Aus vs SAF Series

[Grahaml]

How's Ian Healy's suggested declaration going?

I think his idea was probably the go until Clarke and Cowan batted us into such a good position, if we had lost wickets and the tail were in we should have declared imho

I thought it was a crazy idea. But all former leaders get a lot more aggressive in the commentary box. Easy to make a lot of moves when there aren't any consequences. No way did we want to be in a position of needing 250-300 on day 5 to win.

[therisingblues]

Of course in tomorrows Advertiser, their cricket writers will be full of praise for Clarke, Cowan and Hussey and rightly so. Will crap on that Aust are the only team that can win and how the Aussies are capable of going toe to toe with the world champs blah blah blah.
All after only a couple of days ago after only 1 day into the series the same writers lambasted the Australian bowlers and the team in general, completely writing them off as a legitimite challenger to S.A. Their justification ? - Sth Africa rack up 2/280 odd on a road. Pathetic journalism.

Sounds like you're ropable about what you think they're going to write.
On the other hand many a poster has had to (gladly) eat their own words on here.
Great day for the Aussies.

[Grahaml]

Pressure does funny things especially when the win is out of the question. The Saffies will just be batting for survival!!!

How many overs is there in a days play (90)?

Would think a lead of around 175-200 with a few overs before lunch at them would have them a tad uncomfortable especially at 1/0 straight up.

Will be interesting to see what fields smith sets up in the morning, will he go defensive and just try and delay the declaration or will he try and get a couple of quick wickets and take the declaration away.

I doubt they even need that much of a lead. I don't see them scoring 100 a session on the last day much less the 250 they'd need to even give us a tricky run chase. I'd bat 20-25 overs, aim for 100 runs and declare 140 or so in front. We'd need to bowl them out for something like that to win, if they get 50 ahead then so be it.

If there 105 overs I could see them batting around another 35 overs with an increased aggression at say 4 an over that would give us another 140 runs.

70 overs to get 9 wickets

Big chance of only getting 100 in a day. I don't think we gain any benefit batting on longer than 25 overs. Maybe even less might be the go, get 80 ahead and see what happens. The longer we bat, the easier for them to bat it out for a draw and we know they won't be setting us a target. We can't lose, so why bat ourselves into a harder position to win? The only reason I'd bat on is because scoring the runs we'd need should be easier at the start of the day than the end and to have their batsmen wondering when they will need to face the music. Not to mention give our bowlers a better preparation.

[therisingblues]

AUS 487/4 (121.0 Overs)
Stumps - Australia lead by 37 runs with 6 wkts remaining in the 1st innings
Batsmen R B 4s 6s SR
MJ Clarke * not out 218 350 21 0 62.29
MEK Hussey not out 86 109 12 0 78.9

[Grahaml]

Of course in tomorrows Advertiser, their cricket writers will be full of praise for Clarke, Cowan and Hussey and rightly so. Will crap on that Aust are the only team that can win and how the Aussies are capable of going toe to toe with the world champs blah blah blah.
All after only a couple of days ago after only 1 day into the series the same writers lambasted the Australian bowlers and the team in general, completely writing them off as a legitimite challenger to S.A. Their justification ? - Sth Africa rack up 2/280 odd on a road. Pathetic journalism.

I think the bowlers deserved the critism, they wasted the new ball as badly as I have seen in a long time.

If it wasn't for the day of rain and their tail just going the slap to move the game on they probably would have finished well over 500 with only 9 wickets

I think the poor bowling was largely due to the bowlers feeling the need to find something extra. Most of them are fairly inexperienced and might not quite have the temperament to keep hitting a good length, taking the good with the bad and staying patient as Glenn McGrath would have done. But I agree, the journos just look at the score and nothing else. I was calling a draw even after the first session on day 2 was lost.

[Grahaml]

While they went at a good pace in the last hour Im not sure why they didnt really put the foot down a bit earlier and be 100 in front tonight, had plenty of wickets in hand and will need every over they can get tomorrow.

4 RPO in a test match innings not enough? The only reason we're thinking of an Aussie win is because they kept the run rate up.

