VH-KCT* From Australia, joined May 2001, 479 posts, RR: 2 Posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 938 times:
Well it's stumps on day 2, and it's certainly been an interesting match so far. Hussey went on to make a century with a solid partner in Glenn McGrath! They made a century partnership on the way, too! Which I'm sure McGrath will be proud to add to his list of batting achievements (still doesn't beat the 61, though).
What was interesting was that both Hussey and Ponting were dropped on lowly scores - Ponting went on to make 100 more, and Hussey went on to make 95 more, so had there been safer hands in the field, the Proteas could have been chasing a measley 160 - a score which they achieved this afternoon.
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 921 times:
Great batting by Hayden and Symmons today. They made it look so easy. Sporting declaration by Ponting. RoSA has to chase this one down after what Smith said after Perth (something to the effect of if they had set 400 we would have had a go). However they are currently 5 down for 70 something with a day to go so things are not looking too good.
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 918 times:
I really thought they might give this a shake after historically saving an MCG match a couple of Tours ago after batting a day and a half (thanks to Kallis and Cronje) and also after their effort in Perth.
It's interesting to look at their averages which are quite good and hinted they they may be able to overhaul the total until you look at their averages against Australia which are just about all significantly lower.
Still those runs scored by Ponting and Hussey in the First Innings after being dropped are looming quite large.
What a character Nel is by the way. Bowls well, says his piece/back chats, later on gets belted all over the park, still says his piece/back chats, laughs like a goose when he finally catches Symmons (whose favourite shot was the straight six off Nel). And in amongst it all the crowd is yelling "Nellie's a Wanker!". Seems like he is trying to take Hadlee's crown.
VH-KCT* From Australia, joined May 2001, 479 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 912 times:
Quoting Andz (Reply 4): 99/6 at close so we survived the day!
Wasn't exactly the most convicing batting display I've ever seen from you chaps today, so does anybody see any possibility of a lower-order fightback tomorrow? I'm wondering if Symonds will be able to maintain his sudden form-reversal, although surely if he manages to merely refrain from embarrassing himself tomorrow, we'll be seeing him in Sydney.
By the way, there will be free admission to the match tomorrow!
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8306 posts, RR: 11 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 911 times:
I saw that free admission offer on the big screen, I guess the organisers were guessing that there might not be a fifth day or that it will be very short!
Our batting has been woeful, and after Pollock there isn't really any batting to speak of so I don't hold much hope! Where is Lance Klusener when you need him? I saw him score 42 off 24 balls in a domestic limited overs game a couple of days ago, he's a good man in a squeeze!
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Ozair From Australia, joined Jan 2005, 681 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 892 times:
Well it's all over and the Aussies are now 1 up in the series. Must say it was a fine performance by Pollock, I think he is carrying the team on his shoulders!
What chance do RSA have of leveling the series with the Sydney Test approaching? Sydney will be far more kind to Warne and Macgill than to the pacers and although I wouldn't call the South Africans' as Warne's "bunnies" Sydney will always turn from day one.
Will Andy Simons get another test after his better performance in the latter half?
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8306 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 885 times:
With the 9 hour time difference I missed it all, probably a good thing! I heard on the radio that SA have called another spinner to join the team so they obviously know about the turn at the SCG.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 878 times:
Quoting Ozair (Reply 7): Must say it was a fine performance by Pollock
Second that. Bit more support and he might have done a Hussey.
Quoting Ozair (Reply 7): What chance do RSA have of leveling the series with the Sydney Test approaching?
None unless they can get Fannie de Villiers (or however you spell it) out of retirement and up to Test level again to skittle Border's Australians like he did a few years ago.
Quoting Ozair (Reply 7): Will Andy Simons get another test after his better performance in the latter half?
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8306 posts, RR: 11 Reply 10, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 874 times:
Quoting TSV (Reply 9): None unless they can get Fannie de Villiers (or however you spell it) out of retirement and up to Test level again to skittle Border's Australians like he did a few years ago.
If we need to rely on vinnige Fanie then we are in more trouble than I thought! I'm not surprised at the bravado though, I do remember something similar from certain Australian players before a recent series in the mother country... don't write us off yet!
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 11, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 872 times:
Quoting TSV (Reply 9): Second that. Bit more support and he might have done a Hussey.
True, but as I commented in the other thread, the one hope of support for him came in the shape of Ashwell Prince, and he got chopped off by a shocker of a decision.
Goes that way sometimes.
The biggest problem South Africa have had is dropping catches. Hasn't it cost them something like 800 runs in the series so far?
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 872 times:
Quoting Andz (Reply 10): I'm not surprised at the bravado though
It's not bravado - just a joke. Sorry I forgot you are South African and appreciate Australian humour about as much as a dead rat. I think we are all very mindful of the closeness in scores and the likely change in result if certain catches were able to be held on to.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 869 times:
Tsv, what do you think of the revamped Australian team now?
They do appear to have lost that air of invincibility in the wake of the Ashes defeat, don't they? You don't watch them thinking that they'll win eventually, you wonder if they'll come out on top now, rather than expect it.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8306 posts, RR: 11 Reply 14, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 866 times:
Quoting TSV (Reply 12): Sorry I forgot you are South African and appreciate Australian humour about as much as a dead rat.
I have to remember to put smilies in my posts so that subtle reactions aren't lost on people. And for the record I'm not South African, I do have a sense of humour, and I don't take Australians seriously.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 865 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 13): Tsv, what do you think of the revamped Australian team now?
