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South Africa (138 & 285/5) defeat Australia (212 & 207) by 5 wickets in the final to clinch the World Test Championship 2023/25 title

cricfan432 said:
I knew australia gonna win if pitch is spicy, these new saffers are not good against exaggerated seam/swing as we saw in 1st test vs pakistan
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They were exposed against Abbas at home. So it is fair to assume that Hazlewood is at least as good of a bowler if not better.
 
Sa batters are putting unnecessary pressure on themselves here by going for extreme blockathon.They need to play freely and attack the opposition bowlers.
 
70-30 in australia favour on day 1. Only lord bavuma can save South Africa. :kp
 
Good day of cricket. Aus are always favourites in finals no matter who the opposition is. If aus is one team they are starting as favourites.
 
Did someone just call alex carey great in this thread? Bro grow up u wannabee cricket fans. Alex carey is just okayish test player and wont even get into many test teams today.
 
Fourteen wickets fall as bowlers dominate enthralling day at Lord's

Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen combined for eight wickets as Australia's bowling attack responded in style on an action-packed opening day of the Ultimate Test.

After Kagiso Rabada nabbed his 17th five-wicket haul to bundle out Australia, Pat Cummins and Co respond to set up an exciting Day 2.

A total of 14 wickets fell at Lord's on Wednesday as bowlers dominated an exciting opening day of the ICC World Test Championship between South Africa and Australia.

Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada collected his 17th five-wicket haul in Tests to help dismiss Australia for just 212, but the reigning World Test Championship winners responded strongly through experienced trio Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood who combined to have South Africa in trouble at 43/4 at stumps with both sides well an truly in the contest.

Skipper Temba Bavuma (3) and No.6 David Bedingham (8) remain unbeaten at the crease, with the pair still with plenty of work to do given the Proteas trail by 169 heading into the second day.

It was an enthralling day of Test cricket, with the momentum changing between the two finalists on numerous occasions and London's ever-changing weather also ensuring the conditions took their turn in favouring different sides.

South Africa's bowlers enjoyed the best of the overcast morning conditions, with Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49) picking up a pair of wickets each early as the Aussies were reduced to 67/4 at lunch after Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Source: ICC
 
Our bowlers saving our batsmen' backsides again.

We are in a good position atm but if the current two South African batters can take them to 100, feel like the game will come alive again. Verreyne can be scratchy but he’s dangerous, and Jansen and Maharaj can score freely so their best chance is to probably grind away to get the lead under 100 and then probably be aggressive if the wickets start to fall.

Should be another interesting day of cricket, hopefully.
 
Ice Man said:
Our bowlers saving our batsmen' backsides again.

We are in a good position atm but if the current two South African batters can take them to 100, feel like the game will come alive again. Verreyne can be scratchy but he’s dangerous, and Jansen and Maharaj can score freely so their best chance is to probably grind away to get the lead under 100 and then probably be aggressive if the wickets start to fall.

Should be another interesting day of cricket, hopefully.
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Don’t think SA will cross 160

Aussies will be batting SA out of the game tomorrow and the day after
 
Ice Man said:
Our bowlers saving our batsmen' backsides again.

We are in a good position atm but if the current two South African batters can take them to 100, feel like the game will come alive again. Verreyne can be scratchy but he’s dangerous, and Jansen and Maharaj can score freely so their best chance is to probably grind away to get the lead under 100 and then probably be aggressive if the wickets start to fall.

Should be another interesting day of cricket, hopefully.
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Naw sa will bundle out for 100. It is a very difficult pitch however yes it was a case of poor batting as well.

Our top order is a bloody joke. Smith is a blessing who saved the game but if Webster could score a half century then the top order should have scored as well.

It was much easier for the top order to score then for the middle order yet they fumbled the bag.
 
Rana said:
Don’t think SA will cross 160

Aussies will be batting SA out of the game tomorrow and the day after
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Bedingham is the only one who can actually get them their or turn the game around, no need to worry about kyle, Jansen or the tail enders that are hilariously bad at batting.

Ryan rickelton + Bedingham + Makram is literally their batting lineup, and 2 of them have fallen.

This bavuma myth will end in the tears and then the rest will follow.

Jansen is possibly the only one who could maybe turn it around as despite having poor stats he has that fire, hunger and mentality in him to do something big on a given day with both bat and ball
 
mominsaigol said:
Naw sa will bundle out for 100. It is a very difficult pitch however yes it was a case of poor batting as well.

Our top order is a bloody joke. Smith is a blessing who saved the game but if Webster could score a half century then the top order should have scored as well.

It was much easier for the top order to score then for the middle order yet they fumbled the bag.
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I just want clutch Head to turn up in the 2nd innings, then, the fun will really begin. :cool:
 
South Africa is in deep trouble here and have thrown away their advantage.

Giving this experienced and battle-tested Australian bowling group a sniff can lead to complete destruction.
 
The problem for South Africa is Ngidi.

You basically have Rabada, Jansen, Ngidi vs. Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, on what seems to be a spicy pitch.

