Cricket IX

[Paxter]

Outperforming the Pakistanis shouldn't be too hard, considering they lost 5-0.

Outperforming Pakistan might seem easy...but then again Australia did beat WI 5-0 the last time they played against each other ;). Plus the injuries to the WI are crippling and so, as you pointed out, it will be difficult for WI to restrict Australia. Roach, Taylor, Edwards, Bravo, Benn is a great attack on paper, but the players are never fit enough to make it a reality.

[Paxter]

Strange quote from Yousuf yesterday:

"Under the circumstances we went there, I think we did well to draw the series in New Zealand. Our players were inexperienced but I think we did well in the Australia Tests," Yousuf said.

Wha? If that was Pakistan playing well, then I would hate to see them playing badly. I mean, sure, they played well for a few days at the SCG, but most of the rest of the series was one-way traffic.

ETA: Neil Broom finally makes some runs! Albeit against the Tigers.

[ljkeane]

That was a good twenty20 game between Australia and Pakistan, some good bowling by Australia but Pakistan will be gutted they didn't win the game. I am a bit concerned about the racist implications of Australia being sponsored by KFC though.

[Hereward]

I am a bit concerned about the racist implications of Australia being sponsored by KFC though.

Well played!

Hmmm, that gives me an idea...

[Jeor]

Well, Brad Haddin is back to his cheating ways again. Hits a clear-cut caught and bowled back to Pollard who picks it up cleanly, and yet stands his ground. Coupled with his cheating against New Zealand (breaking the stumps himself while keeping and pretending it was a bowled), I'm not sure I really like the way he plays the game.

Kudos to Pollard though. Anytime a non-spinner can consistently bowl slower than 120 kph and yet fool everyone and turn up with the best match figures and most economical rate is pretty special.

[Paxter]

WI are in with a shot here. If Gayle plays well, 250 odd could be an easy chase.

As for the battle between the two best test teams...well it's been one-way traffic since SA were in crisis mode at 2-6. Kallis and Amla have dominated proceedings on a benign pitch, with the latter now on the cusp of a maiden test double ton.

[Paxter]

Huh. So much for an easy chase. :ohwell:

SA have declared with a few overs remaining on Day 2. Fantastic innings of 253* from Amla. What impressed me (apart from the sheer number of runs scored) was that he managed to maintain a SR of over 50 throughout most of the 473 balls he faced. In contrast, Kallis' scoring dropped off completely in his last 40 or so runs, which stalled SA's progress.

Anyway, over to India now.

[Jeor]

Anyway, over to India now.

I feel a draw on the cards. Even though the pitch is spinning madly, I don't think South Africa have the tools to get rid of India twice on this pitch with enough time to spare. Haven't seen much of the match but starting as turning as it is, I don't think those types of pitches actually deteriorate too much more in India and instead become lifeless dustbowls. Could be wrong though.

As for the Windies, it was a big shame, because I'm not sure their bowling will ever get themselves a better total to chase (250ish) than that one. It was a good bowling effort but in some ways I think a fluke; Roach is good and Rampaul bowled tidily, but you can't count on Pollard to do what he did today on a regular basis, and the rest are medium pace or untried spinners. While the Windies have their own version of Afridi in Pollard, they have a slightly better batting lineup in that they at least have a big gun at the top of the order too (Gayle). But I don't think their bowling will enable them to win the series - they might get one match out of it, though.

[Paxter]

I feel a draw on the cards. Even though the pitch is spinning madly, I don't think South Africa have the tools to get rid of India twice on this pitch with enough time to spare. Haven't seen much of the match but starting as turning as it is, I don't think those types of pitches actually deteriorate too much more in India and instead become lifeless dustbowls. Could be wrong though.

Yeah, I agree that a draw is the most likely result. The relative inexperience of Vijay, Saha and Badrinath might keep SA interested, but there is more than enough quality between Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir and Dhoni to see India through. The first session tomorrow morning will be pivotal.

