3rd test Aus V SA, Perth 30 Nov to 4 Dec

[mark_s]

Congrats to SA. Deserving series victors. We had our half chances but SA was able to fight us off each time. Conversely, you only needed aus to slip up a little bit to take the 3rd test (and the series) away from us.

For aus, not enough depth and consistency in the batting (we can't keep assuming Clarke will score 200 to give us a competitive total). More fresh faces are needed me thinks. Our bowling is hard to judge given we rarely have our best available. There seems to be something structurally wrong there.

For SA, as scary as this sounds, I think they have a fair bit of improvement in them and I can see them dominating for a few more years yet.

 

[PaarlBok]

Congrats to SA. Deserving series victors. We had our half chances but SA was able to fight us off each time. Conversely, you only needed aus to slip up a little bit to take the 3rd test (and the series) away from us.

For aus, not enough depth and consistency in the batting (we can't keep assuming Clarke will score 200 to give us a competitive total). More fresh faces are needed me thinks. Our bowling is hard to judge given we rarely have our best available. There seems to be something structurally wrong there.

For SA, as scary as this sounds, I think they have a fair bit of improvement in them and I can see them dominating for a few more years yet.

Thanks Boet. Nice summary. Think SA have a lot of depth specially in the quicks department. Partnell, Tsotsobe (LHs), de Lange and now Kleinveldt and a few more. Batsman like Faf show we have some depth in the batting aswell. SA Cricket structure is really strong these days and it deliver year after year. I like Kirstens idea now that he make a bit of a differense between the test and short stuff sides. Players like Faf and Robin first have to fight it there before switching into test cricket. Would love to see a LH quick get a dig but then Philander , Steyn and Morkel are pretty top quicks and each one in a unique style.

 

[The Red Baron]

Well, SA showed why they are the number 1 team in the world. They well and truly outplayed us in this game, and took their chances.

I suspect we will bounce back against Sri Lanka. Additionally, the value of Siddle, Hilf and Pattinson was highlighted in this test. The Saffas hammered our attack, and we had no answers.

I heard on the radio that SA wouldn't be playing their boxing day test this year, do you know why Paarl?

Next time I think of how bad the Fox rugby commentators are I nest need to remember the ABC Radio cricket mob. They are pitiful.

Are you for real? I actually enjoy the ABC commentary. If it wasn't for the 8 second delay, I would have it on instead of those clowns on Nein.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

We have been comprehensively outplayed in this series. Chances have not been taken. Injuries to key players have forced Selection rethinks. Opportunities to win games have not been realised. The #1 team in the world is just too good for us. Our head coach is not an Australian, and he comes from the land of the team that we can't beat.

Familiar themes?

About the only thing different is that Mickey A hasn't had 5 years in charge.

 

[PaarlBok]

I heard on the radio that SA wouldn't be playing their boxing day test this year, do you know why Paarl?

Cricinfo

Instead of a Test match starting on December 26, South Africa will play a Twenty20 against New Zealand in Port Elizabeth before reverting to tradition for the New Year's Test in Cape Town on January 2. "We considered three important factors when we made the decision and in the end we decided it would make more sense to do it this way in terms of this tour," Jacques Faul, CSA acting chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo. "We looked at the best interests of the national team, the fairness to the incoming team and the commercial aspect. I wouldn't say the decision was only a financial one. We still feel strongly about Test cricket but we decided that to do it this way would be best."

Mik and moer against the Black Caps Boet.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Ch 9 suggested it was because they have a dismal record in Boxing Day tests.
How can you tinker with it at this stage- I thought tours etc were set years in advance?


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[Braveheart81]

Well done to South Africa. A deserved victory thanks to a superior bowling performance and excellent second innings batting.

Australia batted poorly in the first innings and then gave the test away on Saturday afternoon with a dismal bowling performance. South Africa's bowling was far more accurate and full which is what is required on the WACA pitch. Australia did what South Africa did on Day 1 in Adelaide and bowled rubbish letting South Africa score at a rate of knots.

Australia had their chances in the series but didn't grasp them.

In terms of future selections, Australia needs to work out what to do with our bowling lineup and also a replacement for Ponting.

Warner and Cowan look like they will stay as our opening combination. Warner badly needs to be learn how to survive the first hour better. He is the type of batsman that will destroy attacks once he is in but he needs to stop getting out playing poor shots to good bowling when the ball is moving. He needs to become more than a flat track bully.

We need more from Watson at 3. Hopefully he'll plunder some runs against Sri Lanka. He looked short of a bat in Perth and failed twice.

For the Ponting replacement I'd be happy with Hughes or Khawaja. They're both young and talented and have continued to perform at first class level to suggest that they're still the right people for the job.

Clarke likes batting 5 and has been very successful so I guess he can stay there. It is unusual to bat your best player at 5 though.

Hussey has been great again and will surely keep going for the Ashes series in England and probably the home series immediately afterwards.

Wade batted well in the first innings but needs to find more consistency and improve his glovework. Haddin's form has been superb but Wade has the job now barring injury.

