South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Johannesburg, 17-21 November, 2011

Yeah, the test was played in good spirits. Smiles from the Saffies at the end (although they could have been fake ones, hiding extreme trauma).

Is it my imagination, or have the Aus team stopped chewing gum under Clarke's captaincy? Improves their image no end. Always hated the tough guy, wild west image they were trying to portray by chewing gum in unison.

nice to see Mudge that you are still capable of getting your dentures stuck into the serious issues

The secret section of the Argus Report said that Punter found it hard to chew gum and think like a captain at the same time ...some people might say that chewing gum wasnt a problem

9th successful run chase by Oz of 300+ and highest successful run chase since 334-6 (Ponting 100*) also against the Saffies at Cape Town in March 2002.

Henry wrote:Is it my imagination, or have the Aus team stopped chewing gum under Clarke's captaincy? Improves their image no end. Always hated the tough guy, wild west image they were trying to portray by chewing gum in unison.

I think it's all in the eye of the beholder myself.

I mean, the two most notable gum-chewers of the 90s were Tubby Taylor and Mark Waugh - not exactly the most intimidating of types (when it comes to the demeanour).

It would have been interesting to see Nathan Lyon come out to bat. I reckon he would have collapsed before he reached the middle. He was a bundle of nerves.

Great advertisement for test cricket. Pity its just a 2-test series and was played in virtually an empty stadium. Steyn was very disappointing though he bowled some absolute jaffas.

On the flipside for Aus, looks like Mitch and Haddin have saved their places for Aus summer at least.

He was a bundle of nerves.

Yep, he looked so nervous.

Just finished watching the replay of Day 5 on Foxy. Man, it must have been gripping to watch it live. What an outstanding advertisement for the great game. Fark One Day cricket - long live Test Cricket.

Good partnership between Paris and Haddit looked to be getting us close, but then Hussey played across the line at one from the Philanderer. Then a grouse partnership between Haddit and Midge. Haddit looked shakey at times but Midge was nerveless. They looked to be coasting home before the SAffie find of the decade got rid of the wicketkeeper. Then young Cummins came in and hit 3 invaluable boundaries in between a lot of play and misses.

How grouse would it be to be Cummins? MoM on debut. He was sitting beside Ponting before he batted - a man that was probably a hero of his as a kid.

Test Cricket rules.

And what did Midge do to his toe? Maybe it's broken and he'll be automatically out for Brisbane.

Maybe it's broken and he'll be automatically out for Brisbane.

Are you unhappy at this?

Philander gets MoS in his debut series. I bet not many would've achieved this feat.

WideWally wrote:It would have been interesting to see Nathan Lyon come out to bat. I reckon he would have collapsed before he reached the middle. He was a bundle of nerves.

That"s why Smith's decision to bowl Tahir was almost ome of the great pieces of captaincy. If he had got the. LBW, Lyon would have battles to survive the next 4 balls.

SG wrote:

Maybe it's broken and he'll be automatically out for Brisbane.

Are you unhappy at this?

Absolutely not, SG. If I was on the NSP I'd drop him.

And did I see former Aus fielding coach Mick Young in the SAffie sheds? Certainly looked like him sitting beside Kirsten.

skully wrote:

How grouse would it be to be Cummins? MoM on debut. He was sitting beside Ponting before he batted - a man that was probably a hero of his as a kid.

I think this helps put things in perspective - Pat Cummins was not even born when Ricky Ponting made his First-Class debut!

If Aus have any sense, they wont let Cummins anywhere near the Big Bash, and perhaps rest him from ODI cricket as well.

skully wrote:And did I see former Aus fielding coach Mick Young in the SAffie sheds? Certainly looked like him sitting beside Kirsten.

Yes

I've always wondered what kind of fielding advice Mike Young would give- "Wear a glove. It's easier."?

I was hoping he would teach them how to throw a ball properly. I have seen no evidence of that so far.

For a big tall fast bowler, Morne Morkel has a powder-puff arm. Looks extremely camp when he throws, as well.

Young is good ...his position was shafted and downgraded to part time to make room for a third full time pole polisher in the Oz dressing room

At a junior coaches workshop he took us through a few simple drills to help develop fielding skills ...easy to learn ...easy to follow ...and real skill improvers

Henry wrote:For a big tall fast bowler, Morne Morkel has a powder-puff arm. Looks extremely camp when he throws, as well.

There are very few decent throwing arms in cricket worldwide. Dale Steyn is one. It is a technique that is easily taught at junior level.

taipan wrote:I was hoping he would teach them how to throw a ball properly. I have seen no evidence of that so far.

Along with tail end batting, fielding is another area of the game that has declined for South Africa in recent times. The catching is ok, but with the likes of Smith, Kallis, Morkel, and Philander, there's a few 'donkeys', as Nasser would say. Only AB is exceptional.

Henry wrote:

taipan wrote:I was hoping he would teach them how to throw a ball properly. I have seen no evidence of that so far.

Along with tail end batting, fielding is another area of the game that has declined for South Africa in recent times. The catching is ok, but with the likes of Smith, Kallis, Morkel, and Philander, there's a few 'donkeys', as Nasser would say. Only AB is exceptional.

Disagree. Steyn is as good an outfielder as anyone. Amla is good at short leg and Prince is pretty good. Most of the team have good hands and Smith and Kallis are as good as anyone in the world in the slips. Nothing wrong with Rudolph either.