How the wheel has turned !!
Yarpies are 5/214 at stumps after recovering from being 2/11 within the first half-hour.
Steve Smith bowled four overs and got whacked for 18, the rest of the bowlers were tight.
I do like it that they have a player by the name of Quinten de Kock, that is bound to be the basis of many a joke during this series. I guess the fact that he only made 7 means you could say he Kocked up. ;D
The pitch has basically been doctored to negate Mitchell Johnson. Then they went in without a spinner (not that their options are much chop)
Our batters just need to bat, the wicket wont get you out and just need to bat for 2 days and rack up a score and chance our arm on a wearing pitch on day 4 and 5.
They are in a strong position subject to the first session tomorrow. If they can get another 80-100 on the board, we will be under the pump to chase it because their bowling attack are not going to be give away easy runs like they did in the First Test.
Very Negative Sheik.
5/212 on a slow lifeless wicket. I reckon we are slightly ahead or would be happier.
350 is par I reckon.
Only 214 runs in a full day's play!
The pitch doctoring may have negated our quicks but it also made it very difficult to score runs. It is interesting that a team with arguably the best fast bowling combination is so scared of Johnson that they have ordered a slow pitch. With such a negative approach to the Test, it's hard to see how they could muster up winning cricket. Either they'll crumble or it will be a slow draw.
Very Negative Sheik.
5/212 on a slow lifeless wicket. I reckon we are slightly ahead or would be happier.
350 is par I reckon.
Early wickets are the key. keep them to 250-275 and we'll either win or, at worst, draw the Test.
Not sure why "350 is par"?
On a pitch with no bounce, little sideways movement, slow and not swinging..
Its very hard to get out unless you gift a wicket.
My home track in the UK was very similar. Took a while to get established, but once in, you couldn't get out unless you play a stupid shot. It took spin though.
350 batting first on that track. I would take that. it will also take them till at least tea on Day 2 to reach that.
On a pitch with no bounce, little sideways movement, slow and not swinging..
Its very hard to get out unless you gift a wicket.
My home track in the UK was very similar. Took a while to get established, but once in, you couldn't get out unless you play a stupid shot. It took spin though.
350 batting first on that track. I would take that. it will also take them till at least tea on Day 2 to reach that.
I think Steyn and Philander will get more out of the track than our blokes, there is some seam there if you are good enough and no one moves the ball more than Steyn IMO.
I agree the pitch was doctored to nullify Johnson who was smart enough to realise bowling at 150k wasnt going to get the job done and slowed down to try and get some movement after he picked up Amla with a nice inswinger.
I think if we dont get DeVilliers early then I would expect him to a get century and push the total past 300 to around 350 which will be uncomfortable, he has looked untroubled by any of the bowlers even in the first test and I though Clarke got a bit cute with the weird field placings and let him off the hook.
If I was the Saffies I would have played David Miller ahead of DeKock who tries to hit everything out of the park and lacks maturity at this stage....Miller is also a big hitter but more mature and I was surprised given his red hot domestic form he wasnt included......watching Dean Elgar bat is very tedious and if he ever makes a double century is might take 4 days...
our bowlers are struggling. I dont see an end to this partnership anytime soon. 5/288 with De Villiers on 87 and Duminy on 40.
Clarke made the mistake of being too inventive to DeVilliers too early and as I expected he has got his century without one ball beating his bat.
You cant expect a player who is considered the No 1 ranked batsman in the world to get out to sucker shots when you have three fielders next to each other between square leg and mid wicket. The saffies have just milked those weird fields and waited for the bad ball and hit that to the non defended side of the wicket and got boundaries every time. I would have had a ring field with slips and gully and asked Devilliers and Duminy to drive through the offside hoping for the catch beind the wicket...expecting catches to midwicket was ludicrous IMO and built up no pressure which has been the hallmark of our resurgance. Sure the wicket is dead and holding up a bit but a bowler like Glen McGrath made a career out of bowling teams out on these type of wickets by keeping it tight and building pressure with orthodox fields.
The wicket is still good and hoepfully we can match their score and drag the game out, I'll be interested in the Saffie bowlers tactics...I dont see the best outswing bowler in the world in Steyn having three square/midwicket fielders and no slips.
The wicket is dead. Regulation edges my carrying. Should just bat for 3 days and move into Cape Town.
Unfortunately Oz bats are sprinters and not stayers... on pitches where you must bat time we fail abysmally.
Pressure must be building on Rogers but Clarke also needs runs badly.
The wicket is dead. Regulation edges my carrying. Should just bat for 3 days and move into Cape Town.
Didnt look so dead when they had the ball, Morkel was bowling 150's and Parnell seems to have gained pace since I last saw him play as a kid and swings the ball...if they had taken Warner from that flying edge off Morkel the game would over.
I'll go back to what I said that Clarke made the mistake of getting too cute in the field unlike the Saffies who bowled with traditional slips and gully with just the shorter midwicket and cover everynow and then.
