Australia v South Africa (2nd Test)

[Lightning McQueen]

Pretty sure I had heard earlier (even a year ago) that it is more to do with South Africa wanting to host Australia on Boxing Day and Australia refusing to do so. I think this will happen one day but whoever decides to do so wont be popular and you wont see either team play each other on Boxing Day until it happens unfortunately.

That's the arrogance of Australian Cricket, I'm not complaining but we've had at least 5 tests during Australia's summer for as long as I can remember. I thought it would be getting into the colder months by now over in South Africa.
I thought the ICC scheduled the programs to ensure thart all nations play each other both home and away over a certain period of time to get an accurate gauge on who's ranked where.

[FlyingHigh]

Agree LM, it seems total arrogance on our behalf considering it would only be 1 in every eight years we'd be giving up our Boxing Day to play in South Africa's. We accuse the sub-continent countries of having their own way to the detriment of the game, but here we are looking after our own financial greed over promoting the game of cricket.
We'd still easily get our fill of cricket, two tests in November, four from second week of Jan to Feb.

[smac]

Summer in SAF is the same as here in Australia.

Can't see CA ever giving up the boxing day test in Melbourne, we'll have to put up with pre season tests over there for a while yet I reckon.

[Jim05]

Stuff the Saffers, their attendance is woeful. Until they can guarantee a decent crowd they dont deserve a boxing day test

[Gozu]

Series Stats

Australia

Batting

Clarke-166 runs @ 41.5
Hughes-117 runs @ 29.25
Johnson-101 runs @ 50.5
Watson-95 runs @ 23.75
Khawaja-77 runs @ 38.5
Haddin-76 runs @ 19
Ponting-70 runs @ 17.5
Hussey-60 runs @ 15
Marsh-44 runs @ 22
Siddle-36 runs @ 12
Lyon-17 runs @ 8.5
Cummins-15 runs @ 15
Harris-8 runs @ 4

Bowling

Cummins-7wk @ 16.71
Watson-6wk @ 12.33
Harris-4wk @ 25
Lyon-4wk @ 30
Siddle-4wk @ 51.25
Johnson-3wk @ 85
Clarke-2wk @ 4
Ponting-0/8
Hussey-0/24

South Africa

Batting

Amla-239 runs @ 59.75
Smith-185 runs @ 61.66
de Villiers-145 runs @ 48.33
Rudolph-86 runs @ 21.5
Steyn-65 runs @ 65
Kallis-58 runs @ 19.33
Prince-52 runs @ 17.33
Philander-27 runs @ 9
Boucher-20 runs @ 6.66
Tahir-9 runs @ 4.5
Morkel-7 runs @ 2.33

Bowling

Philander-14wk @ 13.92
Steyn-11wk @ 21.81
Morkel-8wk @ 24.5
Tahir-4wk @ 38.25
Kallis-1wk @ 121

[Ewok]

The stats for Siddle and Johnson's bowling don't make for pretty reading,about as penetrating as a bloke with a 1inch d**k

[Dogwatcher]

And an Ewok would know

[Pat Malone]

It reeally is an amazing game, player for player I think the saffers are way better than us.

Smith vs Hughes: Smith
Rudolph vs Watson: Watson
Amla vs Usman: Amla
Kallis vs Ponting: Kallis
de Villiers vs Clark: I can't decide - definitely Pup
Prince vs Hussey: Hussey
Boucher vs Haddin: Boucher - Comparable keepers in average form, Haddin slightly better though
Philanderer vs Johnson: Philanderer
Steyn vs Siddle: Steyn
Morkel vs Cummins: Inconclusive
Tahir vs Lyon: Tahir - I have Lyon ahead here

7/2 and two 50/50's, perhaps I'm a bit rough on Haddin and Clark, but then again Morkel has proven himself over a greater period of time than Cummins and I haven't seen enough of Prince to rate him igher than Huss, how did we win

I have it SA 5 AUS 4, calling a draw on Keepers and Cummins/Morkel.

Clarke is better than de Villiers for sure. Also if you compare Hughes to Rudolph then Hughes probably comes out on top. And Watson as an all rounder vs Smith as an opener, I say Watto.

[Lightning McQueen]

It reeally is an amazing game, player for player I think the saffers are way better than us.

Smith vs Hughes: Smith
Rudolph vs Watson: Watson
Amla vs Usman: Amla
Kallis vs Ponting: Kallis
de Villiers vs Clark: I can't decide - definitely Pup
Prince vs Hussey: Hussey
Boucher vs Haddin: Boucher - Comparable keepers in average form, Haddin slightly better though
Philanderer vs Johnson: Philanderer
Steyn vs Siddle: Steyn
Morkel vs Cummins: Inconclusive
Tahir vs Lyon: Tahir - I have Lyon ahead here

7/2 and two 50/50's, perhaps I'm a bit rough on Haddin and Clark, but then again Morkel has proven himself over a greater period of time than Cummins and I haven't seen enough of Prince to rate him igher than Huss, how did we win

I have it SA 5 AUS 4, calling a draw on Keepers and Cummins/Morkel.

Clarke is better than de Villiers for sure. Also if you compare Hughes to Rudolph then Hughes probably comes out on top. And Watson as an all rounder vs Smith as an opener, I say Watto.

de Villiers averages more than Clarke and I'd say over the past 24 months de Villiers and Rudolph have done more than Clarke and Hughes.
If you are going to give Watto the nod because of his all-round abilities it would be fairer to compare him to Kallis and Smith to Ponting and then the stats weigh up worse for us.
I wouldn't be so convinced in just assuming Clarke is better than AB, he has a tremendous record and is the best fielder in the world.

