Saffers vs Aussies

Slightly surprisingly SA have gone in with only four bowlers, electing to play De Bruyn over the impressive Ngidi - Aussies team unchanged from the final Ashes test.

4 test series should be a good one - Aussies batting first at Kingsmead, and Morkel already causing Bancroft some trouble

Unsurprisingly Bancroft goes cheaply

Got in a bit late but I see its been going to script...Bancroft and Khawaja gone cheaply and Warner and Smith building a partnership.

How have SA blown both their referrals in an hour ? Not smart , that.

Easy enough pitch by the look of it though Rabada seems to be getting a bit out of it...lively fellow.

They'll want to get Smith early or he will probably enjoy batting on this...

65/2

Fifty for Warner

Not as flamboyant as some of his innings but he's kept the scoreboard ticking nicely. SA a bit of a home away from home for Davey...

Fine bowling Philander ! And a good catch by ABDV sees Warner nipped out for 51 on the stroke of lunch...makes it SA session at 95/3.

Some things never change : Smith after lunch holds the key...

There is definitely a little something in the pitch, but nothing major at the moment. SA if they get Smith have a good chance to really get on top in this one

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:There is definitely a little something in the pitch, but nothing major at the moment. SA if they get Smith have a good chance to really get on top in this one

Easier said than done

Smith nearing fifty despite some tight bowling from Philander. Reckon SA need a couple of wickets in this session...

Oops ! AB has put him down ! Tough chance...but a big moment ...

Yep a big opportunity missed that Alfie - looks like a potentially long tough warm day in the field for South Africa, pitch not doing a great deal...

It's keeping me amused on my "work from home" snow day at least anyways!

Enjoying the blizzards , then , Olly ? Hope your weather improves before I'm over there in May...

SA will be regretting the waste of two reviews early on : S Marsh survives a pretty clear lbw...not sure what Dharmasala was thinking giving that not out ? Looked dead in real time and slo- mo both.

Australia building nicely now with Smith looking nailed on for another hundred.

Enjoying may be a bit far, the roads round here are basically unusable, but getting to sit at home and watch the cricket can't be complained about!

Yeah feels like a big missed opportunity for SA - these guys are dealing with Maharaj easily....as I type that Smith goes!!!

Blimey ! I managed a top class jinx there ! Would have given long odds against a spinner collecting his wicket on day one...

Marsh pair now : important half hour coming up.

Quite like Maharaj as a bowler , mind. But I see him mainly as a containing type , early in a match.

He's already exceeded his impact quota for today.

Still think Lyon will give Australia an advantage if this pitch spins later.

Would describe this first session as "attritional" - South Africa have completely throttled the scoring, and picked up Paine and Cummins - 252-7, if they can get the Aussies out for under 300 it'll be a decent effort

Lyon will love bowling on this

Hi Olly and all - neat profile of Michael Holding on Sky during the lunch break.

Loved his description of the money that Packer put into the game - ''It was the first time my bank balance had a comma.''

Two wickets for Lyon in his first over...ominous signs for South Africa

Ridiculous end to the SA innings with deV failing to protect the tail and the tail keeping the strike. Madness.

Definitely think playing De Bruyn ahead of Ngidi was a major mistake from SA - De Bruyn is nowhere near good enough at this level as a batsman, and Ngidi could help tear through that Aussie batting lineup.

SA well behind now - can't see anything but a loss for them in this one

caught up on extended highlights both days and my thoughts on the game between two top sides

--the pitch isn't like the green seaming ones in T1 and T3 vs India but its not a 350 run pitch

Its more like a 240-300 pitch

--SA allowed Aus to get about 80 runs too many which in my view is because they were lacking a fast 3rd bowler

Maharaj did get 5 wickts, he is an exceptional bowler for a spinner to have so many wickets and a good SR on non subcontinental wickets and I like him...
But inpsite of his wickets, he was a stock cum clever restrictive bowler that wasn't blowing the batters away......and they could survive, play him out and get get runs against him

Philander inspite of his 3-fer is a new ball medium pacer who is not as effective in middle overs.....and these two bowled 60 overs between them

and the real quicks Rabada and Morkel only 46 overs

SA missed 15 to 20 overs of a fast bowler and compensated by giving those overs largely to Maharaaj .... because he is a spinner he can bowl tirelessly...and few more to Philander as he bowls medium pace with keeper standing up

Ngidi was missed

--and when batting SA was blown away for 80 runs too few

that's 160 run deficit too many and the game is gone....