[Media Park]

Michael Clarke's Test batting average is above fifty, he's averaging about 111 in 2012. Unreal stuff.
Hashim Amla bowling 2-0-0-9, absolutely love seeing these giggle bowlers going about it.

Australia really may as well try and bat as long as they can tomorrow, basically no chance of a result.
Bat Huss into a real good paddock, let Clarke go for another triple.

A declaration mid tomorrow, and we see Smith and Petersen get to around 0-130, and our bowlers are under more pressure.

[whufc]

Pressure does funny things especially when the win is out of the question. The Saffies will just be batting for survival!!!

How many overs is there in a days play (90)?

Would think a lead of around 175-200 with a few overs before lunch at them would have them a tad uncomfortable especially at 1/0 straight up.

Will be interesting to see what fields smith sets up in the morning, will he go defensive and just try and delay the declaration or will he try and get a couple of quick wickets and take the declaration away.

I doubt they even need that much of a lead. I don't see them scoring 100 a session on the last day much less the 250 they'd need to even give us a tricky run chase. I'd bat 20-25 overs, aim for 100 runs and declare 140 or so in front. We'd need to bowl them out for something like that to win, if they get 50 ahead then so be it.

If there 105 overs I could see them batting around another 35 overs with an increased aggression at say 4 an over that would give us another 140 runs.

70 overs to get 9 wickets

Big chance of only getting 100 in a day. I don't think we gain any benefit batting on longer than 25 overs. Maybe even less might be the go, get 80 ahead and see what happens. The longer we bat, the easier for them to bat it out for a draw and we know they won't be setting us a target. We can't lose, so why bat ourselves into a harder position to win? The only reason I'd bat on is because scoring the runs we'd need should be easier at the start of the day than the end and to have their batsmen wondering when they will need to face the music. Not to mention give our bowlers a better preparation.

Really!!!

We are not going to win this game by bowling them out and then knocking off runs when the Saffies can set any fields etc etc.

Our best chance of winning is to get 175-200 ahead and somehow bowl them out cheaper.

Even if we bat a tad longer we can then set ultra agressive fields knowing their defensive mentality and can control the amount of overs in the day etc etc

We have nothing to lose so put all the pressure on them.

[Jim05]

Michael Clarke's Test batting average is above fifty, he's averaging about 111 in 2012. Unreal stuff.
Hashim Amla bowling 2-0-0-9, absolutely love seeing these giggle bowlers going about it.

Australia really may as well try and bat as long as they can tomorrow, basically no chance of a result.
Bat Huss into a real good paddock, let Clarke go for another triple.

A declaration mid tomorrow, and we see Smith and Petersen get to around 0-130, and our bowlers are under more pressure.

I dont agree.
Reckon we have to back our bowlers in, hopefully pick up a few early wickets and panic will set in. We only need 9 wickets aswell dont forget. Kallis looked to be struggling in the field today, the wear and tear is starting to show on him and DeVilliers has been keeping for a fair stint.
I reckon we are a decent chance to roll them or at least get a physcological advantage before next week

[Dutchy]

While they went at a good pace in the last hour Im not sure why they didnt really put the foot down a bit earlier and be 100 in front tonight, had plenty of wickets in hand and will need every over they can get tomorrow.

4 RPO in a test match innings not enough? The only reason we're thinking of an Aussie win is because they kept the run rate up.

I said they went at a good pace, but it could have been a touch better with all those wickets in the shed, if we were 100 ahead tonight, bat for 10 tomorrow and whack them in. Even if we need 100 off 10 to win in the 2nd dig we would be a chance with Warner. Im just worried we will run out of overs and they will be 7 or 8 down...

[Grahaml]

While they went at a good pace in the last hour Im not sure why they didnt really put the foot down a bit earlier and be 100 in front tonight, had plenty of wickets in hand and will need every over they can get tomorrow.

4 RPO in a test match innings not enough? The only reason we're thinking of an Aussie win is because they kept the run rate up.

I said they went at a good pace, but it could have been a touch better with all those wickets in the shed, if we were 100 ahead tonight, bat for 10 tomorrow and whack them in. Even if we need 100 off 10 to win in the 2nd dig we would be a chance with Warner. Im just worried we will run out of overs and they will be 7 or 8 down...

