In an attempt to justify their top test ranking (in my eyes anyway)* South Africa are touring Australia. Three days into the first test in Brisbane Australia are 111 for 3 in reply to the South African’s 450. Barring a total collapse by the Australians I think this ones heading for a draw. I still think South Africa will take the series as a whole though.
Having said that I still think Philander, Morkel and Steyn are far and away the best attack around at the moment. And it’s great to see Kallis can still contribute with the bat - 147 in South Africa’s first innings. Philander will be worried about conceding 24 runs without a wicket - his bowling average is in peril of rising above 16!
Day 4 starts in a few hours, I’ll be following along on cricinfo. Anyone else watching/reading about this one?
*I believe you can’t really claim to be the best test nation until you’ve won away series against Australia, England, South Africa and India.
Yeah, have been following, although almost gave up in despair on Day 1.
This test is definitely heading for a draw. On current form I can’t see Australia creating a win in any of the three tests. So for us I think a drawn series is the best we can aspire to. Which is a depressing thought.
This is a really good looking team the SAF’ers have, a really strong top order, one of (if not the) best pace attacks in the game at the moment. Even the tail yesterday was able to come out and add some quick runs.
Double century by Clarke. 86* Hussey. Australia lead by 50 odd with one day to go, A draw this one unless Australia declares and forfeits next innings.
I think you’ll find Australia will bat through the first session tomorrow before declaring around lunch. Then they’ll test out the Saffers with some really aggressive bowling. Hoping that they might fold.
The person I’m most pleased for today is Hussey. I’ve always liked him as a player, and it’s good to see him play well.
I think the most interesting thing to come out of this test is this question - is Rob Quiney the worst performed bowler to ever bowl before tea on day one of a test match.
At the time he had 3 first class wickets at 129.00 a piece. He has also conceded an additional 114 runs for no wickets in limited over matches.
Sounds like a great question to Ask Steven. I don’t know how to search for that on statsguru. but a quick look at worst test averages show more than 250 bowlers with undefined averages (ie. no test wickets). mainly part time bowlers but I don’t know how to filter out which sessions they bowled in etc. And that’s only test averages too.
I’m trying to avoid giving the Aussies their due credit. A fine display of the old-fashioned batting virtues of grit and stickability in this age of slap and dash 20/20 cricket. Aussies really are like vampires, you can’t count them out until you’ve put a stump through their heart and decapitated them for good measure. Sadly most umpires frown at such dismissals.
And now it’s all on. Australia declared at 565/5 at the morning drinks break, and swiftly got Peterson. South Africa trail by 109 with about 77 overs to face today.
It’s a bit clunky but here’s the test rankings predictor from the ICC. A 1-0 series win to Aussie is enough to make them #1. A drawn series leaves SOuth Africa on top.
Well the Adelaide test starts next Thursday (Aussie time). Much as it pains me to say it Aussie took the honours in Brisbane, so South Africa need to show some major improvment if they want to win.
Bloody hell. 480+ on Day 1 is a hell of a knock by Australia. I know that some of the SA bowlers are not in the best of health (Steyn is struggling apparently and Kallis didn’t las tlong before a hamstring injury took him out) but you’ve still got to put the runs up.
At the minute, it seems you get Michael Clarke early - or you concede a lot of runs.
That’s Clarke’s fourth double century of the year, a record. Australia aren’t the finished article by any means, but it seems to me the rebuilding project is going pretty well. With England going backwards, I make you slight favourites for the Ashes series next year.
Adelaide tests are often unpredictable, see-sawing affairs. In 2006, England made 551 in the first innings here and lost by six wickets.
At this stage, South Africa look like bowling Australia out for a little over 500. It’s possible that Smith, Amla, de Villiers, et al will overhaul it if Australia don’t bowl well, although without Kallis it’s going to be a lot harder.