Our bowling lineup is tricky. Siddle looks to be a great player to have in the lineup. He is consistent, miserly and can bowl a lot of overs. I think Starc has to be part of our best bowling lineup. He is 22 and is improving nicely. We need a left armer because of the benefit they will provide Nathan Lyon by producing footmarks. For the third seemer, Pattinson is the man when fit. Otherwise, Hilfenhaus and Johnson are both solid choices. Hilfenhaus needs to find his rhythm again though. At the moment his pace is down and he just isn't as threatening as he was last year against India.

 

[No4918]

I'd like to see Watson down the order, his 2 centuries from 32 tests is not good enough from a number 3. MY preference would be for him to play 6 and Hussey 4 but i think that makes the tail too fragile. Hussey is a proven performer getting runs with the bowlers.

For the Sri Lankan tests i'd play.

1. Warner
2. Cowan
3. Hughes or Khwaja
4. Watson
5. Clarke
6. Hussey
7. Wade
8. Starc
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Lyon

12. Hilfenhaus

 

[mark_s]

On batting, I think Cowan and Warner need to be more like each other. Just a little bit and I think it will come naturally with time.

I don't see Watson as a 3. I would rather they pick him as an alrounder and bat him further down the order at 6/7. Its odd he only bowled 9 overs in the second innings in perth. If they bring Khawaja back in, I would put him at 3. Then I would move Hussey to 4, but I have doubts about his longevity too. We need to be blooding his replacement now as wll given Hussey's form could drop quickly. Clarke can stay at 5 Watson at 6 and Wade at 7.

 

[Braveheart81]

I also like Watson at 6 on the basis that he is the all rounder and if you bat him at 6, you can get him to bowl a lot more overs. He is our best exponent of swing bowling. He keeps the seem bolt upright, gets it to swing and is a genuine wicket taker.

I'm hesitant to throw the Ponting replacement in at three as it is a tough position to bat. It would be easier to bring them in at 5 or 6 and let them gain confidence before shifting them up to three. It seems unlikely that Clarke will want to bat there though so they may have no choice (unless Watson stays at three for the time being).

 

[The Red Baron]

Even though Watson is not a genuine 3, I would keep him there for Sri Lanka for the sake of Punter's replacement. I would move Clarke to 4 though, and have the replacement bat at 5. Keep Hussey at 6, it is where he plays the best.
Once the replacement had settled in, then I would move Watson down the order to either 5 or 6.

It is a shame Patto is injured, he is a genuine fast bowler - a constant menace. When fit, he spearheads the attack very well. Siddle is the workhorse, and has a knack of breaking up partnerships. I like Lyon as our spinner, he is a very deceptive bowler and is constantly working on his craft.

As far as our 3rd seamer goes (we are now in fantasy land where all players are fit mind you!) I am with you on Starc BH. He is a wicket taker, a left armer for variation and his footmarks give Lyon something to bowl at. He needs to work on his patience and consistently banging the ball in the one spot, at a good length.

So an all fit bowling attack of:

Pattinson
Siddle
Starc
Lyon
Watson

Is a pretty damn good bowling outfit in my books.

 

[PaarlBok]

Ch 9 suggested it was because they have a dismal record in Boxing Day tests.
How can you tinker with it at this stage- I thought tours etc were set years in advance?


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Channel 9 must be smoking something. Think both countries unions can change the fixtures between tests and ODIs or T20s. We struggled usually against the Black Caps in the shorter versions and they both probably agree to change it. Its all about money.

 

[PaarlBok]

Time to pick a combine Aussie SA team for tests. Which Saffers would you like to be in your test team?

 

[barbarian]

1. Smith
2. Du Plessis
3. Amla
4. Kallis
5. Clarke
6. Hussey
7. De Villiers
8. Siddle
9. Steyn
10. Morkel
11. Lyon
.

 

[PaarlBok]

1. Smith
2. Du Plessis
3. Amla
4. Kallis
5. Clarke
6. Hussey
7. De Villiers
8. Siddle
9. Steyn
10. Morkel
11. Lyon
.

Not bad, I'll pick Starc in Siddles place. Want a LH quick in the team. Dunno about Lyon, I'll have Robin Petersen in his place. LH off spin to get the best variation. Also have to find a place for Philander. He has been terrific this year.

 

[barbarian]

Oh I'm just basing it off this series, not the year as a whole.

If it was the year as a whole I'd include Pattinson and Philander.
.

 

[mark_s]

Back into the aus batting. The remaining elephant in the room is the fact that Clarke and hussey have monopolised positions 5 and 6 for years now, which is constantly forcing us to throw young batters in at the top of the order. Other than for openers, this hasn't been the Australian way over the years as we have generally tried to introduce new batters further down the order and then have them move up. As BH said, Clarke's form, is irresistible at 5 hence the need for Huss to move up.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Huss has had a crack at four and wasn't as successful. Normally you'd pitch a young bloke into six (unless they are a specialist opener -- who are a whole other breed of people!) but Huss has batted so well there this year that you'd want him to stay in that spot.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Huss is an opener thats where he scored 20k runs for WA. Put him at the top and let the youngs ghuys get a chance further down the order.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

He hasn't opened the batting for a very long time Gaffa.