Australia v South Africa | 2nd Test - Day 5 | MCG | 30/12/08

[McBoom]

Horroritz gets Smiffy by virtue of not spinning the ball.

Well played Smith.

 

[Random Aussie]

Horroritz gets Smiffy by virtue of not spinning the ball.

Well played Smith.

Respect. Has done his talking with the bat this time, not his mouth.

 

[12thMan]

should have been McKenzie out instead of Smith. Sometimes players deserve certain milestones espcially when result is known like Ponting last innings (that was brutal) and Smith this one

 

[On_the_up]

SA lunch on 132-1

 

[IronMan2009]

Show what rubbish the rankings are then.

They give weightage to margin of loss or win. Also top teams when they lose to lower ranked teams they lose points rapidly. One of the reason SA is still not convincingly no.2 is becasuse they lost a Test to lowly ranked West Indies. Statying at no.1 is no joke. One loss to NZ will bring them crashing down. Even draw will affect your points.

 

[Random Aussie]

RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN.....please

 

[itduzz]

hayden drops a dolly

 

[JustAnotherFan]

RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN!!
RAIN.....please

I just need the game to end, so I can get to bed. It is 4:36am here. Am wide awake, but tomorrow (or make that today) is not gonna be fun. Luckily I am on holiday.

 

[saffer]

Wth Mckenzie getting 50 I think it's going to be really tough on the selectors now. Who do they drop ? All the batters now average 50 or above for the year who makes place for dumminy ? It seems extremely unfair but Mckenzie might have to be dropped anyway on account of his low overall average , most of which was from his first go around 5 years ago.

On the other hand Boucher could make way and AB could go keeper making room for another batter, but that won't happen as he's too matey with smith and kallis.

 

[SameerM]

157/1

183 the target !

Looks like a win for the SAFRICANs

 

[saffer]

157/1

183 the target !

Looks like a win for the SAFRICANs

Yup.

Saffers have a huge psychological hold over the aussies this series it seems. I don't actually think we're as good as we're playing right now. But that's not important....the players think they're that good and cricket after all is 99% in the mind. I forsee a healthy few years for saffer cricket to come especially considering that all the talk is that the current 19-20 year old generation coming through is the best quality the pundits claim they've seen for years.

 

[SameerM]

161/1 - the final countdownnnnn

 

[saffer]

Might be premature but I'd like to offer my condolensces to the aussies on the board. Despite the results the series was really on a knifes edge for the most part and the luck really went our way for a change. Here's looking forward to the challenge of a revived Australia coming to get revenge on us in our own back yard,

I must also say I got a very pleasant note from a certain indian supporter here who I like to share some banter with offering congrats, and I thought that was really classy. In the spirit of the olive branch I'll admit that India don't such THAT bad either.

 

[JustAnotherFan]

Might be premature but I'd like to offer my condolensces to the aussies on the board. Despite the results the series was really on a knifes edge for the most part and the luck really went our way for a change. Here's looking forward to the challenge of a revived Australia coming to get revenge on us in our own back yard.

Saffer, you don't need to offer your condolences to anyone. It isn't the end of Aus cricket. SA have won the series, but there are still 4 tests to be played between SA and Aus this season. Every one of those tests are going to be a humdinger.

Anyway, well done Proteas. This is history ...

 

[Tupac]

congratz SAF on a great series win!

Where is Fish??

too bad Random Aussie, AUS has been outclassed by both India AND SAF. They've yet to win a test against these two sides in their last two series!

 

[saffer]

Saffer, you don't need to offer your condolences to anyone. It isn't the end of Aus cricket. SA have won the series, but there are still 4 tests to be played between SA and Aus this season. Every one of those tests are going to be a humdinger.

Anyway, well done Proteas. This is history ...

I don't know. I feel a little flat . I never doubted for a second the result of this chase. I never really thought the Aussies had the bowlers or fight to make us sweat. I'm supremely full of confidence that what will follow will be a beat down and face rubbing bullying display of cricket from the saffers for the next 4 tests. It lies on the aussies to prove me wrong , but they better get their stuff together fast.

