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

[Bazal]

LMAO pretty sure that was out, not that it matters at all

 

[speedster]

Of course there's a knick! LOL!

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Nice reviews earlier lulz

 

[speedster]

Well, suppose should be a good sport and give them their due.

Well done SA. Hamas sends their congratulations.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

The Golden Generation 95-05 wouldn’t have lost that. Or two BGT at home, or drawn two Ashes in England.
Capt Woke and his Dads Army will remain 2nd tier to them in perpetuity.

 

[TheParraboy]

cancels PRIME subscription..

 

[Bazal]

The Golden Generation 95-05 wouldn’t have lost that. Or two BGT at home, or drawn two Ashes in England.
Capt Woke and his Dads Army will remain 2nd tier to them in perpetuity.

The idea that the political views of the captain matter is farcical.

Our problems are in the way the game is run these days. Not who our captain donates to lol

 

[Marshall_magic]

Our batting was pathetic at the end of the day. And 2 of this top 7 are on their last legs before retirement and the whole attack could go rapidly too...there have to be serious concerns about the next WTC cycle IMO. We haven't bothered to set up the next opener(s) off the rank, the next captain, up and coming quicks, anything.

Bailey on paper is a good candidate for selector, because he's recent enough to be well across the Shield performances etc. But he's f**king terrible at the job in practice and should go.

I'd drop Marn for the Windies too and bring in Konstas, and Smith will be out so Inglis/McSweeney in. Probably McSweeney for me because we need a 3, and Inglis/Green/Head/Webster are not that. Pick Fergus O'Neill and rest one of the main three quicks on a rotating basis.

If there was another opener I'd rest Uzi to give them a go too.

Reminds me a lot of the 2007 squad, could be a slim run ahead as these guys are all on the way out with very little coming through. I think we win the upcoming ashes at home but like the 06/07 ashes I think it could be a final hurrah for a very good side.

A lot of the guys who we should be banking on taking the team forward are just not it. I think for the Ashes the 4 regular quicks just rotate throughout and probably all play 3-4 games each (Patty might play all 5). But we need to sort the opening slots out. I would personally go with McSweeney at 3 with Konstas and either Uzzy or Marnus. I’d lean towards Uzzy but let him know the Sydney test will be his last. If Marnus can have a good season in shield you look to bring him back in as the replacement, otherwise you bring a new opener in. Smith, Head and Webster round out the batting.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

The idea that the political views of the captain matter is farcical.

Our problems are in the way the game is run these days. Not who our captain donates to lol

Lol
I was stirring.
but
I’ll tell you where it’s going wrong - the silos of juniors being “prepped” by CNSW.
The concentration on BBL and not first class cricket.
The lack of developing future test stars for all bloody conditions.
The lack of tour prep or playing this without any warm up matches or run in period.
The woeful treatment of players like McSweeny or Konstas and the over reliance in out of form or past it players without refreshing the team.

 

[speedster]

Cheer up lads. Could be worse. We could have won the toss and chose to bat!

 

[JJ]

Three different world test champions, that's good - and two of them not among the "Big Three", that's good too...

Does seem like time to make a couple of changes in the top 6?

 

[BunniesMan]

Marnus needs time in 1st class cricket. For his own sake and the team.
Usman needs to retire. 1 century in 2 years. He should have been dropped before that ton. He just doesn't have the eye for quality bowling anymore. Father time is undefeated.

I would stick with the middle order. We need Smith and Head's experience, and we need to give Green a chance. Back him the way they backed Steve Waugh through a long teething period. And Webster has held his own.

It is the openers we need to change. Konstas is the obvious in. There is not much else knocking on the door in shield unfortunately. We don't have the long list of reserves averaging 50 like we used to. But they don't need to average anywhere close to that to be better than the incumbents.

 

[JJ]

Marnus needs time in 1st class cricket. For his own sake and the team.
Usman needs to retire. 1 century in 2 years. He should have been dropped before that ton. He just doesn't have the eye for quality bowling anymore. Father time is undefeated.

I would stick with the middle order. We need Smith and Head's experience, and we need to give Green a chance. Back him the way they backed Steve Waugh through a long teething period. And Webster has held his own.

It is the openers we need to change. Konstas is the obvious in. There is not much else knocking on the door in shield unfortunately. We don't have the long list of reserves averaging 50 like we used to. But they don't need to average anywhere close to that to be better than the incumbents.

openers are an obvious issue - Konstas should play properly though!!

#3 is a biggie - Smith clearly doesn't want to bat there, which personally I think is disappointing, Green is the future and should be allowed to settle further at 4/5 imo

 

[TheParraboy]

I’d say he won’t be the only one..

 

[TheParraboy]

Three different world test champions, that's good - and two of them not among the "Big Three", that's good too...

Does seem like time to make a couple of changes in the top 6?

Outside the big 3 you would hope it gives a shot in the arm for test cricket. Didn’t see much changes after NZ won it. (Happy to be corrected)

Not sure much changes for SA either, after the initial hype . Funding ain’t coming from mid air or one trophy

 

[Bazal]

View attachment 103147

I’d say he won’t be the only one..

I love watching Piers Morgan lose at life. Which he does just by being alive

 

[JJ]

Outside the big 3 you would hope it gives a shot in the arm for test cricket. Didn’t see much changes after NZ won it. (Happy to be corrected)

Not sure much changes for SA either, after the initial hype . Funding ain’t coming from mid air or one trophy

Nothing changes, but we had that, two World Cup finals one in which we were diabolically unlucky, a golden period for us… for you it probably would have been mildl dismay, but we have a smaller catchment than Sydney so do ok

 

[JJ]

View attachment 103147

I’d say he won’t be the only one..

Is it possible for him to be more insufferably arrogant and superior?

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I remember the excitement when South Africa were back for the 1992 WC and always was excited for those nineties series esp 93/94 and 97/98. That 1999 World Cup was sliding doors for us both. That golden Saffa period from 08/09 until 13/14 was also top notch. Of course 17/18 sandpaper was a blight but that last Aust/Saf series was so one sided I felt like SAf were going to almost die. But credit to them - they’ve rebuilt and now won the WTC. I think it’s a great shot in the arm and beating us is a good chest beating moment for them. At the end of the day, strong test teams and strong test cricket is what we want. Welcome to winners club lads. Can’t wait for our next series now.

 

[undertaker]

Besides the fact he took no wickets, Lyon's lack of variation (excluding the odd ball that stayed low) was on full display in the WTC final.

Furthermore, the trajectory of his deliveries was way too flat, evidenced by the consummate ease that the South African batsmen comfortably played him off the back foot. This aspect of Lyon's bowling would've given Warney the shits.