South Africa v Australia | 1st Test | Centurion | Day 1 | 12 February 2014

[WebGuru]

So the mouth watering contest begins in 2 and half hour!


South Africa Squad
GC Smith*, HM Amla, AB de Villiers†, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, D Elgar, RK Kleinveldt, R McLaren, M Morkel, WD Parnell, AN Petersen, RJ Peterson, VD Philander, DW Steyn, TL Tsolekile†

Australia Squad
MJ Clarke*, BJ Haddin†, JM Bird, AJ Doolan, RJ Harris, MC Henriques, MG Johnson, NM Lyon, SE Marsh, JL Pattinson, CJL Rogers, PM Siddle, SPD Smith, DA Warner, SR Watson

 

[Convict]

Looking forward to this.
Hughes should play but I've heard that Marsh will get one last chance.

Doolan to become the latest Launceston boy to play test cricket (Greg Campbell, David Boon, Ricky Ponting, James Faulkner, George Bailey preceding him).

Good job for a small town.

 

[Saeed]

Imran Tahir not playing, I wanted to see get him beating of his life again. Hope Australia wins .

 

[khalil1986]

Rooting for the Aussies, should be good to watch.

 

[Kianig89]

hopefully the pitch will be a green top

STEYN Philander Johnson Morkel Harris all on the show its like the WI's vs Pak of 80's

 

[Mobashir]

Australia's batting is very weak, i hope they will not ruin the séries

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Go Australia.

Biased Biased Biased for everything concerning Australia after Pakistan.

 

[Mobashir]

The bowling is quite similar with Jhonson, Harris and Sidle not far behind Steyn, Morkel and Philander.

But in the batting department you have Clarke vs Smith + Amla + ABDV.

 

[Mobashir]

Looking forward to this.
Hughes should play but I've heard that Marsh will get one last chance.

Doolan to become the latest Launceston boy to play test cricket (Greg Campbell, David Boon, Ricky Ponting, James Faulkner, George Bailey preceding him).

Good job for a small town.

That's a bad news for Australia. This guy is good for nothing even in A matches and domestic cricket. What are Australia looking for? A miracle that suddenly he will become a good player by playing international cricket?

It's even better that they play Hughes.

 

[Mobashir]

Have to say that this South African team without Kallis is not looking a good as it was.

What I would have done (long term) is to replace Kallis with Quinton de Kock and replace Robin Peteren with a 4th fast bowler.

So they would have still got 7 batsmen, 4 fast bowlers and 1 part time spinner in Duminy. Robbie is himself just part time when you are playing 4 fast bowlers.

 

[MarkCooper]

South Africa to destroy the Convicts and make them realize the ashes was a flash in the pan against a team in which everything was going wrong.

Australia to be dominated.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Australia to make mockery of the rankings and win the series 3-0.

Shell-shocked South Africans to choke again.

 

[battler]

Is iglesias playing?

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies will look to be aggressive here. SA need to be on toes.

 

[Mr Consistent]

South Africa win the toss and choose to bowl

 

[Adil_94]

Australia to make mockery of the rankings and win the series 3-0.

Shell-shocked South Africans to choke again.

South Africa rarely choke in Tests this is not a WC:Steyn

 

[Convict]

Hughes should be playing but I hope Marsh and Doolan succeed (just don't really see it). Doolan doesn't have the talent, Marsh doesn't have the mental strength

South Africa to destroy the Convicts and make them realize the ashes was a flash in the pan against a team in which everything was going wrong.

Australia to be dominated.

So the last 5 years for England?

 

[ChaudrySaab]

SA bowling first, this is gonna be good, can't wait to see Steyn v Clarke.

 

[Amjid Javed]

S.A team doesnt seem to have that same balanced look without Kallis, S.A bowlers though should be looking to make early inroads here

 

[hk031992]

even though i like and admire several Aussie cricketers, i hope SA defeat them. Its nice to see a proper number 1 team in at least one format.

 

[Mr Consistent]

South Africa team
GC Smith*, AN Petersen, HM Amla, F du Plessis, AB de Villiers†, JP Duminy, R McLaren, RJ Peterson, VD Philander, DW Steyn, M Morkel

 

[Mr Consistent]

Australia team
DA Warner, CJL Rogers, AJ Doolan, SE Marsh, MJ Clarke*, SPD Smith, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, PM Siddle, RJ Harris, NM Lyon

 

[Hawkeye]

LOL @ people comparing ATG Steyn with decent pacers Johnson, Harris.

SA will win the series.

 

[Convict]

Harris is no ATG but he's a step above decent.
He'd make any team in any era.

