Durban Demolition

The "green Mamba" pitch at Durban strikes again and its venom is clearly getting stronger as the days click over.

Australia's lower order folded at 352, a score that at any other time would be considered the bare minimum to defend and stay competitive. With all the talk of Johnson now pushing all-rounder status, a duck seemed to burst that bubble and one could not help but wonder if some of the hype had gone to his head... then he was given the ball!

Johnson, showing that he is now well entrenched as an international cricketing superstar, battered South Africa into a bloody pulp! With able assistance from McDonald, and another super tight and constrictive bowling effort from Siddle, Australia truly appear to have the bowling formula and combinations required now to take twenty wickets. Of course a front line spinner is the one key element missing, but unless Hilfenhaus takes it up another notch his position may well be used as the interchange bench. As previously stated, clearly it is desirable to give him as much test experience as possible when England will offer him the best conditions for his talents.

Where as in the Sydney test with Smith missing due to his hand injury Australia felt they had a real chance, his absence again (thanks to a 151km/h Johnson missile) looks unlikely to be the decisive factor in a match where more Australian batsman compiled some sort of score than South Africans. Hussey must consider his 50 a career saver given his recent test form. McKenzie just doesn't do enough regularly and one can't help but wonder how he keeps his spot when RSA cricket looks so good now!

Still, given the momentous turn-arounds all summer between these sides, only a fool would write South Africa off at this (or any!) stage. With two days to go, it once again seems likely that the competitive nature and skills of these teams will provide a full five days of test cricket.

Test of the Test

Day three will be the test of the Test.

This is it for the Aussies, whilst the series does not hang on this day, Australia's mindset for the future of this series -and the Ashes- does.

I felt over the past three series that much of our batting has been under performing; as a team, not individually. But no one needs me to state that the real problem has been the lack of destructive bowling. That is why THIS day three is so important for the team in the future. If our bowlers can truly defend the solid total built by five of our batting side, we can then say that we again have an effective bowling element to the team.

The impending rain makes a result unlikely, but success will not only be measured by a win.

stoph verismo
downthewicket

four matches and then fore-sight

2 all now in the Aus NZ ODI series, obvious the difference the stability of M.Hussey makes!

Has our team got enough in reserve if the "stars" don't fire?
I think yes, obvious by the last 2 results, but one thing is for sure, this is now a team that plays on confidence... not self belief.

Let's hope we can carry over this confidence and roll it into self belief before the SA tour.
At least England are looking pathetic if all we care about is results and not the quality of cricket!

I personally don't believe we have what it takes to de-rail South Africa at home given the excellent balance of their current side, but a lot can be said for self belief: and if we continue with the selection policy from the SCG test there may be hope.

What do you think?

stoph verismo
downthewicket

all the good things

A slack performance from yours-truly given how much cricket has been in the news this week.

What will we look at:
Andrew "Roy" Symonds
Selection for SA tour (and the Ashes)
The AB medal

All here that are not fans of Roy should be jumping for joy; the whip has finally come down!
What was that for again? Because he had an opinion on McCullum. I don't think what he said about McCullum was right- the man was only trying to capitalise on his chosen career path- but does having a CA contract mean you can't have an opinion? Is it because Symonds was harsh in his remarks, or in the "condition" he may have been in during the radio interview. Either way, it showed poor judgement by Symonds to allow himself to once again step into the CA crosshairs: potentially fatally for his international career.

So now he can't go to RSA because he is 'dealing with his alcohol and anger management issues' and all and sundry have voiced an opinion on that; i suppose once your CA contract has expired -S.Waugh- you can remark in any way about anyone!
At least Roy will feel that while Ponting is still captain, all is not lost; although the reality of getting back in favour after poor form and 2 disciplinary actions of late would imply CA might take this chance to totally blackball him. Time will tell.

The RSA team should be up by the time you read this- if not, does anyone think Krajza will get another away tour? Will any specialised spinner? Or does it really not matter as we are going to get properly pumped on the Proteas home tracks? Surely someone needs some test time before the Ashes, you'd think we'd certainly take some one to blighty! Also, what about having both Hilfenhaus and Bollinger, they can swing the ball and we know the potential for that over there.

