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SA were not just chasing 280 - they were chasing a formidable total that required boundaries in every over or at the very least 2's and 3's instead of singles. Kallis came in and promptly played a Test match. Kallis does not deserve his spot in the team. His bowling is crap (by now he should be able to bowl a mixed bag and put it on the spot).
In the modern one day game, stability is much less a requirement than big, clean and quick hitting. Australia have 6 players who can all come out and smash the ball around the park from the word go. And the scary thing is they don't just do it in ODI's and Pro20's - they do this sort of thing in the Tests as well.
Then so be it - he wasted over after over with the number of dot balls he faced. At least if he takes a chance, there's a good chance it'd pay off for him. And if it doesn't, then at least the team still has momentum. Kallis destroyed the momentum - and this was not the first time either.
Both Smith and De Villiers did their job superbly. They put down a magnificent platform for the boys to build on - in fact, they put South Africa ahead by more than 20 runs for the same stage. There was no pressure when Kallis came in - all he had to do was rotate the strike. But he couldn't even do that - no, he ended up taking a full power play to get going and even once he got going he didn't even take singles that were on offer. Kallis does not possess the brain to be a match winner. He's a plank that boy.
I don't think Mickey Arthur has a lot of imagination, and a lot of what;s wrong with the team is squarely at fault with the coach. The fact that Makhaya still has no slower ball, and still cannot bowl around the wicket is insane. And what's the point of having utility bowlers like Kemp in the side if they're not going to be utilised? As for Polly - at least he wears his heart on his sleeve and never stops trying - the same can certainly not be said for Jacques Kallis. I am amazed at how the media still make Kallis to be such an awesome cricketer. He's not. The aussies won the game because they're risk takers - and it paid off. South Africa lost that risky fighting spirit years ago - and as long as players like Kallis remain in the side and continue to play for themselves instead of throwing it all in for the team, SA will forever be shown up by Australia.
I disagree - Australia has a plan and the scary thing is everyone knows what Australia's plan is. Australia have always come out with all guns blazing, and the majority of the time it works. They have a game plan, and it's a step-step process. And it works.
Exactly - and grow a damned backbone. If your ass is being handed to you, change your tactics.
The bottom line is there's no place for Kallis in the top order. Even when he scores a hundred against lesser sides he still takes less than a run a ball to do it. Kallis is dog slow and not even a great fielder. So he doesn't even make up for his lack of tempo by saving countless runs in the field.
That is a massive problem. He is not able to adapt. It's then up to the coach to either drop him, work on the problem or work around it. It seems like they have done none of the three.
Agreed, but my point is, "what the hell was he doing out there when they still needed 7.5 an over for 29 overs". He came in when SA were 160/1 after 20.5 overs. The moment I saw him out there I though it was a lost cause. It would be the same as Aus sending in Bevan when you need 6/7 an over. Everyone knows that Bevan could not bat at better then 5 an over against good opposition.
I see your point.
It's the inability to adapt that cost Bradman his 100 average. He could not face the short stuff but he was still a great batsman. In the modern game, it's much more of a problem that Kallis is not able to adapt and that is what prevents him from being in the Pointing, Lara, Tendulks realm.
What an odd quote to use - especially as the 'smoke them out' tactic failed ol' George W....We'll make it - we'll 'smoke them out', like ol' George W Bush once said...
Saturday showed me that there is a split in the national team - those that work with Smith and those that couldn't care. Smith puts his all in every single time, whether he is going through a good or bad time. The poor lad went through hell where every second SA supporter was calling for his sacking. I think Smith's fighting spirit is what is missing from some of the players - especially Captain Slow..
