Cricket 2013

[ants]

Who do you guys think will make up the side.

My choice would be:
1. Shane Watson
2. Phil Hughes
3. Shaun Marsh
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Michael Clarke (c)
6. Mike Hussey
7. Bad Haddin (misspelling intended)
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Nathan Lyon
10. Ryan Harris
11. Peter Siddle

 

[PHIL DUNPHY'S MOUSTACHE]

1. Shane Watson
2. Shaun Marsh
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke
5. Michael Hussey
6. Phil Hughes
7. Brad Haddin
8. Mitch Johnson
9. Peter Siddle
10. Ryan Harris
11. Nathan Lyon

 

[Troy]

1. Shane Watson
2. Phil Hughes
3. Shaun Marsh
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Michael Clarke (c)
6. Mike Hussey
7. Brad Haddin
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Nathan Lyon
10. Ryan Harris
11. Trent Copeland

Can't wait for the test. Only a couple of hours away now.

 

[Troy]

Siddle got the third seamer's spot ahead of Copeland. Hopefully Siddle bowls full and doesn't bowl the short stuff that he normally does.

South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first on a seaming pitch. Australia are 2/33 after 13 overs with both openers out to excellent deliveries. Ponting and Marsh are trying to last until lunch at the moment.

Interesting selection for South Africa picking Philander as their third seamer rather than a Parnell or Tsotsobe. Imran Tahir gets to make his debut as well and I am very happy for him that finally he can play for South Africa. He has a fantastic first class record and I hope he has success at the top level, just not against Australia

 

[Troy]

Ponting gets done by a review yet again. Never has any luck against these. Steyn hits Ponting on the pads and doesn't appeal but everyone behind the bat went up and in the end it was clearly hitting the stumps. Ponting out for 8 and South Africa bowling well in great conditions. 40/3 now :/

 

[Troy]

Clarke has been excellent since coming in. He has been beaten a few times by Steyn but he has stuck in there and has put away the bad balls and is 35* from 45 balls.

87/3 and both batsmen are looking alright at the moment.

 

[ants]

Top knock from Clarke, the best I think I have ever seen him bat, and its made even better by the conditions it was in. If we can push the score up over 250 tonight before we get bowled out it might be a reasonably good first inning total on that deck

 

[Troy]

This is the best test innings Clarke has played and it is a true captain's knock. I won't say a bad word about him again after the performance he has put in here. He and Siddle did a great job early on day two putting on 59 runs but Siddle just got out for 20. Still an excellent innings by him. Clarke is 141* and Australia are 273/9. Nathan Lyon can bat and the other week he scored 36* in a One day match for South Australia to get us over the line, he also scored some runs in the tour match so hopefully he can stick around whilst Clarke keeps scoring. Whatever happens the bowlers now have something to defend on a pitch that still offers a lot to the bowlers.

 

[Troy]

Clarke just got out for 151 and we finished on 284. Brilliant innings by Clarke and hopefully the bowlers can now take advantage of the favourable conditions and get some early breakthroughs. Clarke should open with Harris and Johnson because Smith struggles a lot against left arm fast bowlers.

 

[Troy]

Harris as always was fantastic and took an early wicket. Johnson and Siddle both bowled too short and South Africa were 49/1 at lunch. First ball after lunch Watson comes onto bowl and gets a wicket after reviewing an LBW decision. Watson again is the saviour and his style of bowling will be well suited here. Copeland would have been handy on this pitch as well as he would hit a good length and get it to seam both ways.

 

[Troy]

WATSON!

Bowls a bouncer at Kallis and gets an edge that went onto Kallis' shoulder and then caught in slips. Given not out but it is reviewed right away and there is a big mark in HotSpot. Two wickets in an over for Watson! What a bowling change.

 

[Troy]

Watson again!

Stunning spell by Watson. He just got Smith to play it on and South Africa are now 73-4. Watson and Harris bowling beautifully in tandom.

WATSON YOU ARE A GUN! Another wicket, yorker to Prince and he is out LBW. 73-5 and Watson has 4-11 and is on a hat-trick.

 

[Troy]

Harris!

Another wicket from another review. Thankfully we have the DRS because we have now had three successful reviews out of the six wickets to fall. 77/6 now

 

[Troy]

Watson! Hits Boucher on the pads and it is given but Boucher rightly refers it as it looks a bit high.

YESSSSS it is just hitting the stumps so it sticks with the umpires call.

77/7 and Watson has 5/15 from 21 balls. One of the best bowling performances. South Africa still need 7 to avoid the follow-on

 

[Troy]

This is like Christmas morning.

Harris got another wicket to make it 81/8 and Siddle just ran out Morkel to make it 83/9. They still haven't avoided the follow on!