2009 AUS tour to SA - Tests, T20s and ODIs

[Smooth Criminal]

Smith doesn't seem to block away either - the problem is the game plan. They'll try for a draw and end up losing anyway rather than trying for a win.

Our problem is that when the Aussies had us on the back foot in Aus, we always had someone to dig us out of trouble. But that concealed any possible problems - so people like Mckenzie managed to get away with being part of a "winning combination". Replacing Mckenzie with Prince could have done no harm on this tour since he didn't contribute in Aus anyway.

Also I think Gibbs is a bit hit and miss in tests. When he fires he's great to watch, but at the start of the innings you always get the feeling that he's going to get out. The way I see it is that Amla opens in ODIs pretty well, there's nothing wrong with him opening in tests too, especially since Mckenzie is always getting out early.

 

[krycor]

Very true.. this is why is he is good in ODI's.. shorter game(gibbs), if he lasts 15 overs and at a good strike rate then he has done a decent job

 

[krycor]

3 painful days of cricket for SA. Can it get any worse?

Mickey's "winning" team needs an overhaul.

The team I'd like to see:
Gibbs
Amla
Kallis
Duminy
Prince
De Villiers
Boucher
Morkel
Steyn
Harris
Botha

I know people will complain about two spinners in the team, but when the going gets tough decent spinners from both ends will dry up the runs.

Problem is non of those really dominate the bowlers as such, with kemp gone(and even then he didn't compare to klusner) besides smith up upfront non of the others will take it to the bowlers.

Prince, duminy, de villiers .. very similar in someways. Atleast the trio will run between the wickets fast

 

[killadoob]

Yup we have batsmen who almost look afraid to go out playing shots and think it is fine to go out blocking.

Our whole mindset needs to change from a team that does not want to lose to a team that wants to win, we seemed to have that in AUS but back in SA we have lost that in a big way.

This test is a loss we might as well go out guns blazing, but we will try block for 2 days and lose anyways.

 

[sybawoods]

JP is struggling with the short balls....
Doubt he'll be there long, Id tell him to hook rather than look like an idiot.

**cough**

 

[Morgoth]

Yup we have batsmen who almost look afraid to go out playing shots and think it is fine to go out blocking.

Our whole mindset needs to change from a team that does not want to lose to a team that wants to win, we seemed to have that in AUS but back in SA we have lost that in a big way.

This test is a loss we might as well go out guns blazing, but we will try block for 2 days and lose anyways.

the windies blocked for 2 days, worked quite well for them =)

 

[killadoob]

Yea but we have proven blocking is not our strength or we would not be in this position Who did they block against?

 

[JK8]

**cough**

Well he started to play... and not jump and block...

 

[poffle]

We can still win it! lol... fools hope might not even turn on the TV today

 

[silkman]

i think Imraan Khan must be drafted in for the opening slot- one of the highest run scorers this season also scored a century last week and a century against the aussies in warm up game.
Mckenzie must GO! he has had enough chances already

 

[JK8]

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't Duminy the most inexperiened player in the team?
And if I am correct can someone let me know why he is scoring the most runs ?

Experience proves nothing these days, look at the current Aus team, their total caps is +/-100 SAs is +/-600!!!!
SA has 6 times more experience but they getting whipped by laaities!!
Apart from Ponting, Clarke and Hussey the rest of the team is fairly new...
They have an eager 20 yr old opener... we have a useless 35yr old who cant bat!!!

Smith doesn't seem to block away either - the problem is the game plan. They'll try for a draw and end up losing anyway rather than trying for a win.

Our problem is that when the Aussies had us on the back foot in Aus, we always had someone to dig us out of trouble. But that concealed any possible problems - so people like Mckenzie managed to get away with being part of a "winning combination". Replacing Mckenzie with Prince could have done no harm on this tour since he didn't contribute in Aus anyway.

Also I think Gibbs is a bit hit and miss in tests. When he fires he's great to watch, but at the start of the innings you always get the feeling that he's going to get out. The way I see it is that Amla opens in ODIs pretty well, there's nothing wrong with him opening in tests too, especially since Mckenzie is always getting out early.

Finally someone sees that Mac doesnt belong in the team!!
I wonder how many he will contribute today. Anything less than 50 he should never play cricket for SA again!!

 

[JK8]

Kingsmead matches should be replaced by Centurion. I don't see the point in killing our home advantage by persisting with a ground where we don't do well and where the crowd numbers are k@k low.

Compare sh|tty the atmosphere of this match to the Wanderers last weekend, and at least last weekend we were still in the match at the end of the 4th day - SA cocked up in the final day by going for the draw instead of the win.

I agree!! The crowd was very poor, for such a bright sunny day and a Sunday the ground was empty!!! Maybe because of SAs performance on Saturday, but still its Aus VS SA worth going to watch!
The only time I saw that ground full was in the 20/20 WC SA VS India! India with the most support

3 painful days of cricket for SA. Can it get any worse?

Mickey's "winning" team needs an overhaul.

The team I'd like to see:
Gibbs
Amla
Kallis
Duminy
Prince
De Villiers
Boucher
Morkel
Steyn
Harris
Botha

I know people will complain about two spinners in the team, but when the going gets tough decent spinners from both ends will dry up the runs.

Ye!! Give Botha a chance to cap a test match!!! Hes proven that he knows what hes doing in ODIs...
But ill leave out Harris...

 

[killadoob]

Well i think so many people are failing this series and i think you can see what a really predictable team we are.

You can point out mac and say we should replace him but that is not going to fix our major bowling and batting problems because it is not only mac failing, he just gets picked more than kallis for instance who has worse form. Boucher never scores runs anymore.

 

[Zyzzyva]

Ye!! Give Botha a chance to cap a test match!!! Hes proven that he knows what hes doing in ODIs...
But ill leave out Harris...

I've felt for a few years now Botha needs to be in the team. He has always showed real BMT. I also think he brings a stabilizing presence to the surrounding players. I would pick him over harris anyday. Harris, while having improved alot, is just not worth his spot when we have someone like Botha around.

Look how well he led in the odi's in aus. There is also the added dimension of him being a Smith figure (fighting leader) for the team when Smith is injured. Without Botha, we would have never won the odi series in aus, and thats saying alot.

Mac is there for his contribution off the field, but it against aussies he just never scores enough runs. Your chances of loosing when Botha is in the team goes down by probably about 10% - we can't say that for harris.

 

[JK8]

ND McKenzie c wicketkeeperHaddin b Siddle 31 (78b 5x4 0x6) SR: 39.74

Gone for 31, didnt expect him to get that much still far below par...
Goodbye Mack!!!!!!!

 

[silkman]

Mckenzie's last 15 innings yielded 1 score of 50 or more!!!!

 

[killadoob]

Yea i got to say now that mac needs to go, we need someone who can push on and get that century.

Gibbs would be perfect for this run chase , 150 off 30 overs, SA looking good

 

[JK8]

Eish Amla out for 43

 

[killadoob]

Amla fails again, thought he looked a bit off form, has done the whole series, now we wait for kallis to go in the 30's again and the rest to tumble by the end of the day.

 

[poffle]

any hope for a draw? Whats your guys thoughts?