Australia v South Africa | 2nd Test - Day 1| MCG | 26/12/08

[Random Aussie]

The biggest Test match in the world starts in about an hour.

Attendance expected to be between 70,000 and 80,000 today and more than 200,000 at least for the game. I live pretty close to the MCG, cafes are filling up with cricket fans eating breakfast and talking rubbish about Huss, Punter, Haydos, Simmo, Binga, Katto and any other stupid nicknames we have for players. Weather is fine and warm with a slight breeze. Might be some movement early in the air, the pitch should provide some seam.

Saffers unchanged.

Aus have reacted to a poor bowling display by dropping a 2 Test spinner who did not bowl well on a pitch that does not spin for another 2 Test spinner who was average against NZ on a spinning pitch.

And retaining an all rounder who has a knee injury and can't bowl.

A lot of heat on the Aus team this week, let's see how they respond.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

I have a feeling that AUS will win this thing.

 

[PlanetPakistan]

RA,

Are you going to the game?

 

[Random Aussie]

I have a feeling that AUS will win this thing.

They better win or else

 

[Random Aussie]

RA,

Are you going to the game?

No not this year PP. My family usually go as a Christmas tradition but they are mostly overseas these days so we have missed the last 2.

 

[Kriketer]

My dream is to watch a Test match at MCG. Would Pakistan ever play a Test match against Australia at MCG on a boxing day? Australia seems like a good place for vacation especially when its freezing in Canada during winter season. so catching cricket while wandering around Australia would be an ideal vacation.

 

[Random Aussie]

My dream is to watch a Test match at MCG. Would Pakistan ever play a Test match against Australia at MCG on a boxing day? Australia seems like a good place for vacation especially when its freezing in Canada during winter season. so catching cricket while wandering around Australia would be an ideal vacation.

Pakistan played Australia in Boxing Day Test last Pak tour of Australia.



But Pak won't be playing at the MCG next year.

 

[Lethal]

It's going to start in under half and hour. Can't wait.

 

[Random Aussie]

Australia win the toss and will bat.

Graeme Smith is a massive bloke.

Warne will officially join the Channel 9 commentary team this game. That will be an improvement.

 

[itduzz]

RA are u nervous? i think is 1st time in a decade aussies fans will be worried abt the team .....

 

[Lethal]

Australia win the toss and will bat.

Graeme Smith is a massive bloke.

Warne will officially join the Channel 9 commentary team this game. That will be an improvement.

I'm guessing Ntini will unsettle the top order of Australia and I reckon he will get a few wickets early. Even Steyn will pick a couple of wickets as long as he pitches it up

 

[PlanetPakistan]

No not this year PP. My family usually go as a Christmas tradition but they are mostly overseas these days so we have missed the last 2.

were you there when made 76 on the opening day

 

[Random Aussie]

were you there when made 76 on the opening day

Yes. Some very nice shots were on display that day from Pakistan batsmen.

 

[Random Aussie]

RA are u nervous? i think is 1st time in a decade aussies fans will be worried abt the team .....

Nope, just like to see a close game. So many years of watching the opposition be smashed to little pieces, just want to see a contest.

Aus team has very few players that make me want to watch them these days.

 

[lollol]

Im officially supporting SAF for this match, go saffers!!!

AUS (and AUS supporters i assume) under heavy pressure Havent seen that for a while

 

[Oxy]

Australia won the toss - elected to bat 1st

 

[Oxy]

Full house - this is what we are being deprived of in Pak.

Test cricket

 

[Amjid Javed]

Aus 3/0

Haydunce not off the mark yet but is batting at his favourite venue!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Pitch looks even pace with decent Bounce. Should be good for batting.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Ntini bowling around 143 Kmph mark which is quicker then steyn so far.

 

[Random Aussie]

Ntini bowling well with good pace and line.

Steyn hits Katich! Hit him again!

 

[Oxy]

Steyn hits Katich with a bouncer - strikes him on the neck & helmet!

Turned away from it - looking suspect out there

 

[Oxy]

Runs flowing - 20-0

Hayden looking very comfortable

Good toss to win

 

[Amjid Javed]

Katich looks in Good form.

Steyn needs to get his line right hes been pants so far!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Expensive over 9 runs from it.

21/0 good start by Australia.

 

[12thMan]

Steyn not bowling well. too wide. Maybe he should go around the wicket and not waste the ball and his energy

 

[Amjid Javed]

Kallis looks like hes been feasting on one two many Xmas pies!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Steyn needs to realize he needs to aim for stumps or even make the batsmen play!

 

[Guli Danda]

Is it just my tv or is the grass is seriously green at the MCG ?

 

[lollol]

GONE!!! Hayden is gone!!

 

[Oxy]

Out!

Hayden Gone - To Ntini

21-1

 

[PlanetPakistan]

Hayden gone!

 

[Guli Danda]

Haydo's a goner. Maybe his career as well ?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hayden gone slashes it to gulley!

Ntini gets him again

1/21

 

[Oxy]

Is it just my tv or is the grass is seriously green at the MCG ?

Did you change channel? Grass is always greener on the other side..... :aiqbal

 

[Random Aussie]

Hayden out caught at gully off Ntini.

*Sigh*

Yes the grass is seriously green, it is a lovely ground.

 

[Oxy]

Picky Ronting into bat....

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good ball 1st up by Ntini to Punter.

Next ball Punter off mark with single..

22/1

 

[musti]

hayden needs a 100 in the second innings or that might be it for him

 

[12thMan]

Is it just my tv or is the grass is seriously green at the MCG ?

karishma of Hari Bhari Ghass. Look for it at your local desi shop

It is just because it is cloudy and little dark that it looks greener

 

[Random Aussie]

The Ponting should stop mouthing off before the series starts.

