Aust. vs SA - series preview.

[Briedis]

What are everyones thoughts on who we have to stop in the SA team this year. Who will we have to target? Who might be the dark horse? How do the teams compare?

Pollock
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Great bowler. In McGraths class he will take a bunch of wickets, but seems to bowl in short (5/6 overs) spells. So the Aussies might be better off seeing him off as the rest of the bowling lineup is much more comfortable.

He can bat too, scored a ton in the recent series against India...mind you the attack was fairly ordinary.

Kallis
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He's been in good form with the bat this year and had a solid series against India. Doesn't seem to be scoring too freely at the moment and may struggle against the Aussie attack. He is a gritty player though and will not give up his wicket easily.

His bowling has also been good a times this year but bad in at other times.

Gibbs
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Had a great series opening the batting against a weak Indian bowling attack. He and Kirsten have formed a formidable opening partnership which can set up the Proteas for big scores.

Dark Horse
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Klussener.

Can't bowl to save his life anymore, but still hits it as hard as anyone and score useful runs at thenend of an innings.


Comparison
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I think the Aussies are ahead on paper.

Our bowling attack of McGrath, Warne, Lee, Gillespie and MacGill is far superior to Pollock, Ntini, Hayward, Kallis. I haven't seen the spinner they have brought, so you never know. Considering there will be two spinning pitches and that they have only brought one quality spinner also works in our favour.

I think we are just ahead in the batting. It's all very even, but if the Australian middle-order fires then we will have an advantage.

Both teams have in-form opening pairs in Hayden/Langer and Gibbs/Kirsten. Australias middle order has been a little out of form, but an important series against the Proteas will awaken the best out of Ponting, M. Waugh and S.Waugh. Martyn has been in patchy form and looks like our weakest batting link. SA have Kallis, Rudolph, McKenzie and Boucher, a good mix of quality and youth. Klussener and Gilchrist are handy number sevens. Both sides can bat a fair way down.

Anyway, intereted to hear other opinions.

 

[dennisismyhero]

Shaun Pollock is going to rip through the Aussies over the summer. The way he's bowling at the moment, not even Matthew Hayden would be able to stop him.

That's not to say I hope Hayden smashes all the other South Africans bowlers!

 

[dogboy23]

It will be a generally low scoring series with Australias success hinging on how easily we are able to dismiss Kirsten,Kallis and Gibbs.Warney should get under the skins of the new comers like Mckenzie who is also a danger to us.I think Mcgrath should target Gibbs.The other to batsman mentioned are to mentally strong and will only frustrate Mcgrath.I expect S.Waugh and Langer to do well but another key for Australia is how well our quick scvoring batsman are able to play.South Africa will bowl very tightly and frustrate us.If a Ponting or M.Waugh is able to see off the initial onslaught they will be invaluable later on.Hopefully Hayward,Ntini and even Donald will struggle for rythm and we can get some cheap runs.

 

[blurton]

Pollock

Originally posted by dennisismyhero
Shaun Pollock is going to rip through the Aussies over the summer. The way he's bowling at the moment, not even Matthew Hayden would be able to stop him.

That's not to say I hope Hayden smashes all the other South Africans bowlers!

Gees, I think you might be overrating Pollock. He bowls somewhere between 125 and 132 KMPH. He aint that quick. He also doesn't get a tremendous amount of movement. He's steady and bowls a good line. He will probably get more wickets for the Proteas that anyone else but I don't think he will worry the Aussies too much.

 

[RogerC]

I'd be more worried about us right now. Warne's talking big, but he's not really bowling all that well. He's going to have to improve a hell of a lot just to get a wicket or two. I suspect he's knows that, which is the inspiration for his psychological stuff.

McGrath may improve, but we didn't see him get a whole lot better over the NZ series. It was particularly distressing to see him bowling way down off side to contain them. McGrath at his peak would hardly need to resort to that.

Gillespie may well surprise with a couple of bags, but Lee is going to want to bowl a tighter line, or he may well get carted. Very few cheap pick ups in that SA line up, and his mouthing off isn't really going to affect them.

Our batting looks stronger, and if we can find a way to see Pollock off (that's IF, and I don't think it really is as easy as just enduring his spells - he is bowling pretty well, and he can really test our opening partnership), we might find easier pickings among Ntini and Hayward - though Hayward is improving, compared to the last time we saw him. Donald will get better. You can't tell a thing about form on that WACA pitch.

I think Ponting will do well. He relishes a challenge like this, and he'll be aggressive. Martyn's lost a bit of his touch. Steve Waugh - well, who knows? If he doesn't perform, he'll be that bit closer to retirement. He knows that, and the test is to see whether his determination and talent succeed over his ageing body and reflexes. I think he'll do well, because he has to. Ditto Mark, although Mark will be more erratic.

Two strong batting line ups on pitches that may well produce results - although Adelaide sounds like it's benign. Should be very interesting.

 

[Briedis]

Originally posted by dogboy23
South Africa will bowl very tightly and frustrate us.If a Ponting or M.Waugh is able to see off the initial onslaught they will be invaluable later on.Hopefully Hayward,Ntini and even Donald will struggle for rythm and we can get some cheap runs.

I watched the South Africans against the Indians at home and Hayward and Ntini will get carted by the Aussies, very poor bowlers. Ntini hardly got any wickets and Hayward only got his from wayward shots by the Indians on bouncy pitches. The Aussies just need to see off Pollock and Kallis (although they will give nanti the new ball which relases any pressure Pollock can apply anyway) and devour the rest.

 

[Darky]

Hayward is much the same as Shoaib Akhtar - bowls quick, but 99% of it is garbage.

Ntini has taken something like 4 wickets in his last 5 Tests, and is only in the side because of the compulsory minimum quota of two non-white players in the South African team (Gibbs is the other and has more than justified his selection on form). Elworthy would be miles ahead if not for this rule, as he had an outstanding domestic season.