Australia v South Africa (2nd Test)

[Booney]

4 runs to get
Smith produces one of historys worst cricketing blunders
He replaces Philander with Tahir



Whadda series
Its had everything
Most of all pitches that have given bowlers a chance to complete with batsman

Cant wait for the 3rd Test
That magnificent batting keeper bravely played his shots and made a brilliant 55
Had one of those shots got him out early,the critics would be in force today
Its the way he plays, and why he is arguably Australias 2nd best BATTING keeper of all time

[wristwatcher]

4 runs to get
Smith produces one of historys worst cricketing blunders
He replaces Philander with Tahir



Whadda series
Its had everything
Most of all pitches that have given bowlers a chance to complete with batsman
Cant wait for the 3rd Test

That magnificent batting keeper bravely played his shots and made a brilliant 55
Had one of those shots got him out early,the critics would be in force today
Its the way he plays, and why he is arguably Australias 2nd best BATTING keeper of all time

A bit harsh on Smiths decision. Had the umpire given Cummo (yep thats right Cummo) out for the very close LBW and it went to review it would have stuck with his call and Smith would have looked like a genius and IT would have been bowling to a very nervous Gazza Lyon
Its a long time ago now but remember when the masterstroke of the great AB in Sri Lanka when the Lankans needed very little to win and he turned to a fat blonde leg spinner with a test bowling average of 350 the rest as they say is history. Im not saying i would have bowled Tahir but it is fair to say that when he landed his wrong-un he was a very dangerous proposition for numbers 9-11.
What a day of high drama. Great to see the good guys win and bounce back from the "47" debacle. They showed real character. BIG WIN for Australia and Test cricket

[Lightning McQueen]

4 runs to get
Smith produces one of historys worst cricketing blunders
He replaces Philander with Tahir



Whadda series
Its had everything
Most of all pitches that have given bowlers a chance to complete with batsman
Cant wait for the 3rd Test

That magnificent batting keeper bravely played his shots and made a brilliant 55
Had one of those shots got him out early,the critics would be in force today
Its the way he plays, and why he is arguably Australias 2nd best BATTING keeper of all time

A touch of Hansie?

[Jim05]

So Johnson did nothing with the ball, but was third in the batting aggregate for Australia for the series.

Unless there is a better 'bowler that can bat' option, he needs to keep playing. If we pick a replacement that is out of his depth batting at 8, the tail will be even more exposed that it is now.

Unbelievable effort chasing down 310 on that seaming wicket. It was darting around and at times it was doing too much for our batsman to even get near.

Philander bowled a perfect length for the conditions. When bowling on a road it will be interesting to see if he has enough variation to be world class, but can't really fault him at the moment.

As for Cummins... I've got a half a bar.

Yes his batting was good but surely his primary task is to take wickets. His bowling was poop for most of this series and the last few series. Being third on our batting aggregate just proves how ordinary our top order have been. Id drop him for his WA counterpart in Mitch Marsh. Bats in top 4 and bowls well. Would offer a better package

[Q.]

An inspiring victory. It's great to have young fellas like Hughesy, Uzi & Cummo be a part of this win to instill that steely determination that ensured our dominance in previous generations. Bring on the Aussie summer!

[tigerpie]

Test cricket is where its at....t20 who cares!!!!!
Brilliant test series and was great to see the lads step up under all sorts of pressure....now thats australia.
Ponting's 60 odd was vital as was haddins.
Great knock by johnson, just wish he could get back to bowling consistently.
Cummins.....we have a winner here folks and as Clarke said he must be managed well to avoid injury. But what an old head on young shoulders. I'm going to enjoy watching this lad lead our attack.

