2nd Test :: RSA vs AUS at Kingsmead, Durban - 6-10 March - Phil Hughes 115 and 160.

[Goey Man]

You are forgetting the fact that it is forecast to rain for at least part of the day for the next 5 days in Durban. We could easily see the remaining 8 1/2 sessions reduced to 4-5 instead.

If that happens, we will likely not have the time for a victory. Knowing this, and knowing how our bowlers have been ripping through them, we should have simply gone for the innings victory.

That's a BIG if Danish re the weather. That's the gamble Ponting is prepared
to make. Batting conditions will only get worse, and not enforcing the follow on as Ponting did in Joburg is the right move IMO.

 

[HevyDevy]

There was only 1 possible way for us not to win this test match, and that was by batting again. Soaking up time batting is just a pointless exercise and shows that ponting is still too scared to go after a big victory.

We are likely to still win this test match anyway, its pretty much impossible to lose from here, but inspite of the victory Ponting is still shown to be a weak captain

Sorry Danish but I don't think enforcing the follow-on was even an option.

As far as I'm concerned batting again on this wicket with 3 days remaining is probably the easiest decision Ponting has ever had to make.

 

[aussies1st]

I see Hughes tried to play another one of those crazy cut shots that go him out in the first test so that wasn't down to nerves but rather poor execution and he didn't have luck on his side.

Steady start by us hopefully Ponting doesn't throw his wicket away.

 

[Bazal]

4 seamers is a hopelessly negative tactic.

Bollinger didn't show more than McDonald as a bowler in Sydney and McDonald has improved further to show he i a genuine 4th bowler, but a different option.

He has been very successful, contributed when it counts, and balanced the attack more than it has been for ages.

When we get a spinner who deserves a place he will take McDonald's spot. But Haurie and Krezja haven't deserved a spot. McGain iscoming back from injury and his pre-Test form didn't deserve a spot.

Anyone criticizing his selection is trying to justify their pre-match opinion now it has been proven wrong. Should hear from Hevy Devy any time soon.

4 seamers a hopelessly negative tactic? What rubbish! This pitch and the conditions have been brilliant for seam and swing bowling throughout, as is usually the case in South Africa

As for McDonald supposedly proving himself...he's taken two tail enders and a bloke who was seeing triple after being clocked in the face at 145km/h...I'd hardly be lauding his "achievements", and I sure as hell wouldn't be calling him a genuine 4th bowler. As I said, if he's batting top 7 and the 5th bowler, he's worth the spot. If not, it's a wasted selection with 4 front line bowlers (including the best Shield bowler of the last 2-3 years) sitting in the sheds.

 

[HevyDevy]

4 seamers is a hopelessly negative tactic.

Bollinger didn't show more than McDonald as a bowler in Sydney and McDonald has improved further to show he i a genuine 4th bowler, but a different option.

He has been very successful, contributed when it counts, and balanced the attack more than it has been for ages.

When we get a spinner who deserves a place he will take McDonald's spot. But Haurie and Krezja haven't deserved a spot. McGain iscoming back from injury and his pre-Test form didn't deserve a spot.

Anyone criticizing his selection is trying to justify their pre-match opinion now it has been proven wrong. Should hear from Hevy Devy any time soon.

Indeed you will - congrats!

I've been impressed with McDonald with the ball, but his batting has been woeful.

And when Clark is fit he comes straight back in.

As for playing 4 quicks, it's not negative if they are your 4 best bowlers - when Clark comes back I'm starting to think that our bowling attack should be:

Johnson
Clark
Hilfy
Siddle/Lee (depending on whether Lee can regain form)

 

[Goey Man]

Johnson
Clark
Hilfy
Siddle/Lee (depending on whether Lee can regain form)

And 3 out of those 5 are more than handy with the willow in their hand as well as the leather.

 

[caylo]

Indeed you will - congrats!

I've been impressed with McDonald with the ball, but his batting has been woeful.

And when Clark is fit he comes straight back in.

As for playing 4 quicks, it's not negative if they are your 4 best bowlers - when Clark comes back I'm starting to think that our bowling attack should be:

Johnson
Clark
Hilfy
Siddle/Lee (depending on whether Lee can regain form)

Having North, Clarke and Katich to bowl the slow stuff, plus Lee, Johnson, Clark and Hilffy/Siddle would be the best option atm.

Comparing that to the SA attak of Styne, Ntini, Morkle, Kallis and Harris the australian attack would be just as good relay. Inform Lee, Clark and Johnson would be 3 of the best quicks in the world with Styne and Ntini.

Clarke, Katich and North have all shown they can be dangerous with the ball in hand. Both North and Katich can rip the ball, Clarke bowls similar to Harris, not as much spin (more than Haurie thou) but uses changes of pace.

For the last seamer option, Siddle would be leading. Hits the deck hard, and extracts alot of variable bounce. Hilffy does have the ability to swing the ball more than Siddle, and does so at 140km, while bollinger could also be considered as he to swings the ball just as much.