It's funny you ask that as I was just looking at the line-up while watching the other day and thinking to myself "this is almost a totally different team".
The other thing that crossed my mind was that most of the ones making their "Debuts" or "Re-Debuts" are all 30 odd years old! For example Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, and Andy "Roy" Symmons.
Quoting Banco (Reply 13): They do appear to have lost that air of invincibility in the wake of the Ashes defeat, don't they?
Agreed. There is a certain fragility there that was usually only exposed once in a series and that was usually only in a "dead" Test.
Quoting Banco (Reply 13): You don't watch them thinking that they'll win eventually, you wonder if they'll come out on top now, rather than expect it.
Very true. Even today I was thinking if RoSA had held onto their catches or they had a few more wickets left this would be going the other way.
I don't want to jump on the knock Ricky Ponting bandwagon but I think he got a lot of credit for this win that he probably didn't deserve and generally he is nowhere near the Captain the three before him was (at least not yet).
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 17, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 864 times:
Quoting TSV (Reply 16): The other thing that crossed my mind was that most of the ones making their "Debuts" or "Re-Debuts" are all 30 odd years old! For example Brad Hodge, Mike Hussey, and Andy "Roy" Symmons.
I'm not (and never have been) convinced about Symonds ability at Test level, in spite of his recent relative success.
Brad Hodge I didn't know much about (and good luck to him for seizing his chance) but Hussey's Test elevation was long overdue. Many of us in England found it hard to believe he hadn't broken into the side years ago. He's a class act.
I'm still of the opinion that bowlers win matches. Take Warne and McGrath away and Australia will struggle somewhat, particularly as there doesn't seem to be too much depth in this area.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
TSV From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1641 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 858 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 17): Take Warne and McGrath away and Australia will struggle somewhat, particularly as there doesn't seem to be too much depth in this area.
That's for sure. MacGill despite what he tells us is no where near Warne's class (on the field that is) and Lee is way too inconsistent (although he did show glimpses of consistency on day 3. As for what's on the horizon in this department I must admit I haven't looked in detail at State level but to be honest no one has sprung out of the woodwork.
Quoting Banco (Reply 17): I'm not (and never have been) convinced about Symonds ability at Test level, in spite of his recent relative success.
I don't think many are but certainly many more are hoping.
Quoting Banco (Reply 17): Brad Hodge I didn't know much about (and good luck to him for seizing his chance)
Quoting Banco (Reply 17): but Hussey's Test elevation was long overdue. Many of us in England found it hard to believe he hadn't broken into the side years ago. He's a class act.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 19, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 856 times:
Quoting TSV (Reply 18): That's for sure. MacGill despite what he tells us is no where near Warne's class
Well, who is? Put it this way, if MacGill was English he'd have been a fixture in the side for a decade or more and we'd be raving about him. He's just desperately unlucky to be a contemporary of the great man.
Quoting TSV (Reply 18): Lee is way too inconsistent (although he did show glimpses of consistency on day 3
Yes, I thought that too. Maybe he's maturing as a bowler at last.
I tell you what's interesting about Brad Hodge's record on Cricinfo: His conversion rate of 50's to 100's in first class cricket. That's usually the sign of someone who might well do well in Test cricket.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
SA006 From South Africa, joined Sep 2003, 1883 posts, RR: 56 Reply 23, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 825 times:
Quoting Ozair (Reply 7): Will Andy Simons get another test after his better performance in the latter half?
I actually hope so. I am still not convinced with Symonds' ability at test match level , he's an out and out one-day player. He reminds me of our own Lance Klusener who wasn't the most sucessful at test level.
Quoting Andz (Reply 8): With the 9 hour time difference I missed it all, probably a good thing! I heard on the radio that SA have called another spinner to join the team so they obviously know about the turn at the SCG.
Yes , South Africa have called upon Johan Botha to play at the SCG. He's the off-spinner who went to India for the ODI's and he didn't perform to well. Although , anyone is better than Boje...
Oh and who the hell was this Phil Jaques guy? One of the weirdest batting techniques I've seen in a while. His stance is very weird...
Quoting Banco (Reply 15): Quoting Andz (Reply 14):
and I don't take Australians seriously
Who does?
I wonder if South Africa will play Garnett Kruger at the SCG? You Aussies might have seen him come on for Ntini as 12th man on the 4th day. I certainly hope Ntini is fit for the SCG , you can see how we struggled without him on the 4th day.
Concerning the article...I can't wait for the Aussies to come out here in Feb/March. They're going to get such a pummeling from the SA fans , it'll be very fun to watch. Now all we have to do is make up a chant for ol' Warnie...
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 24, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 823 times:
Quoting SA006 (Reply 23): He reminds me of our own Lance Klusener who wasn't the most sucessful at test level.
I wouldn't think Symonds would be that upset by the comparison. You might not think Klusener was that successful, but he scared the shit out of bowling attacks the world over for quite a few years.
Quoting SA006 (Reply 23): Have a happy new year and a great 2006!
And to you!
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
25 SA006: I think Klusener was highly sucessful in the ODI arena and scared the shit out of all the bowling attacks in that form of the game. But at test match
26 Andz: Zak what the hell are you doing online at that time of the morning??? I was at a day/night match at the Wanderers a few years ago, still the biggest e
27 SA006: New Years , couldn't sleep you know... Thats brilliant -SA006
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From Australia, joined May 2001, 479 posts, 
They made a century partnership on the way, too! Which I'm sure McGrath will be proud to add to his list of batting achievements (still doesn't beat the 61, though).
From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8306 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, 
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