Second Test - Australia Vs South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban (Fri-Tue) [3]

[CatManDo]

South Africa vs Australia

Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, Durban
7:00pm AEDT, 6 March to 10 March 2009

South Africa find themselves on the back foot against a revitalised Australian outfit that played up to its official number one world ranking in the first test. Now the two sides are set to clash for the fifth time this summer at Kingsmead, Durban.

Last match

Australia unleashed some new moves in Johannesburg and it caught the Proteas on the hop. The Aussie debutantes all played well; North and Hughes stood up with the bat while Hilfenhaus showed great promise and took some important wickets. Overall Australia’s bowling was tight and the batsmen did enough, with the exception of one horrendous session on day four.

However South Africa are not test cricket’s number one contender without merit. After being outclassed for over two days, it took them little over two hours to claw their way right back into the first test, and they will be hoping to carry that sort of form into this match. They’ve also been somewhat slow starters in test series in recent times (with the exception of their Australian visit), so don’t be surprised to see them step up a notch.

About the ground

Widely regarded as a seamer’s wicket, the typically humid weather at Kingsmead could provide assistance to the pacemen.

Ricky Ponting will be relishing a return to a ground where he led Australia to a test win in 2006 with a century in each innings. For the hosts, Jaques Kallis has scored 4 centuries at the ground, while Makhaya Ntini has taken 40 wickets in 5 tests here.

Australia holds the overall advantage at the ground 4-3 in test matches, with two draws.

Teams

One day representative Albie Morkel replaces Lonwabo Tsotsobe in the South African 12, who has injured his right knee. South Africa have not played a specialist spinner in their most recent two Tests at Kingsmead, and therefore could choose to leave Paul Harris out of the 11, which would hand Morkel a test debut.

Injuries have once again cursed the Australian bowling line-up… and then they cursed some more. Tasmanian Brett Geeves was flown in as cover after Doug Bollinger succumbed to an abdominal strain, and then the selectors went back to the well and brought WA’s Steve Magoffin over when both Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus pulled up sore.

Before the injuries it seemed an unchanged line-up was likely. Ricky Ponting commented on Tuesday that it would be hard to change a winning team, but he may have no choice if his fast men keep forgetting to take their lucky charms with them to training. Siddle and Hilfenhaus were rested from Wednesday’s training and will be assessed on Thursday.

South Africa XII:
*Graeme Smith
Neil McKenzie
Hashim Amla
Jacques Kallis
AB de Villiers
JP Duminy
+Mark Boucher
Paul Harris
Morne Morkel
Makhaya Ntini
Dale Steyn
Albie Morkel
In:
Albie Morkel
Out:
Lonwabo Tsotsobe (injured)

Australia (from):
Phil Hughes
Simon Katich
*Ricky Ponting
Michael Hussey
Michael Clarke
Marcus North
+Brad Haddin
Andrew McDonald
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Ben Hilfenhaus
Bryce McGain
Nathan Hauritz
Brett Geeves
Steve Magoffin
In:
Brett Geeves
Steve Magoffin

Out:
Doug Bollinger (injured)

Quotes

Graeme Smith
“We probably haven't always started at our best in South Africa. It's an unfortunate thing and it's tough to put our finger on why it happens. We know what we are capable of and if we play to that level we can win the Durban Test match.”

Ricky Ponting
“This side played really well over five days. There have been really valuable contributions from everyone when they needed to do it, and when I asked them to do it. That's a sign of a good, hungry team of players willing to do whatever it takes to win a game for you.”

Micky Arthur
"It is likely that we will play the spinner. We've played a spinner throughout our last successful period of 18 months. I think our spinner has been quite an integral part of our attack. If all things are equal I'm pretty sure we'll play the spinner."

Prediction

Two evenly matched sides that don’t like to mess about on the field means a result is highly likely. I predict another five-day encounter, with an improved South Africa leveling the series at 1-1.

Umpires:

Steve Bucknor (Jamaica)
Billy Bowden (New Zealand)
Asad Rauf (Pakistan)

Recent History:

2008-09 in Australia
South Africa won 2-1
MOTS: Graeme Smith

2005-06 in South Africa
Australia won 3-0
MOTS: Stuart Clark
including March 24, 2006 @ Durban
Australia won by 112 runs
Australia 369
Ponting 103
Hussey 75
Ntini 3/81
South Africa 267
Kallis 114
de Villiers 50
Lee 5/69
Australia 4(dec)/307
Ponting 116
Hayden 102
Boje 2/87
South Africa 297
Boucher 51*
Boje 48
Warne 6/86 MOTM

