Aus vs SAF Series

[whufc]

Great partnership by Clarke & Cowan, probably Cowans best innings at test level so far, had a simple but effective plan against the saffie quicks, Clarke really stood as skipper coming in in deep poo.

Hopefully they build on this tomorrow and at least one hits a ton.

[Rik E Boy]

A pretty good days Test Cricket. Much better lines and energy by the Australians but I'm very suprised Amla didn't challenge his LB. Very strange tactics by the Saffers in the middle session they seemed to doubt themselves a little bit there, or at least Smith showed some hesitation. A good late fightback by Clarke (although to some he can never do enough) and Cowan to finish the day but surely the weather has beaten both teams here.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Never listen to anything Ian Healy says.

He makes BT look good. Shocking caller.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Warner didnt look comfortable, had played and missed a couple

Warner to me is the batting equivalent of Mitchell Johnson. Very hit and miss.

regards,

REB

[mal]

Ive never ever seen anything as obvious today
The way Warner batted today he was going to get out cheaply in this innings
IF David Warner continues to try and bat like a batsman, he is very likely to be a distinct failure at this level

David is a magnificent attacking batsman , thats what got him in the team , thats what got him a Test Century
Thats the only way he can and should be batting

Cowan, Warner, Quiney
2 of these guys Warner/Quiney are a couple of fav batters of mine
Ed I admire for his grit
BUT
This top 3 is perhaps the worst top 3 Ive seen play for Australia

Thye may prove me wrongggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg , in the future
But I doubt if they can be a Top Top 3

[stampy]

mally, as usual you are spot on, 10 years ago dave would not have made shield cricket, good for a bit of hit and giggle but thats it, as for mr ed, well he couldnt make nsw so there you go, quiney in the right place at the right time, we need someone to grab the bull by the horns and say this spot is mine, unfortunately no one seems capable atm, i still think that hughes is a long term prospect along with davis from the west and maybe burns from qld, oh and lets not forget usman

[Jim05]

A pretty good days Test Cricket. Much better lines and energy by the Australians but I'm very suprised Amla didn't challenge his LB. Very strange tactics by the Saffers in the middle session they seemed to doubt themselves a little bit there, or at least Smith showed some hesitation. A good late fightback by Clarke (although to some he can never do enough) and Cowan to finish the day but surely the weather has beaten both teams here.

regards,

REB

I heard on radio that Kallis thought it looked out and decided against challenging. Maybe Kallis wanted the glory of being top scorer

[whufc]

Yeah joe burns is the man for the future

[The Dark Knight]

Our bowlers fought back pretty well today I thought, certainly bowled a better line and more importantly, length today. Siddle got better as the day went on, he in particular bowled way too short on day one. Love watching Pattinson bowl, bowls at good pace and is alway there and thereabouts.

Disappointing start to our innings but Cowan and Clarke fought back well. Morkel bowled well and Steyn looked dangerous, Warner didn't look comfortable against him. Kelinveldt is a weak link and the more he bowls the better it is for the Aussies. Hopefully Cowan and Clarke can cash in after getting decent starts tomorrow and get some big scores.

[whufc]

Sorry for the essay but im bored at home.

I have been very critical of Clarke over the years but his innings today at 3/40 in the first test of a big series was the stuff that makes captains. Not only did he grit it out he also managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over along with Cowan. Hopefully he can go on to ton up tomorrow but either way im glad to see the captain perform in that situation.

Im really unsure about the top 4, personally i think Clarke needs to bat 4 at lowest, his at his prime and is the best bat we currently have in the county 5 is too low for his ability in that side.

Warner looked uncomfortable from ball one and once again we hear the 'he should have gone the slap method' people tend to forget that he made his way into the test side through runs in the shield batting like a 'batsmen' not a T20 slapper, im sure if he had played some sort of cross bat slap and got out he would have come under alot more critisism. I think he probably needs to stay in the side until someone in the shield smashes the door down.

Quiney is gone once Watson comes back only question will be, does Watson open or come in first drop?

Where is Ponting at im unsure? he will not be facing the lollipop Indian bowlers in unfamiliar conditions like he did last summer, this attack would have tested him even at his prime, im not sure he will see the summer out, personally i think him and Clarke should probably swap positions for now.

Cowan looked like Langer all over, out of all the top 3 batsmen i think he is the one worth persisting with, i think his got a solid foundation and its easier to teach agression than it is to develope a defence and a test match mentality which both Warner and Quiney need to find.