Before the Warnie era, Australia were always very pace oriantated, and I think we may see that again.

 

[Bigfella]

4 seamers a hopelessly negative tactic? What rubbish! This pitch and the conditions have been brilliant for seam and swing bowling throughout, as is usually the case in South Africa

As for McDonald supposedly proving himself...he's taken two tail enders and a bloke who was seeing triple after being clocked in the face at 145km/h...I'd hardly be lauding his "achievements", and I sure as hell wouldn't be calling him a genuine 4th bowler. As I said, if he's batting top 7 and the 5th bowler, he's worth the spot. If not, it's a wasted selection with 4 front line bowlers (including the best Shield bowler of the last 2-3 years) sitting in the sheds.

That old line again eh? Only gets tail enders ... Thought you'd embarrassed yourself enough with that last summer.

He's bowled very well, and our attack has been much improved in the 3 tests he has played so far.

If conditions suit, he's a good 4th bowling option and he has been so far.

Anyone pretending otherwise is talking out of pure prejudice.

 

[Bazal]

That old line again eh? Only gets tail enders ... Thought you'd embarrassed yourself enough with that last summer.

He's bowled very well, and our attack has been much improved in the 3 tests he has played so far.

If conditions suit, he's a good 4th bowling option and he has been so far.

Anyone pretending otherwise is talking out of pure prejudice.

You know you're talking sh*t when you start putting words in people's mouths...:lol:

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

For those saying not following on was the right decision.... how exactly do you think SA were even going to be able to make us bat again??

They had to get almost 100 runs more than they managed in the first innings just to stay in the game. They would not have got close.

A crushing victory by an innings to clench the series and enforce our no.1 test nation position was what was needed. Spending a day and a half batting and giving the south africans the chance to try and bat out 4-5 innings to tie the game is quite possibly Ponting's most gutless decision to date.

Have some f**king balls and go for the throat

He will look like a clown if we lose a fair portion of play through rain on days 4 and 5 when it could have been over today.. This was the time to take the initiative.. SA are on the ropes and the opportunity was there with our fast bowlers tails up to finish them off.

 

[El Diablo]

commentators making excuses

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

That's a BIG if Danish re the weather. That's the gamble Ponting is prepared
to make. Batting conditions will only get worse, and not enforcing the follow on as Ponting did in Joburg is the right move IMO.

So if the conditions were only getting worse, then you should have confidence Australia would be able to roll SA for under the 360 runs it would require them to leave Australia with a chase of about 150.. and if indeed SA did get 360, then it would indicate that batting conditions were not that bad afterall.

 

[IanG]

Is it Redbull or just Red Drink that Makayha Ntini is on?

 

[ElectricEelMan]

He will look like a clown if we lose a fair portion of play through rain on days 4 and 5 when it could have been over today.. This was the time to take the initiative.. SA are on the ropes and the opportunity was there with our fast bowlers tails up to finish them off.

He would look more a clown if South Africa scored 400 and then bowled out Australia in the 2nd innings to win

By not enforcing the follow-on he is giving the team the best chance of victory

 

[ElectricEelMan]

So if the conditions were only getting worse, then you should have confidence Australia would be able to roll SA for under the 360 runs it would require them to leave Australia with a chase of about 150.. and if indeed SA did get 360, then it would indicate that batting conditions were not that bad afterall.

Conditions will not be conducive to batting on day 5

Australia are looking good in this inning and who's to say South Africa wouldn't have batted better in their 2nd inning and scored 400. They have batted better in all their recent 2nd innings against Australia.

 

[Goey Man]

Conditions will not be conducive to batting on day 5

Australia are looking good in this inning and who's to say South Africa wouldn't have batted better in their 2nd inning and scored 400. They seem to bat better in the 2nd innings in all their recent tests against Australia.

Bullseye!! Cockadoodledoo that's what I've been trying to tell you for the last couple of pages

 

[Pete Cash]

Just as a note to anyone who is sick of that idiot Cullinan bagging out Hughes (which he has done for two tests none stop) then here is an interesting fact.

Cullinan against Australia averaged a terrible 12 (only 4 in Australia) and scored only 153 runs from 7 tests. Hughes has scored more runs in this game alone against South Africa.

 

[Goey Man]

Just as a note to anyone who is sick of that idiot Cullinan bagging out Hughes (which he has done for two tests none stop) then here is an interesting fact.

Cullinan against Australia averaged a terrible 12 (only 4 in Australia) and scored only 153 runs from 7 tests. Hughes has scored more runs in this game alone against South Africa.

:lol::lol::lol:. You've got to love Adam Parore's sledge to Cullinan "Bowled Warnie" to the first ball the faced from Chris Harris.

 

[Jobdog]

Apologies if it's already been mentioned, but is it low tide in South Africa? :crazy:

 

[IanG]

It's obviously not a road in Durban. If it was the South Africa would've made sh*tloads of runs as well.

Mind you Australia had a collapse as well.