2005-06 in Australia
Australia won 2-0
MOTS: Ricky Ponting

2001-02 in South Africa
Australia won 2-1
MOTS: Adam Gilchrist
including March 15, 2002 @ Durban
South Africa won by 5 wickets
Australia 315
Ponting 89
Gilchrist 91
Adams 2/37
South Africa 167
Gibbs 51 MOTM
Lee 4/82
Warne 4/33
Australia 186
S Waugh 42
Ponting 34
Kallis 3/29
South Africa 5/340
Gibbs 104
Kirsten 64
M Waugh 2/43

2001-02 in Australia
Australia won 3-0
MOTS: Matthew Hayden

1997-98 in Australia
Australia won 1-0
MOTS: Shane Warne

1996-97 in South Africa
Australia won 2-1
MOTS: Steve Waugh

1993-94 in South Africa
Series drawn 1-1
MOTS: Steve Waugh
including 25 March, 1994 @ Durban
Match drawn
Australia 269
S Waugh 64
Healy 55
Matthews 4/65
South Africa 422
McMillan 84
Rhodes 78
Warne 4/92
Australia 4(dec)/297
M Waugh 113 MOTM
Slater 95
Donald 3/66

1993-94 in Australia
Series drawn 1-1
MOTS: Steve Waugh

Weather:

The extended forecast says mid to high 20’s every day, with some cloud cover.

Session Times (AEDT)

First session: 7:30-9:30pm
Second session: 10:10pm-12:10am
Third session: 12:30-2:30am

Coverage:

Fox sports 3: Live from 7:30pm AEDT
ABC radio: Live from 7:25pm AEDT nightly
Cricinfo (http://www.cricinfo.com.au/)
Cricket Australia (http://www.cricket.com.au/)

[Spikey]

I think we need a wicket to get us back on topic...

What's the topic again? Clown-school?

[TheBrownDog]

You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college!

Se-at-tle! Baahahahahha

[Vegas.]

No I am concerned that you are pathologically insane.
Something to do with the water down here.

[robbo75]

On one hand I agree with you, on the other I don't want to see us sit back and be content with the two wins and not go out as hard as possible for 3-0, it's not something we have done in the past, the Aussie team has prided itself on dominating teams.

Hypothetically, who comes in for him?

In some ones I see your point. On the other hand it might not be a bad idea to give another player a cap. The more players we have with exposure to test level we have the better. It's a good opportunity to measure just where a Geeves or Magoffin is at.

[beez]

You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college!

Se-at-tle! Baahahahahha
Du du du du du du du du du du du du du du du du

[TheBrownDog]

Hmm, Smith doesn't have the plaster on anymore.

[Vegas.]

Neil Mack just making sure he keeps his spot for a bit longer. What a jerk.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Where is Siddle?

[TheBrownDog]

Where is Siddle?

Off the field.

Edit: Back on now apparently. Was only off for 10 mins or so.

[Cruiser23]

McKenzie wants an extra few weeks in the side, trying to keep the captain out for longer it seems.

[Vegas.]

Where is Siddle?
South Africa, you?

Nah he went off to get some sort of treatment, hasn't come back on yet.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

When is he coming back FFS?

If he has come into this game without being honest with his teammates about his fitness status then he has let us down.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

South Africa, you?

Nah he went off to get some sort of treatment, hasn't come back on yet.

I coming down but still miles above you.

(Extra points if you can still me what song from a very, very famous band that phrase comes from (it's not Oasis)

[weevil]

My audio on CricShow.Com has crapped out. Any one else have any probs?

[weevil]

I coming down but still miles above you.

(Extra points if you can still me what song from a very, very famous band that phrase comes from (it's not Oasis)

Got the line wrong.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

FFS, lets get some wickets.

[marcuz]

Off the field.

Edit: Back on now apparently. Was only off for 10 mins or so.

he amputated his own foot with a plastic knife from lunch and he's back ready to bowl for his skipper, tough bastards those woodchoppers.

[Jimthegreat]

My audio on CricShow.Com has crapped out. Any one else have any probs?Yep, mine has too.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Hilfenhaus bowling pies.

[Vegas.]

I coming down but still miles above you.

(Extra points if you can still me what song from a very, very famous band that phrase comes from (it's not Oasis)
Helter Skelter, and Oasis did do a version didn't they?

[TheBrownDog]

Helter Skelter, and Oasis did do a version didn't they?

They are a Beatles tribute act afterall.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Yeah from Wembley Stadium 2000.

Just get a wicket, ****.

[TheBrownDog]

25 mins till tea.

Need another wicket.

[Biggie]

Break his jaw MJ. :)

[weevil]

Yep, mine has too.

Yeah, still shizen houzen after a reboot. :mad:

The audio from the phone vid from the net are about 5 seconds out of sync :mad:

[Cousin Jed]

I think LtD was the kid who said "Are we there yet?" every 2 minutes on a long car trip.

[Vegas.]

