Australia v South Africa | 1st Test - Day 1 | Perth | 17/12/08

[On_the_up]

Less than 2 hours till the start of the eagerly awaited series between the top 2 ranked sides in the world.

Likely teams:
Australia
1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Andrew Symonds, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Brett Lee, 9 Jason Krejza, 10 Mitchell Johnson, 11 Peter Siddle.

South Africa
1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Neil McKenzie, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Ashwell Prince, 6 AB de Villiers, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

Should be a closer contest than in recent times due to the retirement of key Australian players. I think the key would be how much do the South African's believe they can win? Australia are unbeaten in test series at home since the West Indies beat them 2-1 in the 1992 season

 

[12thMan]

revisit the moments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxw1ZYXOUqA&feature=related
It is actually sad that few of the players like Pollock, Langer, Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath are missing this time and the video is from the last series I think as I see Brad Hodge

 

[mmkextreme_1]

What time will this start in the USA? In about an hour rite?

 

[On_the_up]

What time will this start in the USA? In about an hour rite?

Yes in almost exactly 1 hour's time, 2:30 GMT

 

[12thMan]

What time will this start in the USA? In about an hour rite?

yep one hour. 9:30 EST - 2:30 GMT

 

[mmkextreme_1]

^^^Thanks bros!^^^

 

[Random Aussie]

Hoping for a close and hard fought series, devoid of masala.

Pace v pace on one of the fastest wickets in the world. Hype is that the pitch will be fast and bouncy - but the hype always says that.

Some musings:
Hayden has to perform or he won't be going to England
Symonds under pressure
I wish one of the Saffer quicks would sort out Katich so we can get a proper batsman into the team
This is the series Michael Clarke needs to stand up, he is stuck in no mans land between good player and world class - just can't seem to get there yet.
Siddle should be an interesting prospect to watch.
Morne Morkel - is he mentally up to it?
Amla - can he handle the short ball?

wooooooo, cricket is back!

 

[TruSachFan]

^^LOL noob, cricket was back when Ind Eng test series started

 

[TruSachFan]

Toss, 11.00 am: Ricky Ponting has won the toss and Australia will bat. The teams in a moment ...


Prince ruled out, Duminy to debut

Damn it wanted to watch Lee and Johnson bowling.

 

[bluffmasterv2]

what channel is this on (if any) in the U.S dish network

 

[invincible]

Toss, 11.00 am: Ricky Ponting has won the toss and Australia will bat. The teams in a moment ...


Prince ruled out, Duminy to debut

Damn it wanted to watch Lee and Johnson bowling.

I am not complaining. Morkel, Steyn and Ntini on a Perth pitch !

 

[12thMan]

what channel is this on (if any) in the U.S dish network

not sure if this is on Dish, DirecTV is advertizing it. In Canada CBN is showing it

players on field. I thought it was starting but Just anthems.

 

[Random Aussie]

^^LOL noob, cricket was back when Ind Eng test series started

No, cricket where the ball bounces and swings

 

[Lightning]

Man - I can't wait to see Steyniiii!

 

[Poison]

Mark Nicholas is having his customary match-day orgasm on air.

 

[Random Aussie]

First ball! No run

Second ball! No run

Third ball! No run

 

[Poison]

First ball! No run

Second ball! No run

Third ball! No run

FOURRRRRRRRRRRR. Terrible ball.
Consecutive fours now.

 

[Random Aussie]

Mark Nicholas is having his customary match-day orgasm on air.

Thanks for that mental image issed:

 

[Poison]

Thanks for that mental image issed:

You know how he gets.

 

[12thMan]

Hayden ct at 1st slip off Ntini
Aus 14-1 in 3rd over

 

[Poison]

naatini is fired up !
Haydens career is over if he fails in the 2nd Innings.

 

[Khabri420]

ntini strikes...

 

[Random Aussie]

Usual start from us...ho hum

 

[Poison]

Ponting gone for a golden duck. Naatini is ripping up

 

[Poison]

Ntini on a hattrick here.

 

[12thMan]

Ponting out 1st ball ct at 3rd slip by ABCDE off Ntini
Aus 14-2

 

[Poison]

Perfectly bowled from Ntini, from very wide of the crease, Ponting had no idea.

 

[Khabri420]

ntini is very dangerous with the new ball...

 

[invincible]

GO SAFFERS ! Ponting )

 

[invincible]

Mr.Dependable walks in. What a situation to walk in

 

[Poison]

Steyn is much better even with his first ball of his second over. I was dissapointed with his first over.

 

[Poison]

Danger signs for Ausies, Hussey looks circumspect against Steyn

 

[invincible]

Aussies seem too positive for their own good.

 

[Poison]

I really wish to kill Simon Katich. I've seen him batting for about three balls, and my eyes are beginning to droop. He's SO BORING to watch. issed:

 

[Poison]

God dang, Hussey is gone to a ripper of a catch.

 

[invincible]

Brilliant catch by De Villiers. The backbone of Australian batting line up is broken. We could see this innings finish sooner than expected

 

[Poison]

Brilliant catch by De Villiers. The backbone of Australian batting line up is broken. We could see this innings finish sooner than expected

B4 Lunch?

 

[Random Aussie]

Uh oh - our 3 best players are out for all of 14 runs.

 

[bluffmasterv2]

Aw man gotta feel for Aussies here, whats wrong with em !

 

[DonJee]

3 out already woooo!!

 

[invincible]

B4 Lunch?

South africans are much better bowling at right handers. With a tentative Symonds and Haddin to come, I wouldn't be surprised if thats the case. Remember - morkel yet to operate on a pitch that suits him more than Ntini I would say.

