2nd Test: South Africa v Australia at Port Elizabeth Feb 20-24, 2014

[TheParraboy]

You don't become the best team in the world without showing a bit of fight, would be very cautious about any chicken counting regarding the next test match. They had a shit match but AB De Villiers form was scary and Amla was showing signs of his best in the second innings. Dangerous side.

Got some confidence in the way the Australians are playing at present but this is still a very dangerous Saffa side.

Very true

But with Lehmann and McDermott at the helm, they will drill it in how we need to keep on keeping on, and not let up.

You cold also argue SA under estimated us and will be more switched on next test. However if they get tonked again, then there is a big question mark over who is the better side, despite them looking far better on paper, especially the batting

 

[typicalfan]

Amla was lucky to survive the first ball.

 

[Twizzle]

McLaren out of the second test with concussion as he was admitted to hospital after Notch sconed him, according to Fox Sports News.

Also they had Thommo as guest on the Back Page last night, he credited Lillee with fixing Notch's action early last year, where as the Aussie coaching staff (cough lollies) just let him go to do his own thing.

No real surprise there.

 

[madunit]

Word is Watson won't play.

Loving it.

All those extra reviews

 

[TheParraboy]

"Now, let me remind you once again Wayne. If you get chosen to play in this 2nd test and by the mother of mercy we are on top, particularly as the game nears its end, you must choke. You must urge those around you to choke, its the South African way, we must choke. ok, now repeat back to me what I just said"

 

[jargan83]

Following up on Twizzle's post

Peter Siddle says spooking batsmen is one thing, causing concussion quite another.

Ryan McLaren was on Wednesday ruled out of the second Test in Port Elizabeth, where Australia can seal their first Test series win on foreign soil since downing the West Indies in April 2012.

McLaren was suffering from post-concussion syndrome, brought about by a brutal Mitchell Johnson bouncer that drew blood in the first Test at Centurion.

Siddle noted McLaren's ill-health didn't sit well with any of the Australian pacemen.
"On the field it's hard and aggressive, but when you see things like that happening it is a little bit disappointing," Siddle said.

"You don't want to hurt anyone in a way that they can't come up (for the next match).
"It's not as if you're trying to do it. At the time you're just obviously trying to build a bit of pressure and get a wicket."

Left-armer Wayne Parnell is expected to take McLaren's spot in the hosts' XI for the second Test that starts on Thursday.

"A couple of the netties (net bowlers) were left handed so it gave the boys a bit to look at there," Siddle said after training on Tuesday.

However, if South Africa selectors opt to shore up their batting order then left-hander Dean Elgar could come into contention.

Elgar made a pair on Test debut, against Australia in 2012 when Johnson twice dismissed him at the WACA.

Beanpole Morne Morkel suggested the squad had full faith in Elgar, who was 12th man for the first Test and dropped a catch provided by David Warner when the eventual centurion was on 26.

"Dean is like a Staffy. He's tough as nails. I'm sure if he gets the nod he'll be more than capable of doing the job," he said.

"It's a tricky question (who replaces McLaren)."

The Proteas are expected to retain spinner Robin Peterson, who was largely unthreatening in the first Test.

Morkel described Johnson's short ball to McLaren as part of part of the reason cricketers love the sport.

"Spectators also love that sort of bodyline action in Test matches," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-19/siddle-feels-for-felled-mclaren/5268504

 

[Hutty1986]

SA will hit back hard this test. Really hope our batsmen can put up dome good scores, it would be brilliant to wrap up the series here

 

[Mr Angry]

PORT ELIZABETH So green and furry is the pitch at Port Elizabeth that it even has its curator scared.
But it's unlikely to stay unshaven for much longer, with groundsman Adrian Carter admitting he's awaiting instructions from the South African camp to "see what they want" ahead of their second Test against Australia on Thursday.
The strip at St George's Park had a thick covering of grass when both teams arrived on Tuesday for their first training session in Port Elizabeth.
Carter told ESPNcricinfo he'd like to "give it a cut" but not before speaking to Proteas coach Russell Domingo and captain Graeme Smith.
"That pitch scares me at the moment," Carter said.
"If it was left like this, I'd be sceptical even for the franchise game because I think there would be a lot of assistance for the seamers.
"It's very furry and it's green.
"I have had a phone call from the South African camp and I'll talk to them again and see what they want.
"There's a lot of experience in (assistant coach) Adrian Birrell and Russell - between them they've coached here for over 10 years - so they know St George's as well as anyone."
It's understood the Proteas were disappointed with the bouncy Centurion surface for the first Test, which Mitchell Johnson took advantage of to claim career-best match figures of 12-127 and guide Australia to a 281-run victory.
Carter said that even with the grass covering, St George's would never behave like Centurion.
"This pitch has been slow for 114 years. I can't get it quicker," he added.
If South Africa are defeated in this week's clash at Port Elizabeth, it will be their first Test series loss since 2009.

LINK

We have a Mitch.

 

[bazza]

I have had a phone call from the South African camp and I'll talk to them again and see what they want

Does the groundsman do this in Australia - or is it just overseas?

 

[Twizzle]

not to the extent they do it overseas, especially on the sub continent

most pitches in Australia have their own character and its generally left to the groundsman

 

[madunit]

and to be honest, St.George's has always played the same. It's as predictable in that it will always be a slow wicket favouring seamers, just like the WACA is bouncy and favours quicks.

Mitch will be even more lethal if he can stop scrambling the seam on the ball when he bowls.

A bit of swing will compensate for the lack of bounce.

Good wicket to field first on, the pitch will only favour batsmen as the game progresses.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Could be more suited to Ryan Harris

 

[Twizzle]

or even give Philander a chance to snag one

 

[madunit]

The pitch will be suited perfectly to Vermin Foodhandler

 

[typicalfan]

Won't suit Lyon.

 

[madunit]

barely any pitch does.

he'll still do his job well enough though

 

[oldmancraigy]

barely any pitch does.

he'll still do his job well enough though

Lead the singing of the team song?

Or is there another reason he gets picked??

 

[lockyno1]

Lead the singing of the team song?

Or is there another reason he gets picked??

Yes- over rates. You cannot have 4 quick bowlers and bowl 90 overs- your captain will get suspended and Clarke is already on 1 warning!

 

[Timbo]

And also, he's quite good.

But no wait lets get Muirhead over there because he bowls legspin.

 

[hineyrulz]

Lead the singing of the team song?

Or is there another reason he gets picked??

He picked up two crucial wickets in the first innings while keeping things tight, he will never be a match winner but he more than holds his own. Especially compared to the absolute pie thrower opposite him.