Yeah, still shizen houzen after a reboot. :mad:

The audio from the phone vid from the net are about 5 seconds out of sync :mad:
Wait so you are rocking your phone into your TV right?

Why not just use a radio and get ABC?

[weevil]

Yeah from Wembley Stadium 2000.

...And you got the lyric wrong.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Im just impatient.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

...And you got the lyric wrong.

What are you going to do about it?

[Vegas.]

I think LtD was the kid who said "Are we there yet?" every 2 minutes on a long car trip.
The 2 minutes between each time he asked was spent fapping to Oasis copying Beatles tracks.

[Costanza_]

My audio on CricShow.Com has crapped out. Any one else have any probs?

Yep, mine has too.

Try Stream 2. Audio in Stream 1 carked it awhile ago, 2 working fine for me.

[weevil]

Wait so you are rocking your phone into your TV right?

Why not just use a radio and get ABC?

Nah in the office now. Am actually working while I am keeping you lot under control and watching the game.

The images from 3 were great in the first test but have been pretty poor this test.

[Vegas.]

The images from 3 were great in the first test but have been pretty poor this test.
Something to do with the green mamba tide if you ask me.

[weevil]

Try Stream 2. Audio in Stream 1 carked it awhile ago, 2 working fine for me.

Didn't wait for stream 2 to load because it said it was Eng v WI. :rolleyes:

Cheers.

[Vegas.]

Really quite sick of them showing the bowler rather than the umpire when there is an appeal...

[rdhopkins2]

Oh close! Let's see the replay!

[Cruiser23]

OMG Hilf do not change that length, absolutely perfect those last few balls of that over.

[weevil]

What are you going to do about it?

I'm going to repeatedly tell you that you got the lyric wrong.

[Cousin Jed]

grumble, Marcus North, grumble

[aussie1st]

Hilfy has been a bit short lately that last ball is where he needs to stay.

[rdhopkins2]

Aussies didn't refer, Hawkeye said that's out. Bugger!

[Juddy88]

That looked plumb.

[deledio7]

why not refer?

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Nah, hit high on the pads, that won't be given out.

[RooBuoy]

Nah, hit high on the pads, that won't be given out.

When he's leaning up against the stumps height isnt as big a factor. Looked plumb

[Cuzz09]

This will be a draw - and if they are 2/250 by the end could be a loss.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Gee your a pessimistic poster. Have some faith.

[TheBrownDog]

this will be a draw - and if they are 2/250 by the end could be a loss.

lmao.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Hilfenhaus is bowling absolute shit.

[ParaBellum]

South Africa just went past Phil Hughes

[rdhopkins2]

2/139 with 4.5 sessions left. Plenty of time, pitch has some uneven bounce.

Give North a few overs.

[Juddy88]

This will be a draw - and if they are 2/250 by the end could be a loss.

Lol good to see your footy optimism translates into cricket as well. :thumbsu:

[Vegas.]

Mitch grabbing his hammy. He is stretching it, so you would have to think it's crap. Wouldn't be able to do that with a strain or tear.

[weevil]

Do the players call him Ron too?

[RooBuoy]

Hilfenhaus has bowled way too short every time he has bowled this series. Needs to be told to pitch it up.

[RooBuoy]

Do the players call him Ron too?

Haddin said well bowled Ronald, so I'd assume so.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Hilfenhaus is sending me to the drink.

What a pie thrower he has been this innings.

[Vegas.]

Do the players call him Ron too?
Yup, and I'm pretty sure his nickname is listed as Ron on the cricinfo site.

EDIT: Yah it is.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Just get someone out.

[robbo75]

Hilfenhaus has bowled way too short every time he has bowled this series. Needs to be told to pitch it up.

Certainly the case in his last few overs which have been garbage.

[rdhopkins2]

Punter has obviously had the 12th man out with my advice. North now bowling.

[Cuzz09]

Just get someone out.

pessimistic or desperation?

[robbo75]

2/139 with 4.5 sessions left. Plenty of time, pitch has some uneven bounce.

Give North a few overs.

What, to make up for the dropped catch?

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

just frustation.

[choco123]

Patience LtD. You'd like to think North could extract at least as much turn as Harris and Duminy did...

[Vegas.]

pessimistic or desperation?
Read back thru the thread, he says it on just about every page, including those pages where wickets have been taken.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Might as well get in on this one as well.

Get a wicket.

[weevil]

Might as well get in on this one as well.

Get a wicket.

You got the lyric wrong.

[Cruiser23]

Don't our bowlers need this rest, Hilf looking very tired.

[weevil]

CricShow gone the shitter.

[PalaceGun]

Mark Nicholas needs to do some homework (probably too busy looking in the mirror).

It is not Ponting who is reluctant to bowl Katich, it is Katich who is reluctant to bowl.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

You got the lyric wrong.

