Cricket 2013

[Andrew]

Since when did Bangladesh become good?

They need to be taken a bit more seriously. They beat India last year.

 

[Troy]

Well they had already lost the series so the match didn't mean much but it was a fantastic result for them. Bangladesh are still very hot and cold where on their day they can challenge most teams but more often then not they are bad. Lots of potential but they rarely deliver.

First ODI between Australia and South Africa is tonight but because of time differences it starts at 11pm which is a bit annoying.

 

[Andrew]

Might watch it online, there's no way I'm gonna be able to get to sleep in 30C heat.

 

[ants]

Filthy, exam tomorrow so I wont be able to do the usual and stay up all night and watch it. I will be the next two games and the tests though

 

[Troy]

Big win for Australia in a rain affected match. Australia made 183/4 after 29 overs thanks to Ponting scoring 63 and Clarke scoring 44. South Africa were given a revised total of 223 from 29 overs but they could only make 129. Cummins on debut took 3/29 from 3 overs and Mitch Marsh scored 8* from five balls and took 1/19 from 4 overs. So great seeing two teenagers perform for the national team.

For the second ODI Watson and Shaun Marsh may be fit and they would both move right back into the team. Warner would go and Smith would go. Smith didn't bat or bowl so again he gets a game without doing anything.

 

[Andrew]

Nice work by Cummins but 29 off 3 overs a bit heavy understanding they had to literally chase a big score from just 29 overs.

Looks like Cummins will fit in nicely, I missed the match due to there was no streams online avail

Wish I had FOXTEL.

 

[Troy]

I ended up watching the first twenty overs, until they had to go off because of rain but I didn't catch the rest.

It is really exciting that there are two teenagers in the Australian team. We needed to turn over some players and it is great that they are getting a chance to show what they can do.

 

[Troy]

South Africa won the second ODI by 80 runs. We had the perfect start when Bollinger dismissed Amla first ball but after that Kallis and Smith were on fire with both getting close to centuries. Australia had no Mitch Marsh as he was replaced by Watson so they had to rely on Smith to bowl some overs and he took a wicket. Watson unfortunately injured his back during bowling. He shouldn't be bowling so much and if Marsh played ahead of Smith there would have been no need for him to bowl as much as he does. South Africa finished with 303 and the pick of the bowlers was Doherty with 1-43 and he really should have had a couple more wickets. In reply Warner scored 74 but no other batsman passed fifty. Watson batted at six but didn't last long.

Hopefully Watson is rested for the third ODI. He needs to be fully fit for the test matches coming up.

 

[ants]

South Africa won the second ODI by 80 runs. We had the perfect start when Bollinger dismissed Amla first ball but after that Kallis and Smith were on fire with both getting close to centuries. Australia had no Mitch Marsh as he was replaced by Watson so they had to rely on Smith to bowl some overs and he took a wicket. Watson unfortunately injured his back during bowling. He shouldn't be bowling so much and if Marsh played ahead of Smith there would have been no need for him to bowl as much as he does. South Africa finished with 303 and the pick of the bowlers was Doherty with 1-43 and he really should have had a couple more wickets. In reply Warner scored 74 but no other batsman passed fifty. Watson batted at six but didn't last long.

Hopefully Watson is rested for the third ODI. He needs to be fully fit for the test matches coming up.

He cant have been too bad if he came out and hit a six and a boundary. Would have put a lot of pressure on the old back. I agree he needs to have a breather, Mitch Marsh deserves another chance.

Noticed Callum ferguson tonned up against WA, surely he has to throw himself into contention for getting back in the squad.

 

[Troy]

I would just wrap Watson in cotton wool. If they do play him it has to be solely as a batsmen and then can't let him bowl. Bring in Mitch Marsh to be the other seamer.

I was at the SA vs. WA game and it was incredible to watch. Four massive momentum changes but thankfully the Redbacks came out on top. Ferguson paced the innings beautifully and Lyon was incredible at the end to finish it off. Ferguson also scored a half century in the previous one dayer and a half century in his only innings in the sheffield shield so he is in great form at the moment and should be in the next ODI squad and arguably in the next test squad as the spare batsman behind Khawaja.

 

[Troy]

Good win in the third ODI. Watson amazingly bowled 10 overs and top scored with 49 to take the Man of the Match award. Hussey again steered us home to take out the Man of the Series award. Doherty was the pick of the bowlers again with two wickets. Hopefully Doherty can become the new Brad Hogg, a top class ODI bowler.

 

[Troy]

The test match between Australia and South Africa starts on Wednesday at 7:30pm. Not that bad a starting time as I will at least be able to watch a couple of sessions. Really looking forward to seeing how this new look team goes against a top opponent. The battle for the third seamer is down to Siddle and Copeland. I hope they go with Copeland so that there is more variety and because a bowler like Copeland should do well in South Africa by getting movement off the pitch.

West Indies are playing India in a test match in India at the moment. West Indies scored 304 in the first innings and just bowled India out for 209. Would be a huge upset if West Indies were able to win and I hope they do win.

 

[ants]

Im watching Pakistan v Sri Lanka at the moment, Pakistan needed 255 at 4.51 an over and have shut up shop pretty much batting for a draw. Weak as water. Must have had a million on a draw!

 

[Troy]

I am following that on online and I was shocked that they are so defensive. It should have been an easy chase because they have some excellent batsmen that can score at a run a ball and even if they lost a couple of early wickets Yonis Khan and Misbah could have come out and played for a draw. I was also confused when Sri Lanka actually came out and batted for half and hour when they should have declared right away and gone for the win. I guess Misbah doesn't want to lose the series and is happy with a 1-0 series win.

Pakistan are now 57/3 and the defensive gameplan isn't working.

 

[PHIL DUNPHY'S MOUSTACHE]

Can't wait to smash South Africa on their home turf