The Cricket Thread

[i_amtrunks]

Loss to Qld really sucks. We've been the most dominant team for the last 4 seasons now and we've got very little silverware in the cabinet. I hope the Vics don't choke on the Sheffield Shield. That's the most important one to have.

You Vic's are finally feeling the NSW Blues (ba-dom-ch!). it's what happens when your best 6 players are nicked for National duty, leaving you with a second string squad.

Aus vs. Presidents XI.

What a batting wicket the tour match was held on! Run rates of over 4 an over for every innings. The Presidents XI belted a weak bowling attack, McGain took the biggest beating, with Johnson also not up to his normal form.

An unbeaten century to Katich and half centuries to Ponting (93) and North gave Australia a competent chase before an early declaration.

The South African XI were skittled in the 2nd innings, North Taking 6/69 from 11 overs, wiping out the middle order. North was promoted to open the 2nd innings alongside Hughes, both making quick 50's before retiring. Johnson was strange 3rd drop, but managed about his average score. Perhaps we are picking him as a batting all-rounder now?

So I'd say on the back of this match North will slot in at #6, McDonald didn't play badly, he was just outplayed, and the inclusion of North allows them to drop McGain who needs more match practice after his injury, and go with 4 quicks.

So I'm thinking the line-up will look like:
Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, North, Haddin, Johnson, Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Bollinger.

With North moving to 5, and McDonald replacing Clarke if he is still injured. We will struggle to complete 90 overs in a day with this squad, with North being treated as a frontline spinner, I doubt Clarke will be able to bowl if he plays (I suspect he will start the match, then leave us a player down after the first session, due to his own self importance), we will then hopefully see Katich roll his arm over for some overs.
If the pitch looks more conducive to spin, Hilfenhaus will be dropped for a spinner (who I have no idea).

[i_amtrunks]

South Africa vs. Australia

So the Early swing caused problems for Hughes, who has gone from Crickets golden child to a dunce in a single innings in the media... The pressure they put on the kid, and now they are acting like they weren't the ones expecting massive things from him.

Katich out to a screamer catch from Mckenzie, and Hussey outbowled, the Aussies were in trouble at 3/38, and Steyn was devastating. Ponting 83 was out to a brain snap, while the ever reliable (and seems to be our new #5) Clarke 68 managed to make sure he didn't have to come back to the crease post tea, the guy cannot play out a session.

North and Haddin both look good heading towards half centuries, with McDonald to come (Bollinger missed out), and only 75 overs were bowled due to weather and bad light.

Be interesting to see how the bowling goes as the swing and pace seeps out of the pitch.

[STL]

Overnight Report

I always knew North could bat but the question is his role with the ball. McDonald's economy rate is great and he's a superior bowler. North though is a more batsman than bowler whereas McDonald is the exact opposite. Not sure who should take the spot when it comes down to it but both have a role to play. The thing that surprises me is that North has struggled for WA this season YET he's made runs against SA, unofficially the best team in the world, on a swing bowlers paradise.

I agree with Trunksy, the media need to get off Hughes back. He's 21 and he needs time and a chance. I'd say at least all 3 tests here before we judge him. Yes, its a stark contrast b/n the experience of North and the inexperience of Hughes but nothing beats firsthand experience and Hughes can only get better b/c of it.

We've got them on the ropes and the question is whether we can finish them off. That was the problem last series. We didn't have the ability to go for the kill.

[Jimreborn]

How long is going to take before Johnson is recognized as an all rounder. He's been pulling up stumps for ages with the bat. Shame to see him miss out on a ton...

[i_amtrunks]

I think we have found our team for now.
As in Waugh's day, have #6 as a recognised Batsman, who can turn his arm over here and there. We have Clarke, Katich and now North who can all bowl spin competently (even if Katich is vastly underused) plus Husey can bowl mediums if we are down a bowler at any time.
Then rotate the bowlers as required. McDonald has done nothing wrong, but has been outplayed by Johson and Siddle, Hilfenhaus has had a decent game.

Anywho to overnight cricket, and South Africa Strikes Back.

