Rhino Richards

Probably not. You would have enough bile to make up for the shortfall. And as far as getting a life I could think of poster that needs one more than yourself. I often take guard against rank stupidity and you my friend deliver it consistently in spades. I dont why you want to argue Ponting's time is up. I have already acknowledge that his time was near. His dismissals in this series have not been good. It certainly wasnt the case last year where he came in a number of times with the score 3/50 and held the innings together and made runs against a team competing for the title of No 1 side. You right that the Indians went off the boil in the series but early on Ponting was there when it counted against Khan, Sharma and Yadav. If you cant acknowledge that then grab a few pins......

He is batting at No 4 and batted at No 5 last year. And you continual use of [censored]/FFS makes you look unncessarily uncouth as well as ignorant of the facts. Are you running out of pins? I could send you somemore.

Australia have done well to be 4/224. Warner did well with 120. Pity they blew 3 wickets. Kallis short spell aside, the bowling has been poor. And for 90+ runs in 9 overs after lunch then the bowling has been below Test standard. Although there will be those that blame the pitch!

Hopefully today knocks will address that bizarre flight of fancy. Yes but can he bat at Test level? A typical flat Adelaide batting paradise. His time is coming near but he more than justified his selection last season with 544 runs at over 100 avg often coming into bat at 3 for not many. But I know you cant resist the pins in the effigy. You must be prety [censored] off Clarke is doing so well as you had call for his head often frequently a couple of years ago. And BTW, Watson is not fit and his form with the bat does not demand selection if he cant bowl.

If we check everything we would be get through only half the required overs and would face an appeal against the light. In regard to Cowan's incident let the SA challenge it as one of their challenges. No problem with that. The end result does not affect the score. Giving someone out off a no ball is absolutely no no. And if you have agree they should not have this happen then where is the problem. It results in a more accurate outcome.

Pattison is a real trump of a bowler. Really really impressed by him. If Clarke is not in the top 2 batsman this year then I dont know who should be. Great captaincy, peerless leadership and he really is a superb batsman. Ponting needs runs this series. Warner has a bit of time on his side. Have no qualms swapping Watson for Quniey if Watson is fit. Would happily go Starc for Hilfy. He looks so circa 2010 atm. For SA, its easy Du Plessis for Duminy and Tahir for Kleinweldt. I cant see what all the hoo haa is about the referral system on no balls. If you overstep then the bowler should not get the wicket.

Have you ever thought to compare the daily crowds of the 1st test in Brisbane over the years?? Guess they go down after the first days play. And you are plucking numbers when you take one game in isolation without consideration of the historical behaiour of crowds. Your point was that 4th day wickets offer sideways movement and seam. That my friend is bulltish. Many 4th day wickets tend to crumble and offer something for spinners not quicks. Its credit that the pitch has not deteriorated. Some pitches crumble sooner than others. Brisbane is one of the better wickets. It was 4th day pitch having had 3 days of cricket. The pitch was starting to deteriorate on the 5th day. Its not up to the pitch to get a result.....its the players. And with only 4 days of play Australia almost captured a win from way behind. Again. Do the research on the crowd figures. And it is BS that a rained out day will put any cricket result beyond doubt. Its BS because no one made that point. The point is that it is harder to get a win result over 4 days than 5 days. And you should replace cricket purist with cricket pretence. You have come on here to push one line of argument without anything more than strawman facts than have been dispelled at each turn. And I doubt whether there is anything quick about you.

Tongue in cheek XI HT. The absence of Duminy assists the slim chance.... and it is slim at that. But full marks to the Australians they have come out blazing which seems a different approach to their opponent...

The pitch hasn't heavily favoured the batsman that much. Its just that the Brisbane pitch has not been as responsive as it normally is to bowlers. It is still a good wicket for cricket. On the first day when the pitch required the bowlers to work hard, the Australians were far too short and gave SA a good start. The full day wash out on the 2nd day took the sting out of this Test. And your comments on the crowds are naive. Brisbane, as the venue for the first test in the series always draws a strong crowd on the 1st day. The lack of play on the 2nd day (a Saturday) took a major impetus out of the Test. And as happens in Brisbane and other venues the crowds do tamper off on the 4th and 5th day especially when something like ummmmm work/school intervenes. If you actually did some hard research rather plucking number to suit a point of view, you would have a more rounded argument. Well you comment about 4th day is 100% bulltish. Good 4th day pitches are the complete opposite. In fact many of the 4th day pitches around the world actually start to crumble and break apart. The pitch is true but its not a traditional Brisbane pitch of the past 10 years. But it is still a very good wicket. You need to get the blinkers off. And I agree about Kleinweldt. I thought Philander looked impotent and Smith's bowling showed me that I retired too early from 1st class cricket.

Thats pure rubbish. Kallis made his 1st 50 in 63 balls. His 2nd 50 in 105 balls on day 3 and his last 45 off 106 balls. His run rate got slower as he went on. From a team perspective on the first day they 2/255 off 82 overs (3.1 runs per over). When Kallis went out with the score on 374 off 124 overs, the Proteas run rate was just above 3 runs per over. They have got slower as they went on and never pushed the run rate. At no time did they take the initiative for the game. The inability of two experienced players not to have challenged Amla's dismissal is gobsmacking. Now compare that to the Australias who from the start of the innings batted with purpose and resolve against the best bowling attack in the world were score at over 4 runs an over.. You should stop making things up. That is exactly the purpose. They need to accumulate as close to 500 runs on day 3 as soon as possible. They meandered and sacrificed Amla. Where was the desire. And FMD, show me a 4th day wicket that gives life and response to fast bowlers. If you could follow the tactics of the Test you make work out that Australia has gone from being at risk of innings defeat to potentially putting itself with an outside chance of putting some pressure back on the Proteas if it can get to 200 runs in front at lunch. Then for 2 sessions, the Australians have nothing to lose by giving the SAs both barrels. You dont understand the psychological importance of Clarke and Cowen with Hussey standing up to the Proteas attack. Unless he can move the ball then Philander at 128-130kmph is going to find wickets hard to come by. Australia has dented him and neutered Kleinweldt. Kallis gave them little. The unfortunate loss of Duminy will further imbalance their side in this series. And crowds dwindling on the 4th day of a Test held on Monday workday....How can that be? If you going to slag a pitch off in Australia head down to the newly laid Bellerive. Brisbane is a world class pitch. You undermine the achievement of the Australians today. I guess when Aust was 3-40 you must have been writing Australia off on a bowlers wicket.

