Australia vs South Africa 1st Test

[Berries]

Hayden, Ponting and Hussey are all in the top bracket of batsmen.
People are forgetting that these guys almost always bounce back from mini form slumps and are match winners.

Ponting has 982 runs and is averaging 42 this year
Hussey 898 runs @ 40
Hayden 521 runs @ 34.75

There is a case for Hayden but he deserves to at least play out the series and if he makes another 4 innings of sub 20 scores then it's all over. The bloke has 8500 test runs and had Michael Slater not been opener from 1993-1999 Hayden would be up there with Tendulkar/Lara in the all time run scorers list. As for Lee, he's the spearhead of the attack. He's lost pace but extreme pace isnt important in test matches. He's also taken 57 wickets in '08 (4th behind Steyn) and maintained his career average of 30. So Lee stays.



I'm stoked for the proteas. In every series against Australia post apartheid they've always lost the 50-50 battles and when the game was in the balance, never took the ascendency.

It happened in this game too, when they didn't clean up Aust for under 330 in the 1st inngs and then loosened the grip when they were 7/162. Again when batting in the 1st they were 3/325 and lost 7/47 to be all out. They more than made up for it in the 4th inngs and JP Duminy should be applauded. His 1st test, immense pressure and he played a calculated knock, realising he had all day to bat, got his eye in for an hour, took singles, then took calculated risks. Well done champ!

Re; Jonty Rhodes v AB. De Villiers is an athlete in all sports. Played for national youth rugby and soccer sides, has a low golf handicap etc etc. Rhodes was the spectacular ground fielder and backward point/runout specialist. AB can field anywhere, where Rhodes didn't.




Prince I doubt will be right for Friday. Broken thumb will likely leave him out till the 3rd test.



Yep. He is tall, he is attacking, and he gives the ball a rip. Hauritz relies more on movement in the air and gets alot of drift. I think it's an insult to him to be dropped, taking 12 wickets vs India in India is no mean feat, regardless of how many runs he conceded. The selectors seem to forget that a bloke by the name of SK Warne had bowling figures of 1/335 after 4 tests....

The only change should be Siddle with Hilfenhaus or Bollinger in. I would have opted for Bollinger as the safs lost 11/14 wickets to a leftie. Unfortunately for Watson, the fact that the tail wagged means they can afford to play 3 seamers, 1 spinner and 6 batsmen.

I hope Aust bounce back. Im going day1 and 2 as per annual tradition but if its a decider then i'll go on the 3rd.

BRING IT ON!!!

Im a strong supporter of Hayden. Most of these massive run stats of Ponting etc and high amounts of wickets are from the tour of West Indies and New Zealand. What has Ponting/Hussey/Lee done against India or South Africa? About as much as Hayden tbh. Yes pace is not everything but please tell me what the hell Lee offers without his extreme pace because from what i have seen its nothing.

Poor Bollinger btw.

 

[Berries]

WTF does Bollinger have to do to get a run? Hilfenhaus is nothing compared to Bollinger. Bollinger is similar to Johnson but swings it more and isn't as erratic at times.

Bring back Tait, get some firepower again lol

Also, just proves selectors are retarded, Hayden has been **** for months now - if it was anyone else they'd have been dropped. He's too old and too slow these days. Time to give a young gun a shot - Rogers is avergaing 80 odd this season, Klinger is averaging 100 and Hughes 60ish

Thankfully Jaques is making a comeback after injuring his back, should be playing again in January

Hayden has made a similiar come back like this before. He deserves a chance after his service to the country.

 

[Lord Almighty]

Im a strong supporter of Hayden. Most of these massive run stats of Ponting etc and high amounts of wickets are from the tour of West Indies and New Zealand. What has Ponting/Hussey/Lee done against India or South Africa? About as much as Hayden tbh. Yes pace is not everything but please tell me what the hell Lee offers without his extreme pace because from what i have seen its nothing.

Poor Bollinger btw.

True but the fact they are great batsmen, means u can't drop them for averaging 30-40 over a few tests.

Mark Waugh, Dean Jones, Michael Slater were all dropped when they avg'd about 30 over 6 tests or so but the selectors have been more forgiving these days with the top class batsmen. Punter did get a 100 in the 1st test in India, Haydos a scratchy 83, Hussey made a pair of 80 odds.

Lee hasn't been bowling consistent 150 for a few years and it's helped him immensely. He's been consistently low-mid 140s and is working on setting a batsman up, utilising swing and seam and that's all due to a drop in pace.

Keep in mind he's 32-ish, he reckons he has 4 yrs left. i reckon more like 2. In any case, you're no mug to have taken 600 int'l wickets. If he doesn't bounce back then there's a case of reducing his workload (less 20-20 and odis) and then bringing in the fringe guys (bollinger etc) gradually.

One things for sure, Mitchy Johnson is well and truly the future of the side and the #1 bowler.

 

[Lord Almighty]

Hayden has made a similiar come back like this before. He deserves a chance after his service to the country.

thats exactly right

As Australians we pride ourselves in honouring the great servants of their respective field.

