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

Lowest all out totals in a winning cause:

England 45 35.3x4 1.88 45 1 won v Australia Sydney 28 Jan 1887
Australia 60 29.2x4 3.05 123 3 won v England Lord's 16 Jul 1888
Australia 63 80.0x4 1.18 63 1 won v England The Oval 28 Aug 1882
England 75 40.1 1.86 75 1 won v Australia Melbourne 29 Dec 1894
Australia 75 28.4x8 1.97 -236 2 won v South Africa Durban 20 Jan 1950
England 76 36.3 2.08 76 1 won v South Africa Leeds 29 Jul 1907
England 84 49.0x5 2.05 110 3 won v Australia The Oval 10 Aug 1896
Australia 86 47.4 1.80 123 3 won v England Manchester 24 Jul 1902
South Africa 91 46.1 1.97 -93 2 won v England Johannesburg 2 Jan 1906
England 92 48.0x5 2.30 92 1 won v South Africa Cape Town 1 Apr 1899
New Zealand 94 38.2 2.45 -5 2 won v India Hamilton 19 Dec 2002

So either Aussies will go second or Yarpies will go 12th on this all time list. Unless there's a remarkable amount of rain!

Big Dog wrote:The wicket looked sub standard for a test strip. Lots of irregular bounce. I'm suprised there were only two LB's.

Hmmm.

This game is descending into farce. I would'nt be suprised if the ICC have an inquiry into the condition of the wicket.

The last thing we need though is further incentives for countries to prepare bore draw pitches.

Hussey's worst game ever for Aust?

16.6
Harris to Amla, no run, a catch has been dropped off the final ball of the day! The ball was full and wide and Amla had a real go at it, wanting to end the day emphatically. He drove it hard but in the air and straight to Hussey. The ball flew to him at stomach height and he dropped it

taipan wrote:1st hour tomorrow will decide it.

Even money now.

Phurt. Bookies have Saf at 1.20.

JGK wrote: The ball flew to him at stomach height and he dropped it

Robert Key would've caught it then (although they may have taken a while to find it).

Big Dog wrote:

Big Dog wrote:The wicket looked sub standard for a test strip. Lots of irregular bounce. I'm suprised there were only two LB's.

Hmmm.

This game is descending into farce. I would'nt be suprised if the ICC have an inquiry into the condition of the wicket.

Fark all wrong with the wicket.

Ask Clarke.

JGK wrote:

taipan wrote:1st hour tomorrow will decide it.

Even money now.

Phurt. Bookies have Saf at 1.20.

So either the wicket is farked or it isn't. Try and stay on the same page.

No worries - I'll take your evens on Saffies.

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:

Big Dog wrote:The wicket looked sub standard for a test strip. Lots of irregular bounce. I'm suprised there were only two LB's.

Hmmm.

This game is descending into farce. I would'nt be suprised if the ICC have an inquiry into the condition of the wicket.

Fark all wrong with the wicket.

.

Yes, i don't know why i would think that. Just because 23 wickets fell for just 294 runs.

WOW

Looking at the wickets it seems like solid bowling from SA but that was some terrible batting from AUS

How grouse is Test cricket?

Its like a novel you can't put down - Clarke finds his balls, Watson demolishes the Saffers, game over, but no, the Saffer Warne defies his critics on here and suddenly Aus are 21/9!

Who'd have thought the Philanderer would have Australia 21/9 on debut. Shame they didn't get that last wicket.

Saffers now favourites to win?

19 wickets fall for 94 runs, ball swinging round corners, "disgraceful pitch", "get the inspectors in", yadda..yadda..yadda, but at least Mitch Johnson is true to form, with match figures of 8-0-43-0.

The pitch is fine. It's definitely very bowler friendly, but it's not an unplayable minefield.

Batsmen seem to have lost the ability to really tough it out. Over the course of history Test cricket has been about knuckling down when the odds/conditions/flow of the game are against you until such time that they turn around.

I'm not saying it was easy out there. And the bowling I saw (I went to bed with Australia three down) was very good. Watson summed up the pitch perfectly and bowled accordingly.

But isn't this type of cricket infinitely more interesting than the type we see when the pitch is a road? So what if it only lasts two-and-a-half days?

Ideally I'd like to see pitches with a bit more in them for the batsman than this one. But if this pitch became the standard batsman would soon re-learn how to bat on it. We may not see runs scored as quickly, but we would see an overall contest that is more engrossing and satisfying.

Hass wrote:The pitch is fine. It's definitely very bowler friendly, but it's not an unplayable minefield.

