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

[Ozymandiasza]

I must admit that there's a steady decline of audience who turn out to the grounds in SA since last few years. If I remember correctly, the last SA vs OZ series had decent attendance.

Something's not right with SA cricket.

We actually work during the week. Also, the Cape Town match is sold out for the weekend.

I'm going to watch this Saturday.

 

[Mr Consistent]

clarke gone second wicket for styen

 

[the Great Khan]

CMON SAFFERS!! lets destroy these loud mouth aussies!!

 

[Jo_Don]

That was planned. Who said that Smith is defensive?

 

[proteyeah]

Needed Clarke early. Now if we can get Haddin early it will make Smith's decision to bowl first look good. Anything under 250 will be a poor first innings score in these conditions.

 

[proteyeah]

We actually work during the week. Also, the Cape Town match is sold out for the weekend.

I'm going to watch this Saturday.

I'll be at the game for the weekend in centurion but still...pathetic crowd.

 

[proteyeah]

Is Morkel injured ? Why bowl Mclarin to the new batsman ?

 

[Mr Consistent]

100 for aussies

 

[saiyan0312]

clarke threw it away. I expect a 180 AO. Australia in big trouble.

 

[Gilly]

CMON SAFFERS!! lets destroy these loud mouth aussies!!

Oh the pain of a 5-nil thrashing.

 

[style_guru]

We actually work during the week. Also, the Cape Town match is sold out for the weekend.

I'm going to watch this Saturday.

Bro. everyone works in his/her capacity across the globe. This cannot be an excuse for such thin crowds for such a high profile match.

 

[the Great Khan]

Oh the pain of a 5-nil thrashing.

lol, indeed. grr..

 

[Random Aussie]

McLaren
L

 

[Random Aussie]

*ooks decent.

 

[the Great Khan]

test matches should all start on saturdays in country's like SA and Pak.

 

[Random Aussie]

Don't judge until both teams have batted

 

[the Great Khan]

no harm in being a bit trolly for a bit. lol.

will like to see how johnson is dealt with. Have a feeling it wont be as easy as it was against Eng.

 

[Jo_Don]

Bro. everyone works in his/her capacity across the globe. This cannot be an excuse for such thin crowds for such a high profile match.

Depends on the culture and the structure of employment law. We only get 15 days of leave a year, and people would rather spend it with their families during school holidays than at a cricket match.

Of course in England it's different, because they have a culture of living off income support.

 

[Random Aussie]

no harm in being a bit trolly for a bit. lol.

will like to see how johnson is dealt with. Have a feeling it wont be as easy as it was against Eng.

I want to see these Saffers face Harris.

You would think they would play the short ball a bit better than England did.

 

[style_guru]

Depends on the culture and the structure of employment law. We only get 15 days of leave a year, and people would rather spend it with their families during school holidays than at a cricket match.

Of course in England it's different, because they have a culture of living off income support.

This proves that having a match in the U.K/OZ is more viable then say somewhere like SA.

 

[Zahid87]

SA doing well so far. Someone on the Aus team needs to be able to stick around and build an innings. Haven't got a Hussey/Trott/Dravid type. Relying too much on Clarke in the middle order.

Haddin can't bail them out every time.

 

[Kianig89]

Robbie could be a chance for Aus to comeback

 

[the Great Khan]

I want to see these Saffers face Harris.

You would think they would play the short ball a bit better than England did.

I think he will trouble them. We (pakistan) did with a similarish bowling attack to harris.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Game nicely balanced i think a total of 270-300 would be good here in 1st inns

 

[Amjid Javed]

I really wonder wether S.A should even pick peterson as a bowler, hes absoloute dross and always seems to relieve the pressure on oppostion.

 

[Convict]

Well done SOS

 

[Amjid Javed]

SA doing well so far. Someone on the Aus team needs to be able to stick around and build an innings. Haven't got a Hussey/Trott/Dravid type. Relying too much on Clarke in the middle order.

Haddin can't bail them out every time.

Marsh is well set so needs to get a 100 here and looks like Haddin will need to come to rescue again

 

[Mr Consistent]

for marsh

 

[Executioner]

Wish we could play on similar wickets during test matches

On topic: Some good cricket played by Marsh. Although I don't expect Australia to score much if he does not receives enough support from the other end.

 

[Adil_94]

Ever since Faf was caught with the zipper SA have looked much less threatening with the old ball

 

[style_guru]

Is Marsh injured?

 

[Convict]

Is Marsh injured?

Marsh is always injured. Has horrible calves and hamstrings.

 

[Mr Consistent]

150 up for aussies good partnership between these 2

 

[MarkCooper]

Aussies going well.

 

[Adil_94]

Marsh is looking very good now

 

[MarkCooper]

Steve Smith is the greatest club cricketer in the world

 

[Adil_94]

This has been good hard cricket an even contest between bat and ball so far

 

[style_guru]

Marsh is always injured. Has horrible calves and hamstrings.