 

[IronMan2009]

Go South Africa.. snuff the Aussies out. They are playing pathetic cricket against a venomous pace bowling. They simply smoked the top order.

 

[deathstreak]

Uh oh - our 3 best players are out for all of 14 runs.

furrows deepen.
SA has the boring batting to bat Australia out of this match.
This was always going to be a case of Australia batting vs SA bowling.
Looks like the early advantage is all the way on SA side.

 

[DonJee]

If anyone would like to see Australia v South Africa then go to:

http://watchcricket.org/watch/

It is FREE - so far anyway, don't know how long it's going to last -

Thanks

 

[Poison]

plz join me in prayer. "Oh God, please take away Simon Katich's wicket most brutally".
Repeat until he's out plz.

 

[diondublin]

Aussies technique getting worked out, Hayden on his absolute last legs, what was that shot? If South Africa can get Australia out cheaply, theirs a big chance of 400+ on this wicket, as the WACA is at its best on the 2nd and 3rd day.

 

[invincible]

Hoping for a close and hard fought series, devoid of masala.

Pace v pace on one of the fastest wickets in the world. Hype is that the pitch will be fast and bouncy - but the hype always says that.

Some musings:
Hayden has to perform or he won't be going to England
Symonds under pressure
I wish one of the Saffer quicks would sort out Katich so we can get a proper batsman into the team

Still wishing the same?

 

[Random Aussie]

furrows deepen.
SA has the boring batting to bat Australia out of this match.
This was always going to be a case of Australia batting vs SA bowling.
Looks like the early advantage is all the way on SA side.

The end is nigh ppyNeo:

 

[Poison]

They require someone other than Morkel at cover, anyone shorter would have had Katich runout earlier.

 

[Random Aussie]

Still wishing the same?

Yes. I hate Katich.

 

[CricnPak]

Match has lived up to the hype so far...very much like the start to the '05 Ashes. Too bad it's not a 5 match test series (in one country consecutively).

 

[IronMan2009]

Rightnow Austrlalia is like child lost in Exhibition

 

[Lodhiz]

My god what is going on out there? 18 for 3? Australia are being urinated over! Hayden, Ponting and Hussey? The three strongest batsman (In my opinon) all out! Clarke better put a rabbit out of his magicians hat, there going to need it!

 

[injan_gunjan]

I was Australia to win this game. Way they are playing right now, i think its going to be very tough for them to beat this SA team.

 

[IronMan2009]

I can see English fans smiling after a long time

 

[IronMan2009]

Game is electrifying. SA has come out all guns blazing. How is Australia going to respond.

 

[12thMan]

nice leave by Katich. Ball was a foot away and he decides not to make extra effort
Aus 23-1 in probably 8th over
and homeboy hits a four

 

[IronMan2009]

SA has a good set of bowlers. But if you see off the new ball without flashy drives you can really toy with them. Because they all pretty much bowl the same way. 140 k, hit the deck occasionally fully (specially by steyn). Aussies just wrote a suicide note with edgy drives.

 

[Random Aussie]

3/29 Steyn cranking it up to 146kph that over

 

[IronMan2009]

Sanity returns. IN the first half an hour SA just ambushed the Aussie top order.

 

[invincible]

Clarke and Katich doing well here. Katich in particular has looked confident!

 

[IronMan2009]

Horrible bowling change. Give it to Morkel

 

[Poison]

kallis sucks hard.

 

[12thMan]

Wow Kallis before Morkel. Will he get 2 wickets. Lets watch and find out

 

[IronMan2009]

Katich executed a majestic extra cover drive on one knee. Superb.

 

[Poison]

When Krapich hits you for three fours in a row, I think you know its time to retire.

 

[IronMan2009]

Katich once again is playing beautifully. Superb straight drive.

 

[invincible]

When Krapich hits you for three fours in a row, I think you know its time to retire.

True say that!

 

[Random Aussie]

When Krapich hits you for three fours in a row, I think you know its time to retire.

) ) Massive pies being thrown by Kallis

 

[IronMan2009]

Krapich? why. I thought he played those shots very well. But he is the one guy who looks like upsetting the "fixed" strategy of SOuth Africans by moving around the crease.

 

[IronMan2009]

I think this test match promises to be a mouther watering prospect. Regardless of bad start from Aussies, they will take comfort from the fact they won't be batting the last.

 

[jusarrived]

lol @ THE PONTING

 

[Asim2Good]

looks like another classic test match is on the card

 

[jusarrived]

SA batsmen will struggle even more on this pitch , i sense an easy win for Aus here !!

 

[12thMan]

This bowler should be sent to Dr Taufeeq

 

[IronMan2009]

lol @ THE PONTING

I remember some people saying by the end of the year 2008 Ponting would catch Tendulkar in terms of number of centuries . I think he might catch Danny Morrison at this rate

 

[Poison]

Krapich? why. I thought he played those shots very well. But he is the one guy who looks like upsetting the "fixed" strategy of SOuth Africans by moving around the crease.

Its just that its Simon Katich. I would love to see Akhtar against Katich, he'd own him like he owned Lehmann.

 

[IronMan2009]

SA batsmen will struggle even more on this pitch , i sense an easy win for Aus here !!

Against Robot Johnson and Robot Lee?

 

[IronMan2009]

Its just that its Simon Katich. I would love to see Akhtar against Katich, he'd own him like he owned Lehmann.

I think he came through ranks. Sure he might look ungainly. I think he is an effective run accumulator. With enough chances he will be a great ally for Hussey.

 

[IronMan2009]

I mean.. that ball from Kallis would have been hit for 4 by Muralitharan. It was that bad.