Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[Henry Jr]

Cannot quite believe what I'm hearing here tonight. Watson with 5 wickets from his first 21 balls. Apparently the 2nd fastest 5-for on test history! South Africa have imploded, yet somehow I still have that sinking feeling we'll somehow manage to turn this into a draw....hope I'm wrong!

Doubt it. Not with both teams having batted already half way thru day 2.

 

[Woodside Hawk]

South Africa all out for 96...their mental fragility is once again on show. Could they do with a less 'emotional' captain? Whatever it is, it is a spectacular collapse.

Speaking of captains..well done Pup.

 

[Woodside Hawk]

Doubt it. Not with both teams having batted already half way thru day 2.

True. The follow-on was still on offer as I posted that, albeit for only 2 runs. Would be truly something to end in a draw now.

 

[reubski23]

Only way it could be a draw is if it rains for the next 3 days. 14 wickets in a little over a session crazy. I love how they are making pitches these days really favoring the bowler and giving the batsmen a real test. I have a feeling that either Hughes will score a career changing hundred or South Africa will some how win this.

 

[grizzlym]

Missing the opportunity to make them follow-on might just come back to haunt us here. The pitches at Newlands tend to dry out day 2 and 3, not forgetting the quality batting line up the South Africans possess.

Gee our openers look shaky generally. You can probably have one of Watson or Hughes at the top but not both.

 

[harliquin]

Well.. What a bizarre day in cricket.. and it's not even over yet.
I'm in Auckland with work, went to bed early when they were 1/41 (or there abouts). Someone call my hotel room around midnight here, wrong number, which woke me up. They were all out and we were 5/15.

No chance of going to sleep now that we're 7/21.

This is absolute insanity.

 

[grizzlym]

Yes it is. How awful does Brad Haddin look these days? He tries to play the most stupid shots. Inappropriate shots.

 

[Tazwegian]

What a joke Australian cricket is these days. I don't care if we win this test or not, being 8/21 is absolutely unacceptable. Thank god for Clarke.

 

[harliquin]

9/21 :/

 

[go hawks!!!]

Wow, what a days cricket!

Sth Africa 1/81 chasing 236. I don't know what to take from this.

Yes, I agree Haddin is a joke.

Can we turn it around?

 

[Willie_Rioli]

Wow, what a days cricket!

Sth Africa 1/81 chasing 236. I don't know what to take from this.

Yes, I agree Haddin is a joke.

Can we turn it around?

it's pretty funny that we're still in the game. this pitch is seriously bi-polar.
it doesn't make any sense.

 

[Messenger]

Wow, what a days cricket!

Sth Africa 1/81 chasing 236. I don't know what to take from this.

Yes, I agree Haddin is a joke.

Can we turn it around?

I doubt it.

2nd innings debacles like that are between the ears of the batsmen, not in the hands of the bowlers. Sign of a team still findings it's feet.

 

[Henry Jr]

WTF - I went to bed having rolled the Saffers for 80 odd.

And I wake upto this

 

[Woodside Hawk]

South Africa all out for 96...their mental fragility is once again on show. Could they do with a less 'emotional' captain? Whatever it is, it is a spectacular collapse.

Speaking of captains..well done Pup.

Egg. Face.

Oh my....what the hell happened??

 

[grizzlym]

I doubt it.

2nd innings debacles like that are between the ears of the batsmen, not in the hands of the bowlers. Sign of a team still findings it's feet.

Yeah, partly I think.

Some structural issues for me: the openers are fragile. I mean can you imagine either of them being able to dig in and play a long innings? And MJ is a shadow of his former self. Close to being dropped I would have thought. Plus Haddin's batting is going down hill faster than a fat man in a barrel.

 

[go hawks!!!]

Aussies 2-31 after 8 overs chasing 310.

Can they do it?

Perhaps if they are patient, they will have a chance.

This is the time Ricky needs to stand up. Today, I read the Age, and I hope he didn't! 5 bloody articles on how he is done and dusted (which i think he is).

The 'male model' khawaja looks good just needs to be patient.

Mitch Johnson should not be in the team, too inconsistent.

 

[grizzlym]

How about Cummins though? Awesome. If he keeps fit, he'll be our next great fast bowler. He looks effortless to me; just a natural.

I hope the new selectors push Watson down the order now. Far too much pressure on the guy, besides I think he'll be far more effective at 6.

Watson's value, indeed, his whole make-up as a player says he's an all-rounder. He can't open the batting and bowl like he does. Just impossible.

He's done a sterling job up there, but for he needs to drop down to number 6.