 

[Strike Rate]

LOL @ people comparing ATG Steyn with decent pacers Johnson, Harris.

SA will win the series.

its laughable just likae some duffer compare great pakistani captains and batsmen with a normal bat and captain like misbah

 

[Convict]

Very happy that Clarke is batting at 5. We need him to fire.

 

[trogger]

He's clearly at his best at 5 but he gave in to the constant pressure from chappelli and others, glad he is moving back.

 

[Kianig89]

So Aussies batting first predict their score 48 or 250ish

 

[Adil_94]

Harris is no ATG but he's a step above decent.
He'd make any team in any era.

That's a bit excessive

 

[Adil_94]

SA do look unbalanced slightly McLaren doesn't look like a test quality cricketer

 

[saj786]

I certanly think had Harris not been injured prone he would have been alongside Steyn in Term quality wise

 

[Adil_94]

Yes Holding is commentating

 

[Mr Consistent]

warner of the mark with :4 runs on dale styen ball

 

[Justcrazy]

:4

warner on

 

[Justcrazy]

Styen 350 wickets , this is his only 70 th Test.

 

[Mr Consistent]

another 4 by warner good start by aussies

 

[Convict]

Styen 350 wickets , this is his only 70 th Test.

Similar overall record to DK Lillee

Probably deserves to be in consideration as the greatest fast bowler of all time.

 

[saiyan0312]

No hafeezesque wickets.

 

[Hawkeye]

So pleasing on the ears Michael Holding is. Love his commentary.

AND WHAT A BALL BY PHILANDER!!!

 

[Mr Consistent]

beauty by philalender

 

[Justcrazy]

:4 more

Aussies will not hold anything back here.

 

[Justcrazy]

Holding commentary is very soothing to ears....... just like his run up was.

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies would like to get 350 here at least .

 

[Hawkeye]

Philander owning the Aussies here.

 

[Justcrazy]

11 / 0 after 2

 

[Justcrazy]

Philander getting purchase here.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Warner v steyn looks mouthwatering already.

Philander getting the ball to talk early on as well.

 

[saiyan0312]

jaffas by philander. This guy is destruction on helpful pitches.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Rogers is looking abit shakey early on against philander here

 

[Justcrazy]

Philander shaping the ball beautifully.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Steyn hasnt got his radar right yet

13/0

 

[Justcrazy]

Styen warming up here .

 

[WebGuru]

Runs are coming. 14 runs in first 3overs

 

[Adil_94]

Phitrundler hitting 139Ks wow

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies knew that SA will come hard in first hour .

 

[Adil_94]

Warner out pathetic shot

 

[Convict]

Warner really should not be a guaranteed selection

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies survive another Philander over.

 

[Adil_94]

I know Warner's an attacking batsman but he completely misjudged the length then poor shot

 

[Justcrazy]

SA draw first blood !!!

 

[WebGuru]

Warner gone with his aggressive approach.

 

[saiyan0312]

Thats one down. Steyn smells blood and he will hunt for more.

 

[Mr Consistent]

warner gone styen gets first

 

[Justcrazy]

Doolan on debut , to face Styen

 

[Adil_94]

Is this Doolan any good ?

 

[Justcrazy]

This is going to be some debut for Doolan .

 

[style_guru]

Beautiful day at the centurion.

 

[Amjid Javed]

poor shot that from warner, baptism of fire now for Doolan.

 

[WebGuru]

Whats worst thn facing first ball by Steyn on your Test debut?

 

[Justcrazy]

Is this Doolan any good ?

He will make us respect his batting by stumps today

 

[Amjid Javed]

Aus 16/1

 

[Justcrazy]

It will be interesting to see how Morkel bowls here.

 

[Adil_94]

Whats worst thn facing first ball by Steyn on your Test debut?

Facing Ishant

 

[Convict]

Is this Doolan any good ?

He's a decent shield player. Normally plays on a greentop and bats to his limitations and plays straight.

Did score 160 against the Saffers last year in a tour match.

I've got more faith in him than Marsh or Warner(outside Australia).

Hughes should have played though.

 

[WebGuru]

Facing Ishant

lol Ishant from one end and Vinay from other end on debut is the worst nightmare for a batsman.

 

[Justcrazy]

Doolan tested severely here.

 

[saiyan0312]

The batsmen are looking a bit worried. Warners presence had things on the positive.

 

[Convict]

lol Ishant from one end and Vinay from other end on debut is the worst nightmare for a batsman.

Imagine getting out!

Selectors would never forgive you

 

[saiyan0312]

Such an attacking field.

 

[saiyan0312]

Imagine getting out!

Selectors would never forgive you

You would have to be a pretty bad batsmen to get out there.