South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Port Elizabeth, 9-13 March, 2018

Am really looking forward to this Test. The gcspoc presser was bizarre and has thrown napalm on what are already incendiary relations.

Character will be tested. I expect Seasick to star with bat and Second with bat and ball. I think ABdV and Faff to star with the bat and Rabada with the ball.

Who will show the faux stiff upper lip and who will blow their stiffy head in the soap opera side show?

Saffies to prevail in a close one. I predict there could be a reworking of an old AFL prank. Two bush pigs wearing lipstick will be released on to the oval. One will be called Davey, the other Qball.

Australia unchanged for 2nd Test.

Bring it on!!

skully wrote:Is it just me, or has Red turned from SAf hater to Aus hater/SAf lover?

My work here is done.

taipan wrote:

skully wrote:Is it just me, or has Red turned from SAf hater to Aus hater/SAf lover?

My work here is done.

Ha, I actually can't stand Warner, so sound a bit unAustralian, whatever that is. Throughout this saga, he has acted as if he has a right to sledge, irritate, prima donnerize etc, with impunity, but the minute someone who is fed up with antics dares offend him, he sees red and acts like moronic maniac suffering from small man's syndrome.

I do agree with Ottis Gibson when he questions what the line is. You can't have a pledge to sledge and be on the record as going out to play aggressively, hunt in packs, request the stump mics be turned off, but then cry wolf and say the line has been crossed when someone else utters a few naughty words.

That in a nutshell is why I have been critical of Warner this week. Also thought that Lyon's actions were gratuitous and disrespectful.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/second-test-south-africa-admit-they-will-try-to-get-australian-opener-david-warner-suspended/news-story/9a18ebac3af42f1d6c9cffaf46b66b47

Looks like SA is trying the same ploy that oz admitted they would try with Rabada though.

Will be interested if they go near "your wife is the town bike" taunt though.

How I would play it is 


At the first taunt you walk up to the umpire and tell him what was said and point out who said it 


you do it for everything said 

when you blow up after the fifth taunt ( or however many it takes) you can have a crack at the umpires for not stamping it out ( because if it gets to the fifth taunt they havent stamped it out)

As an ump, A, do you see much personal sledging, and have you had cause to tell someone to pull their head in?

In my playing days, most of the sledging we did was against our own players.

Back when I was younger and had decent eyesight and was a very good batsman in a weak league I gave the close in fielders one warning if they sledged whilst the bowler was running in. After that I deliberately tried to hit them with the ball off the bat. Twas remarkably easy and I was probably batting .400. Didn't do my average much good though.

skully wrote:As an ump, A, do you see much personal sledging, and have you had cause to tell someone to pull their head in?

in 12 seasons I have made one report 

I have told a fair few to be quiet 




My favourite handling was one that came from one of my errors 

I missed a ct behind ( no deflection and wind from the side howling in my ear) 

Batsman didnt walk .... I said not out ....fielders arced up 

end of the next over I'm walking in from square leg and the first slip says to the batsman quite loudly 

" You shouldnt be out here , you ****** cheating ******" 

I have a quiet word to the fielder 

"I obviously farqued up the decision 

and from that ...

it's ok to think the ****** cheating ****** is a ****** cheating ****** ....it's ok to whisper to him he's a ****** cheating ****** ....but it's not ok to say it loud enough that i can hear it"

Hehe, noice. And being a bear of a man, they ain't gonna argue with you.

Or have you been sledged?

I did'nt do a lot of sledging however my best effort was after a batsman had played & missed to three consecutive balls i walked up to him & said "how the f*ck do you expect me to hit the bat when you keep waving it around like that". He just stared but the batsman at the other end was phsl.

Australia wins the toss again and Smith opts to bat. Ngidi replaces Morkel.

The Ostrich is a bit unlucky.

Wessels and Pollock were talking up expected early movement off the deck.

Pitch is doing plenty.

MrsR is struggling.

embee wrote:How I would play it is 


At the first taunt you walk up to the umpire and tell him what was said and point out who said it 


you do it for everything said 

when you blow up after the fifth taunt ( or however many it takes) you can have a crack at the umpires for not stamping it out ( because if it gets to the fifth taunt they havent stamped it out)

So as Umpire you would not take it kindly if Philander came in to Warner wearing a Sonny Bill mask?

He's going to score a century today though...

geebers  ...0/71 ...the Yarps have served up a road

Australia definitely has the better attack. The pitch is doing plenty but they still can't bag a scalp. SA would have been three or four down against Starc and co.

Pretty good batting given the conditions.

horace wrote:geebers  ...0/71 ...the Yarps have served up a road

Yes, Australia smashing them.  SA bowling has been ordinary.  Good toss to win though.

If Australia keeps piling on the runs it could set up the series.

Nobody would have expected oz to be none down at lunch after all the talk of what a good bowling day it is.

Fifty for Warner. Australia don't look like losing a wicket. They're well on top on a pitch that the deluded SA commentators thought was a bowl first strip. Looks like as has been often the case over the years, Aussies read these conditions better than the locals.

Dominant session for oz. Looks like another one-sided test. SA really struggling so far this series.