Aus squad for SAf

Bollinger was in the Aus squad for the entire Ashes and was likely to play at Sydney if Harris was rested, no? If Australia's selection is consistent, you'd imagine he'll be going to South Africa as the apparent next in line paceman.

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:Aust have a better all round attack than Saf.

It is the batting that is the problem.

I think they'll only take 14 won't they?

Do you think the NSP will persist with Beetle?

I think so.

skully wrote:

Paul Keating wrote:It is up to AB and Amla to do the bulk of the batting.

I can see Johnson troubling Smith and Petersen. It might be a lean series for the openers.

It will be closer than people think. I will say 2-1 to RSA.

I wasn't game to post that, Ponts, but it did cross my mind. The SAf top 7 doesn't look nearly as solid without the mighty Jackie there, but they do seem to have plenty of batting talent in the ranks to replace him.

I am still miffed that Kallis retired before the big Australian series.

Obviously I don't know the full story. There might be health or family reasons.

I am surprised he could not bat on for one more series. What better way to retire than going out on top against the overall best side of the past 15 years.

Henry wrote:Bollinger was in the Aus squad for the entire Ashes and was likely to play at Sydney if Harris was rested, no? If Australia's selection is consistent, you'd imagine he'll be going to South Africa as the apparent next in line paceman.

Bolly was released to play for Tassie Tornados in the Massive Wank. Denial was the bowler retained as backup in Sydney.

JGK wrote:

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:Aust have a better all round attack than Saf.

It is the batting that is the problem.

I think they'll only take 14 won't they?

Do you think the NSP will persist with Beetle?

I think so.  

I'm still of the opinion that we can get some Mike Hussey style later age value out of Beetle. If he can just get that fiddle outside off sorted, I think he can be our man at 6. Still, Steyn is a mighty challenge to face if you have any chinks.

On that question of the effectiveness of the Aus attack:

Is it then the consensus that Rhino will keep entirely fit, and that Midge will stay devastatingly on course, against South Africa? On the latter, even on the rare occasions the feeble Poms looked as if they might just make a score, his GPS went a bit wayward until normal service was resumed and he was back on the straight and narrow warpath.

If Biff & co take the attack to him, he might prosper, but might he not (at least equally as likely) wilt away as in the past? - A test of how deep the Lehmann treatment has gone, I suppose.

If you become too reliant on Sid and Lyon, you might start to head England's way (when only Anderson and Swann were firing, with known short- and longer-term consequences).


Everything went like a dream (including injury-wise) in these Ashes, particularly the bowling and the remarkable Haddin. But apart from the two big individual question marks above, the blunt law of averages might suggest you can't keep the exact same five bowlers intact and gloriously on song for all that long.

I think for safety's sake you will need to train up two good quicks as dangerous backup.

PeterCS wrote:On that question of the effectiveness of the Aus attack:

Is it then the consensus that Rhino will keep entirely fit, and that Midge will stay devastatingly on course, against South Africa? On the latter, even on the rare occasions the feeble Poms looked as if they might just make a score, his GPS went a bit wayward until normal service was resumed and he was back on the straight and narrow warpath.

If Biff & co take the attack to him, he might prosper, but might he not (at least equally as likely) wilt away as in the past? - A test of how deep the Lehmann treatment has gone, I suppose.

If you become too reliant on Sid and Lyon, you might start to head England's way (when only Anderson and Swann were firing, with known short- and longer-term consequences).


Everything went like a dream (including injury-wise) in these Ashes, particularly the bowling and the remarkable Haddin. But apart from the two big individual question marks above, the blunt law of averages might suggest you can't keep the exact same five bowlers intact and gloriously on song for all that long.

I think for safety's sake you will need to train up two good quicks as dangerous backup.

I'd say most Aussies would say they are 2 very big ifs, Petey. I'm hopeful that Midge's new core strength (he's got an arse like a racehorse these days) has made a massive difference to his technique. Rhino only has to be nursed through 3 Tests, so equally, I have my fingers crossed that our best fast bowler can have an impact in SAf.

Pattinson is back from injury and smashed through a BBL side last week (4-24).

george does not have chinks so much as chunks

England did all they could in the Aus second innings at Sydney to try and get Bailey on the plane to South Africa, but to no avail.

Rhino has now played 9 tests in 6 months. I am not worried about him getting through the Saf series.

Midge has been very consistent in all forms over the past 12 months so no reason to think that the return of ?Midge 2.0 is imminent.

Pretty much agree with most of the sentiments, if not the teams.

Hughes-what skully said
Bailey-shouldn't have been selected in the first place

Isn't Pattinson in cotton wool for 1/2 a year?

Try Doolan.

Bradman wrote:Pretty much agree with most of the sentiments, if not the teams.

Hughes-what skully said
Bailey-shouldn't have been selected in the first place

Isn't Pattinson in cotton wool for 1/2 a year?

Try Doolan.

Well, they're letting him play the Big Bash. And he was charging in and bowling 145kph the other day, so I think he's back to full fitness.

Yeah i think I was thinkling of whichever one of the cotton wool brigade played club game in Perth over the weekend. ABC commentators made a plea for him to be eased back in gradually.

that was Cummins

Thinking of Cummins. And I wasn't using the term 'cotton wool" derogatorially.

skully wrote:

embee wrote:Doolan is Banjos

As in Dueling?? Lame.

If that is lame then soap is a double amputee

Phurt, "Soap" is grouse.   

maybe 'convict' or 'ranger' after the Doolan bushranger in the Wild Colonial Boy?...now now lads these are just suggestions   

I like banjos.

JGK wrote:I like banjos.

well I must say I have met a few that i liked

Well, that was my beef - it is a name already taken by the idiot reverse Mexicans. But then again, you can't hardly expect those crazy Wozzies to be original.

Here's some help , skully

Wozzie sook. Back to that box of receipts with you. Or should I say "back to plucking your banjo"?   

They all suck. What were you smoking when you came up with "soap" skulls.

A play on wild colonial boy is somewhat better.

Bradman wrote:They all suck.  What were you smoking when you came up with "soap" skulls.

A play on wild colonial boy is somewhat better.

Not a DOOL fan, q? The Chief loved the Queen of the Soapie shows (Days Of Our Lives) before Nein took it off after a million seasons last year.

Meanwhile, Boof's on the case for SAf.

"Darren Lehmann insists Australia's batting frailties won't be papered over by the delirium of their Ashes celebrations.

The Australia coach admits his team will risk being put to the sword by Dale Steyn and South Africa next month if they fail to stamp out regular first innings collapses."
...
Tasmanian Alex Doolan is in the box seat to earn a ticket to Africa after being picked in the squad for Sydney...

If a change is made, there's speculation Shane Watson could be dropped back down the order to No.6 after performing inconsistently at No.3 this Ashes series."

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Grouse bloke, cricket legend and sensible chap. Might just work out as Aus Coach.