--Other observations
Marsh brothers are batting quite well .......throughout the Ashes and now
and that makes Aus batting look a bit solid..although I am not convinced with Khawaja

Markram has technical and temperamental flaws...ain't a test match batsman, his big runs have all come against BD and Zim in tests

--Starc is WOW.....Akramsaque spell every now and then touching 150kph...and lately with better consistency

hard to see SA compete in this game from this point

heading towards a tame and onesided end

Well the Saffers digging in a bit. A partnership here of 80 and they are now 127 for 4 but still need 290 to win.

Have to say I disagree with you on Markram KP_F on his technical side of the game he looks to me to be a fabulous batsman (albeit I’ve seen his two innings this match and one game against India). Pretty good first class stats too

Saffers have lost another wicket and are 144 for 5. They need another 273 for an unlikely win whilst Australia just need 5 more wickets.

The Saffers battling on well here. They are now on 196 for 5 and need 221 runs to win. If this pair put on another 50 the Aussies will start to worry.

A great century for Aiden Markram.

Saffers now on 207 for 5 and are almost halfway to their target and need 210 more runs to win.

I would say Australia will be getting a little worried now. South African's sixth wicket stand of 100+ and both batsmen well set and are now 252 for 5. They need 165 more runs to win. Hope for Australia is that the new ball is not too far away. Whose position would you rather be in now? Probably Australia's but that will change if this pair continue.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Have to say I disagree with you on Markram KP_F on his technical side of the game he looks to me to be a fabulous batsman (albeit I’ve seen his two innings this match and one game against India). Pretty good first class stats too

he's certainly proving me wrong today

120 run partnership at 4.5RPO between markram and QDK and now SA 150 runs away
if this pair can bring the requirement to less than a 100....then its game on
Maharaj and Rabada and Philander can all hold the bat and score a few

Markram finally out for 143. South Africa 283 for 6 and need 134 more runs to win. Australia need four wickets as Day Four nears its end.

Markram didn't cross the pyscho-magical barrier of less than 100 needed

A miracle still possible but very low probability

And Philander goes. South Africa 290 for 7. It is fast becoming mission impossible now.

And Australia now on the brink of going 1-0 up in the series. A game run chase by South Africa though.

In the end the conclusions at the end of D2 hold good
That SA played them so horribly back & out of the game in first two innings of the test
That their super effort in 3rd and 4th inning wasn't good enough to get them close

This beautiful game of test cricket is like Decathalon is in athletics....you have to show sustenance over 4 innings and 5 days....

In shocking shocking news, David Warner has been involved in a scuffle with De Kock.

Best wait to hear the official verdict from the reformed David Warner before rushing to any judgements tho folks

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:In shocking shocking news, David Warner has been involved in a scuffle with De Kock.

Best wait to hear the official verdict from the reformed David Warner before rushing to any judgements tho folks

Yes quite. Its would be wrong to judge the Australians as ill mannered thugs based solely on their actions

Warner has accepted the charge, De Kock is contesting his

Gooseberry wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:In shocking shocking news, David Warner has been involved in a scuffle with De Kock.

Best wait to hear the official verdict from the reformed David Warner before rushing to any judgements tho folks

Yes quite. Its would be wrong to judge the Australians as ill mannered thugs based solely on their actions

Serial offender and Australian Vice Captain admits serious misconduct charge but enjoys full support of his team management. In other news, sun rises in the east and falling rain makes ground wet. Sarcasm aside, I'm genuinely interested: to any Australians on this thread - are you proud of your team's results (with good cause), the team itself or both?

