Cricket: Test Cricket

stefan9 said:
Besides when your 100 in front you can take risks hence why Hayden has flashed at everything.
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I think Hayden has flashed at everything because atm he knows no other way :)

But yeah, let's see how long they maintain that SR tomorrow. And how long Hayden maintains his wicket.
 
stefan9 said:
No hayden could have been out to a ball that kept low. Besides they used the heavy roller which will flatten the pitch out for about 6-8 overs. Besides when your 100 in front you can take risks hence why Hayden has flashed at everything.
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One ball keeping low is hardly reason for panic. That's bound to happen. The only way AUS is going to win this match is if they declare at 250 tomorrow, after batting for about 60 overs. That leaves us a target of 368 and they will have 30 overs tomorrow as well as day 5 to bowl us out. But, I'm sure they would also want to make sure that they firstly don't lose the game, so they may want to bat longer than just scoring 250. They'd rather lose 2-0 than 3-0. A draw is the best result we can get. Unless of course we bowl them out for 180 and chase a 290/300 on the last day.
 
mercurial said:
You really think AUS will risk that total after SA chased down 400 with ease before? :rolleyes:
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Yes, I do. I reckon Aus will look for 250 - 300, and then put SA in - unless they're all out before then.

Remember:

  • SA are without it's captain and top opening bat.
  • Aus only have to take 9 wickets.
  • We don't have many people who can step up to open with McKenzie (who in all honesty has not made the second open batsman position his own either), which means someone will be out of position and probably horribly uncomfortable and likely out of place.
  • That pitch will degrade severely tomorrow, and by the 5th day it will be terrible to bat on. Guess who will be batting last?
  • The highest 4th innings total at the SCG is 411 - scored in 1924.
  • South Africa was demolished for 113 runs in the fourth innings by Australia before (1998)
  • The highest average run rate for the SCG is 3.94, making it extremely unlikely that AUS can maintain anything even near to 6 to an over for a full innings in a Test Match
  • Too many players in the Aus team are at risk of losing their test places. They are hungry to win and try and keep their place.

For South Africa, the key tomorrow is going to be Morkel. I think tomorrow he is going to be SA's big wicket taker (I mean getting the big name batsmen). And I also think a lot is going to ride on whether Harris gets turn (unlikely - I don't think he can get grip on wet beach sand) or if they're going to use a part timer like Duminy. Another thing, is Steyn 100%? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
 
Records mean nothing. SA have proved that in this series. Don't set your heart on it :)

I don't think AUS will play it too safe cos they will come under even more criticism for not trying to win the match. Based on that, I can only imagine them batting until 250 and giving themselves time to bowl us out. Any other choice would not allow them the time to win.
 
One of the things we have in our favour is that the Australian team needs a WIN, a draw will only draw extreme critisism from their media and public.

That way they will play positively and give us a few chances along the way, we just need to TAKE the chances that come our way tomorrow. I dont think they will look to occupy the crease and bat as long as they can. The Aussie attack has not proven the ability to take 20 wickets regularly, even if this time they would need 19.

Who is cover for Smith? I saw he may be in doubt for the home series.
 
mercurial said:
Records mean nothing. SA have proved that in this series. Don't set your heart on it :)

I don't think AUS will play it too safe cos they will come under even more criticism for not trying to win the match. Based on that, I can only imagine them batting until 250 and giving themselves time to bowl us out. Any other choice would not allow them the time to win.
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So then in some bizarre mecurial way you actually agree with me:

2CentsWorth said:
On that wicket? Aus will settle for 250.
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With smith out of the picture i think its going to be extremely tough to win, it requires the other batsmen esp kallis to play better and on a pitch deteriorating too its hard.
 
I'm sure this test will end in a draw! Aussies would want a lead of 500+ ...reminding them of what happened in the 1st test ...we achieved 413?

So yeah...Drawn Game!
 
Well whatever they set us i sure as hell hope we go for it, even if it seems impossible like 550 from 70 overs or something, go for it dammit.
 
237 ahead, only hayden fell so far at lunch..I wonder when they will declare.. i mean they scoring at 3.5 runs/over, so by close of play they could have 180 more (@3.0r/o) .. lets say they make 150, that leaves the deficit at 387.. i think to do that in a day you need more than 4 an over and without smith i doubt very much they will chase.
 
Aus 257/4dec. SA need 376 in a little less than 4 sessions.

I think it's an attacking declaration: gives the Aussies a lot of time to get 10(9) wickets, but also gives us something to aim for. So it could still go anyway, though with smith out, you'd have to say that the Aussies have the upper hand.

Edit: Morkel out. SA 2/1 (or 1/2 if you're Australian)
Dunno why he was opening.
 
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Morne Morkel opens the batting with McKenzie... interesting :D
McKenzie almost gone 1st ball. Target 376... we can do this!!! :D
 
Experiment with Morkel fails :(

Just heard the commentators say McKenzie is the acting captain
 
Fiekus said:
Experiment with Morkel fails :(

Just heard the commentators say McKenzie is the acting captain
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I don't think it was so much an experiment as more of a show of intentions that SA will not be going for the win. Think about it, there's only ever one reason in tests to put a non batsman in at any top four: night watchman. His job was to close up shop, obviously not well enough...
 
2CentsWorth said:
I don't think it was so much an experiment as more of a show of intentions that SA will not be going for the win. Think about it, there's only ever one reason in tests to put a non batsman in at any top four: night watchman. His job was to close up shop, obviously not well enough...
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Agreed fully, but in the past Harris has been our night watchman...

p.s. good call though ;)
 
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