South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Centurion, 12-16 February, 2014

Nearly time to release the Kraken that is Stain, Verny and Ostrich.

Squads:

SAf:

Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile.

Aus:

Michael Clarke(c), Brad Haddin (vc), Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.

That Aus squad really is a worry when you look at it, name by name ... alternating crocks and hacks. HTF did we beat England?

But the SA squad also carries passengers and it's hard to justify their selection.

Surely the only question for Aust is where Doolan bats. The other 10 pick themselves.

My pref is Doolan at 4, Clarke 5, Smitty 6.

FWIW - the Saf team looks a bit unbalanced to me. Some superstars to be sure but I think their worst players are worse than ours.

JGK wrote:Surely the only question for Aust is where Doolan bats.  The other 10 pick themselves.

My pref is Doolan at 4, Clarke 5, Smitty 6.

FWIW - the Saf team looks a bit unbalanced to me.  Some superstars to be sure but I think their worst players are worse than ours.

Hence my passengers comment. And the SA probably will be unbalanced because they're determined to replace Kallis as an all-rounder when actually his biggest contribution of course was with the bat. He obviously played a vital role with the ball but they risk replacing him with a bits and pieces type player.

If Rhino breaks down, and Midge loses his range-finder - both outside possibilities - where does that leave the World's Best Attack (R)?

Bird and Pattinson to open, then Siddle first change, Lyon, Faulkner maybe, Watson .... or Henriques? Smith or Clarke as second spinner?

SAf are only unbalanced through official choice.

It's crazy that De Kock is not there, especially.

AB could then slip into Kallis's #4, and be free to roam in the covers.

Or use his safe hands to take the place of Kallis in the slips when they're attacking. de Kock seems to have starred in their domestic T20 of late in a crap team and he has taken the gloves over Thami anyway. Notice he seems to take enough catches and effect enough stumpings to show that he's no bunny with the gloves. Guess it's our gain though.

JGK wrote:Surely the only question for Aust is where Doolan bats.  The other 10 pick themselves.

My pref is Doolan at 4, Clarke 5, Smitty 6.

Yep.

Philander probably represents the biggest threat to the likely top 3, of whom only Rogers can play the moving ball.

Notice that Clarke was pretty prickly in the press conference. He didn't appreciate a SA reporter suggesting that the home side had been dominating the visitors of late and also reiterating his faith in our attack as the world's premier group of bowlers.

Red wrote:Notice that Clarke was pretty prickly in the press conference. He didn't appreciate a SA reporter suggesting that the home side had been dominating the visitors of late and also reiterating his faith in our attack as the world's premier group of bowlers.

And in 1969 Lawry called Chappelli the best batsman in the world and we all know how that turned out.

Still pissing down in Potch??

skully wrote:Still pissing down in Potch??

tour match cancelled

The irony is that part of the country has been experiencing drought conditions all summer.

Is it a cunning plan to leave the Aussies undercooked?

PeterCS wrote:Is it a cunning plan to leave the Aussies undercooked?

Beat me to it Pete.

JGK wrote:

PeterCS wrote:Is it a cunning plan to leave the Aussies undercooked?

Beat me to it Pete.

Thought it was a bit too obvious so treated it with a long spoon.

But the devil's in the detail, not at the far end of the long spoon (despite what the cunning rumour pretends).

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:Notice that Clarke was pretty prickly in the press conference. He didn't appreciate a SA reporter suggesting that the home side had been dominating the visitors of late and also reiterating his faith in our attack as the world's premier group of bowlers.

And in 1969 Lawry called Chappelli the best batsman in the world and we all know how that turned out.

(furrows brow, scratches head, stares intently into middle distance) errr.....no?

I think the Aussie cricketers need to STFU and play cricket, because whenever they open their mouths they just remind the world that they are compulsive qunts.

The CA public relations chief could do worse than tell them that before the start of each series.

Henry wrote:I think the Aussie cricketers need to STFU and play cricket, because whenever they open their mouths they just remind the world that they are compulsive qunts.

The CA public relations chief could do worse than tell them that before the start of each series.

then they would need permission not to hold any press conferences.

Indeed. If they don't smile and provide the glib answers the press craves, they get labelled "grumpy, unhelpful, aloof qunts".

Trev is just venting over how shit his national side is. Our compulsive (interesting choice of adjective) qunts are better than your repulsive ones, Trev. 

hehehehehe @ trev... btw how many Pomgolians played across the 3 forms of the games - I have lost count....yes Oz played a few too but we have 15 in saffieland

You'd think after playing ...what was it over 30 players....the poms would have unearthed some talent...even some home grown talent