H_T

Good win. 5 days of tough cricket. Good to see Smith come out in search of the draw. Ntini dug in which was good. A good Test. This is what Test cricket is all about....

Kerry O'Keefe said the same regarding McDonald yesterday for the 5th day. Should be interesting the 1st session.

Good declaration IMO by Punter. Much better than batting Sth Africa out of the game.

Why thanky-you Rogue. Bollinger in for Sydney Test. AS- 1/10 BH- 7/10 BL- 1/10 - I said after the india tour, before the Aussies played NZ that he wasn't right, he should have been rested against NZ. I agree with your assessment. MJ - 8/10 - Outstanding strike bowler for Punter and the team. Consistently performs at 140km/h +. And looks to have found a good bowling partner in Siddle. NH - 2/10 - A defensive minded spin bowler who should noty have been selected for SYdney. Krejza should have. Regardless of Melbourne. Krejza is an attacking spin bowler. I prefer to attack than contain. PS - 6/10 at present with a bullet, Match winning performance of 5/59 in Sydney Test. Coming of age for him. Agree. But if the Aussies win in Sydney he may see Sth Africa. Good call. So do I. Doesn't lose pace over 30 overs from him during a day's play. I agree. Either 6 Specialist Bats plus Haddin, and 4 specialist bowlers. Or 6 specialist Bats and a legit all-rounder plus Haddin and 3 specialist bowlers - which we don't seem to have a legit all-rounder with Symonds, Watson inj. or out of form and MacDonald our next best option (selectors view). Mitchell Johnson offers us something as an all rounder IMO. His batting is improving and he's average is on the up (23 -24 at present).

Happy New Year. Andrew MacDonald?

Dougy Bollinger could get a look in for Siddle.

Yes Yes Yes. And yet Ricky 'initially' put it down to failure of the top order in the presentation after the match... Totally agree with that RR. It also now represents a bit of a hunting ground for opposition international sides, or a bogey ground for the Aussies, which ever way you look at it of recent times. Cricket Aust. may have to play the minnows at Perth and the bigger fixtures to Adelaide. I think the likes of Siddle and Krezja need further experience, the easy option would be to drop them and use them as scapegoats. Whilst the likes of Hayden and Lee 'supposedly' still have credits and play for marketing reasons? Whilst the likes of Hayden & Lee are struggling and are not getting the runs & wickets they wish for, I think CA and the selectors will retain them for the Boxing Day test and put their paith in them to bounce back. Geez, they're lucky.

Hayden got 4 runs. Out, bat was no where near it.

I can't see them tweaking the side that much Monty, but your opinion is noted. I agree with the old Baggy Green with NSW cap theory. However Hughes is in sparkling form. In all this Brad Hodge must be very, very frustrated. Overlooked so much. Victoria's all time run machine now having passed Dean Jones of recent times.

"IF" Hayden is given his marching orders for the Boxing day Test in Melbourne, don't be surprised if Hughes for NSW gets a gig ahead of Rogers/Klinger/Jaques(inj).

Australia all out. 375. If Hayden fails 2nd innings, I'm not so sure he's an absolute shoo-in come Boxing Day, regardless if the Aussies win. A draw looks more likely by the way as the pitch is a road in Perth.

You might be right. I heard this morning (SEN) that it was 'known' said the host, can't remember his name - it may have been Jason Richardson - that this will be Haydo's last test series or test series in Australia, with an announcement expected sometime during the series. From what I gather this piece is "unconfirmed." So, just take it as gospel at this stage.

How Phil Jaques wishes he was not injured right now. Hayden, the fat lady is clearing her throat. Game is over at the G. Rogers wasn't able to inflict much damage on WA thanks to some good VICS bowling.

Brett Lee singled out by Ricky before today's test to lead Australia and cause Sth AFrica to self-destruct. PUNTER STARTS THE MIND GAMES VICS WELL ON THE WAY TO KNOCKING OFF WA - AND IN THE PROCESS BOOKING A SPOT IN SHEFFIELD SHIELD FINAL AGAIN- IMO

Thanks to Gerrard, Liverpool got a point. Important point considering the scores of the other big 3, nevertheless.

Former spinner Pat Symcox slams cocky countrymen The above is a link to Pat Symcox's views on South Africa. He doesn't mind criticising his own country now and again. The Sth Africans have come over with confidence in dismantling Australia. This type of news will go down like a lead balloon in the Sth African changerooms...

I think Krejza will play. We probably need him in just to keep up with the over rate. Seriously, if Krejza is fit, he should play. I agree with Rhino with regards to the Ashes and Clark. Good line and length is a pre-requisite. He has a good record. Perth I think will suit him into the 'Fremantle doctor' too. A bit of swing would be nice. Whereas Lee and Johnson don't really generate much of that. Does anyone think Siddle is a chance for the line-up? He can swing it a mile.

A tour of India and one test at home doesn't really equate to one and a half innings 45hotgod... Let's drop this stoush, what do you think of Watson coming back into the line up? Or, Andrew Hilditch's description of Perth as a wicket that takes spin? I'm a little bemused by his comments. Perth is definitely not renowned for being conducive to "Spin". To me, the only spin on offer were Andrew Hilditchs words yesterday.

Yes, certainly keeps his feet from what I've seen.

Sometimes it's fun to jump over when form warrants it, like I have stated repeatedly he needed to turn his form around pronto. At least I'm not stuck on the fence.

I've already stated my opinions, I hope those fence pailings don't have to many splinters...

I'm very surprised if he's getting abused wherever he goes. He doesn't deserve that if it's true. IMO QueenC, had he failed to get a wicket in Adelaide he would of gone very close to being dropped. But that's all water under the bridge now. He looked much sharper and his old self at Adelaide. He was even the one bowler to extract reverse swing on the Adelaide pitch in the Test. Just remember its just an opinion QueenC. I understand the difficulty he must be going off the field, especially with the demands and consumed time of the travelling & playing, etc with the Australian Cricket Team. And I hope things turn for the better in that regard. I also understand the virus and fitness thing. It was my opinion at the time he should have been rested after the India tour too. That would have been the smartest thing to do I believe. It also would have given him more time to be with his child. M.Clarke also suffered from a virus, and I believe should have been rested too. As it turned out he played one of the better innings for the Aussies. Fwiw, I'm not attacking him personally or anything for he's one of the best bowlers Australia has produced. I hope he goes on to have a bumper summer.

Yes, No.5 is ok I guess. Just. I've come down in price...

I see a bit of Peter Burgoyne in Jetta. Quick on the ground and off the mark like a cat on a hot tin roof. Very evasive in traffic.

Had a feeling I might have a reaction with this statement of mine. Excuse the Kiwi accent I am about to put on RR. Its based on an opinion I have - that NZ is a different kettle of "fish". McCullum ran out of batting partners and he was well aware of this, which is one reason why he went into 20/20 mode. No, my thoughts of this is not based on one innings. I've seen what he has done in the past. He has a good batting average for a "non-australian" in a struggling side. He shouldn't be batting at No.7. N.Z. openers make Glenn McGrath look like a very good batsman. They're technique leaves a little to be desired too. Maybe I'm being a "little harsh" on NZ. But their cricket side is so far off the Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe days, its not funny. 1/ McCullum opens in the one day format. 2/ He is one of the most exciting batsmen in the world when in full flight 3/ He and apart from Vettori would be the only players eligible for qualification of being "world class" 4/ If I can't convince you for McCullum to open, I can negotiate for him to come in at 3 or 4. But no way No.7. Or dare I say it "6" (sux).