South Africa v Australia at Port Elizabeth: 2nd Test

by sirfredperry Wed 19 Feb 2014, 11:31 am

First topic message reminder :

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.

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 3:21 pm

That has turned the game. Philander gets Clarke and Lyon as night watchman in.

Aus 81/4.

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 3:31 pm

Warner 51 from 55 balls clap

Taking risks but blimey, just blimey.

Aus 88 /4 and in trouble but Haddin to come Wink

Great speed from Morkel.

I bet they would have liked to have come off at 40/1 for bad light.

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 3:41 pm

Lyon has not been dismissed for six months. So if Warner can just stay with him, a fight back could be on Very Happy

by Mad for Chelsea Fri 21 Feb 2014, 3:57 pm

Warner may be riding his luck, but he also seems to be batting on a different pitch to the rest of them. Excellent day for SA though, should have been better but Smith gets a review wrong with Lyon, a bit of a tactical decision, but De Villers has to have seen that deflection (very visible from behind, less so for the umpire) and should have told him in no uncertain terms to have a look at that. You can be sure they would have had it been Warner...

Aus will need the middle and lower order to dig in here to get them as close as possible to the SA score, SA in a very nice position here.

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 3:58 pm

Although no wkts Morkel was impressive.

Aus 112/4, at the close.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Fri 21 Feb 2014, 4:00 pm

Wonder if Aggers is gonna get his knickers in a twist cos Lyon didn't walk....

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 4:07 pm

Olly wrote:Wonder if Aggers is gonna get his knickers in a twist cos Lyon didn't walk....

It's the Australian way. No wonder the Aus team did not complain too much at the time about Broad. But the Aussie supporters in Aus against Broad furious

But all good fun Very Happy

Gone right off Aggers recently. Crying or Very sad

by KP_fan Fri 21 Feb 2014, 4:33 pm

--Australia's mini-collapse has poised this match interestingly....that a solid Aussie inning would have devoid it of.
Good time pass watching this over the weekend.

--an applause for Lyon...limited talent but Lion Hearted.
Stable good teams get maximum out of average players.

--Parnell...I always liked the look of him...every time I saw him in limited over formats.

--Rogers......we all like him...I sense though we are seeing the beginning of his end....after running on adrenalin for a brief period.
Marsh can open and Watson can come back at No.6 where he will be much better suited.

--My prognosis Aus will fight in their usual scrambling style......and get bowled out within a 100 runs of SA by tea time tomorrow......putting the onus back on SA to be positive and force a result in remaining 7 sessions.

by msp83 Fri 21 Feb 2014, 6:25 pm

Morne Morkel, the 1 bowler in that SA unit least expected to create serious trouble for batsman because of the nature of the pitch, proved to be their best in the day and was damn unlucky not to have picked up a wicket. He was very quick and made the ball talk on that rather lifeless track. Wayne Parnell also bowled very well in his comeback test and Philander picked up a couple of wickets. The least effective was the master. How long will Australia keep him out?
David Warner is not the best Australian batsman on a slowish track, but his aggressive approach has kept them in the game. He was dropped on 43 and have already made the South Africans pay. Nathan Lyon was also dropped in the last over of the day by Duminy. Its SA who need to make all the running in this game, the weather report for the final day doesn't look very promising, they should stop fielding like India pretty soon!!.

by **Biltong** Fri 21 Feb 2014, 6:32 pm

Morkel is the unluckiest SA bowler I have ever seen, how many times can you bowl well and not get just reward?

by msp83 Fri 21 Feb 2014, 6:42 pm

Biltong wrote:Morkel is the unluckiest SA bowler I have ever seen, how many times can you bowl well and not get just reward?

He's a bit of a strange beest. Often would go missing when conditions are there for the taking. Then he would run in and find life on the most lifeless track. He didn't bowl as well as he could have in the first test, he has been their best despite Philander and Parnell getting the wickets here. Smith would hope that the good self would continue to show up tomorrow. When he gets his act together, he could be a real handful.

