Aus in RSA - Tests/ODI's

Well we are closing in on the start if another series.

Schedule:
Thu 26 - Mon 2 1st Test - South Africa v Australia New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Fri 6 - Tue 10 2nd Test - South Africa v Australia Kingsmead, Durban
Thu 19 - Mon 23 3rd Test - South Africa v Australia Newlands, Cape Town

The first bit of news to come out is here Prince dropped for the first two Tests. Most excellent news if you ask me!

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/rsavaus2009/content/current/story/390408.html

Smiths hand is looking good and he will be in the nets at some point this week (Playing for the Cobra's). Also the blood injections into his elbow seemed to have worked but we will only know in the next few weeks how well it worked.

Aus will come back hard at us but I predict it to to be 2-0 and perhaps even 3-0. I just cant see Aussie taking game of us at home with this team.

I have mixed feelings about prince being dropped. Obviously they had to go with JP, but Prince is a very good batsman (I know you don't like him) and it's a pity that there is no place in the team for him.

A couple of the aussie commentators have suggested dropped Neil Mc and having Amla open, but this is just a stupid idea because Amla is so set at number 3 and it would be a waste to have him open.

It was the only option. I feel sorry for him but he can fight his way back into this team and from a team perspective this is a great position to be in. Only reason I never liked him is because I didn't think he deserved his postion in the team, he has proven me well wrong in the last 2 years.

Prince was in great form before he got hurt in the nets too wasn't he?

Ah the spoils! You cunts!

Yeah Prince proved everyone wrong over the last couple of seasons really. I used to think he was rubbish too. There are a few players who take a while to get settled I suppose, and if they're lucky enough to have selectors stick with them they can improve the way Prince has.

That said, they can't go dropping people out of a winning team. They've got the wood over the Aussies at the moment. I just don't think the Aussies have the attack to be able to take a game off the you fellas.

Look for a big series from Hussey, and maybe Punter, too though.



gc.

So the warmup game is underway and the Aus bowlers got belted. Thats 395/5 at stumps on day one ... dropped catches and just loose bowling from all reports that I read. Can't prepare for a Test like this ...

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/rsavaus2009/engine/current/match/350471.html

yeah, McGain is apparently bowling rubbish.

I read a quote from Kepler Wessels that basically said McGain was crap, but I also read a quote from Mikey Arthur saying he was pretty good. Based on his performance in the game, I'd say that Wessels was right and Arthur was just being nice, but I guess we'll have to wait for Cape Town (which is the only real spinning wicket in RSA)

In other news, check out this catch



Amazing anticipation

That catch is all sorts of awesome!

I believe that's illegal isn't it? Don't fielders have to remain in position once the bowler starts running in (bar walking in towards the wicket)?

Especially in this case... two fielders behind square only...

He went about 4 metres to make that-is that kosher?!

Did anyone catch Piggy Styris' ripper in the State T20?

Yeah, I didn't think of that at all but I suspect you're right

Didn't move before the bowler delivered the ball. Perfectly legal.



gc.

wow never seen anything like it

He only makes significant movement after the ball has reached the striker. You can move as much as you want before after the ball reaches the striker.

and the two men behind square only applies at the point of the delivery.

the rule says no significant movement between ball being released and ball reaching the striker.

The rules does say that and from the picture below I will say that it was illegal. Thats more than significant movement. Also nothing spectacular ... I would think that anyone world class fielder should be able to anticipate something like that.



Look at how far he moved before the ball even reached the batsman.

I caught a mutch better ball with my face on Tuesday night!

That'd be a shame if it is actually illegal because it's some superb anticipation!

Well, i think it's slightly debatable whether it's illegal or not, although, from reaction's freeze frame it does look like it should be not-out

The aim of the law is really to prevent distracting the batsman. Wicket-keepers and outfielders are allowed to take a few paces towards the striker. Close-in fielders are not allowed any significant movement.

I guess if you really wanted to, you could argue that 1st slip doesn't really count as a close-in fielder and that the term should be reserved to short-leg, silly-point, silly mid-on/mid-off, short cover, short mid-wicket etc etc, but not fielders outside the batsman's field of view. I don't know if you'd get very far though.

I think it just shows that jaapies are filthy cheats who will do anything to gain an advantage. Neil Adcock anybody?

