South Africa vs Australia first test Wednesday 9 November.

First topic message reminder :

so the first test is due to start in 3 days, South Africa however have not bowled a ball in anger during a test match since the 6th of Jan 2011. This should be their biggest concern when facing an Australian team who as recently as September have secured an away from home test series victory over Sri Lanka.

fortunately for the Proteas AB de Villiers should be back after he has been given the go ahead by his doctor to proceed.

Since Jan of 2010 Australia have played in 16 tests, winning 7, losing 6 and drawing 3 for series victories over Pakistan at home, New Zealand away and Sri Lanka away. They have however had one series draw against Pakistan in England, a loss to England at home during the Ashes and a India away from home.

South Africa have played 12 tests since Jan 2010, winning 5, losing 2 and drawing 5. They have secured nly one series win in that time over West Indies and secured series draws over England at home, India home and away, and Pakistan in Dubai.

The current worold batting and bowling rankings will mean little if they don't hit the bround running and I fear the lack of time in the middle may see them not starting too well. In an interview with Paul Harris he had the following to say.

“These three days are very important for us to get out any cobwebs that are there,” said Paul Harris. “The guys have played cricket which is important, albeit one-day cricket, and they got better and better as the series (ODI series against Australia) went on.

“I think we are starting to hit our straps and these three days are going to be very key to our preparation.”

“Imran (Tahir) is another attacking option in the side and he has deserved his call-up. He has done very well in the last 12 to 18 months, he deserves his chance,” said Harris.

“It will be nice to bowl with him, it will be great to have two spinners in South African conditions, hopefully we can manage to do that if the deck suits it,” he concluded.

Current batting rankings for SA players in the top 20.
1. Jacques Kallis
11. AB de Villiers
12. H Amla
13. GC Smith

Current batting rankings for OZ players in top 20.
6. MEK Hussey

Current bowling rankings for SA players in top 20.
1. Dale Steyn
4. Morne Morkel
20. Paul Harris

Current bowling rankings for OZ players in top 20.
8. MG Johnson
13. PM siddle

Newlands will be the venue for the first test and it is exactly 10 months since SA last played a test.

Mike Selig wrote:Tell you what, Clarke really deserves a lot of credit for this, not just for the way he batted, but the energy levels of this Aussie side are in a different league from what we saw during the ashes.

So much for some so-called experts who said he wasn't captaincy material...

Could'nt agree more, the experts and a lot of Aussie fans did not want him as captain.

You can say that again Mike. The enthusiasm and confidence is growing.

Wow... a non-contested run out. SA are throwing their wickets away now.

Linebreaker wrote:You can say that again Mike. The enthusiasm and confidence is growing.

Wow... a non-contested run out. SA are throwing their wickets away now.

lol LB. Thought we would see u on here once aussies started doing well

huh? I was on here yesterday before the rain came.

Your prediction looks silly now doesn't it?

SA avoid the follow-on

88-9, the chockers living up the tag.

activereactive wrote:88-9, the chockers living up the tag.

Ah, been waiting for that comment from some ignorant twerp. Perhaps a case of not being in the middle for ten months batting has more to do with it than your ignorant comment.

SA all out for 96, you can not blame the pitch for that, great bowling and poor batting. Watson's wicket to wicket bowling was superb.

Abject batting display from the Saffers - not wholly unexpected given their lack of cricket and preparation, but you'd have expected them to dig in a bit more than that. Totally unravelled by a medium pacer bowling wicket to wicket.

1-0 Australia, unless there is a serious few days of rain.

cricketfan90 wrote:very much looking forward to this series. I expect south africa to win the series concinvgly.

skyeman wrote:SA all out for 96, you can not blame the pitch for that, great bowling and poor batting. Watson's wicket to wicket bowling was superb.

blame DRS

skyeman wrote:

cricketfan90 wrote:very much looking forward to this series. I expect south africa to win the series concinvgly.

Yeah Australia were very average werent they?

Activereactive, not trying to be funny mate but can you lay off the smileys please? 1 is fine, but not that many (I'm going to edit them out).

This is a work safe forum, and it doesn't look too good with shedloads of yellow emoticons flashing up.

Cheers bud.

I would think it is his distinct lack of ability to communicate in the written language, now he stutters in smileys

Fists of Fury wrote:Activereactive, not trying to be funny mate but can you lay off the smileys please? 1 is fine, but not that many (I'm going to edit them out).

This is a work safe forum, and it doesn't look too good with shedloads of yellow emoticons flashing up.

Cheers bud.

sorry FOF,
Do too many smileys consume too much energy?
I will go green next time.

The DRS today showed just how valuable it can be, SA would still be batting now, without it.

Oh no Watsonnnnnnnnn, you should have used DRS, ball was way too high.

Aus 4-1

biltongbek wrote:I would think it is his distinct lack of ability to communicate in the written language, now he stutters in smileys

no need to get personal here mate, you keep on showing off your ability to communicate.

skyeman wrote:The DRS today showed just how valuable it can be, SA would still be batting now, without it.

