South Africa v Australia | 1st Test | Centurion | Day 3 | 14 February 2014

[Justcrazy]

stumps

Australia lead by 479 runs with 7 wickets remaining

 

[trogger]

I think they will bat until just before the first drinks break.

 

[Convict]

Aus is not going to bat for too long and he was more economical than others. I would have bowled him a bit more.

Morkel was more likely to get the wicket I reckon.

 

[IndianWillow]

SA will be chasing around 550 I guess, in five sessions or a little more.

 

[Buffet]

SA will be chasing around 550 I guess, in five sessions or a little more.

I also think that Aus will take 550 with 5+ session.

 

[OZGOD]

This time really sucks for me. I'm only just starting to watch the whole day's play now

 

[loves_cricket]

This time really sucks for me. I'm only just starting to watch the whole day's play now

You had a very good day in office , enjoy

 

[Wassixpakistani]

Have to feel sorry for Smith , he's facing a ridiculously energized Australian side coming from a thumping victory over England .

Aus look like they could do no wrong here .

 

[Shoaib Akhtar's Fan]

Definitely Aussies' game to not win from on.

SA will be hoping for a repeat of the 2nd Test from the last series between these two where Du Plessis scored a hundred on his debut to save the Saffers from defeat. Was it at Adelaide ?

 

[OZGOD]

The psychological edge that Johnson had over England, has continued against SA as well. From now on they'll be in survival mode against Mitch, exactly what England tried to do.

What's going to help with the psychological edge is the way a lot of the dismissals looked. All the result of chin music at 145+kmh. Short ball, rearing towards the batsman's armpit, throat or face, fended off in what looked like a panicky way for a simple catch at slip, gully or short leg. If you look at Smiffy, Faf, Petersen, Morkel they pretty much all got out in the same way, bounced, made to hop on the crease and fended a simple catch. Alviro got out swinging at a short and wide delivery after he had been given a couple of throat balls as well. They will all be thinking about that.

 

[OZGOD]

Clarke is a better than 50/50 to declare overnight.

He may even do what he did to Cook in Adelaide. Literally waited till about 15 mins before play was scheduled to start, then knocked on the door of England's dressing room and gave Cook the news himself. Cook and England had been getting ready to go out and bowl again and Cook and Carberry had to rush and put their pads on in 10 mins and run out to open. Cook was out for 1 shortly thereafter as Jonno ran through the side.

 

[OZGOD]

It's quite interesting because both he and Marsh have reputations in shield cricket of not going on with starts.

Silk and North seem to be the only players in Shield who actually convert regularly.

Just proves its a mental thing - he is up for the big contests but the minor ones bore him. Not a good trait lol.

 

[OZGOD]

I like stadiums like Centurion when you don't have huge crowds - the grass banks can be 1/3 filled but it still looks fuller than a 2/3 full seated stadium.

 

[MarkCooper]

Johnson made every other bowler, including Harris, Philtrundler, Siddle and Steyn, look like nothing in comparison. They just looked like medium pace bowlers putting it on a line and length.

 

[trogger]

I don't really see the benefit of an overnight declaration, with modern scoring rates SA would have the total well before tea on day 5, to declare overnight you would have to be expecting to lose 30+ overs over the next 2 days which going on the forecast looks unlikely.

I like the idea of keeping them out there a little while longer as well, smith will be worried about the fitness of his quicks but it's either bowl them or we might really thump the spinners.

 

[OZGOD]

I don't really see the benefit of an overnight declaration, with modern scoring rates SA would have the total well before tea on day 5, to declare overnight you would have to be expecting to lose 30+ overs over the next 2 days which going on the forecast looks unlikely.

I like the idea of keeping them out there a little while longer as well, smith will be worried about the fitness of his quicks but it's either bowl them or we might really thump the spinners.

I guess the following factors would play into it:

1. weather (as you said)
2. momentum (if you lose 7 for 50 trying to push the pace it might get them to go on a roll)
3. faith (or lack of) in your bowling lineup to take the 10 wickets in less than 5 sessions
4. what are SA expecting? Are they expecting Clarke to keep batting? If so then an overnight declaration left as late as possible might help us snag the openers cheaply as they will not have been expecting to bat.

All that said, even though I'm tempted to bat overnight, I have a lot of respect for SA's batting. I would bat again and bat for an hour then put them in irrespective of how many runs.

 

[trogger]

Point 3 surely relies on point 1 playing a part?

Assuming good weather a declaration after about 13-15 overs gives you just over 160 at them, declaring overnight you would then need to restrict them to under 3 an over to even get 160 overs in at them.

To get the full 180 overs in the run rate would have to be just over 2.5 which i can't see happening if we are planning on all out attack for 2 days.

In the push to get more time they might actually cost themselves overs to bowl at them, i would rather 160 overs where SA can't win vs 160 overs where they have a shot no matter how remote it might be.

 

[NZcricketfan]

I'd go with overnight declaration.

You know South Africa has the ability to bat long periods of time and you need to give them that carrot on a stick where they are more willing to push for a win.

 

[trogger]

They wouldn't need to do anything special or take any extra risks to chase the total with that much time though, the run rate would be just above 2.5 if they had 180 overs at it, you could reach that playing defensive cricket but with the rates these two teams score it would be over by tea on day 5.

 

[Bilal7]

He may even do what he did to Cook in Adelaide. Literally waited till about 15 mins before play was scheduled to start, then knocked on the door of England's dressing room and gave Cook the news himself. Cook and England had been getting ready to go out and bowl again and Cook and Carberry had to rush and put their pads on in 10 mins and run out to open. Cook was out for 1 shortly thereafter as Jonno ran through the side.

Brutal tactics. Trolling of the highest order and all that Cook could do was go out there and take his frustrations out on Johnson.

I really don't get why Johnson is having so much success. Steyn and Morkel are almost as quick and they are bowling to an inferior batting side. How is Johnson doing what he's doing.

 

[Bilal7]

The new ball will be crucial, not just for South Africa, but Australia as well. If the openers manage to play out Johnson's first spell and survive for about 15 overs, the Saffers will get their mojo back and they might be able to chase this down.