I think the law is more about allowing the batsman to place the ball where he knows there are no fielders, which requires a lot of skill... if you start to punish batsmen for that, you take some skill out of the game.. mind you, I'd hardly expect an international umpire to call that (based on the general standard of umpiring these days)

great catch, altho not quite as good as it looks, since he anticipated the shot...

Heh, so it seems the Proteas may have a new leg spinner available for selection very soon. Pretty deace first class record:

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/40618.html


http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/cricket/proteas-unmask-their-warnie/2009/02/18/1234632894079.html

whats the deal with coverage for this series? See nothing on sky, needs more petition for cricket channel imo.

I cant believe people would be asking for Kallis to be dropped to get Prince back in that team ... wtf are they smoking back home?

great start. 3 down already.

on the aussie selection.. Only 3 frontline bowlers for australia? hmmm, interesting move. really backing the two all-rounders to perform.

fuck that hurts!

i cant believe this is'nt on sky
right now (12:01am)
Accenture matchplay champs.
World of Golf
Eurosportsnews
Cricket Highlights(ok, sky highlights)
Champions league replay.

Punter dropped too. That could hurt.

FUCK.SKY.TV.



gc.

just hit up cric7.com guys

I'm managing to get an OK stream from here with OOX installed:

http://rsa-aus.blogspot.com/2009/02/link-2.html

yeh got that but want clear big screen shizzle heh. Oooooh billie

it's also on at the pub down the road from my house. And they have lingerie waitresses there on a Thursday.

the look on ponting's face. he was like wtf!

good start. ordinary finish

Pretty decent recovery from the Aussies really, should post a pretty competitive total from here.

Sky is taking the piss innit? That stream is good but it's bandwidth rapage.

I dunno how you guys watch that streaming steez or am I not doing something right cos I can barely make out the ball...esp once it leaves the bat, makes watching kinda pointless

Yeah, I just listen to radio and keep cricinfo on.

Have just seen the highlights of day 1 and the highlights for me were McKenzie's pearler in the gully and Ntini's massive inswinger to get rid of Ponting (where the hell did that come from?).

Lowlights: dropping Ponting and letting Australia run away with things towards the end of play.

All even after day 1 and everything to play for

Let's hope more people make it to the Wanderers over the weekend (apparently 95,000 tix have been sold already for the 5 days but the ground looked pretty desolate yesterday).

Australia in control.

2-2 :o

Wow, what a test match so far.

Once again the Proteas showing they will never give up, and the Aussies showing they have a genuine problem in closing teams out.

276 runs or 8 wickets required for a win -- should be an EPIC day of cricket.

In other news, Sarwan gets 291 and the West Indies push on through to 700/7! Ramdin is on 136 and Jerome Taylor notches up his second half century.

Yeah 2 prett crazy tests. Not sure why the Windies are batting on TBH - they should declare now and have a crack at the English top order.

Anyway this Aus/Saffa test is a real cracker... Very disappointed it's not on the box. I'd have thought it has to be done by the top 6 - it'll be very hard for the lower order to keep Australia out if they get a look in towards the end.



gc.

What are people's thoughts on the referral system?

There's some top quality cricket going on at the moment. This Aus vs SA test is a cracker, the Windies lead by Sarwan are taking over the English, and Younus made scoring 300+ look easy, after two double centuries in the previous innings from two Sri Lankans.

Except, at least in England, these impressive displays of ability in what is still _the_ best form of the game are being overshadowed by controversy & opinions relating to the referral system.

Darryl Harper (fat controversial git that he is) gave 4 referrals to England in the Windies' last innings. There's a good dissection of it here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article5822395.ece

"All five West Indies wickets have fallen to debatable lbw decisions."

For me it conjures up images of fielders crowding around the bat in silly mid-off/point/mid-on positions, while barely-international-class spinners like Graeme Swann bowl pies, waiting for a potential LBW appeal and then referring it straight to the third umpire when it's turned down. This slows down the flow of the game and takes away the focus from the game.

I think they should stop using it for LBW, at least for now... they need to think about the rules a bit more... the whole "benefit of the doubt to the batsmen" gets clouded by the referral system.

The problem they have is they can't really trial it anywhere, since Hawkeye isn't available in a lot of first class games...

As for this match, SA have a lot of work to do to save it now... choked yet again?

choke lol mutant

you really hate the proteas don't you ...

what makes you say that?

if they lose this series, it'll be a choke in my book.. they want to be #1, they're playing at home, Aus is no better than they have been... it's there for the taking

I think they should cut down the referrals to 1. Then it would get rid of all the speculative referrals. The ones where the captain thinks "that looks kinda close, might just refer it and see of the third umpire comes up with some weird call".

