South Africa v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Centurion, 15-19 December, 2011

Sanga in doubt with split webbing on his hand.


This could be very ugly for Sri Lanka.

Depends on the weather.

As to how ugly it gets for the Lankans?

I can't see anything other than 3-0, even with a bit of weather around.

I go with ugly, as per Trev's suggestion. The Lankan bowling is lamentable and their batting brittle.

skully wrote:I go with ugly, as per Trev's suggestion. The Lankan bowling is lamentable and their batting brittle.

Unlike a certain unnamed Aussie on this board, I prefer not to count my chickens before they are hatched.

I guess South Africa will be unchanged from their last test against Aus, although there might be a temptation to get de Lange in there somewhere if as expected the pitch is thoroughly anti-Sri Lankan.

Henry wrote:I guess South Africa will be unchanged from their last test against Aus, although there might be a temptation to get de Lange in there somewhere if as expected the pitch is thoroughly anti-Sri Lankan.

De Lange is in the squad but injured. I note Elgar got runs against SL on the weekend. Maybe he should move to Aus.

Phurt. I'm sure a County contract has already been signed. Our door is always open.

Henry wrote:Phurt. I'm sure a County contract has already been signed. Our door is always open.

Be easier to get in the Aus team these days.

I'm actually looking forward to this one. I guess it's the knowledge that the pitch wont be a flattie and we've had some damn good tests of late.

Will you be attending, Taips?

Henry wrote:I'm actually looking forward to this one. I guess it's the knowledge that the pitch wont be a flattie and we've had some damn good tests of late.

Will you be attending, Taips?

Sorry Trev missed this one. No, we have our annual stock take scheduled this weekend which is why I went to the Aussie test. Probably the kids will go.

Weather not great at the moment. Had 60mm rain at my house last night.

I presume Foxy are covering this? Must check. Grouse viewing time from Yarpville.

Yes they are covering it. Hope the weather stays fine.

If Sanga has a good series he is undoubtedly an all time great.

Henry wrote:Yes they are covering it. Hope the weather stays fine.

If Sanga has a good series he is undoubtedly an all time great.

It's going to be difficult for SL. Steyn is saying he has upped his pace from the Aussie series.

He's upped his pace? Was he holding back against Aus? Carrying a niggle? Or he was concentrating on line and length?

After the first morning at Cape Town I thought he was a bit off the boil.

Henry wrote:He's upped his pace? Was he holding back against Aus? Carrying a niggle? Or he was concentrating on line and length?

After the first morning at Cape Town I thought he was a bit off the boil.

No, said he feels better for the work.

Nah, I saw him at Wanderers and he was making the ball talk. Ask Hussey and UK. Would have been a fiver if the sub hadn't dropped a dolly.

I heard on the last day that he'd been carrying a back and elbow niggle. Or so said Fanie de Villiers on ABC radio.

Red wrote:I heard on the last day that he'd been carrying a back and elbow niggle. Or so said Fanie de Villiers on ABC radio.

And I am telling you what Steyn himself said on radio this morning. All fast bowlers carry niggles.

Having heard Fanie's analysis on the radio commentary, I can say that he is an annoying, clueless qunt. I remember him banging on for a good 30 minutes about how Morkel and not Philander should take the new ball. You could hear in Jim Maxwell's voice that he was becoming annoyed by Fanie repeating his opinion over and over in his strong Afrikaaner accent.

Philander took 5 wickets.

There was also a school of thought that as the SA bowlers hadn't played longer version cricket for so long they found it hard to sustain top pace over the duration of two tests. Interestingly Philander who'd played a lot of first class cricket could bowl with consistency.

Red wrote:There was also a school of thought that as the SA bowlers hadn't played longer version cricket for so long they found it hard to sustain top pace over the duration of two tests. Interestingly Philander who'd played a lot of first class cricket could bowl with consistency.

No sh!t, Captain Obvious.

Really Red?? You think the Saffies were under-cooked? Then why didn't you say it over and over at the time???









Oh, wait.......

Taipan, can you confirm the rumours that SA haven't had much FC cricket?

Also, do you have the opinion on the school of thought that bowlers without match practice don't have the same amounts of stamina?

No, I subscribe to the theory that T20 cricket is better preparation for test cricket. Those short, sharp 2 over spells really tighten you up and you never know when you might be called on to bowl an important one over spell. And those free hit rules really concentrate your mind on not bowling no balls. The best is that you really build up your stamina in IPL.

Why waste all your energy standing around in the field all day and bowling 8 over spells. That is already double what you have to bowl in T20.