South Africa v Aussies 3rd test

[Hondo]

Averages for the South Africa/Australia series

Australia

Bowling

Hilfenhaus-7wk @ 52.3

What's the critical assessment here? Has he been as good as his fans thought he would be?

My feeling is Stuey Clark is still the better option in that bowling role, if fit. Hilf looks good but not outstanding - or not as good as Clark at least.

[Dutchy]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

[LBT]

Averages for the South Africa/Australia series

Australia

Bowling

Hilfenhaus-7wk @ 52.3

What's the critical assessment here? Has he been as good as his fans thought he would be?

My feeling is Stuey Clark is still the better option in that bowling role, if fit. Hilf looks good but not outstanding - or not as good as Clark at least.

Stuey Clark would be my pick but the selectors seem worried about "the swing factor" having been burnt by Cooley and his bowlers in 05. Apparently swinging the ball is Hilfy's strength but I am yet so see much evidence of this.

[LBT]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

His 99 N.O was in a first dig wasnt it?

[Dutchy]

not in this test match

[Dirko]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

Yeah pretty easy...pity non of the Batsmen followed his lead though.

[JK]

Batting

Johnson-85
Hughes-69.2
Katich-43.3
North-40
Ponting-35
Haddin-33
Clarke-28.2
McDonald-23
Hussey-22
Siddle-7.8
Hilfenhaus-7
McGain-1

Question for the cricketing guru's ... Is this list of averages good or bad for us?

Is it good that we had players fill the void instead of relying on just Ponting, Hussey and Clarke (and unexpected players at that) or is this something we're going to need to continue (ie, need runs from players other than Punter and Pup)?

[jackpot jim]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

Yeah pretty easy...pity non of the Batsmen followed his lead though.

It was a Sensational ton by Johson reguardless of wether the pressure was off or not. Wasn't his fault the position they were in. The brilliant strokeplay displayed was as good as it gets.
Would say he was under a bit of pressure when on 95 and the chance of being stranded again and was composed enough to nonchantly pull a Steyn 140 kmh delivery deep into the crowd.
Also made Harris look ordinary like the bowler he really is whilst the other Aussie batsmen actually made him look like a Test spinner.

[NFC]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

He made 35 in the first dig, another good contribution.

[JK]

I actually thought at the time, losing the wickets of McDonald and Siddle should help Mitch here ... Keep him to his natural game of trying to score runs as quickly as possible.

Sweet as a whistle the shot which took him to triple figures

[blink]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

It isn't Johnson's job to make decent totals for the bowlers to defend - that is up to the batsmen. Johnson's 39 was still the 3rd highest score of the innings - and in 209 runs that is a sizeable contribution.

[Dutchy]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

It isn't Johnson's job to make decent totals for the bowlers to defend - that is up to the batsmen. Johnson's 39 was still the 3rd highest score of the innings - and in 209 runs that is a sizeable contribution.

Couldnt agree more, also agree that a ton in the first innings would have been nice!

[FlyingHigh]

Averages for the South Africa/Australia series

Australia

Bowling

Hilfenhaus-7wk @ 52.3

What's the critical assessment here? Has he been as good as his fans thought he would be?

My feeling is Stuey Clark is still the better option in that bowling role, if fit. Hilf looks good but not outstanding - or not as good as Clark at least.

Haven't seen any of it on telly, so can only go by the figures. Sometimes he was very economical, other times expensive. Probably expected a little more of him, but certainly wouldn't through him on the scrap heap yet. Would you play four fast bowlers (Johnson, Siddle, Clark and Hilf) in England, and only go with part-time spinners?
Hard call and I feel sorry for him, but I think Lee may be out of it - don't see much sense dropping these three younger blokes, esp with the potential Hilf and Siddle have shown, who are bowling just as well as Lee was. Siddle is proving me wrong.

[hearts on fire]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

pretty easy when the pressure is off!! do you have any idea?

