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Australia tour of South Africa |OT| Battle of the Batsmen
- Thread starter chicko1983
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chicko1983
Member
yep, even in here people were expecting the Aussie collapse after the third wicket.
I watched the first two sessions live and then the third session on recording this morning.
Smithy is fast becoming a world class batsman. His judgement has improved so much and his eye is so good it makes up for his technique.
If he scores a hundred, it will be four first innings hundreds in the last seven matches, spanning three different countries and the two best opposition attacks he could face in test cricket. This is why I rate him so highly.
If he ever has any self doubt, all he has to do is look back at this period in his career.
Moxx19 said:
The reason why I think he is more like KP than anyone else is his awesome hand eye coordination making up for a suposed "bad" technique, the upright position he plays the ball in, the crunching drives and love of working the ball on the onside based on length and not line (pulling balls from outside offstump). He naturally scores runs quickly.
That doesnt mean that he doesnt have any grit or determination. KP had that as well if you saw him bat in India.
You and me both. Keeps me from commenting more often than not, I just can't be bothered with negative nancies. Not enough minutes in my day for them.
On the other hand, I've taken up playing indoor cricket Wednesday nights and didn't keep up with last nights' play.
Read all the cricinfo commentary this morning over breakfast though. Well done to Marsh, hopefully he kicks on tonight - I feel like it's been awhile since someone made a genuinely big century - or double - for Australia (probably selective memory though). And Smithy, my what a period of cricket he is enjoying! So happy for him.
Looks like the pitch is very tepid once the ball softens up a little, however even the second new ball was made to look the size of a watermelon by the two set batsmen. Hopefully our bowlers are paying attention at the length SA were bowling, which was too short way too often, and make suitable adjustments themselves.
I haven't seen much of Marsh batting so I dont have anything to say on him, other than its great to see him get a good score first go back in.
I was disappointed the top order didnt fire again, but given we still had Smith in I was less worried about it than I was six months ago. Especially with Haddin still to come. Its obvious that persistently sticking with these players is paying dividends, but it still makes me wonder what could have been if they stuck with Hughes and Khawaja.
Also, no surprise today to see Ponting confirm it was Cricket Australia/BCCI and racists that drove Andrew Symmonds out of the game.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-...australia-ricky-ponting/5257112?section=sport
I was disappointed the top order didnt fire again, but given we still had Smith in I was less worried about it than I was six months ago. Especially with Haddin still to come. Its obvious that persistently sticking with these players is paying dividends, but it still makes me wonder what could have been if they stuck with Hughes and Khawaja.
Also, no surprise today to see Ponting confirm it was Cricket Australia/BCCI and racists that drove Andrew Symmonds out of the game.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-...australia-ricky-ponting/5257112?section=sport
bobnowhere
Member
I just managed to hang on to the end. The whole time I was expecting Smith to hit out to try to bring up his ton before the close of play and probably get out. The fact that he relaxed and very visibly played every ball like the last without letting the milestone hang over him was the most impressive part. He's definitely maturing into someone comfortable in test cricket.
toddhunter
Member
I thought he was a talented guy who didn't deserve to be in the team.
He has hit a great score, but he did that before too and then went on to do absolutely nothing.
Jury is still out on this one for me. Lots of people do well as soon as they come back in. Keeping it up is always the problem.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
First time seeing marsh in tests. but it seems like most of his troubles has been that he seems to do pretty shit in the sub-continent when he first started out.
toddhunter
Member
Actually he did well there (sri-lanka), scoring a 100 in his first match and then an 80 odd (141, 81, 18).
Before this innings he has only played in Australia (0, 3, 0, 11, 3, 0) and South Africa (44, 0).
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Ah alright, when I heard that he had a poor run against india I thought it was in SC conditions.
toddhunter
Member
Yeah it was at home. And to make it worse that was the series where Australia scored a squillion runs.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Haha yeah, looking at the scorecards now (didn't watch that series) the margins in which australia is winning at is ridiculous. :lol
India really can't win outside of the SC.