Batsmen seem to have lost the ability to really tough it out. Over the course of history Test cricket has been about knuckling down when the odds/conditions/flow of the game are against you until such time that they turn around.

I'm not saying it was easy out there. And the bowling I saw (I went to bed with Australia three down) was very good. Watson summed up the pitch perfectly and bowled accordingly.

But isn't this type of cricket infinitely more interesting than the type we see when the pitch is a road? So what if it only lasts two-and-a-half days?

Ideally I'd like to see pitches with a bit more in them for the batsman than this one. But if this pitch became the standard batsman would soon re-learn how to bat on it. We may not see runs scored as quickly, but we would see an overall contest that is more engrossing and satisfying.

Yeah exactly, I love a good green-top. Was quoting some of the hyperbole just to mock poor old Mitch really.

Best Test i've ever seen was similar to this one on an equally bowler friendly pitch at Lords in 2000. The pitch needs enough in it to give the bowlers a chance, and sometimes when the batsmen have to tough it out are the most riveting games.

Problem is aside from Hussey Aus seem to have completely lost the nuggety batsmen from their game, now Langer, Katich and Waugh are all long gone. Watson, Haddit, Hughes, etc only know how to bosh, they never knuckle down to play an grafters innings.

Farq.

Went to bed after the Jaapanese collapse thining Australia had it in the bag.

Farq.

Watson - must not open the batting any more. I don't care if he wants to, I want to stop paying income tax, but that ain't gonna happen.
Hughes - must not play for Australia again. He's been given a debut, then got sent back to Shield cricket to sort out the issues with his game, and has come back to Test cricket exactly the freaking same. Piss him off and stop cheaping the baggy green. And his selfish, pissweak conduct when at the non-striker's end when a potential referral comes up is disgraceful. Right now, I'd rather see Dave Warner in the Test team.
Marsh - needs to have his 'back' issues sorted out, or not pay for Australia again. He's got talent. He's got the attitude. But he needs to be a reliable presence, especially if he's going to bat at 3.
Ponting - Thanks for your service over the years, Rick. Here's your gold watch and pension. Is it two years since Drunky's last Test ton? Time please gentlemen.
Clarke - Is he growing into the captaincy role, or was he just lucky in the first innings? He is becoming an enigma. Does deserve to stay in the team.
Hussey - While not as prolific as he used to be, he's one of the few reliably good components of the team at the moment.
Haddin - Oh, please. Just piss off. You're cheaping the baggy green, the cricket bat, the keeper's gloves, the pads, and the game.
Johnson - Game over. NTPFAA. The Jaapanese first innings showed why. the second innings underlined it. In case you missed that he's been crap far more often than he's been useful over his career.
Harris - Has always been atrier and given his all when he's been picked in Tests or the short stuff. Some of the other 'bowlers' the selectors have chosen should watch and learn.
Siddle - Hard to say what to do with Cot. Hardly got to bowl in the first innings. Showed up 9 of his teammates with the bat... Woth keeping on for the time being but needs to produce with the ball.
Lyon - Will he get to bowl when the pitch might take some spin? Or will he suffer the fate of a recent bowler who top-scored and be Dizzy'd out of the team?

Yes, it's time for wholesale changes. Pick the blokes who deserve to be in the team on form.

And now, back to the grindstone.

21/9 ...oh the wasted op!

Zat wrote:Clarke - Does deserve to stay in the team.

Somewhat of an understatement after he has played one of the more remarkable innings in Test cricket, although, sadly, due to the pusillanimity of Oz' 2nd innings it may swell be in a losing cause. Next to Dravid and Sangakkara Clarke is possibly the most technically competent batsmen in Test cricket with a particular gift for shot selection. I'm glad I'm not the only one who believes that the end of Hughes' Test career is nigh but, as you point out, it's not the first time that prediction has been made and so he may turn into Mr Badpenny, always turning up no matter how often he's got rid of.

You may not like Watson opening but the sad fact may be that he is the best opening batsman Australia have at the moment. He's certainly the best all-rounder. As regards the last ball of the day another sad fact may be that the explanation may lie in anno domino and the effect they have on Hussey's reflexes but again he may still be Oz' best fielder (Clarke excepted). Anyway, it looks as if Kallis won't be fooled again and will bat for 3 days if necessary to get the required runs. Another blow for the Land of Oz whilst for the rest of us:

Next to Dravid and Sangakkara Clarke is possibly the most technically competent batsmen in Test cricket with a particular gift for shot selection.

