South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 22-26 March, 2018

Rabada out suspended for SAf - the Snorkel to return?

Puddle in doubt for Aus with a groin strain.

Geez, the parallel Sheep/Poms thread is doing better than this one.

Maybe sans Rabada, a lot of the fire goes out. On the Öffsiders" today, Aly and co. commented that his absence will make the test much less interesting.

Aye. Looks like the Snorkel. Given 300 has already been cheapened by Bung, it would be nice for the honest, ever trying Snorkel (albeit limited bowler) to reach the mark.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/mitchell-starc-under-injury-cloud-ahead-of-third-test-20180319-p4z55p.html

Starc is nursing a calf complaint.

Sigh. What odds Rabada gets to play at Cape Town and Koo is out with injury?

2-1 going to Jo'burg.

LOL, Graeme Smith's twitter account may melt down in this Test.

Lots of articles about how Aus is going to sledge the shit out of the SAffers about Verny's tweet.

We all know how the SAffers hate a sledge. Graeme Smith: "that's dirty pool".

skully wrote:Sigh. What odds Rabada gets to play at Cape Town and Koo is out with injury?

2-1 going to Jo'burg.

Hard to see Rabada getting off. More likely that Starc will play.

Appeal proceedings went for six hours. ??? Should have specialised in sports law! No decision yet.

Let's hope the Sheep do stick together and the QC upholds the ban.

Rabada is playing now, but both Starc and Marsh have also been cleared to play.

With the Aussies vowing to sledge Philander, it could be another spicy affair.

Meanwhile the Aussies say they are excited that Rabada will be playing.

Will be interesting to see if there is an emotional toll on the young paceman regarding the proceedings following the last test.

Red wrote:

Meanwhile the Aussies say they are excited that Rabada will be playing.

Will be interesting to see if there is an emotional toll on the young paceman regarding the proceedings following the last test.

Um Red, so why did Aus announce before the series they would do their best to get him banned?

They're excited to have the continuing opportunity?

Personally I'm happy Rabada is playing. I hope we are more competitive than we were in T2.

If he's learned, and his behaviour will be fine from now on, fine.

If he thinks he will always get away with such behaviour, there will be a reckoning down the track; it's not as though he doesn't still have a large number of demerit points hanging over him.

I agree that the same could be said of Warner; and have no real expectation that he will learn.

Red wrote:Rabada is playing now, but both Starc and Marsh have also been cleared to play.

With the Aussies vowing to sledge Philander, it could be another spicy affair.

Meanwhile the Aussies say they are excited that Rabada will be playing.

Will be interesting to see if there is an emotional toll on the young paceman regarding the proceedings following the last test.

Doesn't come across as the fragile type.

taipan wrote:

Red wrote:

Meanwhile the Aussies say they are excited that Rabada will be playing.

Will be interesting to see if there is an emotional toll on the young paceman regarding the proceedings following the last test.

Um Red, so why did Aus announce before the series they would do their best to get him banned?

Don't shoot the messenger!

Actually Smith is now voicing his unhappiness with the Rabada decision.

Another spineless act from the ICC

International Clown Company?

Seems like it's another fair day in dry Capetown. Guess, that given spin is expected to play a part late in the match, that whoever wins the toss will have a hit first.

Ground looks in good nick, outfield not short of water. Odd, given the dire state of the water supply.

Or does Newlands use bore water?

To answer my own question, this article says yes.

"It seems the only person at Newlands willing to really discuss how Cape Town’s water crisis is impacting on cricket here is the head groundsman, Evan Flint.

“You realise how much water you used to just waste,” Flint tells Daily Maverick.

The main field of the ground has always been on borehole water, so not much has changed. However, even though there is no actual restriction on how much borehole water can be used, the City of Cape Town does ask for use to be limited. That has had a slight impact on how Flint and his team go about their job. "

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So no wasting of valuable drinking water during this awful drought in Cape Town.

SAffers win the toss and bat.

skully wrote:SAffers win the toss and bat.

So they have the chance to be knocked over for 58.

What will the day of the Equinox bring?

Footy starting too.  Great birthday gift!

Australia unchanged while Bavuma who has been out for quite some time, replaces de Bruyn and Morkel is in for Ngidi. There was talk of Morris replacing DB, but with Ngidi making way, doubt this was possible.

Grass on the pitch, perhaps we could set it up in the first hour.