Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Brisbane, 9-13 November, 2012

As opposed to ...

here for a war of handbags at twenty-two paces?

Here for a 9-to-5 office job?



Here because we're here?

skully wrote:This morning's session could be the most pivotal of the series. If we capitulate, it will set up the Yarps for a Test and series win. If we successfully take the fight to them then we'll go a long way towards saving the game and send the message that we are here to play.

I don't buy the whole "this is a vital session" talk. Australia could not lose any wickets in the first session but then collapse in a heap and be all out after lunch. That's cricket sometimes.

Fair point. Depending on how long until we collapse you could make the "this next session is vital" statement at the start of every session today.

Furry muff, Trev. But the point I was trying to make is that if Moo and Pup bat well through to Lunch and get close to the follow-on target, then they will go a long way to saving the game, and lifting the confidence within the team that was knocked around in the 1st day and a half of play. On the other hand, a collapse this morning will be very hard to recover from Test and series wise.

Good 50 by Moo, possibly his best for Aus.

Solid is unspectacular start. Is the Saffers slips cordon really that bad they need to talk about it for half an hour?

These chaps at the crease doing it easily.

Brass Monkey wrote:These chaps at the crease doing it easily.

I am glad you were bestowed with forum hardness rather than mad wizard skills

100 partnership when it was most needed.

Clarke with a loose shot there. Rather lucky to still be around tbh.

Urgh, may as well call this game a draw now. Man of the match combined- Kevin Mitchell Jnr for his FTB pitch, and the Kookaburra ball for going soft after 10 overs.

Good steadying 50 by the skipper. Wow, and he gets away with another top edge that drops safe.

Henry wrote:Urgh, may as well call this game a draw now. Man of the match combined- Kevin Mitchell Jnr for his FTB pitch, and the Kookaburra ball for going soft after 10 overs.

Curators who graduate from the Les Burdett School of Road Building shit me to tears.

I think I went to this match yesterday. Flat pitch, no crowd, hundreds coming like 50s

skully wrote:Good steadying 50 by the skipper. Wow, and he gets away with another top edge that drops safe.

Was anyone else watching the last over yesterday with their fingers crossed, feet not touching the floor and wearing their lucky underpants?

G.Wood wrote:

skully wrote:Good steadying 50 by the skipper. Wow, and he gets away with another top edge that drops safe.

Was anyone else watching the last over yesterday with their fingers crossed, feet not touching the floor and wearing their lucky underpants?

Absolutely. The grouseness of Test Cricket. And was good to see it in HD on Gem.

My guess is that Australia will try and get to 400 and then declare 50 runs behind 30 mins before stumps today. Long way to go though.

Henry wrote:My guess is that Australia will try and get to 400 and then declare 50 runs behind 30 mins before stumps today. Long way to go though.

400? I think avoiding the follow on is the only thing they're trying for.

JGK wrote:

Henry wrote:My guess is that Australia will try and get to 400 and then declare 50 runs behind 30 mins before stumps today. Long way to go though.

400? I think avoiding the follow on is the only thing they're trying for.

Damn straight. Two-fitty (plus 1) is the only number in Pup's head ATM.

Will breathe a little easier if we get 300 but its looking like a draw.

Haha, Quiney yesterday could only get his fingertips to it as Lyon got hit for six again:

Who's on commentary for Nein ATM? Some Aussie bowler whose voice I'm not familiar with.

Is Kleinveldt REALLY one of the best five quicks in South Africa? He's bowled better today, but geez, he looks more like an honest first class bowler than an international quality quick to me.

Moo goes to his highest score in Tests. Good time to do it.

Smiffy having a roll.