Sth Africa A v Australians at Potchefstroom Nov 1-4, 2011

[yappy]

Whats the point of picking a player in a test squad if they had no intention in playing him in any matches?

Don't get me wrong I think Cummins being selected in the test squad is a joke.

So instead of being back in Australia and playing Sheild cricket so he can fullfil this 'potential' of his, he is in South Africa not playing cricket.

Now that they havn't played him in the Tour Match they almost have to play him in the 1st Test. Otherwise all they are doing is not giving him a chance to play proper cricket. He won't progress into a top class Test bowler by playing nothing but ODI and Giggle cricket.

Michael Beer was selected in the Test Squad was he not? He is playing Sheild cricket as we speak. If they had no intention of giving Pat Cummins game time then surely he would be back with NSW right now.

Agree with all of that, but you've forgotten about who picked the squad.

Cummins is a great talent but we simply aren't going that bad that we should be bringing an 18 year old kid with 9 wickets @45 into the team. No way will Clarke (and even with Invers in place he'll be making the call) play Cummins in front of the other 4 quicks he has at his disposal. That's why he didn't play Cummins in this game. He's played the test side bar Harris and the quicks are going head to head to take two (probably 1 with MJ pretty close to a lock) spots. Lyon will play and Beer is only there as a back up and because to not select him Hilditch would have conceded he never should have been picked in the first place.

 

[Gas Panic!]

I do get the feeling that in Michael Beer's case it was a 'let him down gently' and 'show the punters we made a good choice' kind of scenario. Pick him in the squad for SA, but leave him at home for some much-needed Shield bowling.

Unless he takes a motza in the Shield in the meantime, then there will be no case to pick him for the next away squad.

I don't see any real issue with picking Cummins to be there now .. but depending on the timings of the upcoming NSW matches, he should be released as soon as the squad for the 2nd test is named to come home and bowl some overs here. Then we've given him some experience in and around the squad, and given him the opportunity to bowl.

Then why not make him 13th man for the home tests when NSW aren't playing. We pick random kids to field for us as it is, so we may as well make him the travelling twelfthy when the NSW schedule permits.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Mediocre spinners get savaged in SA.

Just like that Victorian nuffy you all fapped yourselves over down there :lol:

 

[aussies1st]

Waste of time keeping Cummins there, what we did with Mitch Marsh was perfect (although could have played another game). What more experience can he get which he didn't from the ODI side? He's been with a number of the Test players already, trained and played against an International side, really don't see how much more experience he can get sitting in the sheds serving the drinks.

 

[TheParraboy]

Waste of time keeping Cummins there, what we did with Mitch Marsh was perfect (although could have played another game). What more experience can he get which he didn't from the ODI side? He's been with a number of the Test players already, trained and played against an International side, really don't see how much more experience he can get sitting in the sheds serving the drinks.

so,

Do we add Dougy instead of Cummins and make him sit throught the tests, or do we just send a 12 man party?

 

[beads6]

Clarke and Marsh gone, 5/164

 

[aussies1st]

so,

Do we add Dougy instead of Cummins and make him sit throught the tests, or do we just send a 12 man party?

Dougie for sure.

 

[aussies1st]

Usual story with our batting then. Add that to the list of hoping comes good.

 

[TheParraboy]

 

[Hallatia]

Australians all out for 236. Huss unbeaten 41.
Australia lead by 53 runs.

Nice (for me) to see all the SAfrican bowlers taking wickets.

if I wasn't so in love with Morkel, I would have a crush on Vernon Philander, took a shining to him earlier in the year and I rate him as a talent people seem to think SAfrica is lacking. Clearly I'm not the only one he's been impressing because he made his way into the test squad too. I doubt he'll get a game, but nice to see him in the squad (even though I'd rather it be Rusty than him).

 

[Hallatia]

2 early strikes for Johnson, Into the third over now and SAfrica A are 2 down for 0 runs.

 

[Gidley Up]

10.1 Siddle to Petersen, FOUR, short and straight, pulled away through the vacant mid-wicket area

10.2 Siddle to Petersen, FOUR, short and outside off, this time smashed past backward point.

10.3 Siddle to Petersen, no run, no shot offered

10.4 Siddle to Petersen, FOUR, short and wide again , smashed trhough the covers off the backfoot

10.5 Siddle to Petersen, FOUR, straight this time, pulled away to the long leg fence to bring up the team 50 as well as the fifty partnership

10.6 Siddle to Petersen, no run

 

[Hallatia]

He had to make up for the 3 for 16 he took in the first innings.
What better way than by conceding 16 in a single over?

 

[aussies1st]

Here we go again, Johnson and Siddle back to their old ways again.

 

[beads6]

We could have rolled them had Punter not dropped Pieterson on 9.... Oh well that's cricket.

 

[caylo]

I don't see Siddle/Cummings, Harris and Johnson working in the one team. I think the team needs Copeland to provide that short of a length outside off stuff.

Siddle is only dangerous when he pitches it up but he can be expensive and if he isnt full he is to short, for some reason he struggles to find that middle ground and generally only gets movement when his full. Copeland hasn't had a great match but on a bouncy pitch siddle will always be more dangerous, Copeland gets movement regularly and will probably work well with Harris and Johnson (more aggressive). While I am still unsure about Copelands ability at test level I think he needs at least 5-10 test before we can judge him!

For Durban I would have to go with Copeland, Johnson and Harris (would still prefer doug there instead of Johnson). Lyon v Siddle for the last spot but with Watson in the team I don't see the point of having 5 quicks. Would like to See Watson move to 4 with Marsh opening and Punter to 3 just to allow him to bowl more, his ability to move the ball will be dangerous in Durban.

 

[aussies1st]

The worry from this current match is Copeland has been conceding just as much runs as Siddle/Johnson.

 

[beads6]

Going by the commentary Hughes is struggling a bit.