South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Cape Town, 9-13 November, 2011

PeterCS wrote:Fair fukcs to Siddle.

At least he has balls. And nous.

Aye. I thought Elmer was pretty good too. He got that rip snorter from Morne and next ball he was right behind it. You wouldn't have seen Haddin or Midge do that.

Lowest score against the Saffies beating the Zimbas' 54 on this ground in March 2005. O dear! Oz still ought to win though.

Some more weirdness.

The Aussie opener managed 7 runs in the match but also took the second fastest Michelle in history.

The Aussie No 11 top scored in the second dig, not having bowled in the first dig.

The match saw 17 consecutive batsmen dismissed for single figures.

And all the while Clarke's 151 stands out like the dog's bollocks.

Add together the Aussie openers, Ponting, Hussey and Haddin, and what have you got?

Answer: 39 runs for the 10 innings.

Strange to think that Australia are probably still favourites to win the abbreviated match.

Bizarre game. Now we'll outchoke even Australia's 47... Game may yet end tonight.

Looking easier already.

I'm off to bed. Expecting Safs to be 1/91 at stumps.

JGK throwing everything at the Saffies here.

Well my earlier strategy of making a small fortune has disappeared before my eyes.

Truly bizarre

what a boring match. last i saw a few hours ago south africa were just getting ready to bat. seems they have scored only 14 runs since

rain or just funereal batting?

Yeah, bring back T20.

Aus might at least have lasted that many overs ...

Maybe Aus need to try something different in a minute. And, say, bring the unorthodox and in-form Katich on for a bowl.

Well he's already bowled a couple of bouncers at Clarke.

Watto on already. Clarke praying that White Lightningette strikes twice.

Confident start by the SAf openers. What's going off out there?

PeterCS wrote:Confident start by the SAf openers. What's going off out there?

Well I have no doubt that Red is GETTING off over everything that's happening over there.

Expect a torrent of links to articles tomorrow.

that must surely be the highest percentage of a team score scored by the last wicket

and another one of those 'number 11 top scoring in an innings'

i wonder if the aussies will complain about the pitch to the icc once again

The last occasion when at least a part of all 4 innings were played on the same day is, curiously, not that long ago, 21 December 2002 in fact. Ominously, the side batting fourth won the match:

New Zealand v. India, Hamilton, 20-22 December 2002

re: Henry's

Especially if Smith hits the winning runs.

The One wrote:that must surely be the highest percentage of a team score scored by the last wicket

and another one of those 'number 11 top scoring in an innings'

i wonder if the aussies will complain about the pitch to the icc once again

Only if they lose (although ironically that would mean that the wicket improved as the game went on). Siddle batted 9, surely?

27/1

and so it starts once again...

Haddin fails to shell one. So SAf suffer a setback earlier than they would have liked.

Allan D wrote:

The One wrote:that must surely be the highest percentage of a team score scored by the last wicket

and another one of those 'number 11 top scoring in an innings'

i wonder if the aussies will complain about the pitch to the icc once again

Only if they lose (although ironically that would mean that the wicket improved as the game went on). Siddle batted 9, surely?

lyon top-scored with 14

Rudolph is a frustrating batsman. He looks sheer class at the crease - alert, businesslike, well coordinated, appears to have lots of time - but then commits a fatal error.

Rudolph's technique didn't strike me as being fantastic in this match. Perhaps it's the type of pitch where you shouldn't read much into those type of things though.