I think it should just be there to fix the really bad mistakes. Perhaps for LBWs it could only be to check if the batsmen hit the ball first and maybe to check if it pitched outside leg.

1 is too few, 3 was too many. 2 is the right number I think...

Fuck you can talk some shit, Mutant.

hey it's cool... i know you're hurting... just let it out man... let it all out...

Would you fuck off already. Choke? get fucked ... losing a game does not = choking. SA bowlers was shit in the first inning and Aus got a good part of 200 more runs than what they needed.

This series is far from over SA will come back harder and much better in the next 2 and take it out.

As for the referal system Im in two minds. Some shoking calls again in this test series and if not for the referals it could have been completely differant result. It just seems like our umpiring is so much worse than what it use to be ...

yeah, it's pretty fucked when the third umpire gets it's wrong.

I think they should scrap the referels systems and the on field umpire should be able to refer more stuff such as pitching inline for LBWs and checking hotspot for knicks.


Because, realistically, a player that asks for a referral is really in no better position to judge whether something is out than the umpire originally was.

While I agree that system would make more sense, it's not without its disadvantages too. Just look at the NRL and how rarely a try is awarded by the referee himself.

I wouldn't call attempting the biggest 4th innings run chase in history a choke.

2 per innings whether they're successful or unsuccessful.

Great test, was fucking hard work last night finding a good stream though . No way it was a choke, a massive chase and a rejuvinated Australia, who bowled the best they have for a while.

Re refferal system, imo its creating just as many problems as without, flag it completely, and just give umpires the option of choosing a third umpire desicion on tight LBW's and catches.

Yep, agree the onus should be on the umpires, not the players to make the referrals on decisions not already covered by the third umpire under the current rules.

Big LOL @ the choking jibe...pretty sure Mutant is just winding yous up, prob cos the safas are totally conspicuous by their absence in these threads when things are going wrong, but there sure is a lot of pronking going on when they are winning. Kinda opposite to NZ fans who seem to love ripping shit outta their own team and give scant reward for wins, invariably complaining after said wins about minor batting collapses or failure to put teams away or w/e. safas wont stand for critisism from impartial observers (ie US) , let alone do it themselves

You have to think this thrashing at home from a pretty average Aussie line up/esp bowling attack ......raises some pretty serious questions abouts SA's supposedly comprehensively taking over the number one mantle/having the goods over aussie ....which is what we have been hearing a lot of.

I dont think this SA team has a lot of improving to do either, as many of their players are at their peak. I dunno, hard to read too muich into it without seeing a single ball bowled but the scorecard sure aint pretty...next few games will tell us more I suppose

Uhmm most of us went away for the weekend you imbecile.

And fuck me you talk a lot of shit

I know YOU *most of us wtf* went away...imbecile, but since when do you not have access to internet 24/7 anywhere on the glove via your clever phone/watch/w-e anyways


and btw Saffas quietness in the rough times vs their pronking in the good times has been obvious around here for like....5 years

Everything else about my post was spot on, and I stole most of it from Mark Richardson (legend) on Radio Sport this morning, so it must be true... so wasya?

I think they were just a little rusty having not played in a while. This is especially true for smith who only played a couple of 20/20 since Jan. They just need more time in the middle. I think they'll do fine from here, although I don't think they'll be able to win the series. Durban will be a draw and they'll win cape town. 1-1 will be the final result.

To all those feeling aggrieved by lack of coverage, file a complaint here:

http://skytv.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/skytv.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php

Emailed them already. Still cant believe they are not showing anything ... not even a hour highlights clip ... nothing! fuck ...!!!!

'Thank you for your email.

We would have loved to have been able to bring this tour to our customers, however in the present economic climate our budgets do not always allow us to purchase the rights to all the sporting events we would like to transmit. As most sporting rights are purchased in US dollars we have been restricted by the weakening NZ dollar.

However we are pleased to advise that we have purchased the rights to the Ashes Tour later this year, and we hope you have and will continue to enjoy the cricket we have been able to screen.'

Grrrr that's such fucking bullshit. So basically they're too cheap!? As Reaction says at least a highglights package!?

And why would the SA v Au test series from SOUTH AFRICA be sold in US dollars? Ridiculous.



gc.

