2nd Test: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg Nov 17-21, 2011

[Red Bear]

lol Saffa's, forever in our shadow

Great win in this test match, I hope for our sakes it isnt like Saffa 2009 series and used to mask a variety of problems in the team. Ponting may survive due to injuries for the NZ series but his time is up, ditto Haddin and Johnson can piss off right now.

Likewise the expectations of Cummins need to be tempered, he has to be managed very carefully the next few years. There's also been a variety of cricketers who've had great debuts and struggled in the following series (Hughes, Southee probably recent examples).

Still, positive signs. I thought we were cooked once Hussey got out.

 

[Collingwood Storm]

Phase the senior players out now.

Haddin gone now, Ponting gone after last NZ test in Hobart and Hussey gone after India series.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Siddle should be the first one out

 

[aqua_duck]

How Shittle keeps getting back in the team is beyond me

 

[JW]

Siddle should be the first one out

Agreed, shouldn't even be given a second thought.

If he hasn't learned by now that he's only effective when he pitches the ball up and that bowling half-trackers doesn't make him tough, then he never will.

The dude thinks he's Curtly f**ken Ambrose.

 

[aussies1st]

Johnson should be close behind, will be a deadset joke if he can average 50 and 80 in the past two test series and still not be dropped.

 

[yappy]

Ponting saved australia from a massive collapse.

Clarke showed glimpses of stupidity in the field placings, particularly against lower order batsmen.

Hopefully he'll review thus performance more thoroughly and learn from his mistakes

Clarke's biggest mistake was giving Johnson and Siddle another chance to disappoint. Once he lost Watson he was essentially down to one wicket taking quick, an offie with 8 test wickets 6 of which came in his first game on a bunsen and part timers. I'm not surprised he went defensive under those circumstances.

If the only lesson he learns is to stop backing gumbies because they managed to jag a bag full once in a blue moon then the important lesson will have been learned.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Siddle should be the first one out

I haven't mentioned him in other posts coz I just assumed his arse was gone.

 

[yappy]

Siddle should be the first one out

Nah Johnson far and away the most overdue dropping in the side. Should have gone after the Ashes. The 2009 Ashes. It will be criminal if runs save his sorry arse. They go no where to making up for all the runs he's leaked over the years. If he wan't to be a batsman go back to WA and bat in the top 4. Seeing as the quality of competition there isn't too hot he might make a fist of it. I never want to see his name on a test team sheet ever again unless he becomes a naturalised Kiwi.

Ponting is also done. Thanks Rick for one last decent knock to help bag a win, but it's past time. Should have gone at the end of the Ashes.

Haddin gets more stick than he deserves, but Wade is too exciting a prospect to ignore. Bit of bad luck for Hadds that Gilly was around at the same time or he could have played many more tests and be remembered as one of our best keeper batsmen, but at 34 he's had a good run, now it's time for the next gen.

Only then do you get to Siddle (but you should get to him). Prick tease. Every time you think 'this dumb shit might have finally got it' he turns around and reverts to the hack he is deep down inside. Better bowlers have had far less chances. It's time to turn that around.

 

[Valheru]

This was a great advertisement for test cricket. Neither bat nor ball was on top for an extended amount of time.

I just wish there was a 3rd test in this series.

 

[madunit]

Clarke had 2 timid lower order batsmen, trying to survive short of a good length bowling outside off stump in saffers 2nd dig. They kept getting edges but clarke continued with 2 slips, no gully and no point.

It was Ponting like, but in reverse. Punter was reluctant to take slips out, clarke reluctant to bring them in.

 

[Twizzle]

Punter took slips out all the time, way to much for mine

I've seen him open the bowing with no slips, and he is generally down to 1 slip very quickly

my biggest criticism of Punter's captaincy is his way too defensive

 

[Hallatia]

lol @ SA

Hope Hala is ok? Maybe another essay is due?

Nah, I was pretty tense toward the end, started doing puzzles to calm my nerves and then went to bed after Cummins scored the winning runs.

I am pretty sad we lost, but we never deserved to win from that second innings performance, I sort of knew Australia would win when they were about 100 away, I still wanted someone to fire and take the last few wickets but it didn't look all too likely. Sad that Steyn didn't reach the 250 as well. But well done to Australia, did what was needed to win and in the end won comfortably. Australian tail has performed very well with the bat this series, I didn't think any of them would be a cheap wicket last night and that is a very good thing for the Australian side.

The only real bad thing from this for the Australian side is that despite looking shit with the bat in hand the whole time he was out there, Haddin finally scored some runs and will probably be retained.

I think the South African spin problem has become a bit of a headache again, because whilst it's great to have an attacking leggy, South Africa don't know how to use him (not in tests anyway) and he just felt like a risk any time he was brought on.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Tahir is a f**king nuffy.

 

[Twizzle]

he nearly had Cummins out, lucky call I thought

 

[matrightyeh]

cant believe we won this great effort guys

 

[beads6]

Great effort from our guys to get the win. Cummins certainly deserved MOM and it was superb that he hit the winning runs. Punter played a good knock but once again get out playing a rubbish shot. Haddin played a fine knock but still needs to go. Johnson batted well this test but who cares if he can;t take wickets he is no use to us. Siddle is a backup pace man at best.

 

[simmo1]

Tahir is a f**king nuffy.

Agree. One trick pony who is useless against top order bats who can pick his wrongun.

 

[Twizzle]

he does have a good wrongun but he telegraphs it, you can see the back of his hand if you're a switched on batsman

 

[African Monkey]

Punter took slips out all the time, way to much for mine

I've seen him open the bowing with no slips, and he is generally down to 1 slip very quickly

my biggest criticism of Punter's captaincy is his way too defensive

Exactly. All it took was 1 ball going to the boundary before he'd start spreading the field.