Its now over a 1000 at about 114. And to think some posters wanted him gone! Unbelievable. Truly majestic performance by the Australias against the No 1 pace attack in the world. Leave them chasing leather for a half a day after what they have been through for the past day and a half. In the past year, Clarke has hit 2 doubles and one triple. The last person to do that was Bradman in 1930. Ugh Ugh. Kallis batted like he has batted all his career. At his own tempo. You need to stop fantasizing and graps the reality as hard as it is. Amla's dismissal is another example of the soft egg approach which has dogged SA cricket for years. Its inexplicable two experienced players (Amla and Kallis) did not challenge the decision. They have themselves to blame for letting the game go. Back to 20-20 cricket and the fireworks.

If the first test is in Brisbane, there is a chance they will play 4 quicks.

Great catch and wonderful footage. thanks

I thought he had more taste. If that talentless bit of fluff (Zaetta) can make it in Bollywood then Kyle Sandlilands and Danni Minogue should make a motza there.

Class player and class bloke. Gave his best. Cant ask for more. Congratulations indeed.

Thanks. Terrible news for Brad Haddin. He should be given all the support he deserves. Its no wonder Australia are speaking of 2 keepers. He must be kept in contention. If you want pain then just follow MFC. Wade has had a terrific series in tough conditions. He cant be overlooked. And Queen C in this situation I think you are underplaying Wades contribution. HIs batting on ant bed tracks in the WI against pace and spin was first class. Roach and Shillingford look class bowlers for mine.

Only the 2nd ton of the series that sets up an Aust win being 300+ ahead at stumps. The batting has been really benign in this series. The bowlers are not outstanding but the run rate is b/w 2 and 3 an over. Wades effort just about finishes Haddin off. Dont know what his personal issues are. Paine must be cursing his injuries over the past 6-9 months. Golden opportunity lost for the moment.

Given they have lost Johnson, Harris, Cummins, Patterson,Cutting and now Siddle to stress injuries in the past 12 months, do you think that CA might start to see the light and rotating bowlers to prevent injuries? Was thinking how do we get Chanderpaul out? Then whack. Australia are in a good position to push for a result. Interesting that 5 of the first six dismissals in the WI innings were LBW.

Won a thriller!! http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/engine/current/match/540176.html It would have been an outstanding final day to watch.

I was going to ask that question....... Many on here have bagged Captains for declarations in the past. Well FMD, Clarke is a genius!! We started the 4th day trying to save a Test for at best a draw. A good tail wag and enterprising declaration 30 mins before tea and some good bowling and Australia are in the box seat to win it. Clarke will not be wanting to chase more than 150 if they are getting variable bounce on day 4. Great stuff on wicket that seems a little underdone.

Agree. As a result I dont think the psychology being applied by the health professionals is at all simplistic. The advent of ice and other really dangerous drugs has created a myriad of problems/challenges and hard to solve issues for the health industry at all levels. I dont think they are being simplistic about solutions. Its more a case of being overwhelmed with limited resources. The sad thing about this is not only is a talented individual destroying his life but it is impacting younger innocent dependents as collateral.

Yes. Just like MFC has to think it will win the premiership and it will happen. I think when it comes to "beliefs", your assessment of the mental health industry is as distorted as the judgement to carry drugs on a flight. From my reading and talking to doctors the ability to be clean of crystal meth is an extremely difficult and complex process. I have had a couple of doctors who expressed doubts that you can actually get off ice. I think its naive to make generalist references to "drug addicts" because the disposition of what they are addcted to can impact their ability to remove the addiction. I would be interested in comments from those that are actually health professionals who actually deal with this situation.

Im with you 45 on that. Who remembers IPL or ODI games or outcomes from the past? Beside the 1999 World Cup when South Africa self destructed, I recall very little about it.

India tie the ODI with Sri Lanka but it appears that the 30th over of India's batting only had 5 balls in it. Oops. An error by both umpires and the 3rd umpire/ Match Referee. Dhoni says he isnt going make a big stink about it... Quite right. It happened, action should be taken to ensure it does not happen again and the result of a draw cannot be feasibly undone. All fine. Then Dhoni links the error to the DRS system to establish why the DRS is not a good thing. Huh! The ball count error is a human error which cannot be addressed by the DRS system. The DRS system was introduced to address human error in dismissal decisions. Dhoni and his Indian cohorts have performed in public far worse than there 4-0 result. And the tie from an umpire error could not have happened to more deserving bunch of prima donnas. I used to really like India as a cricket team even when they were seen as boring in the 80s and 90s. Cant stand them now and it started with monkeygate in 2008 and its continued. Their domination of cricket at all international levels is proving to be a disaster for the good of the game.

FWIW, I just watched the DVD "Fire in Babylon" on the history of WI cricket from 1975 to 1995. Fantastic DVD with great footage of their era. Excellent interviews with past players. A must for cricket fans.