South Africa v Australia at Port Elizabeth: 2nd Test

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Can South Africa fight back? Must say I was surprised just how easily Australia won that 1st Test. I reckoned they would be a handful for SA but not that Aus would win about as comprehensively as they did against England.
OK, SA are now Kallis-less and there have been question marks about health/fitness of their fast bowlers. But they are at home and they are, for the time being, the number one side in the world.
AB looked great in that first Test but hardly anyone else did. They are going to have to find a way to deal with Mitchell J. Taking evasive action and then getting out just doesn't cut it (or hook it!). What was unfamiliar, and just a tad shocking, was how SA's fielding disintegrated in that Aus second innings. That's another area they are going to have to improve on.
SA teams far inferior to this present one always had plenty of fight and constantly played above themselves. It's time for the current lot to step up. This could easily be 3-0 to the Australians if SA get off on the wrong foot in Port Elizabeth.

Linebreaker wrote:

skyeman wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:

skyeman wrote:Why are that frigging band playing for so long during the play. Call me a killjoy  

They haven't even warmed up yet buddy!

Their music is as flat as this pitch...

     

skye - I had to switch over to watch some ski-cross spills... so exciting to watch the ladies face plough!   

(also Mark Nicholas is getting on my nerves now.  I tried... and I tried... to be patient and neutral for many years... but the guy is as boring as an old plum in the fridge... which never stops talking)

Watched the men yesterday, very exciting, four crossing the line together. Three on their bums.

Can't watch this match anymore, going to watch some paint dry.

alfie wrote:Ha...both ?  I did mean the batsmen actually ...if they want to win the match , SA need to get up over 400 quick as they can ; as you wouldn't think they could expect to skittle Australia on this...

But Australia probably need to have a real go after the break , rather than just wait for something to happen.

I totally agree, mate.

It's a worse scenario than the 1997 Test already. In that one, SA only made 209 but then Australia fell in a heap to be all out for 108. They looked gone as the match report said:

Day 2 Report

South African pace attack turn screw

By Peter Roebuck, in Port Elizabeth

AN ASTONISHING day has ended with South Africa in command. Notions of Australian invincibility lie shattered like broken glass upon the floor.

It will need a monumental effort to bat long as SA are doing.... let alone get these 2 out.

However, if this one pans out into a draw then the final Test at Newlands will be a cracker no doubt. SA could well have not only their confidence and  mental edge back; they will also feel as though they have the stronger momentum in the Series.

skyeman wrote:
Watched the men yesterday, very exciting, four crossing the line together. Three on their bums.

Can't watch this match anymore, going to watch some paint dry.

  or you can try the Curling... Men's Bronze Medal game. China lead Sweden 4-3... 10th End.

I wish the guy - John Bracewell, wasn't it - had never come up with that flat-track bully description. You want guys who are going to make big scores on bland pitches.
You get these labels put on players. Bell, for instance, once seemed only to score 100s when someone had got a ton earlier in the innings. Well, good for him.
Caddick was another. They said he only took wickets in the second innings of a match. So some said he should be dropped. For what? To be replaced by someone who couldn't get wickets in EITHER innings ?
OK, you need guys who can make battling runs against tough opponents on tricky wickets in difficult situations. But you also need your batsmen to cash in when the going is good.

As the term, wait until both sides have had a bat is usually correct, i shall keep an open mind. But a draw looks odds-on here.

skyeman wrote:

kingraf wrote:The PE pitch has always been on the slow side. Most coastal pitches are. Smith didn't need to say a word to the groundsman

Smith      Was for Steven Smith being compared to an even half decent spinner. I did not make it clear ss.


Worse this time though, wkts still normally tumble here. Very turgid this time.

Smith is not as bad as some county parttimers being bandied around as next in line to Laker, Lock, Underwood and Swann!.
Seriously, the point was that Smith as a leggy, has some skills and if he works on it, he could be a handy parttime bowler who can do more than hold an end up. Australia ones thought he could be the next Shane Warne, no wishful thinking of that kind here.