Well the whole point of the DRS is to ensure fair dismissals, Sa can only blame themselves for not preparing well enough.

They arrange a four day match four the Ozzies before the series, but nothing for themselves and haven't played for ten months. Just stupid if you ask me.

Worst of all this is not the first time they put themselves in this situation. They had a similar situation when they hosted England in 2009.

Shocking from Hughes really, surely he could have told Watson that it was going over the top in all likelihood?

Steyn gets lucky. 4-1.

activereactive wrote:

biltongbek wrote:I would think it is his distinct lack of ability to communicate in the written language, now he stutters in smileys

no need to get personal here mate, you keep on showing off your ability to communicate.

Take what you start bud, otherwise keep it in your pants.

Ouch Hughes dropped by Smith at slip, could have been 6-2

Meant to have been a real sitter.

Hughes gets caught behind the wicket so, so often.

Fists of Fury wrote:Meant to have been a real sitter.

Hughes gets caught behind the wicket so, so often.

I take it then FoF, you are not watching live, it should have been taken, regulation catch.

He never learns does he?

I can't believe those dropped catches... first one this morning let Oz score a few more than they should have.

Blimey using the DRS a lot, are they not.
Aus 11-2, what is going on with the batting today.

Clarke, batting again,lol. He was batting last just before lunch, some exciting cricket.

Effectively - Aus 199-2.

Those low catches are rarely given, will this one be?

Yes, it is.

Wowsersssssssss Aus 13-3, Hughe's gone this time.

They said that 30 wickets fell in one day at Newlands... in 1888/9.

Marsh marches off. 13/3. What a day of cricket so far!

Bowler's session 12 wickets for 60 runs

Tea.

How many biscuits are you having, skyeman?

If this was an English county game, the home team would have been docked points for producing a dodgy pitch. But the batting for me as been dismal, and not a lot to do with the pitch.

Linebreaker wrote:How many biscuits are you having, skyeman?

LOL, A whole packet of jammy dodgers

Great Test match pitch for me! If you grit in, like Clarke did, you can score runs at a good lick on it but if you aren't fully comitted then you will be found out. Exactly what is should be like. Hopefully, from a neutral's point of view, SA can knock Australia over quickly and can be left chasing about 300 to win. With the pitch flattening out, and SA sure to show more application second time round it could be interesting. Money would still be on Australia though.

Wow just read the match report. Really excellent innings by Clarke, almost back to his very best now. Then top bowling by Watson and Harris, someone who I have a lot of time for. 13-3 now the Aussies and Marsh injured, so maybe we could roll Australia for 80-100.

If SA are to get back into this, surely they will have to get the Aussie's all out for around 100, but that man Hussey still to come and Clarke is still there.

What an innings by Clarke! Showing his true class today.

And Watson took 5-for? Not bad for a part timer!

Yeah, there is obviously some juice left in it after all the rain leading up to this one but I also think we have seen some spicy bowling and, as you say... some poor batting. Add the fact that SA & Oz are always at each others throats in any sport... and hey presto - we have this situation.

Only a few periods where the batsman (Clarke + a bit of Marsh in 1st innings) got on top of the bowling and managed to score quickly at around 4.5 r.p.o - I think it was?

Linebreaker wrote:Yeah, there is obviously some juice left in it after all the rain leading up to this one but I also think we have seen some spicy bowling and, as you say... some poor batting. Add the fact that SA & Oz are always at each others throats in any sport... and hey presto - we have this situation.

Only a few periods where the batsman (Clarke + a bit of Marsh in 1st innings) got on top of the bowling and managed to score quickly at around 4.5 r.p.o - I think it was?

After 10 overs, we(SA) where 45-1!!!

Craziest session of all time? Game on, would you say?

It's up to that man Clarke and Hussey again, you'd think.

Oh yeah of course. So much happened after that... I'd overlooked your good start.

Fists of Fury wrote:Craziest session of all time? Game on, would you say?

It's up to that man Clarke and Hussey again, you'd think.

I think maybe Johnson with his carefree approach is key, if he lasts 30-40 balls, he could smash 30-50 runs and take the game totally away from us

Hussey gone first ball! Wow, what a Test match.

Hussey departs now. This is bizarre.

skyeman wrote:If this was an English county game, the home team would have been docked points for producing a dodgy pitch. But the batting for me as been dismal, and not a lot to do with the pitch.

I'll say i was wrong, maybe a little bit to do with the pitch (some movement off the seam) but still the batsmen are not toughing it out.

Blimey Hussey gone straight after tea,
Aus 13-4.

Bizarre.

Roll Australia for 50, come on boys!

15-5!!!

Isn't test cricket frightfully boring?

I have been watching cricket for many years, and i have never seen anything like this, so many wickets in such a short time.

Unbelirvable!! Aus 15-5.

17 wickets in just 3 hours. And 14 wkts in just over 2 hours.