India really can't win outside of the SC.
War Peaceman
You're a big guy.
I remember reading a long time ago that Shaun Marsh is one of the most striking feast and famine players. Good form followed by atrocious form. There was never any doubt that he could play the good innings, but the consistency is and should remain the key question.
Hi guys! Long time no see.
Just came to give mad props to Marsh. I was one of his ardent doubters and while he has a long way to go, he really made a statement yesterday. Good on him.
Also had major doubts that Steve Smith would ever have a test temperament but he has made me a believer over the summer. The image of composure yesterday.
Baffled as to why Graeme Smith sent us in, especially with Steyn under the weather.
Just came to give mad props to Marsh. I was one of his ardent doubters and while he has a long way to go, he really made a statement yesterday. Good on him.
Also had major doubts that Steve Smith would ever have a test temperament but he has made me a believer over the summer. The image of composure yesterday.
Baffled as to why Graeme Smith sent us in, especially with Steyn under the weather.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
In other australian cricket news victoria is woeful.
bobnowhere
Member
Just turned it on, apparently Morkel is injured and is off for scans.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Ooooh, variable bounce now.
bobnowhere
Member
Steyn bowls a beautiful 4 straight over the keepers head!
The Aussie players are wearing black armbands for that poor kid in Melbourne whose father beat him to death with a cricket bat at training yesterday.
Leaves SA pretty short especially if this innings lasts long. Steyn was also carrying a stomach problem.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
edit: oh wait, completely misheard.
bobnowhere
Member
Marsh is fine.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
This wicket is really starting to misbehave. Wonder if it'll flatten though when australia comes out for a bowl.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Top knock!
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
At least he got his ton before that happened!
Good job though. Australia is well set now.
Good job though. Australia is well set now.
bobnowhere
Member
Eeek maybe another as well!
Edit: Gone!
Edit: Gone!
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Smith should have gone out early just so that haddin can come into a more familiar situation.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
I find it incredible that the laws of cricket even have stipulations on when a bowler can bowl depending on what kind of injury he gets.
bobnowhere
Member
And gone, great innings! Hopefully he isn't hit by a dry spell like the last one.
I suppose it's an effort to clearly define injuries caused during the game, obvious collisions etc... and those maybe brought into the game or used as an excuse to go on and off the field. It does kind of assume anyone with a soft tissue injury/strain and the like is faking it.
I suppose it's an effort to clearly define injuries caused during the game, obvious collisions etc... and those maybe brought into the game or used as an excuse to go on and off the field. It does kind of assume anyone with a soft tissue injury/strain and the like is faking it.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Alright, now to see how the tail does. Been saving us all ashes.
Also hell yeah at harris over siddle.
Also hell yeah at harris over siddle.
bobnowhere
Member
Nicked from another forum:
400 here would be fantastic.
400 here would be fantastic.
The 359/7 the now is actually an excellent score, it's just a bit disappointing given where they were at 331/4
reptilescorpio
Member
Seems odd and a little alarming that the second innings average is nearly 50 more than the 1st lol
I think you would find that is pretty standard at most grounds yeah? Usually best conditions are 2nd / 3rd days.
bobnowhere
Member
I don't really know enough about the ground but it seems as though there is something for the bowlers early on, first session or two, possibly justifying Smith's decision and it then hardens on day 2 and 3. Then like most grounds it falls apart as it gets older.
A lot of humidity in the area, maybe SA and the groundkeeper like a little green at the beginning?
reptilescorpio
Member
Damnit Harris, you chopped on the bad ball! Played the ones on the wicket great but didn't quite get that one >_<
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Don't worry, we still have Nathan "Undismissable" Lyon to come.
ItAintEasyBeinCheesy
it's 4th of July in my asshole
Johnson did well, hope he does the same with the ball.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Put siddle in 11!
Nathan lyon continuing his streak of not being dismissed.
Nathan lyon continuing his streak of not being dismissed.
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