AB de Villiers has done it again. Adapted to the situation, shaped his game according to the pitch and brought up yet another test hundred. He has been accumulating a few 80s and 90s of late, but not this time, and I hope he would stay on for a bit more time to make it a big one.

sirfredperry wrote:I wish the guy - John Bracewell, wasn't it - had never come up with that flat-track bully description. You want guys who are going to make big scores on bland pitches.
  You get these labels put on players. Bell, for instance, once seemed only to score 100s when someone had got a ton earlier in the innings. Well, good for him.
  Caddick was another. They said he only took wickets in the second innings of a match. So some said he should be dropped. For what? To be replaced by someone who couldn't get wickets in EITHER innings ?
  OK, you need guys who can make battling runs against tough opponents on tricky wickets in difficult situations. But you also need your batsmen to cash in when the going is good.

Exactly. I hate the term as well. I especially despise the way it has crept into other sports. I have heard Ibrahimovic in football described at a flat-track bully. What on earth does that mean in the context of football?!!!

msp83 wrote:AB de Villiers has done it again. Adapted to the situation, shaped his game according to the pitch and brought up yet another test hundred. He has been accumulating a few 80s and 90s of late, but not this time, and I hope he would stay on for a bit more time to make it a big one.

He's adapted beautifully. No terrors in the pitch... runs were easy to score even with the new ball.

The Aussie bowlers are feeling the effects of their long haul without a wicket. They somehow have to try something different... but what?

Even though everyone here is saying "they can't wait to have a bat on it themselves" (when they eventually do get the chance) my big worry is will they adapt to the pace of the pitch as well as AB and Co.? They have a history of getting their timing all wrong on slower wickets and failing to have the necessary patience to get set for the long haul themselves.

VTR - with Ibrahimovic I guess they are referring to the fact - as they see it - that he only scores against the weaker teams in the less-important matches. Gosh, the stick some people get just for doing their job !

I remember England not being able to wait to have a bat on that pitch in the first Test of the Ashes. They obviously really couldn't wait as the whole 11 had had a go on it within about 3 hours.

VTR/ Linebreaker - There's always scoreboard pressure. It doesn't matter what the wicket is like; if you're facing a big first innings score then it's not easy.
Often you see one side making 500 or 600 and then the either side collapsing.

Yes scoreboard pressure, plus the mental tiredness from being in the field for 5 or more sessions and of course the chance the opposition will bowl better. You can never rule anything out with someone like Dale Steyn raring to have a crack at the batting.

Been away watching the paint!

Lyon gets his third and AB at that. SA are going to have taken nearly five sessions out of this match with a low RR.

Just can't see the Aussie batsmen, who are high on confidence not posting a big score too. There is nothing in this pitch for the bowlers.

That fine bowler Smith back on. Can he do it again  

spinners have 5 out of 7 wickets and Aus has not bad quality 5th and 6th bowlers.........could well become medicore bowlers by profession if batting wasn't their significantly better trait

But most were fortunate wkts for the spinners. Even so, not a good sign for SA with only Duminy.

I think i have seen G. Smith bowl spin before  

SA shouldn't be overly pleased with their score as it stands now.....their lower order can all bat a bit...so they should aim to get to 450 and bat out the day

Duminy gets his 100    

I like Duminy........and am pleased to see him get runs

Clarke bowling himself, Lyon, smith and now Warner. Trying to save the seamers on this deck?

Elgar, smith, duminy and faf bowls spin.

so there is plenty of variety.

Biltong wrote:Elgar, smith, duminy and faf bowls spin.

so there is plenty of variety.

Just not much quality 

skyeman wrote:

Biltong wrote:Elgar, smith, duminy and faf bowls spin.

so there is plenty of variety.

Just not much quality 

  True, but then neither is Smith, Clarke and Warner, eh?

You just need them to take AAAAAAALLLL the pace off the ball and give the seamers a rest.

Biltong wrote:

skyeman wrote:

Biltong wrote:Elgar, smith, duminy and faf bowls spin.

so there is plenty of variety.

Just not much quality 

  True, but then neither is Smith, Clarke and Warner, eh?