South Africa dominated all but Hughes(75) and Haddin(37). Australia collapsed thanks to a Hussey double failure, and Clarke doing his usual folding when we need him. North and Johnson were cleaned up by Ntini, who alongside a rejuvenated Kallis wiped the Aussies out from 2/99 to all out for 207 from 53 overs.

Smith and Mckenzie started well, but both fell after tea, Amla and Kallis holding the ship well, South Africa 2/178, requiring only another 276 with 8 wickets remaining on a pitch that has held up okay, and has as much to give bowlers as batsmen.
With Bollinger injured and Geeves called in, each bowler is fighting for their spot in the 2nd test in Durban. Johnson and Siddle's batting will give them an extra edge.

Personally I think the Aussies went too hard and made too many simple mistakes, Hussey seems to have slumped back to his test form, he had improved tenfold in the ODI's. He needs to get back to form by the end of the series, or should lose his spot. Personal dislike of Clarke aside, he too needs to lift his game. He cannot be relied on when we are struggling, again getting out when runs and a level head were needed. Great bowling by Ntini allowed Kallis to nab wickets, Australia needed to bat till at least tea today to give the South Africans 500 to chase down in 115 overs, they can chase down anything under that easily as they proved over the summer.
McDonald needs to bowl alot of overs from one end, tightening the run-rate and allowing the others to strike to take wickets. Hilfenhaus and Siddle have bowled well for alot of overs, giving Johnson a much needed break.

I think the Aussies are infront right now, but I think come Lunchtime if South Africa are only 4 down with under 180 to collect, South Africa will win.

[i_amtrunks]

Ouch.

Johnson handed the Aussies a big present early on day 2, breaking Smith's finger, which caused him to retire hurt. Later on he opened up Kallis' chin.
McDonald and Johnson doing the damage, with Siddle cleaning the tail up in the first over of Day 3. South Africa all out for 138, thier lowest score in Durban since being re-admitted to Test cricket. Duminy scored 73 runs, Extras 23 and Kallis 22, with no other batsman making double figures. 3 ducks graced the scorecard.

2 centuries and a half century in 3 innings has made a fool out of all the newspapers that were ripping into Hughes after his first innings duck, Hughes and Ponting (81) put on 164 for the second wicket, and even when Hussey fell cheaply, Australia were effectively 3/506 with 2 days of play to go.

In the Women's world Cup, New Zealand beat Australia in their rain affected match at North Sydney oval. The enormously talented Ellyse Perry had her finger dislocated attempting a difficult catch, had it treated, and came on to bowl in the final overs, taking 3/40 from 6 overs, and remained on an unbeaten 17 when rain ended the match.

In Domestic Cricket, it will be a VIC vs QLD final, and I think everyone wants to know if Victoria will choke in yet another final they should win handily. it will be a rematch of this weeks runfest. NSW end up with the wooden Spoon, while SA leapfrogged TAS with their 5 wicket win.

[STL]

Hussey's in trouble. I don't want to call it on him but that's a whole summer plus India and now SA that he has been well below par. I'd give him to the end of the series but if there's not a faint of light, we have to start thinking.

Very happy w/ Hughes progress. What annoys me is the media. They were jumping all over him after his failure in the 1st innings of the 1st test and now they love him. Give all young players a chance. Only that way do they gain any belief. in themselves and get better.

We still have a problem with the bowling tho and that's the spinner. Good teams need a spinner and that's a severe deficiency we have.

The Vics must win this final. If they choke I'm gonna be shattered. At times, the Vics mean more to me than the national team. They've been the best team all year and they need to back it up on the scoreboard. The rivalry w/ QLD is pretty sweet. I remember the pain of watching them make 900 odd in one final and us capitulating. The weekend ahead is gonna be one of interest given no one knows how the pitch at Punt Rd will play.

[i_amtrunks]

Hussey's in trouble. I don't want to call it on him but that's a whole summer plus India and now SA that he has been well below par. I'd give him to the end of the series but if there's not a faint of light, we have to start thinking.

Sadly I agree, Hussey has not been up to scratch of late, even though he was starting to get back into form in the ODI's, it just hasn't transferred across tot he test Arena. If Hussey is dropped, we need to bring in Hodge as his replacement, but I bet the selectors go with a younger batsman.

