2025 WTC FINAL: Aust v SA @ Lords SOUTH AFRICA TEST CHAMPIONS

[Bazal]

Iron Man. What a fella

 

[Bazal]

Noooooo Haze!

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Possibly one of the best low order 50s I’ve ever seen - in the context of a game.

 

[yobbo84]

Ahh was hoping we'd get to a 300 lead. Outstanding effort from Starc and Haze though.

 

[speedster]

Pity but what a final partnership.

Please roll the clouds in over the lunch break. Ta.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

282 to win Saffas.

 

[dogslife]

Marnus will spend the entirety of the lunch break trying to convince Cummins to let him bowl his leggies because Markram picked up a couple bowling his pies

 

[Fangs]

Big lead. Very difficult chase against our attack.

They need David Miller or Lance Klusener to take the game away from us.

 

[undertaker]

This first half hour of play will go a long way in determining who takes the momentum going into the 4th innings: whether the Saffas can take these last two wickets cheaply, or if the tail of Starc/Lyon/Hazlewood wag.

If Starc/Lyon/Hazlewood can score at least another 32 more runs between themselves, I think that target of at least 250 will psychologically dent the Saffas. They would have to exorcise the demons of their past to chase down that total in a final.

Before day 3 commences, I feel the Aussies do have the upper hand given they've got runs on the board in a low-scoring, bowler-friendly test, with the ball seaming since start of day 1.

Well, with the target being 282, the Aussies will definitely take that. 32 runs more than 250 (which is the minimum they would've settled for at the start of day's play). Not just that, but they kept the Saffa bowlers going for another 25 overs

Without Smith/Webster's contributions in the first innings and Carey/Starc/Hazlewood's contributions with the bat in the second innings, this test would've been well and truly over by now.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Australia have serious questions to ask about the make up of their top 6 and their preparations for series.

With WI coming up, surely we use Konstas to open, work out the Webster/Inglis/Green positioning, farewell either Uzi or Marnus or both, and think if we start transitioning a bowler, ie Lyon for Kunneman?

 

[speedster]

Early wickets and there will be a sphincter alert in the Saffa dressers.

What were we, 6-66 last night and we end up over 200. Batting conditions have settled obviously. Unless ...

 

[undertaker]

A couple of early wickets after the lunch break and I can't see South Africa's batting lineup putting up the resistance that Carey/Starc/Hazlewood showed.

 

[Bazal]

282 sets up a great 4th innings in theory. It's enough to defend, well within reach of a good chase...the pitch has never been an issue, the overhead has cleared, but the SA batting is not as good as ours and we have the current best attack going.

 

[speedster]

Australia have serious questions to ask about the make up of their top 6 and their preparations for series.

With WI coming up, surely we use Konstas to open, work out the Webster/Inglis/Green positioning, farewell either Uzi or Marnus or both, and think if we start transitioning a bowler, ie Lyon for Kunneman?

Sam to open for sure and Marnus looks the likely sacrifice. But Green to 4 and Smith to 3 has to also be the play.

Would love to see Inglis in there somewhere but no room as yet. Can't tinker with the bowlers prematurely either for mine.

 

[undertaker]

Early wickets and there will be a sphincter alert in the Saffa dressers.

What were we, 6-66 last night and we end up over 200. Batting conditions have settled obviously. Unless ...

7/73 after Cummins got out (before the Carey-Starc partnership).

So, irrespective of whether or not today's batting conditions are better than yesterday's, to get to 207 after being 7/73 is an outstanding effort

 

[speedster]

7/73 after Cummins got out (before the Carey-Starc partnership).

So, irrespective of whether or not today's batting conditions are better than yesterday's, to get to 207 after being 7/73 is an outstanding effort

No question. Just hoping for Pommy clouds, clouds, clouds.

 

[Fangs]

Sam to open for sure and Marnus looks the likely sacrifice. But Green to 4 and Smith to 3 has to also be the play.

Would love to see Inglis in there somewhere but no room as yet. Can't tinker with the bowlers prematurely either for mine.

Khawaja the chop tbh. Love him. But even though Labs hasn't converted he also hasn't looked that bad. Uzzie has struggled big time.

Maybe just try Konstas at the top again and Labs back to 3. I liked Labs opener a while ago but felt a bit delayed? Should have tried it before we moved Smith there. We moved the wrong bloke IMO.

Pick our best top 3 for the Ashes now. Starting in the West Indies.

 

[Bazal]

Khawaja the chop tbh. Love him. But even though Labs hasn't converted he also hasn't looked that bad. Uzzie has struggled big time.

Maybe just try Konstas at the top again and Labs back to 3. I liked Labs opener a while ago but felt a bit delayed? Should have tried it before we moved Smith there. We moved the wrong bloke IMO.

Pick our best top 3 for the Ashes now. Starting in the West Indies.

IMO Uzi plays the Ashes, if for no other reason than we legit have no one else.

The only other option is we tell him thanks for your service son and pick someone like McSweeney along with Konstas in the West Indies and actually give them a run, Windies and Ashes at least. I don't like making McSweeney open when he's a 3 or 4, but the options are so slim...I suppose we could have Marnus open and McSweeney at 3. Still manufacturing an opener but maybe the better of the poor choices is to have the experienced Test bat take the hit.

Smith seems to have lost his nuts and won't bat 3. If he does, then that makes it a little easier. Green is not a 3, but if Smith bats 3 then Green can bat 4 and we can keep Webster at 6.

 

[dogslife]

Khawaja the chop tbh. Love him. But even though Labs hasn't converted he also hasn't looked that bad. Uzzie has struggled big time.

Maybe just try Konstas at the top again and Labs back to 3. I liked Labs opener a while ago but felt a bit delayed? Should have tried it before we moved Smith there. We moved the wrong bloke IMO.

Pick our best top 3 for the Ashes now. Starting in the West Indies.

Khawaja was an important piece at the top of the order when we had lunatic Warner at the other end.

But if anything, Khawaja has become more laborious since Warner retired.

 

[undertaker]

Khawaja was an important piece at the top of the order when we had lunatic Warner at the other end.

But if anything, Khawaja has become more laborious since Warner retired.

Khawaja batted in this test match like he was ready to move into a nursing home