Harris looks tired with that dodgy knee and Siddle was bowling low 130's ......both lacked penetration and even Johnson looked flat.
Need Smith and Haddin to save the game and hopefully the tail can make some runs and we get close to 400....
Unfortunately Oz bats are sprinters and not stayers... on pitches where you must bat time we fail abysmally.
Pressure must be building on Rogers but Clarke also needs runs badly.
Clarke's been doing a 'Watson' the last few series, getting a start, looking great then going out
"Cameo" Clarke.... when he eliminated the get-out shot from his game he went from handy to world beater. But it appears to now be back.
Wonder if concentration is now an issue because his technique hasn't changed. Weight of captaincy issue?
Watching them go past 400 and having us at 6 for 146 is absolutely shocking. Got caught napping in this one. Better pray for a draw here.
I know we're a long way behind but the run rates are interesting: SA 2.80 runs/over, AUS 4.27 runs/over.
Entertaining cricket from us but perhaps we don't know how to graft a defensive innings.
7 for 203 isn't looking too good at all. If they knock us over before 300, watch their run rate change in the second innings to build a hard to reach total fast enough to have us batting with enough time to knock us over and lose. We need to settle and use up time more than slam lots of runs on the board. We must score way over 300 or we could be in real trouble.
All out 246.....need the weather to get nasty to draw this test....
All out 246.....need the weather to get nasty to draw this test....
It would be a mercy for us and time for Boof to inflict some punishment to the top order if they don't show a serious form reversal in the second dig.
Once again our batters need to take a bloody long hard look at themselves... that is a 400 plus pitch in a game necessitating long periods of occupation.
Weather on last day is supposed to be awful, but we need to bat a minimum of 3 sessions just to get there... and we simply can't bat for long periods.
If Smith declares overnight we have a sniff at 350 but can't see him declaring <400, which means every minute burned up is minute less we have to survive.
On the positive side, we got ABdV for <100.
7 for 203 isn't looking too good at all. If they knock us over before 300, watch their run rate change in the second innings to build a hard to reach total fast enough to have us batting with enough time to knock us over and lose. We need to settle and use up time more than slam lots of runs on the board. We must score way over 300 or we could be in real trouble.
We need to bat 5, maybe 6 sessions. Very doable.
By the by, i didn't see it but did Warner get out (again) to a wide slash?
I'm expecting Steyn to fire up and win them the game unless the weather intervenes...bit of luck Parnell is injured.
SA declare with Australia needing 448 to win. Definitely not an easy task the way the aussies have addressed their first innings. Won't hold my breath even though it isn't an impossible task. As Elwood states weather could play a key role in this games end result.
http://www.weathercity.com/za/ec/port_elizabeth/ (http://www.weathercity.com/za/ec/port_elizabeth/)
Sunday, February 23rd, 2014
Sunday Afternoon Temperature: 28°C
Sunny. Chance of a thunderstorm. Windy at times.
Sunday Evening Temperature: 23°C
Clear. Chance of a thunderstorm. Windy at times.
Monday, February 24th, 2014
Overnight Temperature: 19°C
Clear with cloudy periods with a slight chance of showers or thundershowers.
Monday Morning Temperature: 22°C
A mix of cloud and sun with a few showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. 4 to 8 mm of rain.
Monday Afternoon Temperature: 26°C
A mix of cloud and sun with a few showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. 4 to 8 mm of rain.
Monday Evening Temperature: 22°C
Clear with cloudy periods with a few showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. 4 to 9 mm of rain.
Warner and Rogers aren't messing around with the run rate close to 4 runs/over. However, it seems that they're prepared to defend as well as scoring freely.
With South Africa a bowler down, this could get interesting.
Warner and Rogers aren't messing around with the run rate close to 4 runs/over. However, it seems that they're prepared to defend as well as scoring freely.
With South Africa a bowler down, this could get interesting.
need 100's from both of these boys to rally give us a sniff.
Loss of Warner for 66 means we need a ton from Rogers and at least a 150 from the skipper. Smith and Haddin would then need to seal the deal. Can't see it happening but it would be amazing if we could pull it off.
Out batting is pathetic. Embarrassing.
Out batting is pathetic. Embarrassing.
Disgraceful!!
I go to bed at none for 120-odd. Check scores 2 hours later and we're all out. WTF? I'm over this crap. Too many spineless displays, too often.
Too many non-contributors.
BTW fellas, the Ashes is long gone, stop dwelling on those glories.... get switched on to the task at hand.
Very poor effort in the 2nd innings, although we weren't that much better in the 1st. Batting: were the cracks covered by the way Haddin batted in the Ashes? His form then was phenomenal. His form at present is not and we don't appear to have much middle or late order.
Finally, the players with poor techniques or composure who looked like world-beaters against an insipid English outfit have been found out under the pressure of some hostile & solid bowling.