Lucky us south africans are a kind and humble people who don't relish in the bullying thing too much...we'll probably ease off and let oz win a face saving test or two. That's a difference between the two cultures I think.

 

[Amir]

congratz SAF on a great series win!

Where is Fish??

too bad Random Aussie, AUS has been outclassed by both India AND SAF. They've yet to win a test against these two sides in their last two series!

Typical Indian. Thread about SA and Aus and always tries to look for a compliment by slipping India in. Here is one for you, South Africa actually won a series in Australia. No whines about umpiring. No glorification of a draw.

 

[Tupac]

Typical Indian. Thread about SA and Aus and always tries to look for a compliment by slipping India in. Here is one for you, South Africa actually won a series in Australia. No whines about umpiring. No glorification of a draw.

LOL are you serious? What's your problem? I congratulated SA in the first sentence!

Second, i'm not looking for a complement, it's good natured bantering with RA. As an Indian it's obvious i'm gonna have an Indian point of view, and guess what's in common, we both just beat the Aussies. So congratulations to both teams for playing excellent cricket. The race for the #1 team in the world is on.

And when we tour Australia next, we can definitely win. Simple. I didn't complain, I didn't whine. After that fateful Perth test, India hasn't lost to Australia, so the team is bucking up as well.

Here's something else for you: I know winning a test series, home or away, will probably take you until the next ice age. How about winning a test? Just one. OK? Try not to take another 15 years to do it too.
Just goes to show that you have a problem with India doing well, otherwise you wouldn't have been annoyed at my comment. India and SAF both on a roll, and the Aussies are on their way down.

 

[Amir]

LOL are you serious? What's your problem? I congratulated SA in the first sentence!

Where did I say you didn't? Read my post again.

And when we tour Australia next, we will win. Simple. I didn't complain, I didn't whine. After that fateful Perth test, India hasn't lost to Australia, so the team is bucking up as well.

You still complain about Adelaide with the rest of your cohorts.

 

[Tupac]

Where did I say you didn't? Read my post again.



You still complain about Adelaide with the rest of your cohorts.

prove it. Any recent post about me with regards to Adelaide? I think your going senile. You must mean Sydney.

 

[Amir]

prove it. Any recent post about me with regards to Adelaide? I think your going senile. You must mean Sydney.

Yes sorry that is what I meant. Potato, Patato. Point is, you still whine about it.

 

[Tupac]

Yes sorry that is what I meant. Potato, Patato. Point is, you still whine about it.

Prove it.

 

[IronMan2009]

Australia dethroned. I don't see them saving the next Test either. They probably will be suffer another defeat. England atleast took a test out of South Africa. Will Australia do that? Because atleast to prove themselves they must win.

 

[Random Aussie]

Might be premature but I'd like to offer my condolensces to the aussies on the board. Despite the results the series was really on a knifes edge for the most part and the luck really went our way for a change. Here's looking forward to the challenge of a revived Australia coming to get revenge on us in our own back yard,

I must also say I got a very pleasant note from a certain indian supporter here who I like to share some banter with offering congrats, and I thought that was really classy. In the spirit of the olive branch I'll admit that India don't such THAT bad either.

Cheers Saffer and congratulations to your team. They have outplayed us in our own backyard on our home pitches. 15 years since a team did that and even then it was close. Would be closer to 20 years since a team beat us 2 nil in the first 2 Tests at home.
We have not been rubbish either, dominating both Tests early before the South African fightback overtook us.

Oh well, time for the public executions of all the Aussie players

 

[Random Aussie]

Australia dethroned. I don't see them saving the next Test either. They probably will be suffer another defeat. England atleast took a test out of South Africa. Will Australia do that? Because atleast to prove themselves they must win.

I imagine (and hope) that it will be a vastly different Aus XI that plays in Sydney and South Africa so hard to predict what will happen.

 

[Random Aussie]

LOL are you serious? What's your problem? I congratulated SA in the first sentence!

