The Cricket Thread

[jacksplatt11]

Even playing at juniors, it annoyed me to come in at 4 or 5th as opposed to my usual spot.

11?



Haha, but yeah, didn't Smith cut an imposing figure coming in at 11, even while injured. The looks on the AUS players faces were priceless when they thought they had it won, only to see one of the worlds best current batsmen coming out. Turns out it only delayed the inevitable by an over or two, but the fact that Smith came out, with a dodgy elbow and a broken finger, really gained him a lot of respect not just from me, but I dare say from most Cricket fans, and as Fungal alluded to, sports fans in general. You could see every ball from the fast bowlers, even MacDonald at his 125kmh-ish deliveries, was hurting him, but he still came out knowing it would. Would be interesting to see if Ponting would have done the same thing if he was in that situation, given it was a dead rubber and whether RSA won, lost or drew, they already had the series sewn up.

Overall, it was a good series, I know we lost, but we were able to see Johnson improve, Siddle improve considerably from the match in Perth to this match (hopefully the selectors persist with him and he is an AUS opening bowler for at least the next 6-7 years, bar injuries), and hopefully we've seen the last of Hayden and Lee. Both past it. Clark when fit back in for Bollinger, and Krejza back in for Hauritz (not really a fan of Krejza, but I think he is the best we've got at a relatively young age at the moment, and Hauritz is rubbish). I would love to see Hilfenhaus in there but I don't know where to fit him in. For Hayden's replacement, the Victorian in me says Rogers, but the AUS in me says Hughes will be better for the long run, and the sooner he is in the better.

Anyway, yeah 20/20s and ODIs, like STL said, the ODIs have become pretty repetitive and every team now has the same plan and team selection, but I still love seeing situations like 30 needed off the last 20 balls and the like, makes for good viewing. And yeah, Noffke should be in, but we all know what the AUS selectors are like...

This series was an absolute delight and I'm glad Australia got beaten. It's raised serious issues and knocked us out of complacency.

Plus one.

[i_amtrunks]

Would be interesting to see if Ponting would have done the same thing if he was in that situation, given it was a dead rubber and whether RSA won, lost or drew, they already had the series sewn up.

I'm a Ponting (as a batsman and fielder, not as captain) fan, and I would have to say that he wouldn't, his choice of bowling his part timers ahead of the seamers in India showed his character, he may love the team, but he feels he is more important than the result.
Strangely I think that any other player in the Aussie team would come out and bat no matter how wounded if it would mean they might be able to save the team from a loss. Especially Hayden, Hussey or any of the quicks.

I was surpirsed Smith came out, since South Africa could not win the game and a draw or loss would still leave them as the #2 side. I was expecting him to bat if South Africa needed only a handful of runs to win the series and take the #1 spot, but not to simply attempt to draw the test. Big Kudos to him.

[STL]

Saw the Vics on Thursday night and they were pretty classy though Jacksplatt11 myself couldn't help pissing ourselves as we watched Cam White pick up 4 wickets for nothing. I don't think I've seen district cricketers bowl pies like he does. They were pretty damned terrible. Yet ironically two of his better balls were scored off.

Saw the Aussies tonight too thanks to the missus agreeing as a last moment thing since a mate was stuck with an extra ticket. (And they were not cheap! ) Warner absolutely knocked the house down. Very glad that we're giving youth a shot. Tait was his usual self. Brilliant one moment, awkward the next. I can't say that I'm particularly enthralled by the skill at this level, its more just fun. But there were moments of brilliance like Duminy's innings was a delight. Kallis had a great classy four too that was just masterful before being dismissed. The rest of the Aussies tried to get one w/ the job but I think that after they lost 3 quick wickets, they should've tried to steady teh ship instead of continuing to go all out. Could've reached 200 but w/ the lack of hitting the SA side seems to have, they were never going to be a threat I guess.

[blackie]

Saw the Vics on Thursday night and they were pretty classy

should have gone, would have been more fun than cricket training.

though Jacksplatt11 myself couldn't help pissing ourselves as we watched Cam White pick up 4 wickets for nothing. I don't think I've seen district cricketers bowl pies like he does. They were pretty damned terrible. Yet ironically two of his better balls were scored off.

clearly ive missed my calling, i can bowl pies like that too :P

Tait was his usual self. Brilliant one moment, awkward the next. I can't say that I'm particularly enthralled by the skill at this level, its more just fun.