One of these is not like the others.

And when one side has 3 pacers that are a very difficult to negotiate, while the other side has just two pacers making a similar impact, it can end up being a big difference maker.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
The problem for South Africa is Ngidi.

You basically have Rabada, Jansen, Ngidi vs. Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, on what seems to be a spicy pitch.

One of these is not like the others.

And when one side has 3 pacers that are a very difficult to negotiate, while the other side has just two pacers making a similar impact, it can end up being a big difference maker.
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Questionable approach by the South African batters too, but tbh the Australian pace-attack barely gave them anything. They were right on the money.
 
Australia has 3 world class fast bowlers.

South Africa only has 1 i.e Rabbada whereas everyone else blows hot and cold. Not to mention South Africa's weak batting line up. On paper this game should be a mis match.
 
Steve Smith like Joe Root is getting better and better in Test Cricket. Maybe the fact he has accepted that he is no longer good enough for T-20 and ODI Cricket will help him focus all his energies in the premier format. Read an interesting article when Smith was interviewed regarding his excellent form in test cricket of late and he attributed that to a more relaxed approach to the game and keeping it simple, previously he would over analyze his game in the nets, his exaggerated trigger movements and spend a lot of time in the nets but he now feels just keeping it simple and not wasting excessive time in the nets actually works better for him, he doesn't unnecessarily waste excessive mental and physical energy in the nets anymore
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
The problem for South Africa is Ngidi.

You basically have Rabada, Jansen, Ngidi vs. Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood, on what seems to be a spicy pitch.

One of these is not like the others.

And when one side has 3 pacers that are a very difficult to negotiate, while the other side has just two pacers making a similar impact, it can end up being a big difference maker.
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Very true.

Our fast bowling unit consistently spreads the workload evenly and also, backs each other up by keeping the pressure on the opposition constantly. A real 'hunt in packs' mentality.
 
RexRex said:
England were the only ones who tamed this attack properly in the 2023 Ashes with bazball. Unfortunately rain ruined the result.
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Those were some pretty flat pitches. I'd like to see English batsmen tame this attack on this pitch.
 
This match shows how skewed to host a wtc final in June against sc teams.Any sc team will struggle on such pitches and only match means no comeback too.Seriously Icc should think about it and atleast rotate the venues as per finalists.
 
Rana said:
So what is it…

When Head gets out: Navjot Siddhu is better

When Carey gets out: Rizwan is better

Every crap player is better when the great player gets out cheaply in a final?
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Carey is not a great player, he has two hundreds in test cricket and even his wicketkeeping skills are not on par with Rizwan.
 
Folks have forgotten the art of batting in real cricket. 14 wickets falling in WTC final , supposed to be test cricket at its best between the two best teams in the world, is not a great viewing experience. This test match could be over in 2 and a half days
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
When did i say he is a godly batsman, bro come on, don’t get offended for the sake of it.
Its just that he has been in good form
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Bro I don't like Bavuma 🤣. Mujhe zehr lagta hai and everyone over here has a negative perception about him.

He is just a prettier version of Rizwan. In that as a batsmen he looks easy on the eye unlike rizzu who looks ugly beyond belief.

However

A) He is extremely extremely selfish as a batsmen, purposely giving himself the easiest positions to bat in odi and test cricket.

Theirs no rhyme or reason for him to open in odi and bat at no 4 in test in tue same way their is no rhyme or reason to open in t20 for Rizwan.

The reason you give no 4 to players like Sachin or Steve smith isnt to baby them, but its because their your best batters. Gemce easier the position, the more runs they cam score for you and ensure victory.

Their not batting at that no of halwas like Bavuma is.

B) He's a terrible batsmen, he's beyond awful and I view him as a black prettier version of rizwan, thats all
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
I have never said that about Bavuma, saigol is capping.
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Rahnei dei bhai 🤣. I called Bavuma a bad batsmen. Another poster talked about his form and I told him that bavuma will fail in wtc and mashallah he's done his duties as a nightwatchman yesterday 🤣.

You told me that bavuma is in solid form and went onto make a snidy remark about bavuma in wtc.

I told you his solid run of form does not matter. A 37 avg batsmen is a 37 avg batsmen. End of.

His record would make some minnow level Pakistan and WI test batters blush.
 
Bhaijaan said:
Folks have forgotten the art of batting in real cricket. 14 wickets falling in WTC final , supposed to be test cricket at its best between the two best teams in the world, is not a great viewing experience. This test match could be over in 2 and a half days
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I have stated this multiple times over, this is crickets weakest era of batting. Hence why bavuma is overrated.

Hes good, just not within bootlicker distance of Marshall, Mcgrath, Ambrose, Lillie, Hadlee and many others.
 
Ponting makes bold statement on South Africa pace duo

Ricky Ponting hails the performance of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen at Lord’s and offers some advice to Australia’s batters after their first innings output in the Ultimate Test.

ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has hailed Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen as one of the most formidable fast bowling duos in cricket after the pair dominated the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's.