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 7:16 pm

KP_fan wrote:

--Australia's mini-collapse has poised this match interestingly....that a solid Aussie inning would have devoid it of.
Good time pass watching this over the weekend.

Agree, now makes this Test interesting.

--an applause for Lyon...limited talent but Lion Hearted.
Stable good teams get maximum out of average players.

I think he has earned his spot, good performances all over the world and he has done it before MJ.

--Parnell...I always liked the look of him...every time I saw him in limited over formats.

Sychophant!

--Rogers......we all like him...I sense though we are seeing the beginning of his end....after running on adrenalin for a brief period.
Marsh can open and Watson can come back at No.6 where he will be much better suited.

Agreed.

--My prognosis Aus will fight in their usual scrambling style......and get bowled out within a 100 runs of SA by tea time tomorrow......putting the onus back on SA to be positive and force a result in remaining 7 sessions.

Agreed.

by guildfordbat Fri 21 Feb 2014, 7:16 pm

msp83 wrote:Morne Morkel, the 1 bowler in that SA unit least expected to create serious trouble for batsman because of the nature of the pitch, proved to be their best in the day and was damn unlucky not to have picked up a wicket. He was very quick and made the ball talk on that rather lifeless track. Wayne Parnell also bowled very well in his comeback test and Philander picked up a couple of wickets. The least effective was the master. How long will Australia keep him out?
David Warner is not the best Australian batsman on a slowish track, but his aggressive approach has kept them in the game. He was dropped on 43 and have already made the South Africans pay. Nathan Lyon was also dropped in the last over of the day by Duminy. Its SA who need to make all the running in this game, the weather report for the final day doesn't look very promising, they should stop fielding like India pretty soon!!.

You can't base match tactics on a three day weather forecast but that does nothing to persuade me against my earlier view that South Africa are most likely to need to enforce the follow on if they are to have sufficient time to take 20 Australian wickets and win this Test.

I wouldn't rule the follow on out at this stage ....

by skyeman Fri 21 Feb 2014, 7:30 pm

guildfordbat wrote:
msp83 wrote:Morne Morkel, the 1 bowler in that SA unit least expected to create serious trouble for batsman because of the nature of the pitch, proved to be their best in the day and was damn unlucky not to have picked up a wicket. He was very quick and made the ball talk on that rather lifeless track. Wayne Parnell also bowled very well in his comeback test and Philander picked up a couple of wickets. The least effective was the master. How long will Australia keep him out?
David Warner is not the best Australian batsman on a slowish track, but his aggressive approach has kept them in the game. He was dropped on 43 and have already made the South Africans pay. Nathan Lyon was also dropped in the last over of the day by Duminy. Its SA who need to make all the running in this game, the weather report for the final day doesn't look very promising, they should stop fielding like India pretty soon!!.

You can't base match tactics on a three day weather forecast but that does nothing to persuade me against my earlier view that South Africa are most likely to need to enforce the follow on if they are to have sufficient time to take 20 Australian wickets and win this Test.

I wouldn't rule the follow on out at this stage ....

Sensibly nor would i, given the way the SA bowlers have shown the aggression that was not there in the first Test. But, and a big but, the ball is now 23 overs old, so i would not be surprised if Aus added another 200 for their last wickets. Effectively ending the match as a draw.

A big first hour for both teams tomorrow morning.

Game on.

by Gerry SA Sat 22 Feb 2014, 12:14 pm

Proteas eventually bowl out Australia for 247. Warner top scored with 70 and Smith got 49.

Morkel and Philander snared 3 wickets each. Wayne Parnell pulled his groin.

Proteas achieved a 177 first innings lead.