Regardless of form, Hayden deserves at least to see out the series.

But Jacques has done nothing to be dropped (other than katich making runs in the west indies) so he should be next in line.

 

[Berries]

True but the fact they are great batsmen, means u can't drop them for averaging 30-40 over a few tests.

Mark Waugh, Dean Jones, Michael Slater were all dropped when they avg'd about 30 over 6 tests or so but the selectors have been more forgiving these days with the top class batsmen. Punter did get a 100 in the 1st test in India, Haydos a scratchy 83, Hussey made a pair of 80 odds.

Lee hasn't been bowling consistent 150 for a few years and it's helped him immensely. He's been consistently low-mid 140s and is working on setting a batsman up, utilising swing and seam and that's all due to a drop in pace.

Keep in mind he's 32-ish, he reckons he has 4 yrs left. i reckon more like 2. In any case, you're no mug to have taken 600 int'l wickets. If he doesn't bounce back then there's a case of reducing his workload (less 20-20 and odis) and then bringing in the fringe guys (bollinger etc) gradually.

One things for sure, Mitchy Johnson is well and truly the future of the side and the #1 bowler.

I dont want them dropped, im just stating there should be equal pressure on the three batsmen then just Hayden. Did Hayden not miss West Indies? So its an explanation for not having the extra 400 Ponting and co have.

Yes it helped him up until the West Indies...

But ever since that tour he has been ineffective and you cannot deny it. Unless he starts taking wickets soon he will get dropped very quickly.

 

[Lord Almighty]

I dont want them dropped, im just stating there should be equal pressure on the three batsmen then just Hayden. Did Hayden not miss West Indies? So its an explanation for not having the extra 400 Ponting and co have.

Yes it helped him up until the West Indies...

But ever since that tour he has been ineffective and you cannot deny it. Unless he starts taking wickets soon he will get dropped very quickly.

I definately don't want them dropped, nor will they be dropped. The only reason why Huss and Punter haven't been mentioned as you said is because they have a few years on their side. Hayden is 37, the pressure is building with each innings and you can see it. 1 day he's all guns blazing, next he's timid and a bit unsure.

As for binga, the pressure is well and truly on. I doubt he'd be dropped for the ashes (he'll be in the squad for tour of sth afrcia). But the turning point could be the ashes tour. They can thank themselves Johnson has unearthed his massive potential. Not to mention Stuey Clark as well.

So all of a sudden, Lee could find himself outed after the ashes if he doesn't come good. Especially with the versatility of Watson...if they have him in the side they can afford to bring in someone like Tait.

Aussie cricket will never be out of touch in the rankings, there's always someone there to fill the void eventually. Domestic system is light years ahead.

The only threat will be India, who have basically learnt from Australia on how to match it pound for pound. Sth Africa and England have developed a settled lineup and will also be a challenge but I'm not sure if they have the depth in the fringe players. Sri Lanka has a pi$$ weak batting line up if you exclude Sangakarra and Jayawardene but have got a freak of a spinner coming thru in Ajantha Mendis.

I don't know about other fans, but I'm excited by the fact that Australia's being challenged for the #1 spot, they may not win by whitewash but 1 things so sure...they're always in the hunt till the very end.

 

[Berries]

I definately don't want them dropped, nor will they be dropped. The only reason why Huss and Punter haven't been mentioned as you said is because they have a few years on their side. Hayden is 37, the pressure is building with each innings and you can see it. 1 day he's all guns blazing, next he's timid and a bit unsure.

As for binga, the pressure is well and truly on. I doubt he'd be dropped for the ashes (he'll be in the squad for tour of sth afrcia). But the turning point could be the ashes tour. They can thank themselves Johnson has unearthed his massive potential. Not to mention Stuey Clark as well.

So all of a sudden, Lee could find himself outed after the ashes if he doesn't come good. Especially with the versatility of Watson...if they have him in the side they can afford to bring in someone like Tait.

Aussie cricket will never be out of touch in the rankings, there's always someone there to fill the void eventually. Domestic system is light years ahead.

The only threat will be India, who have basically learnt from Australia on how to match it pound for pound. Sth Africa and England have developed a settled lineup and will also be a challenge but I'm not sure if they have the depth in the fringe players. Sri Lanka has a pi$$ weak batting line up if you exclude Sangakarra and Jayawardene but have got a freak of a spinner coming thru in Ajantha Mendis.

I don't know about other fans, but I'm excited by the fact that Australia's being challenged for the #1 spot, they may not win by whitewash but 1 things so sure...they're always in the hunt till the very end.

Exactly i honestly could not give a toss if we were number 2 or three. We wont win 17 in a row again. but we will never get thrashed. Just losing in a test match down to the wire is still good.

It works both ways, age doesnt just affect Australia. India is an aged team, they wont be the same team in 2011 etc.

I reckon Lee will be questions asked in the tour of South Africa let alone the Ashes lol