Australia v South Africa (2nd Test)

[Media Park]

Cummo got deVilliers, and Prince was run out.

[RustyCage]

HM Amla c †Haddin b Johnson 105 (332m 243b 14x4 0x6) SR: 43.20

84.1
Johnson to Amla, OUT, Mitch has removed Amla, huge wicket for Australia, they haven't done badly at all this morning, Mitch slants it across Amla from short of a length, not too much on the angle, close to Amla too, maybe that is why he pokes at it, and Haddin does the rest

[hearts on fire]

Johnson 1-92 off 24
Cummins 3-54 off 23
Siddle 0-55 off 22
Lyon 1-41 off 11
Hussey 0-9 off 4
Clarke 0-2 off 2
Ponting 0-8 off 1

Boucher 13*
Philander 2*

deVilliers 73 c Clarke b Cummins
Amla 105 c Haddin b Johnson

SA 6/266, 87 over gone this innings, at drinks session 1, day 4.

[Media Park]

lyon just got boucher caught at slip.

[hearts on fire]

SA lost 4/29 so far this morning

[Media Park]

Unfortunately one of my favorite all-time cricketers, Mark Boucher, is not up to the task of Test match batting anymore.
Standing back to seamers he could probably keep for another three or four years, but there's no doubt a handy young keeper floating around that could improve with the willow.
Will shortly be scouring FC cricket in RSA to find who should replace him, but unfortunately it is time.

Edit- Aside from playing an extra batsman or all-rounder, and giving de Villiers the gloves, I find myself drawn to Tumelo Bodibe, he's a few days shy of 24, and is the incumbent Griqualand West keeper.
Averages only 24 with the bat over 63 first class matches, but it is something that can improve in time. And 12 stumpings in his 63 games (Boucher has managed just 22 in 140 Tests), shows that he also goes alright keeping to spin, a question mark with Boucher.

[Jim05]

Unfortunately one of my favorite all-time cricketers, Mark Boucher, is not up to the task of Test match batting anymore.
Standing back to seamers he could probably keep for another three or four years, but there's no doubt a handy young keeper floating around that could improve with the willow.
Will shortly be scouring FC cricket in RSA to find who should replace him, but unfortunately it is time.

Yeah his batting is ordinary at the moment. Has been a good keeper probably not in the great category but solid. Been lucky to have a mainly pace attack as he is good to quicks but his keeping to spin was never flash.
Is this the last test match for both the keepers as i cant see Haddin keeping for the NZ series

[Media Park]

Unfortunately one of my favorite all-time cricketers, Mark Boucher, is not up to the task of Test match batting anymore.
Standing back to seamers he could probably keep for another three or four years, but there's no doubt a handy young keeper floating around that could improve with the willow.
Will shortly be scouring FC cricket in RSA to find who should replace him, but unfortunately it is time.

Yeah his batting is ordinary at the moment. Has been a good keeper probably not in the great category but solid. Been lucky to have a mainly pace attack as he is good to quicks but his keeping to spin was never flash.
Is this the last test match for both the keepers as i cant see Haddin keeping for the NZ series

Haddins last four test matches (excluding current match altogether):
Vs South Africa: 5 & 0
Vs Sri Lanka: 35 & 30
Vs Sri Lanka: 1 & DNB
Vs Sri Lanka: 24 & 0

[Jim05]

Lyon raps Steyn on pads and given not out.
Aussies review it and it is hitting but original call stands

[Media Park]

It happens once and a while, but I am sometimes wrong.

Pat "Cummo" Cummins has performed well in this Test match, more credit to him to be achieving this in his fourth first class match, and at just 18 years of age.
15-3-38-1 In the first dig was good, bowled a few threatening balls, didn't go for many runs, and picked up the wicket of Hashim Amla.

To this point of the second dig 25-4-59-3 is an even better effort, adding Rudolph, Kallis and de Villiers to his list of Test victims. Again, has not gone for too many runs, and he has converted at least one T20 cynic into believing he could be a long term Test option.

[dedja]

good effort spoof ...

[stampy]

good effort spoof ...

took me a third look

[Squids]

Why aren't we taking the new ball?

[Media Park]

Why aren't we taking the new ball?

Squids asks, and Pup delivers.
Johnson back with the new rock.

[stampy]

get these pricks out ffs!

[the joker]

Probably were just holding off to see if Lyon could have knocked over the tail. He has done fairly well in the series with a lack of opportunities on wickets that haven't helped spinners

[Media Park]

Nathan Lyon:

Test 1: 0/11
Test 2: 2/52 (13) and 2/57 (16) [so far]

[the joker]

Nathan Lyon:

Test 1: 0/11
Test 2: 2/52 (13) and 2/57 (16) [so far]

there ok numbers. Averaging 30

[hearts on fire]

Start of day SA in box seat.... mid morning finally we take a few wickets and are in with half a chance.... almost lunch time and two tail enders are batting us out of the game.... why. we just let things slip so quickly.

I never thought we were a chance to win, but it should be alot closer than it is.... Steyn, Morkel and co will roll us for 200.

[the joker]

Looks ok to bat on.