Morkel really roughed up the Australian tail Enders

by Sangakkara Sat 22 Feb 2014, 12:30 pm

Morkel v Johnson was class. That blow to the helmet was a rocker.
Mitchell Johnson is just infinitely watchable - with the ball or facing it.

by msp83 Sat 22 Feb 2014, 3:36 pm

South Africa 173-4, leading by 350. Hashim Amla, dislocated finger and all, found form after a bit of a lean patch and is batting on 82. AB out for 29. Smith went early, 8th time to Johnson, and Johnson has joined the 'Fantom' in snaring the South African skipper the most in tests.

by KP_fan Sat 22 Feb 2014, 5:04 pm

SA has a solid grip on the match...Aus should have batted an hour and 15 minutes more or anotehr 20 overs to make SA sweat a bit.

Now SA have one hand on the neck.......they will declare half way into tomorrow....leaving 4.5 session for Aus to survive....

as opposed to a max 4 sessions that Aus would have liked.

Unless Aus can find a magic session and crumble SA in the first session tomm

by msp83 Sat 22 Feb 2014, 5:55 pm

South Africa really need to press on tomorrow morning, bat for an hour, add another 70-80 at least and declare. As Guildford would say, you can't base your game plan primarily on the weather, but the way the reports are coming in, and considering their position at this point as well as that of the series, a lead of around 450 should be enough for South Africa. Of course they will be without the injured Parnell, and Duminy is their main spinner on a track that has shown signs of a little bit of life for the spinner at times.

by **Biltong** Sat 22 Feb 2014, 6:28 pm

Yeah, I pretty much agree with that

by KP_fan Sat 22 Feb 2014, 8:50 pm

if it''s around 450 and 150-160 overs...Aus might pull off a world record chase that SA missed a few weeks back against India.

pitch is easy...one seamer down, no specialists spinner.....Aus with useful batsmen down to No.11 these days 450 ain't by any means an impossible score.

Naah........I don't see them declaring with more than 130 overs and less than 500 runs

by **Pal Joey** Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:24 am

Linebreaker 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

It's an incredibly dull and slow wicket. SA must be going for another draw!

Would like to see how SA bowls and Australia bats on this one. I might have to wait until Sunday though.

My apologies for saying this earlier. The SA bowlers got a lot more out of it so full credit to them. Unfortunate injury to Parnell.

Amla now anchoring SA's 2nd innings and you'd think they would try and score quickly in the first morning session and get the lead up over 470 runs. Anything more would surely be beyond Australia to chase given the time remaining and chance of wet weather intervening.

by msp83 Sun 23 Feb 2014, 8:37 am

A difficult chance offered by Quinton de Kock not taken by Steve Smith of the 2nd ball of the day from Ryan Harris.

by msp83 Sun 23 Feb 2014, 8:44 am

QDK riding his luck a bit, another shot just evading the fielder, not quite a chance but....... Now Amla edges wide of slip for 4.

by msp83 Sun 23 Feb 2014, 8:52 am

Test hundred number 21 for Hashim Amla!.

by Gerry SA Sun 23 Feb 2014, 8:53 am

Hashin Amla registers Test hundred #21 Yahoo

Lead is up to 392

by shivfan Sun 23 Feb 2014, 9:39 am

Congrats, Amla....
clap

by Sangakkara Sun 23 Feb 2014, 9:51 am

Not sure on De Kock at the moment
I know it's his debut, but he looked incredibly under pressure in a situation where the pressure is pretty much off.
Benefit of the doubt - he's desperate to impress?

by **Biltong** Sun 23 Feb 2014, 10:00 am

He is trying too hard

by KP_fan Sun 23 Feb 2014, 10:48 am

so 450 in 160 overs........Aus is even to win this in my book.

and I hope SA are not resorted to looking for the predicted rain Smile

by guildfordbat Sun 23 Feb 2014, 10:51 am

Australia 31/0 at lunch, needing another 417.

A lot is going to depend upon Duminy. From being earmarked as an occasional fill-in fifth bowler for this Test, he now - with Parnell injured - has to become the regular fourth bowler. Even if Duminy doesn't take any wickets, he has to keep things tight so he can stay on and the 3 seamers can get sufficient rest between spells ....

by KP_fan Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:30 am

Warner is like Sehwag...pitch and match conditions notwithstanding...he will play only one way..his way .