I didn't watch the AB medal (something about award countdowns that is just too tranquilising!), but i did find the result interesting. Bracken was an easy pick; so was Klinger for state player (what does he have to do now to get a run in the ones?), same goes for P.Hughes for young cricketer. Clarke for mine has so regularly saved the test side from embarrassment it is good to see him get the test player and the AB medal, as for Ponting... well, i'm just not sold on that one yet; the votes are there, but... oh well, I'll let him have this one without ripping strips!

12 sentences, 7 questions!

I had previously asked if Aus were still No 1 in ODI cricket; it seems that answer too has been given by this SA side.

I know i really should have posted in regard to the match and then series loses last week, but really, what was the point!
Given that the initial 3 ODI games were interesting and came down to the final overs, the massive capitulation in the last 2 games by Australia spoke for its self and needed no comment by me! So now, what is left to make and do with the summer?

NZ are a far more competitive side in this format than test, so what should the brains trusts of CA/selectors and Ponting be focusing on to get the most out of this series?

Should they attempt to stabilise the team?
Should they try new combinations?
Should they try new players?
Should they play for a demolition job to try and rebuild moral?

I called for a true rebuilding of the side after the Indian result, citing that a 2 test series was nothing more than a warm up for SA and held no value within its self. As we know, that didn't happen and the selectors chose the "steady as she goes, get yourself back into form" approach for many of the team, and when that clearly didn't work had to scramble for some wholesale change when it was too late.

What should be done now?



stoph verismo
downthewicket

Rebuilding...pride.

With only 3 games left of the Australian South Africa international summer left, can we make amends for the test series loss with a win in the ODI series?

I think the best cricket outcome would be 2 all and then a nail biter in the 5th game... but I'm just a hopeless romantic dreamer!
If this was the case, who thinks that Ponting and Co could feel somewhat redeemed?

At one game each so far, is Australia still the best 50 over side in the world?

Do we need to change the line up in any way?

And what of the NZ ODI games?
Are they (the games) of any real value?
NZ have proved to be a far more competitive ODI side, is an upset possible?

As i've said, "...hopeless... dreamer!"


stoph verismo
downthewicket

a result is on

I'll take it that the lack of posts this morning is because everyone is glued to their radio/tv.
Australia are providing the goods; McDonald's catch, a blinder- more to come about the sportsmanship from this incident.

Pontings bowling choices and aggressive field placements are supporting his declaration. And what of the declaration? As per my previous post, i thought more runs were needed... but i like the faith Ponting has shown in this new-look line up; and the fact it should have drawn SA into the match.
The radio broadcasters dismissed an SA win and said that a Aus win most likely, a draw next most likely- but that the declaration total was good... hard not to agree now at 4 for!

Apart from the attitude of the Australian players, the other thing that stands out to me is the fielding; the shots at the stumps have been exceptional, adding to the pressure on the SA batsman.

The umpiring has been overall quite good too, and even with the odd wrong call, nothing has been a match changer. De Silva can tour again for mine.

Lets hope it goes to the last session and we win (obviously)... with more Vic wickets, right Leftriteout?

smells like team spirit

has anyone else notice the obvious increase in esprit de corp shown by the Aussies in this test?

clearly the players are making a greater effort to support each other: Clarke when batting with the lower order, although he always does.
everyone around the bowlers as they succeed.

it is more like the team of the past in this respect, and i think it will lift a mediocre team out of ruts if they continue with this approach.

certainly in the other 2 tests this was missing, and maybe a reason why we failed to go in for the kill when SA were on the ropes... we looked beaten when we were beating them... now- hopefully- we will drive home the advantage with self belief and internal support, not dropped shoulders!

stoph- you can tell i'm at home on leave- verismo!

downthewicket

the numbers game

What is a total that will give SA the drive to chase, and yet allow us a chance at bowling them out?

i think about a 450-480 lead and try and get them to bat for 15-18 overs tonight.

what do you think will give us a desperately needed win?

494 is the biggest single day score at the SCG (1910/11)!

stoph verismo
downthewicket