[David Brent]

It reeally is an amazing game, player for player I think the saffers are way better than us.

Smith vs Hughes: Smith
Rudolph vs Watson: Watson
Amla vs Usman: Amla
Kallis vs Ponting: Kallis
de Villiers vs Clark: I can't decide
Prince vs Hussey: Hussey
Boucher vs Haddin: Boucher
Philanderer vs Johnson: Philanderer
Steyn vs Siddle: Steyn
Morkel vs Cummins: Inconclusive
Tahir vs Lyon: Tahir

7/2 and two 50/50's, perhaps I'm a bit rough on Haddin and Clark, but then again Morkel has proven himself over a greater period of time than Cummins and I haven't seen enough of Prince to rate him igher than Huss, how did we win

How can you use that thought process of Morkel V Cummins but not for Johnson v Philanderer. Surely Johnson has proven himself like Morkel in the past even if he is bowling pies atm.

[Lightning McQueen]

It reeally is an amazing game, player for player I think the saffers are way better than us.

Smith vs Hughes: Smith
Rudolph vs Watson: Watson
Amla vs Usman: Amla
Kallis vs Ponting: Kallis
de Villiers vs Clark: I can't decide
Prince vs Hussey: Hussey
Boucher vs Haddin: Boucher
Philanderer vs Johnson: Philanderer
Steyn vs Siddle: Steyn
Morkel vs Cummins: Inconclusive
Tahir vs Lyon: Tahir

7/2 and two 50/50's, perhaps I'm a bit rough on Haddin and Clark, but then again Morkel has proven himself over a greater period of time than Cummins and I haven't seen enough of Prince to rate him igher than Huss, how did we win

How can you use that thought process of Morkel V Cummins but not for Johnson v Philanderer. Surely Johnson has proven himself like Morkel in the past even if he is bowling pies atm.

Recent form, you answered your own question, averaged 85 with the ball this series, Morkel's hardly been shameful. I don't think Johnson has taken 14 wickets this year, Philanderer did it in two tests, no brainer for mine, he's been a better player.

[Jim05]

Spot on LM.
Anyone who has to shorten their run up just to hit the pitch needs to piss off back to shield cricket.
Philander was more dangerous than the worlds best quick all series. Anyone who can out bowl Steyn gets the nod from me

[Pat Malone]

If you want to do it that way, including recent form as you have applied with Philanderer, pick your best XI from the 2 teams. For me,

Watson
Smith
Amla
Kallis
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Philanderer
Steyn
Cummins
Lyon

That's 5 Saffers, 6 Aussies. Morkel could easily take Cummin's spot without too much debate, but Haddin has actually been in better form that Boucher with the bat, and I think Lyon bowled better than Tahir and is a better bowler. Keeping with recent form, Clarke over AB, also an excellent fielder and has been in the wickets in the last couple series.

[Jim05]

My Team of the Series in batting order
Watson
Smith
Amla
Kallis
Clarke
De Villiers
Haddin
Steyn
Philander
Cummins
Lyon

[Rik E Boy]

Saffers way ahead for sure. Remember that these blokes haven't played test cricket all year. A good effort by our boys though a sensational test victory. Who needs that teeball crap?

regards,

REB

[stan]

Cracking win in the end which in my opinion topped of a reasonable series. Apart from that piss poor effort in the second innings of the first test, generally we have played some good cricket.
Cummings is a ripping find. I think he has taken something like 5 shield wickets and now 7 test wickets. This kid goes alright but we need to be careful about over bowling him, he is still only 18 and has plenty of offer.

For me I think our last few series under clarke have been ok. We beat Sri Lanka 1 - 0 over there and now 1 - 1 against the South Africans on there home deck. So based on that we have been doing ok in the last 2 series.

But from mine we need to start looking at Haddin and looking a getting perhaps Wade in. I think Haddin is starting to struggle and the time is right for a change.
Pointing well, you know he did alright but I feel maybe this is his chance to go out on a high, perhaps giving him the home series against NZ to say goodbye, perhaps maybe thats the same with Haddin as well.
Also with Khawaja, for god sakes keep him in the side, he will only keep getting better.

All in all it was a reasonable performance considering the state of the current team.

[Rik E Boy]

Despite his batting heroics, surely it is Johnson who is on thin ice. When we faced the Saffers' bowling it was pressure pressure pressure. When we bowl as soon as Johnson comes on the pressure is automatically released. We don't have an experienced enough attack to carry Johnsons 4 to 5 runs (and sometimes even worse) and over. Send him to the Warriors, he responded beautifully last time he copped a rest.

regards,

REB

[stan]

Despite his batting heroics, surely it is Johnson who is on thin ice. When we faced the Saffers' bowling it was pressure pressure pressure. When we bowl as soon as Johnson comes on the pressure is automatically released. We don't have an experienced enough attack to carry Johnsons 4 to 5 runs (and sometimes even worse) and over. Send him to the Warriors, he responded beautifully last time he copped a rest.

regards,

REB

Yep agree with that REB. In my team for the first test against NZ I stated that he needs some work.
I suggested Cutting, but maybe Harris and Siddle in the same side? Bit of experiance for Cummings and Lyon.

[Dogwatcher]

Harris, Watson, Marsh.
Good players, when not injured.

[tigerpie]

One of the best tests ever. Interesting to see Haddin still had his pads on at the end.
Using Tahir was odd considering if you can keep his wrongun out he'll give you 2 full tosses an over.
Replacing Philander with him instead of Steyn may have been forced as Gould gave him 2 warnings for running on the pitch. So he bowled at Billy's end....its the only conclusion i can make as to why.....unless....nah surely not!!!!