Great to see Katich get a bowl, but he's so rusty he went for a few runs. Clarke must still be slightly injured, he has not done much of note this test, and I think McGain will debut next test, as Johnson looks buggered and Siddle is in pain. having a full-time spinner who can bowl 20-30 overs in an innings removes a lot of the workload from the front line pace attack.

The Vics must win this final. If they choke I'm gonna be shattered. At times, the Vics mean more to me than the national team. They've been the best team all year and they need to back it up on the scoreboard. The rivalry w/ QLD is pretty sweet. I remember the pain of watching them make 900 odd in one final and us capitulating. The weekend ahead is gonna be one of interest given no one knows how the pitch at Punt Rd will play.

The Vic's are finally feeling the pain of success, just like NSW have for the past 20 years where they have lost at least half their top side to national duty. They should win, as QLD seem the much weaker side. I wonder if they will try and bat for 3 days in the first innings and play it safe, or go for the kill?

[STL]

It's all over. We win the series that no one thought we would, myself included. I was more hoping for some strong development out of the series.

While we have seen Hughes take the position everyone was crying for way back when, North/McDonald's roles aren't completely decided on either. Do we want a bowling number 6 or a batting one? I'm inclined to think that McDonald is pitch by pitch option. More than handy on a good wicket. North is the batsman though. His spin is okay but between Katich/Clarke/McDonald, I'd say Ponting has enough options.

The other development thing we haven't sorted out is a spinner. We cannot escape the fact that an excellent spinner is core to every great team. If we want to continue being the best in the world, we need good spinners otherwise we're gonna be in for a lot of hurt if our quicks don't penetrate - which will happen on dust beds in West Indies, India or Sri Lanka. Plus having the spinner opens the game tactically up way more. McGain needs to play the last test to show us what he's got otherwise its straight to the Ashes for him and we haven't seen him on the international stage yet.

The selectors have a licence to experiment with the last test now that its over and I think they should. They need to give Siddle a rest. He bowled admirably with an injured toe and foot as well as Johnson who has bowled an incredible number of overs since India. I can't recall the number offhand but the ABC commentators mentioned something very high. Hussey needs to work very hard too. I want to see him stay but if his form doesn't permit, he has to realise its time to go.

[i_amtrunks]

175 run victory, Australia retain the #1 ranking thanks to a good young side, and plenty of bad decisions and poor gameplay from South Africa who will not be voting for the permanent introduction of the referral system.

Hughes man-of-the-match, and really it could not have been anyone else.
Siddle and Katich took 3 wickets a piece in the second innings, Katich may finally get to bowl a bit more now, he isn't the best part time spinner, but far more threatening than White and Clarke.

The selectors have a licence to experiment with the last test now that its over and I think they should. They need to give Siddle a rest. He bowled admirably with an injured toe and foot as well as Johnson who has bowled an incredible number of overs since India. I can't recall the number offhand but the ABC commentators mentioned something very high. Hussey needs to work very hard too. I want to see him stay but if his form doesn't permit, he has to realise its time to go.

Siddle may not want a break, but his body will force him to. The selectors may want Johnson to rest, but my bet is they would have to drug him and have him on a flight home before he woke up to stop him from playing. So McGain in for Siddle, with McDonald likely to drop out (depending on the pitch) for the next series.

I maintain that if Hussey does not improve Hodge should come in at #4, to continue protecting Clarke. North has confirmed his place, batting sublimely and bowling useful spinners. McDonald may not be a consistent wicket taker, or indeed ever look like taking wickets, but he is so very good at tying down an end, he makes it easier for the other bowlers to take wickets. Batting has been poor thus far.
Here's a stumper for you, supposing Clark returns fit as a fiddle, who makes way for him? Hilfenhaus who the selectors obviously picked to get experience before relying on his swing in England?

Hopefully South Africa can fire up for the third test, if Smith is rested, Prince can finally come back into the side, his cricketing brain may handle the captaincy much better than Boucher has done. If not I'd still drop Mackenzie, move Amla to open, Kallis at #3 and Prince in at #4.