Second, i'm not looking for a complement, it's good natured bantering with RA. As an Indian it's obvious i'm gonna have an Indian point of view, and guess what's in common, we both just beat the Aussies. So congratulations to both teams for playing excellent cricket. The race for the #1 team in the world is on.

And when we tour Australia next, we can definitely win. Simple. I didn't complain, I didn't whine. After that fateful Perth test, India hasn't lost to Australia, so the team is bucking up as well.

Here's something else for you: I know winning a test series, home or away, will probably take you until the next ice age. How about winning a test? Just one. OK? Try not to take another 15 years to do it too.
Just goes to show that you have a problem with India doing well, otherwise you wouldn't have been annoyed at my comment. India and SAF both on a roll, and the Aussies are on their way down.

No South Africa beat us at home. India lost. Thats the main difference really. There is no race for #1 - the South Africans are the best cricket team in the world.

And next time you come to Australia you will be missing 4 or 5 of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced, players with experience and success in Australian conditions. If you can't beat us with all those greats you are going to beat us with new guys - and those new guys are going to be better than Dravid, Kumble, Ganguly, Laxman, Tendulkar are they?

 

[Tupac]

No South Africa beat us at home. India lost. Thats the main difference really. There is no race for #1 - the South Africans are the best cricket team in the world.

And next time you come to Australia you will be missing 4 or 5 of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced, players with experience and success in Australian conditions. If you can't beat us with all those greats you are going to beat us with new guys - and those new guys are going to be better than Dravid, Kumble, Ganguly, Laxman, Tendulkar are they?

No they are not. They need to beat India in India, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, just like Australia did. And just because Australia lost two series doesn't mean that they're not #1 anymore. It just means that they aren't dominating world cricket anymore, which is a good thing. the end of 2008 has proven that there is no #1 in cricket anymore. Whoever is the most consistent team in the coming year or two will be #1, undisputed.

Next time in Australia...Tendulkar and Laxman, the main Aussie tormentors, could still be there. Also some of our young guys are pretty good. It'll be a good series.

 

[Dhonian]

hi RA...how are you

 

[Romali_rotti]

Congrats to SA and to their fans they achieved what only a handful have achieved.... Played well with players like Duminy, Steyn, Morkel etc SA look like one tough unit.. Next India/SA series I am looking forward to...

 

[Random Aussie]

No they are not. They need to beat India in India, Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, just like Australia did. And just because Australia lost two series doesn't mean that they're not #1 anymore. It just means that they aren't dominating world cricket anymore, which is a good thing. the end of 2008 has proven that there is no #1 in cricket anymore. Whoever is the most consistent team in the coming year or two will be #1, undisputed.

Next time in Australia...Tendulkar and Laxman, the main Aussie tormentors, could still be there. Also some of our young guys are pretty good. It'll be a good series.

Yeah whatever India are number 1 team hai

Saffers have beaten the number 1 team at home. To the victor go the spoils.

 

[Random Aussie]

hi RA...how are you

Very well mate

Looking forward to seeing some new players out there for Australia.

 

[Dhonian]

Very well mate

Looking forward to seeing some new players out there for Australia.

Do you reckon, its end of Haydos or selectors will still persist with him ?

 

[Savak]

So where to here for the Aussies? Its a pretty big achievement to even draw a series against the Aussies in Australia let alone win it. What an achievement by the Proteas. Next time Aussies even remotely say "chokers", hopefully the saffies will tell them to shove it.

South Africa surprisingly have looked ahead of Australia in almost all aspects including mental strength. They have been one team that has not scared of losing. I think a whitewash is most likely given the whole body language and approach of the Aussie team. Years of over reliance on Warne, Mcgrath and co forced them to turn a blind eye to the replacements and its cost them pretty much in 2008.

There should be question marks over Ponting's captaincy as well. I think he has reached his shelf life, its getting too much for him now and he is losing the respect of his players as well. I am not entirely sure extending an unproven coach's contract was the right decision and in fact Troy Cooley's contribution as bowling coach needs to be reviewed as well because the bowlers are getting worse and worse under him.