390 more nedded and 150 overs still remain.

at 3RPO they will need only 130 more overs.....so even a loss of an hour and half doesn't impact their chances of winning comfotably

by kingraf Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:40 am

The impending weather forecast probably forced Smiths hand a touch, but its a decent declaration, if the forecast is correct, the draw seems inevitable. Sold out at Newlands for days 1-4, could be a fantastic way to what has been a remarkable summer of cricket

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:44 am

KP_fan wrote:so 450 in 160 overs........Aus is even to win this in my book.

and I hope SA are not resorted to looking for the predicted rain

If Aus are 200/2 at the close. SA will definitely be doing a rain dance Very Happy

by KP_fan Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:48 am

kingraf wrote:The impending weather forecast probably forced Smiths hand a touch, but its a decent declaration, if the forecast is correct, the draw seems inevitable. Sold out at Newlands for days 1-4, could be a fantastic way to what has been a remarkable summer of cricket

if the forecats goes awry..then SA defeat becomes a likely scenario ?
bad declaration.......on many counts..I have been saying since last evening

by kingraf Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:52 am

Not sure how defeat is the likely scenario when the weather man has 50mm of rain.

by KP_fan Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:58 am

kingraf wrote:Not sure how defeat is the likely scenario when the weather man has 50mm of rain.

if it is certain that 3 hours of play will be lost because of rain..then SA are safe.
if between 2 to 3 hours is lost...Aus can still do it
if less than 2 hours is lost......Aus's win march is not impacted.

by kingraf Sun 23 Feb 2014, 11:59 am

Jeezus, we dropped him again!? Talk about Warner Nine Lives

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:00 pm

KP_fan wrote:
kingraf wrote:The impending weather forecast probably forced Smiths hand a touch, but its a decent declaration, if the forecast is correct, the draw seems inevitable. Sold out at Newlands for days 1-4, could be a fantastic way to what has been a remarkable summer of cricket

if the forecats goes awry..then SA defeat becomes a likely scenario ?
bad declaration.......on many counts..I have been saying since last evening

It would be a new WR chase. Still unlikely but this is the pitch where it could be possible and especially with a bowler down. Could be big problems for SA if Aus go after Duminy.

SA are just not getting the movement this time. Interesting to watch.

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:11 pm

Another 50 for Mr nine lives clap

Reminds me of Amla in England last time. Very Happy

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:28 pm

Good response from Rogers after recent woes.

A good 50 clap

Aus 117/0

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:45 pm

JP comes back on and gets the important breakthrough with the wkt of Warner with umps call.

The part-timers looking more threatening at the moment.

Aus 126/1

by Gerry SA Sun 23 Feb 2014, 12:47 pm

Jean-Paul Duminy's dream match continues.

Gets the vital wicket of David Warner.

Steyn needs to get into the zone now.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Sun 23 Feb 2014, 1:04 pm

Aussies making Duminy and Elgar look like Murali

by Mad for Chelsea Sun 23 Feb 2014, 1:12 pm

Smith does it again! fails to review a caught-behind decision against Rogers, and hotspot shows a tiny smidgeon, confirmed by snicko. The Aussies get away with another one!

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 1:13 pm

Ouch Rogers nicks one but Smith again decides not to review a big noise.

Won't be a happy tea. Shocked

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 1:17 pm

I think because AB was not sure, Smith did not review. Steyn was though. Quite a noise from the nick. Blame the band Very Happy

Game changer.

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 1:21 pm

HA ha Bob Willis agrees about the band.

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 1:35 pm

Doolan looks like a rabbit in the headlights this Test.

Fortunate 1st ball after tea.

by skyeman Sun 23 Feb 2014, 2:00 pm

Morkel gets Doolan caught in the slips for a 43 ball 5. He looked like a walking wkt right through.

Aus 152/2

If Watson can bowl, he 99% will come back in.

by Sponsored content