South Africa v Australia 2nd Test debate

First topic message reminder :

This huge game for both teams gets under way tomorrow morning at 08.30. After that astonishing 1st Test, will the Aussie's frame of mind be in the right place for them to bounce back, are they tough enough?. Can South Africa omit Vernon Philander after stunning figures of 8-78?. Johannesburg, is not as bowler friendly as Newlands so will either team leave out their spinner?. Will this be the great Ricky Pontings last Test match. If he does not get a biggish score, i think it may well be. Lot's of big questions to be answered by both tems in this match, which way do you think the result will go?.
Rearly looking forward to this match, as posted many times before, it is a sin that there are only two Tests.

was that your review of the day msp

D villiers gone, well, paying yet another poor poor shot. Did the same in the firt innings as well, after getting in he has thrown it away.
But a deserved wicket for young Cummins. He seems to be a bit down on pace today.
Well played Hashim Amla, that's another hundred for him!.

Oh, Amlla has run Prince out here!. 249-5 now. The 2 gifts of wickets have given the Australians a strong opening.
Boucher has to bring all his fighting qualities to the table now.

dont see the logic in cummins changing ends. he was bowling in a good rhythm from the other end. He has the ablitiy to tear through the tail.

The SA lower order is putting up a fair bit of resistance here. Very important runs being added by Philander and Steyn.

Cummins with two strikes after lunch, but Clarke's captaincy is all wrong here.

Steyn ensured he has a 300+ cover to bowl at with some real meaty hitting.
SA 339-9, haven't quite got to 400+, but have done a decent job, and already this should be a stiff chase for the Australians.

SA allout 339. Cummins gets 6 on debut. Fine effort from the youngster.

Aus end up having to chase 310 to win. Fantastic stuff from Cummins to end up with 6 wickets, wonder if this may be the end for Mitch Johnson though, as once again he failed to bowl with any control or wicket-taking threat except when he bowled some nasty bouncers at Steyn. Should be a fascinating chase, with all results very much possible (with bad light to play a part again, we can't rule out a draw).

well bowled pat Cummins

Can't see anything other than a South Afrcia win, unless a certain Mr Ponting comes to the party...

Hussey due a score, too.

watson leaves a straight ball

Idiot.

Hughes nicks off, AGAIN! Surely a big weakness for an international opener?

So Hughes back to his tried and tested methods of poking, prodding and nicking behind.
Australia 19-2, and Ricky Ponting, with his international career absolutely on the line, out there in the middle with Khawaja.

Fists of Fury wrote:Idiot.

harsh

A bit harsh but it was a damn annoying leave.

Honestly, what's going on. Hughes gone again in the usual manner... looked fine playing in the V. He just gets drawn into those flailing edges time and time again.

As for Ricky - I just hope he can score a few runs and finish this Test with a little dignity. A nice cut shot then struggles next ball.

At this rate Australia will be lucky to last long. It's just gets worse... So hard to stay up for this but SA should wrap it up.

Thrilled for Cummins though. At least there is someone in our pace bowling 'department' who seems to have a future. Agree with cf above... why did Clarke make him swap ends and lose his rhythm. He then immediately bowled a few wayward deliveries before finding his groove again and getting his last few wickets but too many runs from Steyn & Co.

Just stuck a fiver on Ponting scoring 100...

Ponting gets a pull shot away with a great deal of conviction and style. are things starting to turn around for him?
Khawaja too, is playing a few shots unlike he did in the first innings.

come on Ricky! prove those doubters wrong!

You fellas are so nice...

I wonder where Trebs is?
We really need his special powers right now... I'm sure he doesn't want SA to be nipping at the heels of England on the points table.

Keep it going Ricky!

Fists of Fury wrote:Just stuck a fiver on Ponting scoring 100...

Hope you win, it would be some moment to retire if a legend in Ponting could go on to get a big score and win this for Australia.

Never have I wanted Ponting to do so well, and it isn't because of my bet. Hate seeing such a great of the game getting so much stick.