 

[Random Aussie]

Do you reckon, its end of Haydos or selectors will still persist with him ?

He has been retained for the Sydney Test. But I think that will be his last match. Phil Jacques is back for the SA tour.

Bollinger and Andrew McDonald have been added to the squad, Bollinger for Lee and McDonald as cover for Symonds who is lame and should not play.

 

[Savak]

He has been retained for the Sydney Test. But I think that will be his last match. Phil Jacques is back for the SA tour.

Bollinger and Andrew McDonald have been added to the squad, Bollinger for Lee and McDonald as cover for Symonds who is lame and should not play.

Tell me about Phill Hughes, Bollinger. Personally i think the Aussies have to literally rebuild from scratch. Their batting is weak with an inexperienced opener and an uncertain wicket keeper batsman and at the moment out of form main batters. However i would be more concerned about the bowling then batting.

Good bowling makes up for bad batting easily, Pakistan would not be so famous if this was not the case. The problem is massive inexperience in the bowling attack, these guys are somewhat short on talent as well in comparison to the previous bowler. The real worry is the lack of a leg spinning option, now come on surely there must be someone who can bowl wrist spin in Australian Domestic cricket.

I am not impressed with anyone in the team management including Ponting, coaches and selectors.

 

[Random Aussie]

Tell me about Phill Hughes, Bollinger. Personally i think the Aussies have to literally rebuild from scratch. Their batting is weak with an inexperienced opener and an uncertain wicket keeper batsman and at the moment out of form main batters. However i would be more concerned about the bowling then batting.

Good bowling makes up for bad batting easily, Pakistan would not be so famous if this was not the case. The problem is massive inexperience in the bowling attack, these guys are somewhat short on talent as well in comparison to the previous bowler. The real worry is the lack of a leg spinning option, now come on surely there must be someone who can bowl wrist spin in Australian Domestic cricket.

I am not impressed with anyone in the team management including Ponting, coaches and selectors.

Phil Hughes is 20 years old in his second season of domestic cricket. He is averaging more than 50 at F/C level already playing for the NSW side, making runs in all forms of the game and in all conditions. He will most likely be in the squad for the Ashes and make make the squad for South Africa.

Hayden is being given a farewell match that's why he was not dropped.
Bollinger is a left arm quick who swings the ball (allegedy I will see it when I believe it) who has been playing for a few years now. Not convinced he will be much good but who knows.

The bowling attack is now very inexperienced and the selectors are making the fatal mistake of trying to carry too many players. Yes you can bring a young bowler who is not fully developed into the team so long as you have some experience at the other end for when they are inconsistent. MJ is still not the finished product and they are trying to carry Siddle (who has played less than 20 F/C and Test matches in total) plus carry a spinner who is not good enough to make a state side (Krejza/Hauritz) plus Brett Lee has been stinking up the place for a while.
Alll well and good to carry one bowler but the rest need to be the best 3 bowlers available in domestic cricket. Having said that all we can do now is pick some bowlers and hope.

As far as wrist spin goes there is nothing. Not one leg spinner in any of the State teams (unless you count Cameron White which nobody does). They are actually talking about forcing all the state teams to play at least one spinner in every game.

 

[the_love_machine]

Phil Hughes is 20 years old in his second season of domestic cricket. He is averaging more than 50 at F/C level already playing for the NSW side, making runs in all forms of the game and in all conditions. He will most likely be in the squad for the Ashes and make make the squad for South Africa.

Hayden is being given a farewell match that's why he was not dropped.
Bollinger is a left arm quick who swings the ball (allegedy I will see it when I believe it) who has been playing for a few years now. Not convinced he will be much good but who knows.

The bowling attack is now very inexperienced and the selectors are making the fatal mistake of trying to carry too many players. Yes you can bring a young bowler who is not fully developed into the team so long as you have some experience at the other end for when they are inconsistent. MJ is still not the finished product and they are trying to carry Siddle (who has played less than 20 F/C and Test matches in total) plus carry a spinner who is not good enough to make a state side (Krejza/Hauritz) plus Brett Lee has been stinking up the place for a while.
Alll well and good to carry one bowler but the rest need to be the best 3 bowlers available in domestic cricket. Having said that all we can do now is pick some bowlers and hope.