"He (Ntini) won't get near 140kph"

 

[Boi]

What a lovely ground!!

The grass is so green and lush!!!!!

i would love to watch it in HD!!

 

[12thMan]

Ponting doesn't look like a good Punter

 

[Oxy]

Absolutely stunning crowd!

Boxing Day Test - what a traditon.

Thats one of my ambitions - Boxing Day test at the MCG.

Only problems I dont particularly have a high opinion of Australia the country from a touring POV.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Steyn still wasting the New ball he needs to make batsmen play!

 

[lollol]

Agree with all here. Great crowd, great ground, great view. Really love it.

Only downside is that its currently 01.15 am here, and ill have to sleep somewhere around the lunch break -.-

 

[Guli Danda]

What a lovely ground!!

The grass is so green and lush!!!!!

i would love to watch it in HD!!

I am watching it on Sky's so called HD channel but the signal is just upscaled SD !!? What the hell is that about - the screen just came on to tell us that the match was being transmitted in Australia in proper HD with 5.1 sound.

Sky get your act together !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Oxy]

Agree with all here. Great crowd, great ground, great view. Really love it.

Only downside is that its currently 01.15 am here, and ill have to sleep somewhere around the lunch break -.-

12.15am here - early-ish start tomorrow. Bu I really want to watch a few sessions of this.

 

[Oxy]

I am watching it on Sky so called HD channel but the signal is just upscaled SD !!? What the hell is that about - the screen just came on to tell us that the match was being transmitted in Australia in proper HD with 5.1 sound.

Sky get your act together !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you watching on a 1080p set?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Crunching shot for 4 by Katich

28/1

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Haha as I predicted Aus would bat first whoever won the toss and I backed SA to make a good start!!! YESS

 

[Oxy]

Jacque Kallis onto bowl.

Steyn has disappointed

 

[Amjid Javed]

Kallis onto bowl for Steyn who was rubbish this morning.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Kallis getting some nice out-swing here...

 

[Oxy]

CAught behind appeal - by all...except keeper

Ponting's lucky!

Kallis moving it away

 

[Guli Danda]

Are you watching on a 1080p set?

Yes - 60 inch Pioneer. The TV is a peach - unfortunately Sky are not. If its available in Aus in proper HD then there are clearly HD cameras at the ground. What are Sky up to transmitting in upscaled SD ?

Once you have seen cricket in HD, there is no going back. SD now seems like sex with a condom or tea without sugar!

 

[12thMan]

Are you watching on a 1080p set?

hahaha. This was funny

 

[f.b.m]

Nothing better than to see Hayden in his misery. Some blood would be appreciated too.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good over by Kallis tested Punter there something Steyn didnt do!

 

[Amjid Javed]

Oooh Punter lucky to still be there a flat footed swish near gains a nick.

Kallis bowling well...

 

[Amjid Javed]

Runs have dried up here 28/1 after 13 overs...

 

[PlanetPakistan]

Kallis is brilliant!

Brilliant over to Ricky

 

[On_the_up]

another good over by Kallis to Ponting, 2nd successive maiden,
MCG is indeed a lovely ground, of course it is special for us Pak fans,

Subtract Lewis from that list

Ahh happy memories

 

[Oxy]

hahaha. This was funny

For once, I was being serious....

 

[Amjid Javed]

Morkel on and thumped away for 4 by Katich

Hes onto 21*

 

[Oxy]

Yes - 60 inch Pioneer. The TV is a peach - unfortunately Sky are not. If its available in Aus in proper HD then there are clearly HD cameras at the ground. What are Sky up to transmitting in upscaled SD ?

Once you have seen cricket in HD, there is no going back. SD now seems like sex with a condom or tea without sugar!

Upscaled SD is NOT HD....so how can Sky Sports get away with saying it is?

Ring them up....in a day or so

 

[Guli Danda]

hahaha. This was funny

What was funny about it?

 

[Oxy]

Katich looking beautiful touch - hes ggot that cover drive flowing

36-1

 

[Amjid Javed]

Katich looks in supreme touch today more runs....

 

[Oxy]

BOWLED HIM.....or has Katich pulled away???

REPLAY!

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Morkel should come round the wicket and try straightening it a little to Katich to those waiting slips. That's if he doesn't get Katich to fish with an over the line attack.

 

[Oxy]

Did Umpire DAr put Katich off then - a fly was buzzing around him at the time!

 

[On_the_up]

12 off that Morkel over 40-1

 

[Guli Danda]

Upscaled SD is NOT HD....so how can Sky Sports get away with saying it is?

Ring them up....in a day or so

Sky have really improved their "proper" HD coverage and probably have 30 HD channels right now. In the old days 80% of the stuff on their HD channels was simply upscaled SD - you could see it a mile off. Things have got better but this is a setback.

 

[Random Aussie]

Morne Morkel bowling significantly quicker than he did at the WACA.

I suspect he was not fully fit at the WACA. Both sides are carrying some injuries but too much at stake to rest players.

Ponting looks out of form.

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Steyn and Morkel need to get their act together quickly....but I just hope that they get the line correct to the left-handers otherwise Aus will have a field day.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Aus 41/1

Katich looks set for a biggie today!

 

[Guli Danda]

The grass is so lush that even full on shots anrent reaching the boundary. I know its a big ground but the outfield seems seriously slow.

 

[Random Aussie]

Absolutely stunning crowd!

Boxing Day Test - what a traditon.

Thats one of my ambitions - Boxing Day test at the MCG.

Only problems I dont particularly have a high opinion of Australia the country from a touring POV.

What do you mean by this Oxy?

 

[Amjid Javed]

Nicely driven by punter hes gets 3 runs..