Cricket 2013

[Troy]

Our bowlers were the stars again, Pattinson keeps getting better and he looked very comfortable when he was batting. Siddle is pitching it up more and looks so much better when he does. Hilfenhaus swung the ball on his return and that is what was missing during the Ashes when he was in the team. Our batsmen get a lucky break with that win and with Watson still being out injured because the only change to the team is Harris comes into the twelve man squad with Starc and Christian dropping out of it. Will be a tough call picking the bowling line-up for the second test, I wouldn't change the team after such a good performance plus you never know if Harris' body will hold up for five days. The batsmen really need to perform though and not leave so much for the bowlers to do.

Sri Lanka were incredible in their first ever win in South Africa, it was a massive win and I never expected it. South Africa found another great bowling prospect in De Lange, similar to how Australia found Cummins and Pattinson within a couple of tests. Mixes everything up with South Africa and India losing test matches, it seems like only England has a hold at the top of the ICC rankings and the other contenders are all of a similar standard.

 

[Troy]

Another great start for Australia on day one of the SCG test. Dhoni won the toss and choose to bat and we bowled them out for 191. Pattinson lead the way yet again with four wickets and Siddle and Hilfenhaus weren't far behind with three wickets each. Craig McDermott deserves a lot of credit for helping to turn around Siddle and Hilf because a year ago they weren't looking too good and now they are threats. Lyon didn't have to do much again since the pace bowlers did all the work.

In reply Australia had a shaky start to be 3-37 after Warner, Marsh and Cowan all failed but Ponting again lead the way with 44* and Clarke is there with him on 47*. Marsh has 0, 0, 3 and 0 in his last four test innings so he will be worried about losing his spot when Watson is fit. Hopefully Ponting and Clarke continue to push on tomorrow to give us a big lead.

 

[Andrew]

Marsh needs to go unfortunately.

Cowan is great, fielded well but unfortunately got struck early. Hopefully he does well in the second innings, our bowlers are sensational but we do need to put a spinner and use the spinner a bit early. We tend to bowl every team out quickly...

 

[Andrew]

Clarke & Ponting scored 100.

Clarke on 124* and Ponting 103*

3/260 or something.

 

[ants]

Just a quick one. Clarke is proving once again why he is our best batsman. People can say hes batting like Marcus North all they want, but fact remains, Norths tons were when the rest of the side was batting well, half of them came after another player had already scored a ton before he came in and none were when we were in trouble..

Clarke's made 4 of the last 6. This one, came in when they were 3-30 and the pitch was playing well for the bowlers. The previous one against New Zealand, noone else looked like making runs except Haddin and Clarke. Before that was the first test against South Africa where he made 140 out of 250. And the one before that was against Sri Lanka which saved the test. All well and good, he doesnt do it all the time, noone does, but he has by far dominated since he became captain, scoring 4 of our 6. Im stoked.

Marsh, its hard, Id like to see him play in Perth at home and see how he goes, but if Watsons fit, hes the only one that can go unfortunately. Good problem to have.

 

[Andrew]

Marsh has to go regardless of the Perth Test. Unless he performs strongly in the second innings but I doubt that now we're ahead by a fair bit he won't have to make as many runs. I doubt India will make 250 in the second innings.

 

[Andrew]

Clarke has made 200!

Wonderful batting today with no wickets lost so far. We're 200 runs in front and I'm really glad we're batting strong in Day two.

 

[Andrew]

Clarke on 249*

 

[Andrew]

Clarke's made 250.

We're batting so well today.

 

[Andrew]

Day Two at Stumps and Australia are 482/4 which puts us 291 runs ahead which is a good position to be in. I say keep Clarke batting and maybe declare around lunch time and get them to bat and we should see ourselves victorious.

Clarke is on 251* and Hussey on 55*

 

[Heisenberg]

I'm not a big Cricket fan but was watching earlier and it had me interested with the amount of runs that Michael Clarke was on, I'm not a big cricket fan like I said. So can anyone answer me if you think it's possible for him to hit 300 runs?

 

[ants]

Day Two at Stumps and Australia are 482/4 which puts us 291 runs ahead which is a good position to be in. I say keep Clarke batting and maybe declare around lunch time and get them to bat and we should see ourselves victorious.

Clarke is on 251* and Hussey on 55*

Why would you declare at lunch on the third day? With 8 sessions left in the game there is no need for them to declare just yet. Sure it might get the game over and done with earlier, but tactically wise its pointless if they can bat another session for another 100 runs. If they declare at all it should be with an hour or so before the end of the day so you have that time where the batsman are looking to see it into stumps and the new ball is moving around. Second session will be the best time to bat, and if they bat then and there good bats get in, it will make things harder than they need to be.

Hatred it looks like a good deck and Clarke is hitting the ball well, 300 isn't out of the question. I'm excited for the prospect, Clarkes been one of my favourites since he debuted.

 

[Andrew]

You make a good point Ants

I reckon Hussey can make 100 and Clarke can hit 300

 

[Troy]

Incredible day. Can't remember the last time we batted that well and scored at such a fast pace without losing many wickets. Ponting is a champion and finally that form clicked to give him a good hundred. Clarke stood up when the pressure was on and is in ridiculously good touch. 251 in no time at all, looks good for 300 but even if he gets out tomorrow without adding to his total that is a brilliant knock.

 

[Andrew]

I think the last time we batted like this was against West Indies in 2006/07 I believe it was in Melbourne if my mind corrects me.