South Africa v Aussies 3rd test

[rod_rooster]

Latest news is McGain in and North out.

Not taking a spare batsman on this tour has made the lineup weaker for this Test than it should be. Disappointing really that such an oversight can be made.

[Rik E Boy]

Latest news is McGain in and North out.

Not taking a spare batsman on this tour has made the lineup weaker for this Test than it should be. Disappointing really that such an oversight can be made.

The selectors have arsed it up again. Imagine dropping a batsman who has the runs?

regards,

REB

[Interceptor]

4-81

Two ducks already and with the weaker lineup, we could be bowling before stumps.

[am Bays]

Is it me or are the Saffies pitching it up more this test...

Good bowling by Steyn to get Clarke. Morkel's ball to Ponting wasn't bad...

[purch]

Tour Averages: Australia Batting

Player .......Average
PJ Hughes - 76.60
MG Johnson - 48.50
SM Katich - 44.25
MJ North - 40.00
RT Ponting - 39.60
BJ Haddin - 35.00
MJ Clarke - 23.50
MEK Hussey - 18.60

[Hondo]

If Huss fails this test, what's the rational basis for taking to the Ashes? At age 34 he's not going to improve from here to retirement, whenever that is. He's officially on the downward slide.

His last 14 tests he's averaged 31.76 with only 1 century and only 1 good series in 5. Just not good enough IMO.

He'll probably go but he's forced the selectors to take a contingency plan (ie, Ferguson).

If he wasn't so popular I think there'd be harder questions being asked. He's got 1 more test to convince me!

Down to 1 more innings

[Interceptor]

If Huss fails this test, what's the rational basis for taking to the Ashes? At age 34 he's not going to improve from here to retirement, whenever that is. He's officially on the downward slide.

His last 14 tests he's averaged 31.76 with only 1 century and only 1 good series in 5. Just not good enough IMO.

He'll probably go but he's forced the selectors to take a contingency plan (ie, Ferguson).

If he wasn't so popular I think there'd be harder questions being asked. He's got 1 more test to convince me!

Down to 1 more innings

He was a bit unlucky today, but that sort of thing happens when you having a rough trot.

I imagine he'll get a start in the Ashes, but if Mr Cricket continues his slide to Mr Croquet, he could find himself dropped mid series.

[CoverKing]

ala michael slater was.

Katich's shot??

[Pup]

If Huss fails this test, what's the rational basis for taking to the Ashes? At age 34 he's not going to improve from here to retirement, whenever that is. He's officially on the downward slide.

His last 14 tests he's averaged 31.76 with only 1 century and only 1 good series in 5. Just not good enough IMO.

He'll probably go but he's forced the selectors to take a contingency plan (ie, Ferguson).

If he wasn't so popular I think there'd be harder questions being asked. He's got 1 more test to convince me!

Down to 1 more innings

You certainly are on the Hussey witch hunt of late aren't you Hondo...

Will stay in the side no matter what happens in the next innings but lets hope he gets some runs on the board.

[Pup]

Making runs against an attack featuring Paul Harris........ wow that's impressive

3 for 12 from 10 overs.

[Pup]

Steyn again hits McDonald in the helmet for the third time in as many tests, really does not seem to like the quick stuff. Battling hard though.

6/162 and South Africa should be batting tonight unless Mitch and McDonald can pull something together.

[FD88]

8/190 with McDonald and Siddle going quickly after one another. Aren't the South African commentators taking delight in saying we're in trouble this innings? Hopefully Mitch can smash a few extra runs to push the total past 200.

Not convinced we're in that much trouble as long as we bowl with the same discipline as in the first two tests. The ball has been misbehaving with variable bounce and movement off the seam. Could be a low scoring test match.

[FD88]

BJ and co. raise a good point - a lot of chances haven't been taken by South Africa today. To me this is further evidence that the deck isn't playing as well as people thought, we don't usually offer so many dismissal opportunities. It really has the look of a quick test match with few runs to be scored by either side, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamic sets itself when the Saffies hit the crease.

Mitch gone for a spritely as usual 35. 9/209

[FD88]

All out for 209, McGain the final victim. Should be a fascinating period of play tonight.

[FD88]

So the commentary team bar Clark is disagreeing, saying it's movement through the air that did us moreso than the pitch. Surprising really, it's clearly seaming around.

Commence Hilf magic!

[stan]

All our for 209 and the South Africans 0/57. They are all over us at the moment and we look like...well we look like we are treating it as a dead rubber.

[Hondo]

You certainly are on the Hussey witch hunt of late aren't you Hondo...

Will stay in the side no matter what happens in the next innings but lets hope he gets some runs on the board.

This is why! He's 34 and in a worse and longer form slump than Hayden was. Hayden was railroaded out of town but the Huss gets this extended easy ride of excuses, and has barely a headline in the media. Why? Because there seems to be a popularity contest element to the way we support our cricket team.

I don't normally hunt down players however with Hussey I feel there's a hyprocrisy in some sections of the media and fan-base. A popular buzz term now is "players are in the team on form, not on reputation". Yet, when questioned on Mr Popular / Mr Cricket the response is basically "ignore his form, pick him on reputation".

In some defence there's 3 things different to Hayden:
- 3 years younger (not a lot really!)
- we are winning
- there's no obvious young gun that we can accuse Hussey of keeping out of the side (a la Hughes and Hayden)

Those last 2 are all that will save him for the Ashes. Besides, he still has one more innings to convince me

[rod_rooster]

Latest news is McGain in and North out.

Not taking a spare batsman on this tour has made the lineup weaker for this Test than it should be. Disappointing really that such an oversight can be made.

http://content.cricinfo.com/rsavaus2009/content/current/story/395928.html

[wycbloods]

An even day, with South Africa just taking honours after its efforts today. Join us tomorrow for Day 2 of the Third Castle Test between South Africa and Australia and Newlands

Are they serious ? South Africa are miles infront here. They haven't "just" taken the honours they have smashed us on day one.

[FD88]

We got to a similar position before collapsing so who knows what tonight will bring with good bowling.