The two in-form quicks combined to take eight wickets against Australia in the Ultimate Test on Wednesday, with Rabada particularly impressive, collecting his 17th five-wicket haul in Tests to once again put his name on the famous Honours Board at the iconic London ground.

South Africa quicks Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen make short work of Australia's tailenders in the first innings.

Ponting was impressed with Rabada and Jansen's efforts and now believes the pair is right up there in terms of opening bowling combinations in world cricket.

"I don't think there's any doubt about that," Ponting told ICC Digital before Australia’s fightback, when asked whether Rabada and Jansen were the most formidable duo in the world.

"I think that's sort of been building up over the last couple of years. They contrast each other really well with the left-arm and right-arm.

"Marco is obviously getting a bit steeper bounce than what Rabada gets. When you're talking about bowling partnerships or bowling combinations, you need guys that complement each other well.

"It's no good having two guys that are exactly the same because then it feels like you've got the same stuff coming at you from both ends...those two have worked really well together now for a few years."

Kagiso Rabada led the bowling efforts for South Africa with his 17th Test five-for on Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship Final.

It was the second consecutive match that Rabada had picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings at Lord's, with the right-armer having produced a similar performance on his last visit to the venue during South Africa's Test against England in 2022.

Ponting compared Rabada’s latest exploits to what former teammate Glenn McGrath also managed throughout his career at the famous ground.

"Glenn McGrath was also exactly the same at Lord's," Ponting said.

"McGrath loved bowling at Lord's and loved being able to use the slope both ways from either end of the ground, which is something that is probably not talked about as much as it should be.

"These big games are all about your big name players. Your star players have to stand up in these games.

"Having been through a bit of off-field stuff in the last few months as well, I'm sure that now that he's back out on the international stage, would have wanted to stand up and be the man for his team and lead from the front. And that's what quality leaders do."

After Kagiso Rabada nabbed his 17th five-wicket haul to bundle out Australia, Pat Cummins and Co respond to set up an exciting Day 2.

And while Ponting knows Australia's batting group will be disappointed to have not reached any great heights on the opening day of the one-off Test, he offered them a piece of advice for the remainder of the contest.

"The important thing for the Aussie batters is that they now know that they're probably going to get the best of the batting conditions in their second innings, so they have to make the most of those," Ponting added.

ICC
 
Ice Man said:
Haha, love that energy, mate. Let's see if you get a few bites. ;)
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Whether head performs or not isnt relevant. I like Bedingham but the task is too tall.

Sa is 43/4 and Kyle, Bavuma, jansen are sitting ducks. And unlike Aussie tail that can somewhat bat, SA tailenders are a joke. If aussie tailenders couldn't muster a run in such a spicy pitch, their lower order hasnt got a chance in hell.

Secondly Australia will get them out early day 2 by session 2 max but possibly earlier.

The 2nd innings AU will obviously be more cautious and look to slowly outbat SA.

In the 1st innings Australia was trying to get a high score without thinking about strategy or logistics, which how most most teams operate batting first in tests.

2nd in kings is where strategy comes into play.
 
mominsaigol said:
Whether head performs or not isnt relevant. I like Bedingham but the task is too tall.

Sa is 43/4 and Kyle, Bavuma, jansen are sitting ducks. And unlike Aussie tail that can somewhat bat, SA tailenders are a joke. If aussie tailenders couldn't muster a run in such a spicy pitch, their lower order hasnt got a chance in hell.

Secondly Australia will get them out early day 2 by session 2 max but possibly earlier.

The 2nd innings AU will obviously be more cautious and look to slowly outbat SA.

In the 1st innings Australia was trying to get a high score without thinking about strategy or logistics, which how most most teams operate batting first in tests.

2nd in kings is where strategy comes into play.
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Hope so, mate. I'm a bit cautious as we do seem to have developed somewhat of a habit to allow the opposition tail to wag in recent times so hopefully, not the case tonight!
 
Ice Man said:
Hope so, mate. I'm a bit cautious as we do seem to have developed somewhat of a habit to allow the opposition tail to wag in recent times so hopefully, not the case tonight!
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Either way one thing is for certain, This bavuma myth has been busted 🤣
 
I just do not see South Africa crossing 150.

What a sorry looking batting line-up that is!
 
Never understood the inside edge in reviews issue

A player knows if he has made contact or not. It shouldn’t take so long for them to make the call if they knew they hit it.

Another big flaw in DRS.
 
mominsaigol said:
Ho hai, I've been predicting Aus victory since 2023? For wtc? Not giving me credit is akin to sin.
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DeadlyVenom said:
Honestly test match in England is the best cricket.

Aussie and India are way behind for atmosphere.

The rest of the countries aren't even in the equation. WIndies was good back in the day.
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There's never been a better atmosphere for Test cricket in recent times than when Scott Boland was bowling at the MCG to England.

The atmosphere in Australia is far better for Test cricket than anywhere else.
 
Why is the same metric of umpire’s call not applied on faint edges in reviews?
 
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