[mal]

4 runs to get
Smith produces one of historys worst cricketing blunders
He replaces Philander with Tahir



Whadda series
Its had everything
Most of all pitches that have given bowlers a chance to complete with batsman
Cant wait for the 3rd Test

That magnificent batting keeper bravely played his shots and made a brilliant 55
Had one of those shots got him out early,the critics would be in force today
Its the way he plays, and why he is arguably Australias 2nd best BATTING keeper of all time

A bit harsh on Smiths decision. Had the umpire given Cummo (yep thats right Cummo) out for the very close LBW and it went to review it would have stuck with his call and Smith would have looked like a genius and IT would have been bowling to a very nervous Gazza Lyon
Its a long time ago now but remember when the masterstroke of the great AB in Sri Lanka when the Lankans needed very little to win and he turned to a fat blonde leg spinner with a test bowling average of 350 the rest as they say is history. Im not saying i would have bowled Tahir but it is fair to say that when he landed his wrong-un he was a very dangerous proposition for numbers 9-11.
What a day of high drama. Great to see the good guys win and bounce back from the "47" debacle. They showed real character. BIG WIN for Australia and Test cricket

THE VERNONATOR
It was a dumb bowling change
Fabulous Philander
5/70 [20]
Was the most threatening SA bowler in this innings
He is the go to man
He was the BEST chance of getting 2 wickets in the over
Smiths decision is bewildering
Not that he brought on Tahir but the fact he dragged Philander
I would never replace a hot bowler with a peanut amount of runs left to go
Tahir looks a good bowler
But
the point Im making is I would not replace Philander , with Shane Warne given the circumstances

[wristwatcher]

Fair call, admittedly i was most nervous when filthy Phil was running in as he bowled at the top of off all test and natural day 5 variation could have happened at any time with devestating results. But alas this time we won the nail bitting close one.

Great day to be an Australian cricket fan. Now surely nothing less than a 2-0 destruction of the Kiwis should be considered acceptable as we prepare for the Indians in a series that is sure to have a ton of spice. Watching Cummo steam in on a bouncy Gabba wicket in 8/9 days time should ba a real treat as well

[Brodlach]

4 runs to get
Smith produces one of historys worst cricketing blunders
He replaces Philander with Tahir



Whadda series
Its had everything
Most of all pitches that have given bowlers a chance to complete with batsman
Cant wait for the 3rd Test

That magnificent batting keeper bravely played his shots and made a brilliant 55
Had one of those shots got him out early,the critics would be in force today
Its the way he plays, and why he is arguably Australias 2nd best BATTING keeper of all time

A bit harsh on Smiths decision. Had the umpire given Cummo (yep thats right Cummo) out for the very close LBW and it went to review it would have stuck with his call and Smith would have looked like a genius and IT would have been bowling to a very nervous Gazza Lyon
Its a long time ago now but remember when the masterstroke of the great AB in Sri Lanka when the Lankans needed very little to win and he turned to a fat blonde leg spinner with a test bowling average of 350 the rest as they say is history. Im not saying i would have bowled Tahir but it is fair to say that when he landed his wrong-un he was a very dangerous proposition for numbers 9-11.
What a day of high drama. Great to see the good guys win and bounce back from the "47" debacle. They showed real character. BIG WIN for Australia and Test cricket

Had that been given out it would have been a terrible decision considering the Amla and AB not out LBW decisions in the SA second innings.

[wristwatcher]

Much much worse have been given. Probably a good thing there wasn,t 50,000 spectators appealing with the Saffers or Gouldy may have got an itchy finger. Good decision though from one of the more solid umps in the game IMO.

[Pup]

Listening to the cricket "experts" this morning and apparently all the players who batted well should hold their position for the 1st test against NZ.



If Mitchell Johnson holds his spot because he made some important runs then that is a disgrace. He is not in there for his batting, his job is to take ******* wickets! Not bowl rubbish.

[wristwatcher]

Listening to the cricket "experts" this morning and apparently all the players who batted well should hold their position for the 1st test against NZ.