Fists of Fury wrote:Never have I wanted Ponting to do so well, and it isn't because of my bet. Hate seeing such a great of the game getting so much stick.

My thoughts exactly Fists, as Kevin Keegan's famous line went "I would love it".

100 up and Ponting now looking fluent, go go go Punter.

This Aussie pair batting superbly, just hope I don't jinx them.

Khawaja, fist Test 50.

However much Ricky is the pantomine villain in Britain, I have always admired the way he plays. When he gets in, he just look imperious and he can take the game away from a side in a matter of hours. His 156 at Old Trafford in '05 was a ridiculous innnings. That was an innings under the most intense pressure and is he doing it again now?!

Khawaja pulling Steyn for a six, next ball with extra effort Steyn strains a muscle, could be a big turning point if Steyn can not bowl.
Aus 131-2 and looking good.

50 for Punter, well batted

Tahir gets Khawaja just before the close, nicking one to slip. Big wicket, and the game is very finely balanced going into tomorrow. One big partnership for Australia or a couple of quick wickets for SA could make all the difference...

Fists of Fury wrote:Just stuck a fiver on Ponting scoring 100...

What odds did you get?

good signs for australia that Punter getting his form back, and also a good innings from Khawaja.

I doubt we will see a full days play today. temperature has dropped to 16 degrees, full clouds and intermittent soft rain.

Maybe we get lucky later on today, but somehow I doubt it.

Will we need a full day?

Nothing against South Africa but I hope Ponting scores a match winning ton.

Either way you won't need a full day, by my reckoning the match should provide a result if we can get 40-50 overs in.

Personally I think if Steyn gets an opportunity today, he could as likely as Punter making a ton, create a collapse.

That's what I think. Conditions will suit another Aussie batting capitulation if they get on the field at all.

Linebreaker wrote:That's what I think. Conditions will suit another Aussie batting capitulation if they get on the field at all.

come on mate, I didn't know Ozzies could be negative?

It isn't part of your DNA.

They just uncovered the pitch,

Memories of Sydney mate... and Melbourne and Capetown.

Plus I don't want to put the mockers on the guys. Not much batting after these two and Hussey. I just don't have much faith in MJ these days... and your bowling is so much better than in '09... better lines and more control. Philander is a great 'find'.

the covers are coming off, and with the pitch sweating under the covers, and the quality of this south african bowling attack on a pitch doing a bit, then i wouldnt wanna be the aussie batsman this morning.

Well play is on the way.

Clarke gone , bowled by Philander for 2. Ball nips off the seem and hits top of offstump.

Philander's line is excellent, steyn is bowling too wide

Ponting gone, and Australia's hopes probably go with him

Will they stick with Ponting ? If not, at least he had a worthwhile knock in his last Test. Steyn, to me, looks like he's throwing, but the slo-mo pics they have now seem to suggest any number of dodgy actions. You should see some of the guys I face on Sunday afternoons. It's like watching a javelin throwing competition. It's all the fault of the administrators who won't outlaw throwing.
I shudder to think about what some of the players from 1960s (I'm NOT talking about Meckiff or Griffin here) who were hounded out of the game or had to remodel actions, think about it now when anything seems to pass as a bowl.

Massive shame, how many did Ponting get, guys?

Australia needed him and Clarke to get the most of the way there, in my opinion.

So Ricky Ponting didn't go on to score a ton. He went for 62, a good innings, but is it enough? Will we see him playing test cricket again?
Perhaps, if Australia somehow go on and win this match. Perhaps, if Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson faile to be fit for the NZ test series.
In the context of the match, SA needs Hussey's wicket soon. He has looked pretty ungainly in his stay so far. But in such situations, he has shown that he can be even more dangerous. There will be extra determination there, and if he manages to settle down, he can even inspire the lower order to play out of their skin.

all about this partnership for Aus: if they can stick together for another 50 runs or more it puts them right back in it. if SA break through soon they'll win.

Hussey dropped by Boucher off Tahir, who's causing him all sorts of difficulties at the moment. Could that be a key point?