# First Cricket Test RSA versus Australia **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 10, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498 "2011-11-10T11:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/21 "2011-11-10T15:16:54Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > So, Australia recover to post 47 (can’t imagine posting that sentence 5 years ago). South Africa need 236 to win. Very difficult to predict how this one is going to go. Australia have Mitchell Johnson, capable of running through a batting line-up in conditions like this. On the other hand, they have Mitchell Johnson, capable of conceding half the required total in a dozen overs of bowling. What a superb summary of Mitchell Johnson’s prospects in any given game. It’s either trash or treasure. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/22 "2011-11-10T15:23:20Z")
Cautious start to the SA innings - the first wicket falls to Siddle and SA are 28/1. 23 wickets so far today - all-time record is 27 - could be on… ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/23 "2011-11-10T15:27:28Z")
A few questions: Who replaced the pitch at Newlands with an actual live minefield? Or has this just been very poor batting combined with reasonable bowling? Is there currently a better name in world cricket than VD Philander? I would say, no. In fact, I would say it is the greatest name in the history of world cricket. I think it is the juxtaposition of the initials and the surname that makes it so special. Philander by itself would have been brilliant. VD just raises the awesomeness by a power of 2565. VD all over the Aussies like a rash – 5 for 15. Imagine what Philander will be like playing away from home…this stuff just writes itself. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/24 "2011-11-10T15:44:59Z")
I was already amused by the name Philander(er), but I didn’t realise his initials were VD. That’s… an unfortunate combination. Silly stats time. Lowest score by a side winning a test is 45, so Australia wouldn’t set a record there if they win. Mind you, I’m guessing that was in the days of uncovered pitches. Shane Watson needs 3 wickets in this innings to have taken more wickets than he has scored runs in this test, which would be an unusual achievement for an opening bat. On the other hand, Australia’s no 11 needs another 16 wickets for the same feat, which would require a little co-operation from the umpires. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/25 "2011-11-10T16:09:14Z")
And a dropped catch off the final ball of the day to wrap it all up in an appropriately bizarre manner!! Cricinfo’s summary of the day’s play: > [@](#): > > How can such a day be summarised? It began with South Africa in control, and it has ended with South Africa in control. But what a ride it was. The day began in the first innings of the Test, and ended in the fourth. 23 wickets have fallen, 12 in the second session. South Africa were dismissed for 96, giving up a lead of 188. And then they came out and razed Australia to 21 for 9 before dismissing them for 47. A comeback of epic proportions. Chasing a target of 236, South Africa are 81 for 1 and slight favourites to win this. > How has the pitch played? It seemed to do more when South Africa were bowling. The ball swung, seamed, bounced and batting seemed so difficult. Australia got their wickets by bowling a wicket to wicket line with some movement. They definitely didn’t jag the ball around like South Africa did. Smith and Amla seemed quite comfortable during their half-century partnership in the second innings. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/26 "2011-11-10T21:51:10Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > _Four Innings in One Day_. Isn’t that a Crowded House song? Something similar happened with [England vs W Indies](http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63889.html) a few years back, too. England, batting fourth, won that one… narrowly, and not without needing some heroics from Dominic Cork at the death. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/27 "2011-11-11T08:56:05Z")
South Africa are at 111/1 on 11/11/11- If they don’t score or lose a wicket for another 13 min or so, it will be 111/1 at 11:11 on 11/11/11 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/28 "2011-11-11T09:26:49Z")
Didn’t quite stay that way though but shamelessly lifting from Cricinfo’s ball by ball coverage: > [@](#): > > Ok weird. It’s 11.11 in Cape Town and South Africa need 111 to win. And today’s date is of course … The Newlands crowd loves it. Many standing on one leg. And to put it all into perspective here’s cricinfo’s take on [The best bowling day in more than 100 years.](http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-australia-2011/content/story/540016.html) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/29 "2011-11-11T09:41:11Z")
May I ask the hon’abke members as to why SDMB merits the report of a schoolgirl match? I hear that one of the girls teams was on 22 for 9. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/30 "2011-11-11T09:43:50Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > So, Australia recover to post 47 (can’t imagine posting that sentence 5 years ago). South Africa need 236 to win. Very difficult to predict how this one is going to go. Australia have Mitchell Johnson, capable of running through a batting line-up in conditions like this. On the other hand, they have Mitchell Johnson, capable of conceding half the required total in a dozen overs of bowling. I have always been of the opinion that he was a Pakistani bowler! ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/31 "2011-11-11T10:15:37Z")
Well Smith and Amla have been belting the crap out of the Aussies and now need only 22 runs for SA to win by nine wickets. Surely they can’t lose it now. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/32 "2011-11-11T10:24:14Z")