As far as wrist spin goes there is nothing. Not one leg spinner in any of the State teams (unless you count Cameron White which nobody does). They are actually talking about forcing all the state teams to play at least one spinner in every game.

I know what the situation with Krejza, Cameron and Hauritz is, but whatever happened to dan cullen, cullen bailey and beau casson? apparently dan cullen had everything an off-spinner would want: large turner, a doosra, flight and drift.

 

[Random Aussie]

I know what the situation with Krejza, Cameron and Hauritz is, but whatever happened to dan cullen, cullen bailey and beau casson? apparently dan cullen had everything an off-spinner would want: large turner, a doosra, flight and drift.

Dan Cullen has made it back into the SA side and is doing OK. He is a chance with our spin selection lottery but was pushed too early in his career and is still recovering. Overcoached. Still very young and should play for Australia again sometime.

Very hard for an off spinner, especially an attacking off spinner in domestic cricket, the wickets don't spin and the batsman are very aggressive.

Cullen Bailey......yeah nah. Nowhere near State selection, apparently bowls rubbish in grade cricket and gets wickets only through bowling a lot of overs.

Beau Casson has thrown a tantrum about not being picked and has taken 1 wicket in total this season I think. Because Hauritz is in the Test team he has the number 1 spinner spot for NSW so Casson is down the pecking order.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Congrats to South Africa they have reached the piniacle of there game since re-admission and have now won a series away everywhere apart from in Sri Lanka. They Deserve the number 1 spot and its intresting to see how long they hold it for. Australia on other hand need to clear the deadwood and re-build again.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Andrew Mcdonald to play in final test at number 6?

RA, AUSGOD, anyone got any Information on him?

 

[UP]

Take A Bow South Africa!

They have been one unit on this tour and they out played Australia in every department. RSA deserve this victory. I won't be surprised if they whitewash Aussies 3-0.

Historic day today!

 

[Indiafan]

Smith this year

vs Australia 2 Tests 272 (so far) avge 90.66
vs BD 4 Tests 488 avge 97.60
vs Eng 4 Tests 369 avge 61.50
vs Ind 3 Tests 246 avge 49.20
vs WI 2 Tests 260 avge 86.66.

Just proves he is a minnow basher

 

[IronMan2009]

Just proves he is a minnow basher

I wouldn't call him minnow basher as he was responsible for two of the many good chases this year. Ya i see what you mean. Bangladesh bore the brunt of Smith's form.

okay final result

Grouping  	Mat  	Inns  	NO  	Runs  	HS  	Ave   	SR  	100  	  	
v Australia 	2 	4 	0 	293 	108 	73.25 	65.40 	1 	
v Bangladesh 	4 	5 	0 	488 	232 	97.60 	70.82 	2 	
v England 	4 	8 	2 	369 	154* 	61.50 	54.82 	2 	
v India 	3 	5 	0 	246 	73 	49.20 	62.59 	0 	
v West Indies 	2 	3 	0 	260 	147 	86.66 	83.06 	1

 

[Indiafan]

I wouldn't call him minnow basher as he was responsible for two of the many good chases this year. Ya i see what you mean. Bangladesh bore the brunt of Smith's form.

okay final result

Grouping  	Mat  	Inns  	NO  	Runs  	HS  	Ave   	SR  	100  	  	
v Australia 	2 	4 	0 	293 	108 	73.25 	65.40 	1 	
v Bangladesh 	4 	5 	0 	488 	232 	97.60 	70.82 	2 	
v England 	4 	8 	2 	369 	154* 	61.50 	54.82 	2 	
v India 	3 	5 	0 	246 	73 	49.20 	62.59 	0 	
v West Indies 	2 	3 	0 	260 	147 	86.66 	83.06 	1

But did he score a 100 against Pak this year? What about a 50? The FTB's middle stump would have been destroyed by the lethal AAG attack