If Mitchell Johnson holds his spot because he made some important runs then that is a disgrace. He is not in there for his batting, his job is to take ******* wickets! Not bowl rubbish.

They love having a left armer in the attack so until Dougy is fit and firing i think your gonna see Jonno for most of the summer

[tigerpie]

Smith didnt err in putting Tahir on.....he just replaced the wrong bowler. I think he wanted him to bowl at

[Squids]

It's funny how much we suck at Test cricket apparently.....

we would beat every team at home apart from England and maybe SA

away we would beat everyone but England and maybe India

[Lightning McQueen]

It reeally is an amazing game, player for player I think the saffers are way better than us.

Smith vs Hughes: Smith
Rudolph vs Watson: Watson
Amla vs Usman: Amla
Kallis vs Ponting: Kallis
de Villiers vs Clark: I can't decide
Prince vs Hussey: Hussey
Boucher vs Haddin: Boucher
Philanderer vs Johnson: Philanderer
Steyn vs Siddle: Steyn
Morkel vs Cummins: Inconclusive
Tahir vs Lyon: Tahir

7/2 and two 50/50's, perhaps I'm a bit rough on Haddin and Clark, but then again Morkel has proven himself over a greater period of time than Cummins and I haven't seen enough of Prince to rate him igher than Huss, how did we win

[james07]

4 runs to get
Smith produces one of historys worst cricketing blunders
He replaces Philander with Tahir



Whadda series
Its had everything
Most of all pitches that have given bowlers a chance to complete with batsman
Cant wait for the 3rd Test

That magnificent batting keeper bravely played his shots and made a brilliant 55
Had one of those shots got him out early,the critics would be in force today
Its the way he plays, and why he is arguably Australias 2nd best BATTING keeper of all time

A touch of Hansie?

funny you mention that whilst during the rain break there was highlights of an onedayer Aust vs SAF and it was a close game with SAF clawing themselves back into the game and eventually winning, the only bloke not celebrating like crazy at the fall of an aussie wicket was Hansie, he looked more disappointed???

[Lightning McQueen]

funny you mention that whilst during the rain break there was highlights of an onedayer Aust vs SAF and it was a close game with SAF clawing themselves back into the game and eventually winning, the only bloke not celebrating like crazy at the fall of an aussie wicket was Hansie, he looked more disappointed???

Yeah, I've been paying extra attention to his body language and form of dismissal during these games.

[Squids]

It reeally is an amazing game, player for player I think the saffers are way better than us.

Smith vs Hughes: Smith
Rudolph vs Watson: Watson
Amla vs Usman: Amla
Kallis vs Ponting: Kallis
de Villiers vs Clark: I can't decide
Prince vs Hussey: Hussey
Boucher vs Haddin: Boucher
Philanderer vs Johnson: Philanderer
Steyn vs Siddle: Steyn
Morkel vs Cummins: Inconclusive
Tahir vs Lyon: Tahir

7/2 and two 50/50's, perhaps I'm a bit rough on Haddin and Clark, but then again Morkel has proven himself over a greater period of time than Cummins and I haven't seen enough of Prince to rate him igher than Huss, how did we win

South Africa has a long and established history of not delivering.

[gossipgirl]

I am sick of these so called 2 match test series. CMON it has to be a min of 3 tests

[cripple]

Great win. Went to bed when Huss was out. Glad i recorded it.
Always great to beat those chokers, still havnt beaten us in a home series for over 40 years.
Well done Cummins MOTM, should have started the series.
Pity it was only a 2 test series, disgraceful if rumours are true that a 3 test series was originally scheduled but the saffer cricket board wanted to play an extra T20 but couldnt fit it in to schedule so the series was cut.

Pretty sure I had heard earlier (even a year ago) that it is more to do with South Africa wanting to host Australia on Boxing Day and Australia refusing to do so. I think this will happen one day but whoever decides to do so wont be popular and you wont see either team play each other on Boxing Day until it happens unfortunately.