Test Squad for South African Tour - predictions & discussion

[The Dark Knight]

We may be getting a little ahead of ourselves here fellas....the saffers will come at us next test. Well thats what i'm expecting anyhow.

Yep always got to be wary of the opposition. I'm expecting SA to bounce back, certainly won't surprise me if they do. Guess we'll see on Thursday if that happens, can't wait for the second test to start!!

[Squids]

Already one down

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/mit ... 6830852634

[helicopterking]

This just adds even more to his Aura of devastation. Just leaving carcasses now.

[mighty_tiger_79]

mo the murderer

[Grahaml]

The SA bowlers will be better. Steyn is pretty proud, even if he is fading a little. Philander is better than that first test. Aussie batsmen though have a good plan. Stop Philander building pressure and it all gets a little easier. Steyn bowls a bit more reducing his effectiveness, Morkel's head drops because things aren't going well and their 4th bowling option is not going to get the job done very often. Their batting is a problem. At the moment they're relying a lot on Amla and De Villiers. They need the others in the top 5 to stand up but most importantly they need better than 3 all rounders at 6 7 and 8. All rounders in test don't come off that often. They need to have something they earn their spot with. Kallis' bowling wouldn't have gotten him into too many sides over the years but because his batting earnt a spot his bowling was handy. They need to pick their next best bat and put him at 6. Play either Duminy or Petersen as the spinner (or better yet find a better spinner) and then decide between a batsman or a bowler for the final spot. Would make the side look like

Smith
A. Petersen
Amla
Faf
AB
Specialist bat
Duminy/R Petersen
Next best bowler
Philander
Steyn
Morkel

Or if they really want the extra batting, bring in another bat and Duminy/Petersen bats 8.

[whufc]

Reports are saying green top, with not alot of bounce.

Probably trying to take out the Mitchell Johnson effect yet stil give a bit to Steyn and Philander

[The Sleeping Giant]

Reports are saying green top, with not alot of bounce.

Probably trying to take out the Mitchell Johnson effect yet stil give a bit to Steyn and Philander

Will just play into Siddle and Harris's hands.

[bennymacca]

It's their only real chance though

[whufc]

It's their only real chance though

Agree I think they will try and back Steyn and Philander to out bowl Siddle and Harris, with limited damage from Johnson

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Saffies play 5 seamers and try and use Morkel the same way we use Johnson, short explosive intimidating spells

[bennymacca]

Steyn seems to have lost a yard of pace from what I remember, he still isn't slow but I remember him always being in the 140s

And yeah Parnell and Elgar in for mclaren and pietersen sounds like a decent bet

[Squids]

[Squids]

[mal]

This is graphic geniosity !
Keep up the good work fishyboy

[wristwatcher]

New ICC rankings released and Mitch has moved to No.4 up 5 spots.

Stern back at 1, Philander at 2, Rhino at 3, Sidds at 6, Gazza 19th, Peterson 63rd

[Dogmatic]

Couldn't they include Dave Warner in the speed table? He is not much short of Philander.

[bennymacca]

New ICC rankings released and Mitch has moved to No.4 up 5 spots.

Stern back at 1, Philander at 2, Rhino at 3, Sidds at 6, Gazza 19th, Peterson 63rd

they would honestly be better off just playing duminy and maybe getting some overs out of smith if they want some more spin.

and playing elgar or decock and strengthening their batting

[Jim05]

Scraping the bottom of the barrel if Elgar or Parnell get a gig, both are very average

[stampy]

saffers clutching at straws and dicing with danger if they doctor the pitch, i find that very amusing

[whufc]

Strangely for a team that has won 6 tests in a row but I reckon 3 guys are batting to keep their spot in the side this test, Rogers, Doolan, Marsh with Watson being an absolute moral to come straight back in imho.

[mal]

Im not confident of the Australian top order performing
Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Marsh
Australia got away with it in the first Test
Could easily be 4 for less than 100 in both innings
Swervin Vernon, SsSssSteyn and Mindy Lover will prob be fitter and deadlier in the 2nd Test
They also might have Parnell , that would give them 4 front line bowlers

Australia does not need Watson's 5th bowling efforts , at least whilst MJ is murdering them
If Mitch has an average game , SA might dig up too many runs this time

I cant pick the winner
One thing that might have been
If MJ was playing for SA this series they would prob be 1-0 up and not down