Amla out. This is just the break the Australians have been looking for! ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/33 "2011-11-11T10:44:24Z")
Sadly for the Aussies not enough though, SA win by eight wickets. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/34 "2011-11-11T12:14:21Z")
A good win by RSA and a deserved win. I will say though that at the moment Australia is a poor team, and the gutless display in the second innings is so typical of the team at present. Steve Waugh had his detractors, but he at least has some spine and resilience. The pride in the team was shown. Now we have ageing players who will not give up the security of a well paid job even when they are past their use by date. Ponting should go as should Hussey (his career was saved by a century in a Test series against Pakistan where ahem… there have been a lot of suspicions). Haddin should go, Johnson has a great performance once a year, and Watson is hopelessly out of batting form. As I said, RSA deserved this win, and to be honest, I hope they win the next Test as well. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/35 "2011-11-11T13:26:59Z")
So, in other wOrds it like the 80’s for Australia or worse like the 1990’s for the Windies. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/36 "2011-11-11T14:51:36Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > So, in other wOrds it like the 80’s for Australia or worse like the 1990’s for the Windies. Bit each way but yes and no. With the Windies, the infrastructure is such that they had to rely on immensely talented people being there at the same time. And they were- in droves. However, the basics to enable less talented people to succeed were lacking and the bitching between different islands made it difficult for any cohesion. With Australia in the 80’s at least there was the excuse of the Packer Circus fracturing the structure. The team was in decline anyway, but for a while we had a second 11 taking the field. Greg Chappell with his constant “I will tour/ I won’t tour” was another divisive element. The problem I see at the moment is a period of poor selection policies, and senior players having too much input. There is no reason for a lot of things- Watson as vice captain? Apart from being in the team for a while- what captaincy experience has he got? The same could be said for Waugh when he took over the role but at least Waugh was seen as a thinking person, whereas Watson is a boof head. Better stop before I start frothing at the mouth. Cheers ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/37 "2011-11-11T15:46:02Z")
Let’s just hope the new selection panel show some guts and start making useful choices. Get rid of the persistent failures and give someone young a go. But they keep pulling crap like selecting Shaun Marsh. He has been playing first class cricket for 11 years and has 7 hundreds and doesn’t average 40. Dave Warner has only played 10 matches, has 3 hundreds and averages almost 60. Usman Khawaja has only been playing for 3 years and has 9 hundreds and averages 46. Chris Lynn from Queensland has played 12 matches for 3 hundreds and averages 47. Victorian keeper Matthew Wade is only 24 has 4 hundreds and averages over 39. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/38 "2011-11-11T16:48:33Z")
What a strange match. Supposedly 230-odd was a biggish chase on this ground but SAf made a complete nonsense of it, rolling home at better than 4.5 an over. But how on earth could any Australian side ever get sent back for less than 50? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/39 "2011-11-11T17:11:53Z")
A routine 8-wicket victory in the end. Drama, what drama? I guess the pitch flattened out a bit as it dried. Some odd comments about team selection, a knee-jerk cull of the Australian team isn’t going to help matters. Replacing players will only help if you have a better candidates waiting in the wings. England tried revolving door selection policies in the 80s and 90s, and it was a complete disaster. These freakish innings happen sometimes, England were bowled out for 51 in 2009… by the West Indies. > [@Cicero](#): > > Ponting should go as should Hussey (his career was saved by a century in a Test series against Pakistan where ahem… there have been a lot of suspicions). Haddin should go, Johnson has a great performance once a year, and Watson is hopelessly out of batting form. You can certainly make a case for dropping Ponting, but I guess they are hoping he will do a Hussey and revive his career. Having a go at Hussey is ridiculous, he has two centuries and two nineties in his last 7 innings. Haddin isn’t Gilchrist, but he has a strong record, has his keeping gone downhill recentely or something? I remember Hussey and Haddin playing very well against an England attack which also completely shredded India this summer. > [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Let’s just hope the new selection panel show some guts and start making useful choices. > > Get rid of the persistent failures and give someone young a go. But they keep pulling crap like selecting Shaun Marsh. He has been playing first class cricket for 11 years and has 7 hundreds and doesn’t average 40. Marsh couldn’t be expected to do any better than he has in his brief test career, he has made runs. Average isn’t everything, Marcus Trescothick had a first class average of **28** when he made his test debut. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498/40 "2011-11-12T04:22:01Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Marsh couldn’t be expected to do any better than he has in his brief test career, he has made runs. Average isn’t everything, Marcus Trescothick had a first class average of **28** when he made his test debut. Yes, they said he played well under pressure. How did that turn out again? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-cricket-test-rsa-versus-australia/602498.md?page=3)