You just need them to take AAAAAAALLLL the pace off the ball and give the seamers a rest.

Naah...Smith and Clarke are very comptent spinners as is Duminy......rest are all "arm-rollers"

Lyon doing a good job......it may not be an eays pitch for seamers...it's not easy for batsmen either when trying to force the pace and score fast

Aussies wasting serious time out there

Lyon gets his fourth last ball before tea.

SA 413/8


I would declare now or half an hour after tea at the latest if not bowled out. SA still need twenty wkts on this deck.

The respective run rates per innings over the period since 1992

1st innings, 2.94 runs per over
2nd innings, 2.65 runs per over
3rd innings, 2.68 runs per over
4th innings, 2.69 runs per over.

Average runs per test since 1992 – 885

Steve Smith and JP Duminy are handy parttime spin options. Dean Elgar is a bit of a regularly used parttimer at FC level isn't he?

Lyon doing a good job......it may not be an eays pitch for seamers...it's not easy for batsmen either when trying to force the pace and score fast

Olly wrote:Aussies wasting serious time out there

Might see a lot of that from them.

SA are the ones who have to force the pace. Aus will be happy with the draw.

Clarke out of them has the by far superior wkt ave. In Tests.

The likes of Warner might struggle to adapt to the pace of the pitch. But Michael Clarke should enjoy this. Even the short ball won't be a threat on this track, how on earth are they going to shift him? Its all down to Dale.......

skyeman wrote:Lyon gets his fourth last ball before tea.

SA 413/8


I would declare now or half an hour after tea at the latest if not bowled out. SA still need twenty wkts on this deck.

Hi Skye - South Africa's best chance of having sufficient time to get those twenty wickets will be if they can enforce the follow on and don't have to bat again. So I would suggest that they keep batting for now if they can (big ask, I know). Perhaps ideally from a South African viewpoint, look to bowl ten overs tonight and get one of the openers back in the hutch.

Meanwhile, as we both sung his praises last time, fair to say another very fine effort by the Lyon King. Without his wickets and control, where would Australia be now?

guildfordbat wrote:

skyeman wrote:Lyon gets his fourth last ball before tea.

SA 413/8


I would declare now or half an hour after tea at the latest if not bowled out. SA still need twenty wkts on this deck.

Hi Skye - South Africa's best chance of having sufficient time to get those twenty wickets will be if they can enforce the follow on and don't have to bat again. So I would suggest that they keep batting for now if they can (big ask, I know). Perhaps ideally from a South African viewpoint, look to bowl ten overs tonight and get one of the openers back in the hutch.

Meanwhile, as we both sung his praises last time, fair to say another very fine effort by the Lyon King. Without his wickets and control, where would Australia be now?

Great timing Gb, and now his fifth. Moot point now

JP's gone 420-9

Lyon takes 5 as Duminy goes. The end is near.

4 spinners have been used and 7 wickets have fallen to spin....SA have no frontline spinner...i think they will regret that selection.

Gerry calls Lyon ordinary though, does Gerry like many that are not SA 

Aus have done quite well from 349/5 to restrict SA to 423. Let's see the new ball reply.

lyon is a good bowler. Won't let the side down and has a good test match record. The new ball is crucial, if the openers get through it, then it could be huge 1st innings score for OZ.

Rogers out early again and Warner playing with fire for a run a ball twenty but surviving.

Light meter out. SA may have to go to their spinners soon  

Or save the new ball for tomorrow.

Does Warner know no other way even on a pitch like this?

Not a bad start from Parnell

Suppose he's gotta do something to justify that shocking barnet

Two in three balls, there go the bright prospects.

Morkel at 151.3 kph, wtf.

Warner dropped 0n 43 by AB. Ouch.

Warner might as well go buy a lottery ticket later...

Dropped in consecutive matches...

Never seen luck like it...

As has been said by a few on here, there's never any guarantee that the side batting second will replicate the efforts of the first however the pitch looks. 81/4 and a dropped catch off Warner so far. Australia are certainly wobbling here.