Is he done for the series?

 

[Convict]

Steve Smith is the greatest club cricketer in the world

Always played well for Sutherland.

 

[Convict]

Is he done for the series?

Nah. He'll bat this out.

 

[style_guru]

Nah. He'll bat this out.

I mean the remaining two matches after this?

 

[Convict]

I mean the remaining two matches after this?

Not sure. I'm hoping he has just twinged it.

 

[style_guru]

Not sure. I'm hoping he has just twinged it.

Same here. BTW one of Phil's delivery to Marsh a few overs back kept quite low.

I am not sure if batting last on this pitch is a very wise choice by Smith & Co.

 

[Convict]

Same here. BTW one of Phil's delivery to Marsh a few overs back kept quite low.

I am not sure if batting last on this pitch is a very wise choice by Smith & Co.

I think it was a very odd decision. They need to bowl Australia out today to justify it

 

[Jo_Don]

I think it was a very odd decision. They need to bowl Australia out today to justify it

Think the justification is that there's usually something in it on the first day for the bowlers, and becomes better to bat on days 2-3 after baking in the sun for a while.

Anyway good fight back happening here, hoping it will be a hard fought test.

 

[style_guru]

I think it was a very odd decision. They need to bowl Australia out today to justify it

May be Smith trusts his bowlers a tad too much.

In the meantime, Marsh keeps showing us the glimpses of his talent. Wish he was a bit more consistent

 

[Convict]

On the radio- Hafeez: half his bat's missing

 

[saiyan0312]

Marsh saved the aussies.

 

[Adil_94]

Smith has to bowl the Aussies out for under 300 to justify this decision I feel the captain should only bowl first if the pitch is a greentop or if it's overcast and you back your bowlers to roll the other team out in Test matches you should always bat first and set up the game

 

[IndianWillow]

Same here. BTW one of Phil's delivery to Marsh a few overs back kept quite low.

I am not sure if batting last on this pitch is a very wise choice by Smith & Co.

SA are wary of Johnson. They know he is coming off a wonderful season and they would like to find out how good he is after bowling out Australia cheaply, which is not happening as of now.

 

[style_guru]

SA are wary of Johnson. They know he is coming off a wonderful season and they would like to find out how good he is after bowling out Australia cheaply, which is not happening as of now.

The wicket is misbehaving on day one itself. Sometimes there's a fine line between bravery & foolishness.

 

[Mr Consistent]

100 partnership between these two

 

[mosh101]

Solid partnership between these two !

 

[mosh101]

Smith has a good head !

 

[Convict]

Shaun Marsh is an away track bully

 

[MarkCooper]

We may be seeing a change in the balance of power in world cricket. England and South Africa and India may be on the decline. Australia and New Zealand may be on the rise.

 

[Convict]

We may be seeing a change in the balance of power in world cricket. England and South Africa and India may be on the decline. Australia and New Zealand may be on the rise.

We can't give any measure to England and India's piddly little reign.
December 2012- Australia were ranked above both!

 

[Convict]

Nice 50 Smith

 

[Mr Consistent]

for smith well played

 

[Mr Consistent]

:century for marsh well played

 

[Convict]

Great century by Marsh.
Absolutely love this

 

[Jo_Don]

Well played Marsh, really didn't expect a 100 to come from him.

 

[Justcrazy]

:century for marsh

 

[Justcrazy]

Philander wicketless is a big surprise here.

 

[Justcrazy]

Aussies would aim for 350 at least here , would give there bowlers a lot to bowl at.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

SA's bowling at times can look pedestrian. Mclaren at 31 really has no future in Test cricket. Should have played Chris Morris or Kyle Abbott or Hendricks if they were going light on batting. Peterson is also a liability - barely turns the ball.

 

[Justcrazy]

Duminy bowling here.

 

[Justcrazy]

SA's bowling at times can look pedestrian. Mclaren at 31 really has no future in Test cricket. Should have played Chris Morris or Kyle Abbott or Hendricks if they were going light on batting. Peterson is also a liability - barely turns the ball.

Well said. SA bowling lacks a genuine slow bowler , Lyon is pretty good. Without good spin option things can get tough in mid innings.

 

[Bilal7]

Since when was Philander's average pace in the 137-139 kph range?

 

[Justcrazy]

:4

Philander smacked.

 

[Justcrazy]

Philander average now 18.43

 

[Justcrazy]

The bigger the first innings score , the harder for SA .

 

[IndianWillow]

350-400 looks a distinct possibility.

 

[Mr Consistent]

150 partnership between these two

 

[Justcrazy]

249 / 4

150 runs partnership

 

[Mr Consistent]

250 up for aussies

 

[Justcrazy]

This partnership needs to be broken , before stumps.

 

[Justcrazy]

255 / 4 | 78 overs

 

[Bilal7]

When is the last time the South African attack accomplished anything on a flattish track?

 

[MarkCooper]

South Africa commies coming up with lots of excuses as they always do