He hurt AB bad. getting smashed in the hip at 155kph plus is a killer, he was lucky he hit his wicket, because the next ball would have either been a toe crusher or a rib breaker

[i_amtrunks]

He hurt AB bad. getting smashed in the hip at 155kph plus is a killer, he was lucky he hit his wicket, because the next ball would have either been a toe crusher or a rib breaker

If he hadn't hit his wicket I'm sure he would have retired hurt. Heavy contact to the hip is bad at anytime, let alone a cricket ball going over 150km. I'd be surprised to see De Villiers back for the next 2020.

Tait was his usual self, 4 good balls in a spell of 24, I would not pick him in anything other than 2020 games, he reminds me of Lee when Lee was young, but I doubt he will ever improve like Lee did. Hilfenhaus was getting some good swing, he is a must take to England, and should be in all the Aussie teams right now. D.Hussey was very useful, I say we use him as the test Allrounder!

Warner was fantastic though, he and Duminy were the only guys out there trying to bat rather than slog, and while Duminy mostly scored off singles and twos, his timing was perfect. Warner was brillaint, smacking anything that was short or a half volley to the boundary, but more than happy to take singles at the same time, it was very clever batting from a young kid who showed everyone else how 2002 should be played. Ponting did alright, but 2020 is something he and M. Hussey should give up, Ponting takes too long to settle, and Hussey is a Bevanesque player, he will help you no matter what in the ODI format, but he is too much of a plodderer for the 2020 game.

What was with South Africa? They had a weak bowling attack that did not bowl a bouncer! Amla was their twelfth man, and he was sorely needed
and would not have let them down in the field. That being said, SA did field very well (unlike White!).

here is a tricky one for you all, when Johnson and Clarke are fit, who do you drop to put them in the 2020 side? And who do you drop to make way for Warner in the ODI side?

Bring on a better Cricket Box for the second 2020!

[STL]

The Blame Game

Ironically, who gets to point the fingers at the selectors? Sure those players were in form slumps, Lee all the way back in India and Hayden's been awhile too. The selectors didn't act quick enough and they've got themselves to blame. The Ashes aren't far away and we have 3 tests to blood our opening duo. That or Hayden lifts his game. But the team has batted like a team for a long time either. All the way through India and back to Australia, there's been a lack of partnerships. In the South African series what was patently obvious was how well the tail performed which should've put the batsmen to shame. It just annoys me hte selectors now push their lack of foresight onto the players. They're there to make decisions and they didn't. They are to blame too.

[i_amtrunks]

Australia get out of Jail

Good game last night, Duminy carried the South Africans again after he was promoted after a great start from the Aussie bowlers. Ponting rotated the bowlers every over and the South Africans couldn't get a rhythm. they started swinging the bat in the last 5 overs, Duminy's 69 not out giving them 5/157.

The South Africans had a bowling plan for Warner this time around and it worked, Botha opened the bowling and was very tidy, his four overs went for 19 runs. Warner and marsh went out cheaply and Ponting (38) took some time to get into his groove, before being run out. The South Africans bowled well for 15 overs, tying the Aussie line up down with slow full tosses. The Aussies needed over 10 an over midway through their innings.

David Hussey came and went for 2. When White joined Mike Hussey (53no) and clobbered 40 no from 18 balls the Aussies gained ascendency, thanks in part to terrible bowling from the Morkels and Parnell, and won by 6 wickets with 7 balls to spare.

Drop McDonald from the test team and bring in David Hussey, he got out trying to score quick runs, but his work in the field was fantastic, as was Duminy who I thought was a shoe in for MotM, that catch he took was a blinder!

[Robzy]

Warner absolutely knocked the house down. Very glad that we're giving youth a shot.

He was unbelievable! I like the "youth" policy too!

Tait was his usual self. Brilliant one moment, awkward the next.

Like Blackie said - he got AB a good one!

Duminy's innings was a delight

He's such a classy player!