With the bowlers the main concern for mine is Hilfy, something doesnt look right, the arm is back to being very rounded and his dropped his pace back down to the low 130kms, i know he was probably the pick of the bowlers last summer but his such a risk to take in, if the pitch doesnt swing or seem he then has no other weapons and becomes average especially against the patient Saffies (remember his two wickets were the number 9 & 11 having a slap). I think this maybe the perfect chance to bring in Starc and really show him and Pattinson where they need to be at to compete against the worlds best batsmen. Even with Hilfy we are likely to lose the series, bring in Starc we may still lose the series but we would have gained in the future.

Rant Over.

[lutz]

Never listen to anything Ian Healy says.

He makes BT look good. Shocking caller.

regards,

REB

Pretty much the whole Channel 9 commentary team are ordinary imo. Outdated and boring. The Fox Sports and ABC coverage is a lot better imo.

mally, as usual you are spot on, 10 years ago dave would not have made shield cricket, good for a bit of hit and giggle but thats it, as for mr ed, well he couldnt make nsw so there you go, quiney in the right place at the right time, we need someone to grab the bull by the horns and say this spot is mine, unfortunately no one seems capable atm, i still think that hughes is a long term prospect along with davis from the west and maybe burns from qld, oh and lets not forget usman

That's pretty harsh. Warner was averaging above 50 at first class level before getting his call up. I like him as a player and think he has a lot of potential but the gap between his best and worst is huge, but so are a lot of people's.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Never listen to anything Ian Healy says.

He makes BT look good. Shocking caller.

regards,

REB

Better of two evils?!

[GWW]

2 of the best cricket commentators haven't been on tv for years - Keith Stackpole and Max Walker.

Most of the ones around today are cliches of themselves. Healy is up there with the worst, Chappell is obnoxious but admittedly his knowledge of the game is second to none.

I don't mind Slater.

[Phantom Gossiper]

Clarke is severely under-rated IMO.

Ponting and Hussey cop too much blame and negative attention from the media when the Aussies struggle..

Watson & Warner are put on pedastals for nothing - Warner although exciting when firing, was really only given the chance because of his flamboyant nature and he brings the new age crowd - puts bums on seats.. Watson is a very capable cricketer but is the poor mans Kallis.

Channel 9 have the worst commentators over all sports in the world hands down - just because you were a good player 15yr ago doesnt mean we want to listen to you THINK you know the game now and point out all the obvious crap EVERYONE knows i.e Michael Slater on T20 "It's the rock n roll version of the game.. you need to do this.. he is doing this for this reason.." HELLO SLATS WE BEEN WATCHING THIS CRAP FOR A WHILE NOW WE KNOW!!!!

[GWW]

A bit unfair on Shane Watson. He might not be up there with Kallis, but his last 3 or 4 years have been very good, main criticism would be his durability.

[Phantom Gossiper]

A bit unfair on Shane Watson. He might not be up there with Kallis, but his last 3 or 4 years have been very good, main criticism would be his durability.

Yeah nah fair call, but what makes me cranky is people talk him up like a god when he has and prob will always struggle with health & consistency, and on top of that really how good is he!? Better than say Symonds? Would he have made the aussie side in the glory days?!

Too much is unfairly placed on his shoulders..

[GWW]

In his form of the last few years, I would think he would make our side - fully fit - in most eras.

[Failed Creation]

2 of the best cricket commentators haven't been on tv for years - Keith Stackpole and Max Walker.

Most of the ones around today are cliches of themselves. Healy is up there with the worst, Chappell is obnoxious but admittedly his knowledge of the game is second to none.

I don't mind Slater.

I really don't mind the Channel 9 commentary team as it is (with Grieg and Lawry there of course). I do think Healy tries to lean towards being comic relief at times, but when he is analysing the game, I find him to be pretty astute. McGrath should improve with time, and makes rookie errors e.g. Saying 'we' instead of 'Australia'. I hope Tony Grieg recovers from his ill health, as it would be awesome to see him back.

[GWW]

I wish Tony Greig all the best in regaining full health, however that doesn't change the fact I don't rate him as a commentator.

[Failed Creation]

A bit unfair on Shane Watson. He might not be up there with Kallis, but his last 3 or 4 years have been very good, main criticism would be his durability.

Yeah nah fair call, but what makes me cranky is people talk him up like a god when he has and prob will always struggle with health & consistency, and on top of that really how good is he!? Better than say Symonds? Would he have made the aussie side in the glory days?!

Too much is unfairly placed on his shoulders..

Agreed. I think that while his fitness is unreliable, he really is a top shelf allrounder.

Watson is a more dangerous bowler than Symonds, but other than that, there's very little between them.

What's more tragic is the injuries that prevented the world from seeing how good an allrounder Steve Waugh could have become...