling actually. i thought he contributed to us getting wickets by keeping the pressure so tight at one end (ie about 25 overs for 30 odd runs). he kept things tight and on the spot, wobbled them around just a little to make him hard to play which built the pressure nicely.

i am not saying he will be the first choice for that 4th bowling spot normally, but i imagine that if we had a spinner playing today he would have leaked runs like a sieve (ie kreja or hauritz). maybe mcgain is different, but he seems to be a 'wicket taker' not a tight bowler. thats where warne was different in that he could do both.

including the spinner could increase our wicket taking ability, but it could also diminish our ability to tie down the batsmen, releasing some of the pressure on them.

I'm with you deanox. McDonald's bowling was praised on cricinfo and on the ABC. We went into the match with 4 'pacemen' (McDonald gets included in that group) and they combined to take 19 wickets. Despite McDonald's poor batting, he vindicated his selection. By tying up one end in the 4th innings, he frustrated Kallis to the point of him playing the expansive drive that saw him get out. Part of our loss in Perth came from Krejza leaking runs far too easily. Defending a total in the 4th innings is much easier if the runs aren't flowing. It builds confidence in the bowling team to see the lead holding up.

Exactly. That what you want. Nothing puts pressure on batsmen more than if wickets are falling. Run Rate is irrelevant if you are getting 10 wickets before they get the runs.

We have a real 4th innings weakness to take wickets. We were lucky the pitch still had something in it for the bowlers. Thats not the case normally. Nevertheless, South Africa's 291 is still a credible score in a run chase.

Disagree. Obviously if you bowl them out they lose, but if they're making runs a sense of confidence and a 'we can do this' attitude develops. It definitely helps the chasing team if they're scoring.

Having said that, the pitch definitely helped us out. If the next pitch demands a spinner, though, I'm not convinced the selectors will play McGain anyway. McDonald's ability to get a wicket, combined with his super economy rate, should be helping him stay in the selector's minds.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Disagree. Obviously if you bowl them out they lose, but if they're making runs a sense of confidence and a 'we can do this' attitude develops. It definitely helps the chasing team if they're scoring.

Having said that, the pitch definitely helped us out. If the next pitch demands a spinner, though, I'm not convinced the selectors will play McGain anyway. McDonald's ability to get a wicket, combined with his super economy rate, should be helping him stay in the selector's minds.

McDonald has been chosen as an all rounder. However his batting is not up to standard. Would you pick him as a bowler alone? In most situations no.

The benefit of tieing down an end is only of value if you have bowlers at the other end taking the wickets. McDonald bowled tightly in conditions that suit to allow others to break through. He had Mitch, Siddle and Hilf on song. I am not sure he is more a capable on your day bowler.

In different conditions, the lack of a capable spinner will crucify Australia as it did back home. If the selectors have an eye to the Ashes, they should be getting McGain playing. I wouldn't bother with Hauritz.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

And they were encouraging ICC nations to tour Pakistan again......

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/pakvsl/con...ory/393212.html

I think Pakistan will be off the cricket map for some years yet.

Shocking incident.

[grazman 7,432]

I think Pakistan will be off the cricket map for some years yet.

I think that's an understatement. Anyone that saw the Four Corners program on Pakistan recently would see this as a very concerning, yet almost inevitable outcome of the fractured nature of the security environment there. The country is on the brink, lucky they don't have nuclear weapons

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If Australia was due to tour India and/or Sri Lanka sometime in 2009.....do you think the team should go?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

McDonald has been chosen as an all rounder. However his batting is not up to standard. Would you pick him as a bowler alone? In most situations no.

The benefit of tieing down an end is only of value if you have bowlers at the other end taking the wickets. McDonald bowled tightly in conditions that suit to allow others to break through. He had Mitch, Siddle and Hilf on song. I am not sure he is more a capable on your day bowler.

In different conditions, the lack of a capable spinner will crucify Australia as it did back home. If the selectors have an eye to the Ashes, they should be getting McGain playing. I wouldn't bother with Hauritz.

Crikey! Siddle and Hilf I doubt for Durban. That makes Bollinger, Clark , Lee and these two.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus200...ory/393329.html