First Test Match at the WACA: Australia v South Africa

[silicone skyline]

Didn't think the Aussies did a lot wrong.

Fought hard from Day 1 to earn themselves a winning position and was chased down in a superb effort from South Africa.

It's a game, play on.

Great match, thoroughly enjoyed every day of it and the result was deserving of such a game.

Congratulations Sth Africa. Cmon Aussies, vengeance on Boxing Day.

[hearts on fire]

Ponting.. what a prick!
Taking aim at the bowlers for their loss.
Don't mention that the 1st Test overall collective average of Aust top 4 batsman was 63, when S.AF's was 134.
Especially when its the lower order & tail that is the reasons for half decent totals.

Don't mention that his Captaincy may have been $hithouse (only reason he's done any good in the past is because he had champions propping him up).
How about giving a few of the failures at the Top a spell or retirement package.

How about getting the selections right in the first place, instead of using a pair of bowlers that have only played a handful of 1st class games between them as scape goats.
Ahh lets start talking about Bollinger now that we are in trouble.. even tho he wasnt good enuf to be the obvious choice after last seasons effort with the ball.. or Hilfy for that matter.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 28,00.html
http://www.cricket.com.au/default.aspx? ... y&id=14826

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa ... 83714.html

How about the treatment of this fella.. p!ss poor, first block any possible return for the Redbacks and now keep him from our young bowling stocks??
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/austral ... 83338.html

Aussie Cricket needs a reality check on all levels if we are going to remain a force!

Ponting has pretty much blamed Lee for the loss in the news link, what a bastard.

[CoverKing]

Didn't think the Aussies did a lot wrong.

Fought hard from Day 1 to earn themselves a winning position and was chased down in a superb effort from South Africa.

It's a game, play on.

Great match, thoroughly enjoyed every day of it and the result was deserving of such a game.

Congratulations Sth Africa. Cmon Aussies, vengeance on Boxing Day.

well said SS i totally agree, maybe the aussies deserved to be a wicket or two closer but thats it. We were outplayed at important stages, we outplayed them at important stages, a great test match. Hopefully bounce back on boxing day

[FD88]

As far as I'm concerned Ponting SHOULD be putting much of the blame on Lee. Obviously our top order isn't performing at present and so they should feel some heat, but regardless of that we set them a target of 414 runs for victory. 414 runs! And on a fifth day pitch our supposed spearhead couldn't take a wicket. Granted it was flat but it still isn't good enough and he needs to start finding some form badly.

[MAY-Z]

interesting a lot of people suddenly on the anti-lee bandwaggon again after saying how great his form ws in his last match for getting a few new zealanders out. i dont see why people are blaming him alone as throughout the majority of his test career he has been a reasonably ordinary test bowler with the exception of last summer.

another interesting stat is that australia have only won 4 of their last 12 test matches and those four wins have come against against west indies and new zealand.

in that time ponting has averaged 44 (still good but well down on his career) hussey 34, hayden 30 and with the ball the only bowler averaging under 25 is hauritz- lee is 32 and stu clark 29.

if symonds isnt fit to bowl he shouldnt be playing, and if he is fit to bowl why wasnt he used. watsons bowling average over teh last 12 matches is the 4th best for australia with all his bowling coming in the unhelpful indian conditions against the best batsmen in teh owrld in those conditions.

so i think this shows that the majority of the team need to lift not just the bowlers, another poor reflection on pontings leadership in my opinion

[LaughingKookaburra]

Ponting.. what a prick!
Taking aim at the bowlers for their loss.
Don't mention that the 1st Test overall collective average of Aust top 4 batsman was 63, when S.AF's was 134.
Especially when its the lower order & tail that is the reasons for half decent totals.

Don't mention that his Captaincy may have been $hithouse (only reason he's done any good in the past is because he had champions propping him up).
How about giving a few of the failures at the Top a spell or retirement package.

How about getting the selections right in the first place, instead of using a pair of bowlers that have only played a handful of 1st class games between them as scape goats.
Ahh lets start talking about Bollinger now that we are in trouble.. even tho he wasnt good enuf to be the obvious choice after last seasons effort with the ball.. or Hilfy for that matter.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 28,00.html
http://www.cricket.com.au/default.aspx? ... y&id=14826

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa ... 83714.html

How about the treatment of this fella.. p!ss poor, first block any possible return for the Redbacks and now keep him from our young bowling stocks??
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/austral ... 83338.html

Aussie Cricket needs a reality check on all levels if we are going to remain a force!

Ponting has pretty much blamed Lee for the loss in the news link, what a bastard.

There is deeper issues with B.Lee than we all know about I beleive,he had issues in India and fact of the matter is if he is not bowling 145kph + in that side he is dead set useless. Can't hurt bringing Hilf in the side,at least he offers something different to up and down 140 kph balls that neither move in the air or off the deck. I still beleive we can beat or at least draw with these blokes, but more homework needs to be done on the South African top order. Very good line up imho, if you replaces McKenzie with Gibbs (Who is in rehab) it would be a great line up. But I reckon they maybe a bit suspicious to swing hints why hilf gets the nod. Time will tell..... Also btw throw Hughes a cap if we lose the next test, who cares if we lose the worlds number ranking, it's the best way we would get it back in due time.....