My email:

I am writing to express my great disappointment at the lack of coverage of the current test match cricket series between the TWO BEST RANKED TEAMS IN THE WORLD.

I understand that this is probably a financial decision on behalf of Skytv, but to me it just seems like we're being ripped off and that the people at your end have missed a trick. If Australia lose this test series it will be the first time in years that they will be knocked off their perch at #1, and you guys are too CHEAP to even give your PAYING CUSTOMERS a highlights package?

Appalling.

FUCKERS!



gc.

Most stuff in SA is done in $US, especially luxury items, so I expect all bigger business is done in $US too. The Rand is a volatile POS.

Sky over here has pretty much every series played between the top 8 sides... ok, so it's a much bigger market, but still..

But still what?

but still it shows sky nz sucks (?)

I agree that in the first innings we were rusty and it showed. Got ontop of them and then let it go. Will be good to know why you think Durban will be a draw because I think you are making an uneducated guess. Durban has been known as a ground where games are won and lost and very few drawn in the last 10 odd years.

We will win in Durban.

because it's gonna rain. The weather reports were looking pretty grim.

although, looking at the reports now, the weather seems to have cleared up. Rain expected tomorrow, but then it should be find for the rest of the test. Typical Durban, humid as fuck weather though.

Not the start we wanted.

bloody hell, why can't australia suck

Not the start we wanted but fuck he is batting well I love it!

Dropped again ... fuck that! If you drop catches you might as well loose the game. The worlds best team does not do this ... its cost us the first test and will cost us another on here.

We didn't drop anything in Aus ... (except for Ponting once)

Collapse plz, Australia.

\

KATICH, KATICH!!!

also dropped Clarke in the final test

and a few others

184 before the first wicket fell

then lost all the rest for 168

great come back.

but the ball is swinging, so it's gonna be a difficult start for south africa. So i'll guess we'll have to see.

I wasn't wrong on that.

Kallis and Smith out injured.

Smith broken finger and Kallis suspected broken jaw! we need some fight here from the boys.

not happy lads! this is not the SA that went to Aus.

Also giving some credit to Aus they are playing really well.

are they? serious question as none of us are actually watching ...and the Aussie line up is so rookie is not even funny.

Another very bad day for the Proteas and another trashing looks likely.

Now what?

Forget about SA being Number one.... what the hell are they doing? Their win in Aussie is looking more and more like a complete fluke (remembering the nature of the results)...kinda like when NZ beat Aus 3-0 in the Chap/Hadlee ODI's b4 the last worldcup

Marvellous, stirring results

Later proved to be complete flukes as Aussie won the WC in a canter and NZ failed to impress. idk

I think it all points to India having a reasonable claim to the #1 spot.. a shame I don't think they're playing SA anytime soon.

We played them less than a year ago with the same lineup as what they have now at home and went 1-1. So yeah ...

I think what it really points to is that Aus dominating the world of cricket is over and that between the 3 top countries we can expect some cracking cricket over the next 5-10years with all the new guys coming thought. Something Im not sad about at all.

The lack of Smiths presance in this series has been very obvious even though he did play. Its says something about his leadership ...

Prediction.

Aus will go hard to get past 600+ and dec. Given themselves at least 5 sessions to have a go at SA. Kallis to score his maiden double ... perhaps a tripple Its his time to step up and take the lead!

Well intersting ...

Ill take 9 x 63odd runs partnerships

2 More wickets and it's game over my friend.



gc.

These 2 need to bat the whole first session to have any chance.

Would love your kallis double hundred prediction to come true re-action :>

Kallis will never score a double century.

:>

gc.

Does Kallis have a domestic double?

yes, he does.

just the one though and it's exactly 200

heh


htf someone can average 60-ish in tests and have exactly 1 score of 200 I have no idea. his head is obv broken somehow

Given he threw toys about getting dumped that time ...Wouldnt it be occuring to him to retire after the current series in light of calls back in SA to dump him for Prince? How old is he anyway? Seems like he's been around his yous came back into interational cricket

Dropping the best batsmen to have ever walked onto a cricket pitch? what are making a TUI add?

Are you freaking high on crack? There are no from anybody that matters to drop him. Neil Mac will likely get the boot after this series (this game even). Replacing an all-rounder (remember he's taken over 500 international wickets) for a specialist batsman doesn't even make sense

People forget he the fact that he is an all-rounder and very much part of the SA bowling attack.

1 week ago

whats your point?