Graeme Smith has decided to play through the pain barrier once more as the Proteas announced an unchanged side for the Sydney Test starting tomorrow. He will however not be playing in the Twenty20 and One Day series.
Smith insisted on finishing the job he started and will be leading the Proteas in the third and final Test before retuning home for experimental blood transfusions in an effort to forego an operation and to be ready for the return series in February.
The Eastern Cape spinner Johan Botha will captain the side in the slog and pyjama version of the game. Ashwell Prince, a specialist Test batsmen, will replace Smith as the batting anchor.
Prince’s broken thumb, which kept him out of the series, has apparently healed, but it was decided that it won’t be wise to fiddle with a winning combination in which his replacement JP Duminy was one of the main stars.
A lot still depends on the result of the Sydney Test: victory for the South Africans will mean they move ahead of Australia into the top spot of the ICC ranking list.
elcamino
ROOILEEU
Tina
logan
Deon
Thomas_Bulls
garyj1-Bulls
Aldo
Amethyst
Methos The French Stormer
KingPaul
JT_BOKBEFOK!
trevormayhew
RUGGA_MIND
Pokkel
Quinn25
Marcel
namboer
moose
Jacques(Bunny)Somtimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits
Vernonimous
Pom in Joburg
Watte
niekie
Dante
Panther
Vetgesmeerde Blits
bryce_in_oz
Kozac
Blokkies
Number12_Lions
Brutus2
Lehe6
Estian Nortier
DavidS
johanleroux13
Morné
Tafelberg
pietstreak
Ollie
Koos
January 1st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Some questions:
Will JT be watching?
Will his alarm clock go off?
Will he HEAR it?
Will Bryce place a bet
on the result?
Will we be seeing Donner
streaking on the SCG?
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 11:59 pm:
Yes
Perhaps
Definitely
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:40 am:
if Donner is going to streak at the SCG, i too will set my alarm and place a bet. bliksem, will be quite a site by all accounts.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
en nou, waar is almal? poef, niks.
seker sit op die strand met biltong en yskoud bier.
enigste ding was yskond hier is ons ballas.
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 11:59 pm:
yes, I hope to be here for it. See you later. Off to the pub.
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Reply to cab @ 6:04 pm:
then drink a schnapps! Best thing to warm you up from the inside!
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 7:34 pm:
might just do that.
u are probably out there practising rugby, i looked at the ice and snow on the road this morning and thought u rugby okes in austria must be out of your mind.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 pm
This blog is becoming a
message wall, no live chats
any more.
Hopefully it picks up when life
returns to normal.
Can’t imagine playing rugby
with frozen balls.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 11:13 pm:
Cricket starts soon so maybe we will get something going
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 am
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 12:14 am:
I’ll stick with you for a few
overs just to prove I’m no werfetter.
Toss should be soon.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:24 am
Aussies won toss
batting.
Start the slaugther.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 am
WTF is Hayden bitching about, he can’t hit a ball even if there was no-one in the stadium
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 am
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 1:39 am:
now he will probably get a 100
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:41 am
Smith can’t win a toss in aus
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 am
More talk of day-night tests to
increase revenue and crowd
support.
Suppose they’re looking at
play 15:00 – 22:00.
Big problem seems a ball that
can be used in sun and ligths.
Why? Just play with two balls and
make more adaptions.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 1:45 am:
they use a white ball in the ODI (which are also played in the day) so what is the problem?? Ok the white ball loses it’s colour quickly so make a ball change every 30 overs.
IMO let them play a le mans style game, non stop
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:52 am
nice ball from Ntini! Almost beat Boucher
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:01 am
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 1:48 am:
My point too.
Anyway had my cocktail of pills
for the night and should duck.
Will tune in through the nigt.
Meantine :em27:
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:08 am
bloody aussies starting to fire
Time for a wicket!
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:12 am
Morkel into the attack
37/0
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:28 am
Kallis into the attack and Aus on 50/0
Kallis got an edge but did not carry
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 am
Kallis (caught de Villiers) gets Katich!! 62/1
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 am
Morkel in on the action and gets A-hole Ponting with a ripper! Ball moved in off the seam, gets an inside edge to Boucher!
63/2
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 am
Hayden and Hussey in, both had a horrible time against SA and want to make a statement!
70/2
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 am
10 overs since the last wicket of Ponting and Aus got 15 runs in the last 10 overs
Come on boys!
Lunch Aus are 78/2
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 am
Well, good to see two
sheep gone.
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 am
yip and could have been 2 more, edges did not carry
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 am
Ponting a duck.
Could not happen to a
more perfect turd.
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 am
Seems me Ntini had the
shytes hit from his
bowling – 5.6/over?
January 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:35 am:
Steyn got a few smacked off him too… jeez WHY do the Japies not bowl more bouncers… Steyn’s first for the day hit the batsman right on the pip… then forced him to play some rush shots…
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 am
140/4
Poor old Hayden, managed
31 this time.
42.3 Harris to Clarke (12), 2 runs, dropped! Harris should have had Clarke, skipping down and clubbing the ball to mid-off, where Ntini leaps to his right, gets a hand to it, but cannot clutch on.
Could become expensive . . .
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:53 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:46 am:
Harris bowling well… almost the second wicket…
Morkel peppering the debutante… short ball to the shoulder… then another a few balls later knocking off his helmet… giddy-up!
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:48 am
Clark looking good
McDonald holding in there… Ntini not all that dangerous 
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:48 am
158/4 at the moment.
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:50 am
Steyn and Smith having an animated discussion
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:52 am
McDonald out!! edged it to Boucher off Ntini!
162/5
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:55 am
f…er edged it clearly and stood his ground, waited for the umpire to give him out! Disgraceful IMO. :rant:
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:06 am
Smith should piss off Steyn more often – Steyn is bowling faster and faster
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:09 am
Australia 171/5 (60 ov)
Australia RR 2.85
Last 10 ovs 18/1 RR 1.80
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:46 am:
Clarke 73 not out.
Thought so.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:34 am:
ja nee, agree, not a big fan of that one’s character, but suppose he is a great batsmen.
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 4:42 am:
exactly. suppose oz have such good pullers and hookers (iffy) that SA seem to have tried good bowling rather than aggro of prev series, but the odd bouncer on pip, does not hurt (us at least).
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Fishing tomorrow with the laaitie and Ben.
Soon he and I will fish
in south africa.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Reply to Duiwel @ 9:57 pm:
permanent of vakansie?
dullstroom?
bon trout.
quel est la francaise pour trout?