South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 19-23 March

Still, the bowling was the major problem.

Surely it's more a case that a. the dead rubber - and b. McGain - were the two major problems?

Went to bed last night when Paris got out softly and thought "fark, an innings and 250 run loss coming up". So I was actually pleasantly surprised when it was "only" an innings and 20 runs.

I thought Pup must've done OK, but then opened the scorecard and saw Midge's 123*. Farkin legend. Congrats to him. Seems when there is nothing to lose, he really can play a gun knock.

On the down side, the useless ranga made 68. Hopefully those @rseholes in the NSP don't see that as reason to take the qunt to England.

And it's pretty embarrassing to allow Paul Harris to be Man of the Match. FFS. Sums up what a poor performance it was.

Still, I blame the NSP. Fancy touring with only 6 specialist batsmen, therefore having to play Ranga AND Ohma when North got ill. NSP - Stoopid dead qunts.

tac wrote:Leave him at 8 . . . . North or Roy back at 6 and Gump in for a 4 man pace attack

Aye. Strong side, that.

skully wrote:

tac wrote:Leave him at 8 . . . . North or Roy back at 6 and Gump in for a 4 man pace attack

Aye. Strong side, that.

It's THE team for us, skull . . .

Cot Death really impresses, and Hilf is only going to get better as he gains experience. Midge and Gump are definites. North/Roy are more likely to get wickets than McGain and will keep things a hell of a lot tighter giving Punter someone to stop an end while he rests the quicks . . .

Maybe not too late for you to replace Punter, tac ...

at least as NPC.

Ross wrote:The game was always going to be lost when we only went in with five batsmen three Victorians...

particularly when your gun #3 and #4 are misfiring

*Rather alarming image of The Wild West*

tac wrote:

skully wrote:

tac wrote:Leave him at 8 . . . . North or Roy back at 6 and Gump in for a 4 man pace attack

Aye. Strong side, that.

It's THE team for us, skull . . .

Cot Death really impresses, and Hilf is only going to get better as he gains experience. Midge and Gump are definites. North/Roy are more likely to get wickets than McGain and will keep things a hell of a lot tighter giving Punter someone to stop an end while he rests the quicks . . .

I'd prefer Roy if his head is in the right place but North will do just fine (anyone but Podge). And I agree on Cot and Milf. Very good backups to the Pidg-like line and length of Gump and the occasional explosiveness of Midge.

Now if we can just get the engine room of Drunky/Paris/Pup firing, it's a pretty sh!t hot looking side.

You guys still want Symonds in the side? He's more trouble than he's worth, surely.

And Hilfenhaus is rubbish. He bowls short and wide long hops most of the time. Basically 4 players won this series for Aus- Hughes, North (in Johburg), Johnson, and Siddle.

Have to sort of agree with Trev. I'm a fan of Hilf and he's a great workhorse but he still averaged over 50 for the series in what were generally pretty good conditions for bowling. For all the shit Ronnie gets he still did a better job than Hilf in this series.

I think Hilf bowled some excellent stuff that went unrewarded as well as some ocassional poo . . . he needs to get his line better . . . bowling from a little wider on the crease to make the outswinger more effective and so on . . .

He still bowled with good pace and has a nice bouncer . . . and every team needs a workhorse when you have Gump, Midge and Sids as well . . .

And having Milf in the attack keeps Bung out of it.

Agree - Hilf goes out if Clark is fit.

So, JGK, your preferred attack is:

Gump
Bung
Midge
Cot

?

Why Cot?


Anyway, it's Midge, Subi, Anomoly and Krazy/MILF/Bolly with Ollie, Pup and Fleas to roll their arm over as needed.

'cept for the fleas/chokarian bit I agree with JGK...

does not seem to be much support around here for Bung

You wouldn't bowl Katich? Or you wouldn't have him in the side at all?

I seriously would not have him the side...he had an average series against SA and benefitted from numerous dropped chances, he is notably a poor influence in the dressing room and has not attempted to correct the same flawed technique that saw him to be a liability on the last Ashes Tour...he is also a liability in the field...i'd much prefer Hatti if fit or Rogers

JGK wrote:Why Cot?

In keeping with our preference for short nicks, JGK, Anomoly will never work. "Cot" (as in SIDS - cot death) on the other hand, will.

JGK wrote:You wouldn't bowl Katich? Or you wouldn't have him in the side at all?

Fark, where have you been, JGK? horrie has been on a non-stop whingathon about the mighty Fleas for about 2 years.

And much to my pleasure, he will have to keep whinging, because Fleas will be one of the first chosen for the Ashes squad and each Test.

Katich does seem to have an Amla like ability to throw it away when well set, mind.

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:Why Cot?

In keeping with our preference for short nicks, JGK, Anomoly will never work. "Cot" (as in SIDS - cot death) on the other hand, will.

How about "Neo" then?

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:You wouldn't bowl Katich? Or you wouldn't have him in the side at all?

Fark, where have you been, JGK? horrie has been on a non-stop whingathon about the mighty Fleas for about 2 years.

)

I know - I just wanted the Bitter old vomit to make a fool of himself again.

BTW - I think Midge is now the first person ever to take 15 wickets and score 250 runs in a 3 test series.