Steady on. He's a good player in the Ian Bell/AB de Villiers bracket, but he's not up there with the likes of Kallis, Sanga, and SRT.

Clarke is just too Metro for those oh-so-macho Aussies to accept him. If he was English like Lady Di and Jimmikins his well groomed batsmanship would be more widely acknowledged by the unwashed masses.

yesterday's effort with the bat makes our efforts look heroic in the Laker doctored pitch match, the loss to the Saffies in Sydney and the Willis/Botham free for all

agree with Zat's summation of the players and what shd be their dire futures...Midge has become the Bung of the bowlers. He, haddit, fuse should never be picked again. Punter must retire before the Oz summer....Watto must bat at 6 and if that means Brazen is forced into retirement so be it

Time for Mitch Marsh, madder lake, rohrer and Neville to be given a go

Henry wrote:

Next to Dravid and Sangakkara Clarke is possibly the most technically competent batsmen in Test cricket with a particular gift for shot selection.

Steady on. He's a good player in the Ian Bell/AB de Villiers bracket, but he's not up there with the likes of Kallis, Sanga, and SRT.

Didn't say he was. He lacks their flair & Kallis' powers of concentration (although he may approach them one day). Just said he was technically competent. Unless Ricky P reminds us of his past glories Clarke is without doubt the best player in the side and the best qualified leader. I still have the feeling that given a couple of new batters and a decent spinner Oz will provide much stiffer opposition in 2013. Let's hope so as a decent Ashes series is the only thing that keeps English cricket solvent.

Zat wrote:Farq.

Went to bed after the Jaapanese collapse thining Australia had it in the bag.

Farq.

Watson - must not open the batting any more. I don't care if he wants to, I want to stop paying income tax, but that ain't gonna happen.
Hughes - must not play for Australia again. He's been given a debut, then got sent back to Shield cricket to sort out the issues with his game, and has come back to Test cricket exactly the freaking same. Piss him off and stop cheaping the baggy green. And his selfish, pissweak conduct when at the non-striker's end when a potential referral comes up is disgraceful. Right now, I'd rather see Dave Warner in the Test team.
Marsh - needs to have his 'back' issues sorted out, or not pay for Australia again. He's got talent. He's got the attitude. But he needs to be a reliable presence, especially if he's going to bat at 3.
Ponting - Thanks for your service over the years, Rick. Here's your gold watch and pension. Is it two years since Drunky's last Test ton? Time please gentlemen.
Clarke - Is he growing into the captaincy role, or was he just lucky in the first innings? He is becoming an enigma. Does deserve to stay in the team.
Hussey - While not as prolific as he used to be, he's one of the few reliably good components of the team at the moment.
Haddin - Oh, please. Just piss off. You're cheaping the baggy green, the cricket bat, the keeper's gloves, the pads, and the game.
Johnson - Game over. NTPFAA. The Jaapanese first innings showed why. the second innings underlined it. In case you missed that he's been crap far more often than he's been useful over his career.
Harris - Has always been atrier and given his all when he's been picked in Tests or the short stuff. Some of the other 'bowlers' the selectors have chosen should watch and learn.
Siddle - Hard to say what to do with Cot. Hardly got to bowl in the first innings. Showed up 9 of his teammates with the bat... Woth keeping on for the time being but needs to produce with the ball.
Lyon - Will he get to bowl when the pitch might take some spin? Or will he suffer the fate of a recent bowler who top-scored and be Dizzy'd out of the team?

Yes, it's time for wholesale changes. Pick the blokes who deserve to be in the team on form.

And now, back to the grindstone.

I can't add to this.

Other than to emphasise that in a match which has produced 23 dismissals for single figures out of 31 wickets, and only 1 score above 44, Midge has taken NONE FOR FORTY FCUKING THREE IN EIGHT OVERS.

Reindeer , Apparently gay and fat and Cot are the only three batsmen in the match to reach double figures in both innings ...

cor blimey. cor farking blimey. Wish I could watch this! Ugh, I love it when one team gets rolled and absolutely bagged for it, then the other team does even worse. Sorry an' all that it's Aus, but HA! Awesome stuff.

Big Dog wrote:

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:

Big Dog wrote:The wicket looked sub standard for a test strip. Lots of irregular bounce. I'm suprised there were only two LB's.

Hmmm.

This game is descending into farce. I would'nt be suprised if the ICC have an inquiry into the condition of the wicket.

Fark all wrong with the wicket.

.

Yes, i don't know why i would think that. Just because 23 wickets fell for just 294 runs.

Michael Clarke "Our shot selection was horrible"