Simon, I don't think that's fair to criticise fans of sides with nasty players, we follow cricketers for the sport they play not because we like them as people.

This video of Ben Stokes came out 6 months ago or so http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ben-stokes-video-arrest-arrested-katie-price-disabled-son-harvey-snapchat-ecb-england-cricket-a7972356.html (this is Harvey Price video, not the fight)

That shows him to be a pretty vile guy but I (and many others) still support the England cricket side and don't think he should be dropped or anything like that.

South African fans preparing Sonny Bill Williams masks to goad Warner for the second test is exceptional trolling

James100 wrote:Simon, I don't think that's fair to criticise fans of sides with nasty players, we follow cricketers for the sport they play not because we like them as people.

This video of Ben Stokes came out 6 months ago or so http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/ben-stokes-video-arrest-arrested-katie-price-disabled-son-harvey-snapchat-ecb-england-cricket-a7972356.html (this is Harvey Price video, not the fight)

That shows him to be a pretty vile guy but I (and many others) still support the England cricket side and don't think he should be dropped or anything like that.

Yes - some valid points here. It is only natural that you will grant more slack to the sides you follow (and Broad and Anderson are hardly angels on the pitch), and that video of Stokes is in a lot of ways harder to stomach than the actual fight.

I suppose the only mitigating factor is that Stokes has shown remorse for both incidents, whereas Warner seems to think he is in the right in most occasions and has almost appointed himself moral arbiter of what is acceptable on the field! And given what is rumoured to have been said to Bairstow in the first Test in Australia, it is tough to swallow him lecturing on personal abuse...

On a side note, this ridiculous preoccupation lots of sides have (at club level, not just international level) in thinking that 'aggressive cricket' means you have to sledge and abuse the opposition - it is far more about playing good cricket, being tight and aggressive in the field, attacking the ball, whizzing it in over the stumps... That sets a tone, not calling someone a 'Frak sook'.

Surprised South Africa have again gone in with four bowlers.

Don't see the soon to be retired Morne Morkel getting any more opportunities in this series. Ngidi is the future and deserves a run in the team. Also Steyn is pencilled in to return in the next match.

Rabada on absolute fire before the break there - what a spell of bowling

Not seen the action today, but Rabada being 17* off 14 after coming in as a night watchman is very strong.

SA 263-7 at the close and in the lead

Saffer tail wagging for once, 227/7 when de Kock got out, 373/9 now.

You'll do well to see a better bowling performance in a match than what Rabada has done in this game - outrageously good bowling

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:You'll do well to see a better bowling performance in a match than what Rabada has done in this game - outrageously good bowling

Shame is is very unlikely (if not confirmed by now?) that we won’t be seeing him again this series!

KG Rabada suspended for two tests for his shoulder nudge on Steven Smith. Also confirmed that Dale Steyn will only be available for the final test.

South Africa down to Philander, Ngidi and Morkel. Australia big favorites

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:KG Rabada suspended for two tests for his shoulder nudge  on Steven Smith. Also confirmed that Dale Steyn will only be available for the final test.

South Africa down to Philander, Ngidi and Morkel. Australia big favorites

Any other side would kill for that pace attack.

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:Don't see the soon to be retired Morne Morkel getting any more opportunities in this series. Ngidi is the future and deserves a run in the team. Also Steyn is pencilled in to return in the next match.

Looks like he's been handed a lifeline through Rabada's lack of self control...

Honestly is the young fellow just a bit thick or in need of anger management classes ? On ice before the match and he still goes and nudges Smith (who seemed to make quite sure the umpires noticed ) ...and even after he's been charged goes and gives Warner a send off

Wonderful talent but in danger of doing his team plenty of harm in with the success...Australia will be delighted he's missing the decisive remaining Tests.

Will Steyn even make it back for the last match ? Going to be out of match practice and arguably a risk unless they have an extra bowler : difficult as their batting has looked a bit fragile in the middle in this series and just five bats would be a risk too.