[wycbloods]

Good to see Mitch finish of the series on a good note and a well deserved player of the series he was. Hughes was another positive from this tour. Hilfenhaus isn't up to it IMO, if a swing bowler couldn't perform well in South Africa, on seam friendly pitches and with perfect weather for swinging the ball then they aren't positive signs. He may improve and prove me wrong but i just don't think he is up to it, hopefully just not up to it yet.

[Pup]

Good knock by Johnson, but pretty easy when the pressure is off....would have been handy in the first dig

His 99 N.O was in a first dig wasnt it?

It was 96 N.O

Averages for the South Africa/Australia series

Australia

Bowling

Hilfenhaus-7wk @ 52.3

What's the critical assessment here? Has he been as good as his fans thought he would be?

My feeling is Stuey Clark is still the better option in that bowling role, if fit. Hilf looks good but not outstanding - or not as good as Clark at least.

I personally dont think he did well enough to keep Stuart Clark and Brett Lee out of the side come Ashes time. Yes he has potential but at the moment i dont think he is ahead of either of these two players regardless of their age.

People harp on his ability to swing the ball and how this will be the key when the ashes come around but the fact is you need to be bowling in decent areas to get wickets even when your not swinging the ball and i dont think he did enough of that. Bowled some good spells but also bowled some very poor ones.

Johnson, Lee, Clark and Siddle all ahead of him for me come the 1st Test in England pending fitness obviously.

[Pup]

Batting

Johnson-85
Hughes-69.2
Katich-43.3
North-40
Ponting-35
Haddin-33
Clarke-28.2
McDonald-23
Hussey-22
Siddle-7.8
Hilfenhaus-7
McGain-1

Question for the cricketing guru's ... Is this list of averages good or bad for us?

Is it good that we had players fill the void instead of relying on just Ponting, Hussey and Clarke (and unexpected players at that) or is this something we're going to need to continue (ie, need runs from players other than Punter and Pup)?

I think it has to be seen as a positive.

To have only three of our top 7 batsmen average over 40 (With 2 of them making their debut in the series) and still win the series convincingly is a very good sign. Especially when Clarke and Ponting were 2 who did not and they are probably have been our best two players with the bat over the past 12 months. They will not fail two series in a row.

Haddin is looking good but seems to having the odd brain fade and not converting but his batting is not his worry it is his keeping IMO. McDonald is a worry regardless of his 68 in the last innings, i would think his spot is in severe danger after his performances so far in his Test Career. Hussey is the other worry but will get one more series to prove himself IMO but since we are having the Hussey debate in the other thread probably no need to start another one in here.

[Gozu]

Averages for the South Africa/Australia series

Australia

Bowling

Hilfenhaus-7wk @ 52.3

What's the critical assessment here? Has he been as good as his fans thought he would be?

My feeling is Stuey Clark is still the better option in that bowling role, if fit. Hilf looks good but not outstanding - or not as good as Clark at least.

I've never been a fan and still don't think he's Test standard. He would have to be little to no chance of making the Ashes if Clark and to a lesser degree Lee come up.

[Gozu]

Batting

Johnson-85
Hughes-69.2
Katich-43.3
North-40
Ponting-35
Haddin-33
Clarke-28.2
McDonald-23
Hussey-22
Siddle-7.8
Hilfenhaus-7
McGain-1

Question for the cricketing guru's ... Is this list of averages good or bad for us?

Is it good that we had players fill the void instead of relying on just Ponting, Hussey and Clarke (and unexpected players at that) or is this something we're going to need to continue (ie, need runs from players other than Punter and Pup)?

I wouldn't exactly call myself a guru but IMO it's a good thing. It's always better when the workload can be spread. Look at India in recent times not having to solely rely on Tendulkar to get a big score. Ponting to me seems to be on the slide. I always felt he would pass Tendulkar on the all-time runs list but it doesn't look like that will ever happen now, I've always considered Clarke more a ODI player than a Test player and Hussey's horribly out of form. So the fact that these guys were not and can't really be relied upon too heavily in the future is very much a good thing.

[JK]

Cheers for your opinions guys, I've been a bit undecided on whether it's been a pro or con.

FWIW I reckon McDonald will go to England, whether he see's much/any game time, Im not sure.