The Cricket Thread

[Henry Jr]

Clarke hits 5 fours in an over to bring up his 50!

 

[grizzlym]

It's an unbelievable batting performance. Just clearing the board room to watch the last hour.

 

[Buddy Guy]

This is the stuff of legends.
I don't think I can remember a better first day of Test Cricket.

Just as Huss is bowled by a an absolute peach by shit Steyne.

 

[moginie]

I have attended every test match played in Adelaide for the past 27 years. In that time I've seen some pretty good innings too. Gavaskar's 166 in the first test I ever saw there, Border's 205 in 1987, Ponting's 250+, several gems by Lara & my personal favourite, Mark Waugh's 138 on debut.

But nothing I have seen before can compare with today. Clarke was simply majestic. The over from Morkel hopefully will be remembered in the same way that the Hookes/Grieg over in the Centenary Test is remembered. It was just wonderful. That period just after lunch was truely special. Warner & Clarke just took the attack apart. Admittedly du Plessis & Tahir were all over the shop, but our batsman didn't allow them to settle in.

I'd better stop as I'm beginning to sound like McAveney.

Just one more thing. Having a quiet ale afterwards with a couple of blokes who saw Pollock's 175 & Barlow's 201 in 1964 & Kanhai's pair of centuries in 1961 & both were of the opinion that the innings we saw today from Warner, Clarke & Hussey ranks easily with those.

Shame about Ponting's dismissal.

 

[grizzlym]

Byron Coverdale has summed up today's play, and Clarke's imperious batting form brilliantly on Cricinfo:

"Pwnage. That's the only word for it. Either that or Michael Clarke has been playing in god mode. How else could one explain Clarke scoring his fourth Test double-century this year, a feat that nobody, not even Bradman, has ever achieved? How else could Australia have piled on 482 runs, the most they have managed in a day of Test cricket since 1910? But this was no video game. Graeme Smith couldn't switch off and start over, no matter how much he wanted to."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-south-africa-2012/content/story/592364.html

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

I get the feeling our batsman don't rate that TarHair bloke. Just can't put my finger on it.

Pretty tough day for him I think. Didn't bowl that well, but there was a bit of the victim of the conditions and pie throwers down the other end and a couple going down not helping his cause. A bit much to expect a spinner to do too much on the first morning of a test. Aussies took full advantage.

 

[Glacier]

I must be going against the grain and will probably get shouted down for this but the way pitches are prepared for test cricket in this country is quickly becoming a farce
Any wonder when our test side comes up against conditions where the ball actually does a bit we fall in a heap
To me this batsmens paradise crap is just bullshit
Also, any wonder we can't produce a matchwinning spinner, what kid is going to take up spin on these roads
Then you have Hussey coming out in the papers saying there is too much juice in the pitches in shield games
What a joke

 

[Henry Jr]

Hilf is shit. Starc should have played especially with your have an offspinner in your side.

 

[Henry Jr]

Mr Cricket with a more lethal arm than Hilf!

 

[Henry Jr]

Warne...A
Warne...A
Warne...A

 

[grizzlym]

Terrible missed stumping by Wade.

 

[Messenger]

I've never seen a more useless strategy that right arm bowlers going around the wicket to left handers.

 

[Henry Jr]

Great persistence by Lyon. He deserved that wicket.

 

[Henry Jr]

I've never seen a more useless strategy that right arm bowlers going around the wicket to left handers.

Great bowling Siddle. Great posting by Mess!

 

[Henry Jr]

Sids on fire!

 

[grizzlym]

Lyon bowling very, very well. Can't see Faf hanging around too long.

 

[Henry Jr]

Good news for Tony Grieg fans. His memorabilia is back selling on Ch9 so it must mean his is up and about.

 

[Henry Jr]

First time we have seen some movement with the new ball this summer.

Can't see us enforcing the follow-on on this pitch.

 

[Henry Jr]

Patto dead. Nesbit warming up.

 

[grizzlym]

Lyon has been underbowled in my opinion.

 

[Henry Jr]

Lyon has been underbowled in my opinion.

He bowled more than a third of the innings!

Being 162 ahead, I'd imagine we will bat until 1 hour after lunch tomorrow. Should be around 400 ahead.

Leaves us with 4.5 sessions to get them out.

 

[grizzlym]

Loved the comment from Lawson a day or so ago where he said that Bowden just guesses these days.

 

[Messenger]

Rob Quiney will be able to tell his kids he played two tests for Australia.

 

[grizzlym]

Rob Quiney will be able to tell his kids he played two tests for Australia.

Yep. That's it for Rob. That South African commentator on the ABC articulated what bothers me about Cowan's technique - he gets his head out of position with the straighter, pitched up balls. Probably because of his primal footwork.

Test is getting very interesting now.

 

[Henry Jr]

Would think worst case the Saffers would be chasing 350. No mean feat on this pitch now.

The scoring has dried up. Only 282 runs scored today for 13 wickets.

They were crapping on that he breaks the record in two more tests. Problem is, thats the first test on the next series. Where does this leave Ponting now?

The contenders....

Phil Hughes hit a century today to avg 58 this summer from 8 bats
Doolan from Tas avg 61 from 7 bats
Special K avg 49 from 9 bats tops the run charts

Never been a fan of Hughes but have been of Special K. He occupies the crease so perhaps he plays at four to shield Clarke and Hussey with Watson at three.