I have not rated a lot of the current Test players and for good reason, they just aren't good enough. Mitchell's incredible return to form papered over a lot of those cracks. Under the Yarpies microscope, they have reopened.
Finally, the players with poor techniques or composure who looked like world-beaters against an insipid English outfit have been found out under the pressure of some hostile & solid bowling.
I have not rated a lot of the current Test players and for good reason, they just aren't good enough. Mitchell's incredible return to form papered over a lot of those cracks. Under the Yarpies microscope, they have reopened.
Might have to call you flip-flop after your OP.
I suspect Boof will be tearing a few blokes some new dots over the next coupla days... and deservedly so.
Time to really face our brittle batting.
Finally, the players with poor techniques or composure who looked like world-beaters against an insipid English outfit have been found out under the pressure of some hostile & solid bowling.
I have not rated a lot of the current Test players and for good reason, they just aren't good enough. Mitchell's incredible return to form papered over a lot of those cracks. Under the Yarpies microscope, they have reopened.
Might have to call you flip-flop after your OP.
Why ??
Our bowling has been pretty good but its our batting that has been vastly over-rated and it has now been proven brittle under pressure.
The game was won by Steyn who started to reverse swing the ball after lunch, he had it going both ways and should have had Rodgers caught behind for around 60 odd but the Saffies didnt refer the not out decision...you could just tell after that he was going to be trouble because he also stepped up his pace and none of the batters had much idea which way the ball was going, he does the same every series we play South Africa and I'll be glad when he follows Kallis into retirement.
Problem with our attack apart from Harris no one really swings or seams the ball to any great extent, Johnson relies on brute pace and bounce and the Saffies knobbled this wicket so he wasnt a factor, Siddle doesnt get many to go off the seam and Watson was really missed IMO.
People can say what they like about Watson's batting but when he is playing our attack looks more dangerous and better balanced.
I still see us as the equal of South Africa despite losing and wouldnt be to panicky...the Saffies are a good team and unlike England play with some pride and it was always going to be tough yakka winning a series on their home soil.
Australia = Head >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Self
Lost this game when we didn't dig in and bat for four sessions in the first dig. Burned out the bowlers and simply got too far behind. As Boof said... they knew how this game was going to play out but they could did little to stop it.
For mind I'd be giving Harris a rest - has been well down and lacking penetration. If Watson comes up I'd drop Marsh (a pair after a hundred ain't good enough) in lieu of Doolan. At least Doolan occupies the crease for a while which is something.
Haddin needs to be told to switch on and needs to think about countering the inswinger/off cutter which he clearly has an issue with. Clarke also needs to harden up and value his wicket - too much loose stuff from the captain.
Given the right conditions and a fair first dig from our blokes we can be competitive in the Third test... it ain't all over yet. BTW, Morne bombing Mitch wasn't super smart, I'm sure that went into the memory banks.
Lost this game when we didn't dig in and bat for four sessions in the first dig.
SA showed Australia what Test Cricket was all about, the last day was an abomination. Australia have been on a winning streak but they have really been playing five days of 20/20, the minute Warner went out the team need to readjust the game plan to force the draw.
Instead they folded like it was all too hard, some of them have done this before!
The measure of characters is not how hard they hit the ground, but how well they bounce back up on their feet to meet and beat the next challenge. Its time the captain takes the bull by the horns and leads by example. They all need to show what they are really worth, and not milk pay packets just because they can. What you earn doesn't prove your worth. Results and efforts do. Best of luck guys. ;)
Rodney Hogg made the point that Steyn cannot get reverse swing when bowling to left handers because of the change in bowling angle.
While more left handed batters would reduce Steyn's effectiveness, Hogg baulked at recalling Hughes :)
Rodney Hogg made the point that Steyn cannot get reverse swing when bowling to left handers because of the change in bowling angle.
While more left handed batters would reduce Steyn's effectiveness, Hogg baulked at recalling Hughes :)
I dont agree with Hogg, watched Steyn bowling to Rodgers after lunch on the last day and his method was three balls moving away then a couple back in...Rodgers got sucked into playing at one that went away and got caught off the toe end of the bat.
The umpire's gave it not out and the Saffies didnt appeal it so Rodgers survived but the hot spot showed he was out....it was very clear he was moving the ball away with reverse swing and the Rodgers/Steyn battle after lunch was the start of the end as far as I was concerned, once he had it swinging it was game over.
When he bowls around the wicket to the lefties he looks more dangerous than over the wicket, unlike a lot of bowlers he seems to bowl within himself early in the game but increase his pace as the match goes on, I'm not sure our batters have worked that out as apart from being confused by the swing they also seemed late on their shots in the second innings...
I think it's pretty hard for Steyn to get an lbw from around the wicket to a left hander... whereas a right hander is in the gun all the time once it starts reversing....maybe that is what Hogg was getting at?
But that's about it... as Elwood said, he stitched Rogers up just before tea. Was swinging them both ways.