You said they went at a good pace in the last hour. 4 RPO for a whole innings is a great run rate for the whole innings. Not sure when you think they should have gone faster, maybe from 3/50 we should have sent in a pinch hitter?

[Dutchy]

Nah 3/40

[Q.]

Yeah, I thought that once they were close to reaching the Saffers total they could have gone for it a bit more, but I guess it's also important for a guy like Hussey to play himself into some form.

[CoverKing]

Hussey is striking at 78.9 runs per 100 balls. I think people questioning his and clarkes run rate are very harsh. remember there will be approx 105 overs tomorrow. we had to make sure we were not going to lose this test match before we tried to win it IMO.

We have made a statement against the saffers attack. if we can bat for 25 overs tomorrow and score at 6 an over. Thats 150 runs with a lead of 187 with 2 and a bit sessions to play. We won't lose from there but we sure as hell can win from there.

[therisingblues]

Hussey is striking at 78.9 runs per 100 balls. I think people questioning his and clarkes run rate are very harsh. remember there will be approx 105 overs tomorrow. we had to make sure we were not going to lose this test match before we tried to win it IMO.

We have made a statement against the saffers attack. if we can bat for 25 overs tomorrow and score at 6 an over. Thats 150 runs with a lead of 187 with 2 and a bit sessions to play. We won't lose from there but we sure as hell can win from there.

This is a key point IMO. Next time they go out and try to grind a win by slowly putting together a massive first innings total, they'll understand that we're able to go with it and potentially past it, finally making them chase a modest total on a fifth day wicket to avoid defeat.
Perhaps next time they'll try to bat quicker or make a sporting declaration, and the mass of runs the Aussies have put on in good time here in Brisbane will force them to be a little more creative.
Love the way this test has turned on its head with one huge partnership between Clarke and Cowan.

[Lightning McQueen]

Hussey is striking at 78.9 runs per 100 balls. I think people questioning his and clarkes run rate are very harsh. remember there will be approx 105 overs tomorrow. we had to make sure we were not going to lose this test match before we tried to win it IMO.

We have made a statement against the saffers attack. if we can bat for 25 overs tomorrow and score at 6 an over. Thats 150 runs with a lead of 187 with 2 and a bit sessions to play. We won't lose from there but we sure as hell can win from there.

I don't think anyone is questioning the Clarke/Hussey partnership run rate, I'd say they were moving at around 8 for the final half a dozen overs at least. It was sitting at around 3.5 til they got together IIRC.

[Lightning McQueen]

Yeah, I thought that once they were close to reaching the Saffers total they could have gone for it a bit more, but I guess it's also important for a guy like Hussey to play himself into some form.

How sweet was his timing when he did hit the ball?

[Sky Pilot]

Michael Clarke's Test batting average is above fifty, he's averaging about 111 in 2012. Unreal stuff.
Hashim Amla bowling 2-0-0-9, absolutely love seeing these giggle bowlers going about it.

Australia really may as well try and bat as long as they can tomorrow, basically no chance of a result.
Bat Huss into a real good paddock, let Clarke go for another triple.

A declaration mid tomorrow, and we see Smith and Petersen get to around 0-130, and our bowlers are under more pressure.

I dont agree.
Reckon we have to back our bowlers in, hopefully pick up a few early wickets and panic will set in. We only need 9 wickets aswell dont forget. Kallis looked to be struggling in the field today, the wear and tear is starting to show on him and DeVilliers has been keeping for a fair stint.
I reckon we are a decent chance to roll them or at least get a physcological advantage before next week

I agree with this - any disturbance we can implant in the Saffers heads counts in our favour in the upcoming tests.

[Q.]

Yeah, I thought that once they were close to reaching the Saffers total they could have gone for it a bit more, but I guess it's also important for a guy like Hussey to play himself into some form.

How sweet was his timing when he did hit the ball?

Amazeballs. Love those cover drives.

[Bum Crack]

Will we have 100 overs today due to the rain Saturday? Surely bat for 20 overs agressively and give our bowlers 80 overs to bowl them out. Can definitely be done. I think we'll get over the line.