3rd Test: South Africa v Australia at Cape Town Mar 1-5, 2014

[JJ]

:lol::lol::lol: Not anymore they're not.

rankings say they are - haven't lost away for about 8 years, and first loss at home for 5... 2 series don't get you to #1... it's worked out (and rightly so) on a longer period...

Impressive by Australia though... Warner has emerged as a real quality test opener, and Ryan Harris is a terrific bowler

 

[JJ]

Apparently Oscar Pistorius isn't the only legless sportsman in South Africa ;-)

:lol:

 

[herbert henry1908]

Actually, I believe the boss of the old board was trying to get their Boxing Day / NYE tests happening.

But since the change, I believe the Saffas are interested in playing Aust Boxing Day / NYE again AND looking at 5 test series.

They played a boxing day & new years test at home this year v India.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Plenty of heat out there and I like the mongrel that Clarkie adds, although by his own admission he overstepped the mark.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-australia-2013-14/content/story/725687.html?CMP=chrome

I also like what Patto brings with his extra pace and ability to bowl reverse swing.

He would be disappointed with some of the crap that he bowled last night but he's underdone and will get better. Way too much short stuff, no point in setting a batsman up with the short stuff unless you have plan to pitch a few up which he didn't.

And Lyon ? dunno

I think we need to keep looking, Smiffy got more turn than him.

Why wouldn't smith get more turn than Lyon?

 

[Twizzle]

Why wouldn't smith get more turn than Lyon?

He did as you would expect with a wrist spinner.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

They played a boxing day & new years test at home this year v India.

Yes, but they didn't tour Australia this summer, did they?

Future tours, I believe South Africa agreed to going back to the later 3 tests, and possibly doing 5 tests. It was talked about at Xmas time in the papers when Australia played England and South Africa were playing India.

I'll try and find the links.

 

[Twizzle]

rankings say they are - haven't lost away for about 8 years, and first loss at home for 5... 2 series don't get you to #1... it's worked out (and rightly so) on a longer period...

Impressive by Australia though... Warner has emerged as a real quality test opener, and Ryan Harris is a terrific bowler

I tend to agree over the longer term as not so long back, say 15 months, we were shit. They should be ranked no 1.

That said we are the form team atm and its a shame the series didn't go over 5 tests.

It would have tested their depth as I dont think Steyne would have played the 4th test. Same could be said for Harry so perhaps Bananman would have played.

3 test series is a bit hit and miss for mine.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

So much un this test to be proud of.

If Harris doesn't bowl again, this is a great way to go out.

Ended AB De Villier's streak of 50's in tests too.

And so much for being #1. Philander bowls SIX overs in the 2nd innings. For the #1 bpwler in the world, that is f**king pitiful. Even Steyn with a ripped hammy threw down 3. South African commentator in ABC Radio was right...Vernon pulled a pride muscle.

I hope this series is released on DVD!

 

[JJ]

I tend to agree over the longer term as not so long back, say 15 months, we were shit. They should be ranked no 1.

That said we are the form team atm and its a shame the series didn't go over 5 tests.

It would have tested their depth as I dont think Steyne would have played the 4th test. Same could be said for Harry so perhaps Bananman would have played.

3 test series is a bit hit and miss for mine.

We only ever get 2 or 3...

When do you lot play each other again? I think their 8 seasons without losing a series away is pretty bloody good - it helps that they are old school in being hard to beat first... but in saying that, other good teams (India) can't win anything away, and even in your current form I think you'd get towelled in India...

Still, with the Poms in disarray, you and RSA are the only two teams that can currently have pretentions to playing well home and away

 

[man2iel_]

I tend to agree over the longer term as not so long back, say 15 months, we were shit. They should be ranked no 1.

That said we are the form team atm and its a shame the series didn't go over 5 tests.

It would have tested their depth as I dont think Steyne would have played the 4th test. Same could be said for Harry so perhaps Bananman would have played.

3 test series is a bit hit and miss for mine.

This. Well summed up and the sooner we have a five test series the better vs. SA.

It's all been said about this Test and the series with the two highlights being:

1. Mitch Johnson's continued form and
2. David Warner's coming of age as a Test batsmen.

I'd add the Clarke ton in the decider too which is in my opinion his best innings. There have been prettier, though this was a tough, tough, tough innings that we needed from our captain who was in a bit of lean spell prior to the knock.

 

[herbert henry1908]

He did as you would expect with a wrist spinner.

I don't get why you pointed it out is all.


Sounded like you were saying because Smith got more turn that somehow puts Lyons position in doubt.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Yes, but they didn't tour Australia this summer, did they?

Future tours, I believe South Africa agreed to going back to the later 3 tests, and possibly doing 5 tests. It was talked about at Xmas time in the papers when Australia played England and South Africa were playing India.

I'll try and find the links.

I hope you're right.

Playing Sri Lanka at Sydney &Melbourne last time was ridiculous.

 

[JJ]

And so much for being #1. Philander bowls SIX overs in the 2nd innings. For the #1 bpwler in the world, that is f**king pitiful. Even Steyn with a ripped hammy threw down 3. South African commentator in ABC Radio was right...Vernon pulled a pride muscle.

I hope this series is released on DVD!

Steyn's #1...

Philander is (and has been) a much better bowler than evident in this test series - for me, he's a lot like Ryan Harris - but he just wasn't doing anything right this series... mind you, Johnson aside non of the quicks had great figures, Steyn was next best and his weren't great for him... Harris improved his in the last test, but he's better than a 3-+ runs per wicket bowler, and his stats would have been much more like Philander, SIddle and Morkel's without the last 4 very cheap (run wise, not effort) wickets

 

[Rod]

Would it be fair to say that this is the most even test cricket has been in a while across all test playing nations?

Kind of ironic considering the planned tier system, for me with purely what's happening on the field the state of test cricket has never been so interesting.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I just tallied the amount of times the South African commentators mentioned 'Adelaide' in the 5th say broadcast.

172 times.

Guess Pup and his pack of dogs put that one to bed.

 

[Haffa]

Ryano was also playing with a hip flexor injury and a bung knee which is 4 days away from being operated on. He even said he could barely make it to the wicket on his run for the final day. What's Philander's excuse?

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I hope you're right.

Playing Sri Lanka at Sydney &Melbourne last time was ridiculous.

Yeah, fairly sure the previous Saffa cricket boss said they were going to do their own Boxing Day and NYE and snubbed the later 3 test tours in Australia.

But he's gone and the new boss was agreeable to the financial booty provided for playing the later 3 tests (including Boxing Day and NYE) in Australia, and was considering the 5 test tour.

If I find the links, I'll post them.

 

[JJ]

Would it be fair to say that this is the most even test cricket has been in a while across all test playing nations?

Kind of ironic considering the planned tier system, for me with purely what's happening on the field the state of test cricket has never been so interesting.

I think so, yes... the best team isn't that much better than the rest - they are certainly more consistent, but just got beaten, and one of the greatest cricketers ever has just retired along with their captain and best opening bat...

While there's no great team, many series will be competitive and home advantage often impt - but in the last year we've seen a lot of surprising results, and competitive series..

 

[Mr Angry]

Well.

du Plessis will be named captain.

They can build a team around.

4. De Villers
5. du Plessis

7. De c**k
8. Philander

10. Steyn

 

[hineyrulz]

Ryano was also playing with a hip flexor injury and a bung knee which is 4 days away from being operated on. He even said he could barely make it to the wicket on his run for the final day. What's Philander's excuse?

He's as weak as piss???

A real downhill skier if I ever saw one.