Siddle just doesn;t have enough tricks or variety. And who the frack knows with Mitch? Just awful.

Can we do it? I doubt it. This team isn't one to make history.

 

[mrcurly]

This team is reminscent of the Border captained teams of the 80's, too fragile in the batting, and bowlers that as a unit have far too many weak links, leaking runs when they need to tighten the screws.

Peter Siddle is starting to remind me too much of Geoff Dymock, good honest trier, with a very limited repertoir. Initially i thought he could become another Merv Hughes, he is a beligerant batsman when he gets going, but as a bowler - i have my doubts he will continue to improve the way big Merv did. Perhaps he should grow a 'tash. For the team to move forward i would still have him in there as the stock bowler.

Apart from the S.A tour a few years back, and a couple of performances in Perth, Mitchell Johnson has been looking like an amateur trying to mix it with the pros. If an 18 yr old can be pulled from obscurity - and bowl which such menace in his first test then i feel its time to send Mitch back to state ranks. There is obviously a bit of talent out there.

It is surprising with the myriad of coaching help he has had that he still cannot bowl the ball without scrambling the seam, seems to have no control, and without a conducive wicket he is just cannon fodder. Could be forgiven when he was slogging runs, but even that side of his game has fallen away.

Ponting should give it away, looks to be playing a decent innings (finally) but its not good enough, and a shame to remember him for his final couple of seasons - pretty mediocre. Better to go out like Deano - still at the top of his game.

The AusA NZ game will hopefully groom a few new players, and see who slots in for Ponting. I would be bringing Wade in for Haddin, and Cutting in for Johnson for the next international.

Bring on the football season - can't believe i am waffling about cricket.

 

[mrcurly]

..oh yeah, and they might even manage to limp across the line and win this one.

 

[DESTRUKTOR]

Ponting should give it away, looks to be playing a decent innings (finally) but its not good enough, and a shame to remember him for his final couple of seasons - pretty mediocre. Better to go out like Deano - still at the top of his game.

The one and only Dean Jones? I would not say he left the game on top. He was shafted for shafting the coaches misses. Weather he was on top, underneath, in front, or behind is anyones guess!

 

[mrcurly]

... surely not Deano, he was such a shrinking violet

I remember his first interview, would have been about 19, just said - 'not surprised to be selected (for Victoria), i was born with a cricket bat in my hands'

Confidence? off the richter scale. Great to watch when he was on song - on the cricket field anyway.

I fear Ponting will be remembered as the one that did not know when to quit, i have lost count of the amount of times over the past two seasons he has said 'I'm hitting them really well in the nets..'

BTW- Whats our current coaches wife like? is Ponting any chance for a dishonourable discharge??

 

[Ram-Man]

Cricket is pretty much dead to me -- used to love it as a kid but it just doesn't 'appeal' to me anymore. A two test series in South Africa ? -- what's all that about ?

 

[Lord Mud of Glenferrie]

The Australia A /New Zealand game is starting to take on some importance. Might try to get down and have a gander.

Cutting and Maddinson interest me, particularly Cutting - a truly quick fastie who goes for the jugular (maybe the fastest since Thommo, certainly since Lee). Only has to stay fit to be the first bowler picked for the first test. A Cutting/Cumming combination may be very inexperienced and young but, what the heck, surely time for a complete change in preparation for the only series that matters (the Ashes).

Though he is only 18, I believe that Maddinson should be fast tracked. We are desperate for openers who can actually bat with an opener’s technique.

Pity that Lynn has not been selected. He is one of the best players of the swinging ball going around at the moment, and still only 21.

Yep time for the new guard.
Cutting
Cumming
Maddinson
Khawaja
Lynn and
the two marshes

And anyone to replace Haddin.

Maddinson
Marsh
Khawaja
Clark
Lynn
Watson
Marsh

Mmm, at the moment, that batting line up would not beat time. However, in another 12 to 18 months? Add a fearsome opening attack in Cutting and Cumming and, who knows, Australia may start to win games.

Add a wicket keeper who actually stands within slagging distance of the batsman and a spinner capable of bowling 30 controlled overs per innings and who knows.

 

[go hawks!!!]

4-155 with clarke failing, no text from henry jr to say 'f%^k you clarke' which is surprising.

Gees these cameraman are keeping me entertained with the best jo'berg has to offer.

Aussies will win this.

 

[mrcurly]

Clarke pillows again under pressure, and now 62 to Ponting - slipping off his zimmer frame and playing a flirty shot to a wide ball, i can hear the fat lady warming up.

Time for Haddin to go out with a 20/20 bang.