[Maltaran]

Well, Brad Haddin is back to his cheating ways again. Hits a clear-cut caught and bowled back to Pollard who picks it up cleanly, and yet stands his ground.

No-one ever walks these days, no matter how clean the catch is. I don't see how you can call that cheating.

[Jeor]

No-one ever walks these days, no matter how clean the catch is. I don't see how you can call that cheating.

That may be true of caught-behind's where it's unclear whether the batsman hit the ball, or where you might be able to con the umpire that it was your pad. But this came straight off the full face of the bat (it was a straight drive) and there was no question about the catch at all, taken a few feet off the ground. Reminds me of a time where Michael Clarke edged a cover drive to second slip and stood his ground. Sure, by all means don't walk for the tight decisions, but when it is painfully obvious, especially when you know video replays are going to show it clearly straight away, all you do is look like a goose when you try and con your way out of it.

[Paxter]

Fantastic performance from SA. Right from the first ball of the morning (which removed Gambhir) the South Africans were on top, and they maintained their dominance throughout the day's play. A characteristically belligerent knock from Viru was the only real highlight for the hosts, although Badrinath had a decent debut innings. SA now have an excellent opportunity now to take first blood in this series.

Not that there was much doubt about it before this series, but Dale Steyn is clearly the best bowler in world cricket ATM.

[Paxter]

Disastrous start to the innings from WI. Doubt they will be able to recover from 31-4. *sigh*

[DJDonegal]

170 was probably better than they hoped for from there, but Australia are 106-2 so I think it's over save something especially dramatic.

And I know they're not the world's most glorious cricketing nations... But Ireland and Afghanistan are off in a match to qualify for the T20 world cup.

Afghanistan not going too well - 69-3 off 13 overs.

[Jeor]

South Africa looking to finish this up without having to bat again - India trail by 80 runs with 4 wickets in hand. Mind you the debutant is a specialist batsman and Harbhajan can normally tonk a few, so it's possible they might force a chase, however symbolic. Apparently it'll be Dhoni's first loss as a Test captain - amazing, considering how long he seems to have held it. Either that, or India just haven't played that much Test cricket lately.

[ljkeane]

South Africa have won by an innings in India, that's a very impressive performance and South Africa look well on their way to demonstrating they are the best test team in the world. I'm not usually a fan of test matches in India but this was a good game, it's a shame that it will only be a two match series.

[Renasko]

Can I just butt in for one second. Was the thread-creator, Jeor, joking when he added 'the best sport ever!' under the title, or have I just stepped into an alternate universe where cricket is actually watched by thousands upon thousands, week in, week out, instead of about a hundred people.

[Hereward]

Three things:

1. Whether someone thinks a sport is the best is surely completely unconnected to how many people watch it.

2. Despite this, hundreds of thousands of people do, in fact, watch cricket, week in, week out.

3. Taking time out to post in an appreciation thread, just to say you don't like it/him is crass.

[Renasko]

3. Taking time out to post in an appreciation thread, just to say you don't like it/him is crass.

Heh, didn't even get to that.

[Jeor]

Well, Ser Renasko, you clearly have not been enlightened as to the glory that is cricket. ;) Maybe you'll find out sometime! And thanks for the support, Hereward. :)

I hope the Windies can pull out a good win in the one-dayers. One gets the sense that to win they'd really have to set up a monstrous total and then defend like crazy. I don't think they'll win chasing as their bowling is too thin and will mean they have to chase too much, despite Gayle saying that they prefer to chase. Pollard has ben forced to come in too early at each innings - I really think he's best suited as an Afridi-esque basher at the end.

Also a good win by South Africa. It's a real pity it's only a 2-Test series. Funnily enough South Africa appear to have quite a record playing in India, which is odd when you consider historically they have been a team that struggles against spin and not only do the Indian tracks take spin, they also don't take pace very well (South Africa's main strength over the years). Then again, Gary Kirsten's favourite place to bat was India so that might have had something to do with it too.