Please, i don't care.

Go on, do something outrageous.

[rdhopkins2]

That's tea. 3/145*. 4 sessions left.
*Smith surely won't bat unless they push it to the last hour tomorrow.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Im not sure, i got the impression he kind of liked everyone hailing him as some sort of "courageous hero" FFS, it's just a game and everyone was hailing him like he'd gone over the top at the Somme.

[beez]

I'm loving watching McKenzie whacking Smith on the hand again, absolute pisser!

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Hit me with a double bed.

[weevil]

Please, i don't care.

Go on, do something outrageous.

Yet you presume that someone cares when you say 'get a wicket' a hundred times?

[aussie1st]

North doesn't flight the ball enough to be threatening at this level.

[Vegas.]

North doesn't flight the ball enough to be threatening at this level.
Neither does Paul Harris.

[weevil]

...Or when you randomly quote a song lyric.

[damochandler]

if they get the ball in the right area's. it will start doing things. get a couple of wickets in this next session. they win about after lunch tomorrow

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Yet you presume that someone cares when you say 'get a wicket' a hundred times?

No i don't presume that at all.

I don't know what your trying to say?

My "get a wicket" phrase is harmless, you continuously quoting my posts saying stuff like "you got the lyric wrong" is annoying.

Everyone says stuff like "get a wicket" or "bring on North" or "shit ball that". Just general stuff.

However, for some reason i feel like a 24 hour red is coming my way from you very shortly?

Please tell me im mistaken.

[Cuzz09]

just frustation.

thts what I was sort of getting at too... Those guys look pretty comfortable out there.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

...Or when you randomly quote a song lyric.

Whats the diference between that and you posting pictures of a fat lady?

[aussie1st]

Neither does Paul Harris.

He gives it more flight than North. His trajectory is as flat as it comes.

[Vegas.]

God damn Sids was angry at that North drop, don't think I've seen a bowler quite that angry before. He is a beast.

[weevil]

No i don't presume that at all.

I don't know what your trying to say?

My "get a wicket" phrase is harmless, you continuously quoting my posts saying stuff like "you got the lyric wrong" is annoying.

Everyone says stuff like "get a wicket" or "bring on North" or "shit ball that". Just general stuff.

However, for some reason i feel like a 24 hour red is coming my way from you very shortly?

Please tell me im mistaken.

Dude you are so paranoid.

You say when you continuously post the same thing is harmless, but when someone else does it it is annoying.

That is an interesting view you have of the world.

[Cuzz09]

Just on the topic of a result it is actually possible that the Saffers can win this.

Dont lose a wicket this session and score say 115 runs and be 2/260(ish) at stumps and then they start again day 5 needing just under 300 to win.

Im just saying if anyone can win the un-winnable its South Africa.

Need 2 or 3 wickets this session to be safe IMO.

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Im going to watch some cricket, my computer is in a different room to the PC, hopefulyl we get some wickets.

Might crack open a couple of XXXXer's and watch some cricket.

[Vegas.]

I have been overly vocal in my abuse of this coverage, but this tea time interview with the SAF psycholgist Jeremy Snape is actually quite interesting and makes a nice change from some old farts crapping on about when they played.

[aussie1st]

Johnson hasn't looked as threatening like in the 1st inns which has been the difference between the two sides bowlers so far. Good thing Siddle has stepped up this inns to keep us on top.

[rdhopkins2]

Back from tea, Macca bowling.

[weevil]

I don’t know which is easier. Messing with Vegas by showing clown pics or messing with LtD by behaving the same way he does back at him.

[shrugs shoulders]...both fun anyway...

[rdhopkins2]

I reckon we should be guessing the colour of LTD's esky and what beer he is drinking. Nothing exciting since tea in the cricket lol

[PalaceGun]

Just on the topic of a result it is actually possible that the Saffers can win this.

Dont lose a wicket this session and score say 115 runs and be 2/260(ish) at stumps and then they start again day 5 needing just under 300 to win.

Im just saying if anyone can win the un-winnable its South Africa.

Need 2 or 3 wickets this session to be safe IMO.

Ridiculous, I thought you were originally on a wind up.

You do realise they need a further 400 runs and have an extremely long tail? Duminy next. Boucher has lost it. The rest are mugs.

[TheBrownDog]

I don’t know which is easier. Messing with Vegas by showing clown pics or messing with LtD by behaving the same way he does back at him.

[shrugs shoulders]...both fun anyway...

You forgot about this. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMa6ZBdmSlU)

[Vegas.]

Honestly most of them didn't bother me except for that one you posted with the clothesline, that is the exact image that I have in my mind when I think of clowns.

[Hotham Hawk]

Siddle looked like he was in a fair amount of discomfort after his first delivery after that break