The Aussies – already ahead by 151 runs with 10 wickets standing - looks like they will more or less clinch the Third Test and retain their number one spot on the ICC ranking list.
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Ponting’s men will probably set about scoring another 240 runs in two sessions – 60 overs at 4 runs/over – leaving themselves four sessions to get rid of a Protea side needing close to 400 runs for victory, without their captain and mainstay batsman Graeme Smith.
I still cannot put this side in the same bracket as that of Ali Bacher, who whitewashed Bill Lawry’s touring side 4-0 in 1970.
Yes, they had an eight wicket partnership of 180, with JP Duminy scoring 166 and Dale Steyn 76.
Yes, they managed an almost world record 414 runs for victory.
But how often does this kind of thing happen – once in a century? So the luck, the great exceptions, much more than the playing power, were going South Africa’s way.
Our bowling attack has only once in five efforts managed to restrict the Aussies to a lowish score, whilst the Australian lower order has become accustomed to score 200 runs or more between them.
The side of 1970 did not need luck – they simply demolished the opposition with their playing power, winning by 170 runs; and innings and 129 runs; 307 runs and 323 runs. And unlike Ponting’s side – which is in a rebuilding phase – Lawry’s Aussies came from series victories against India and the Windies, who were then the most feared side in the world, whilst Bacher’s side had not seen action for three years.
So it seems that the Protea’s luck has finally deserted them, and that they don’t yet deserve the number one spot in world cricket after all. Â
Of course I support the Proteas, but I cannot turn a blind eye to history and to the facts as I see them. Â
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January 5th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
And if any of you wake up
during the night – don’t
feel alone. Log on and have
a chat with JT.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:33 am
hehehe i am here… a bit sh.t faced but still stsnding
January 6th, 2009 at 2:34 am
sort of
January 6th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Ek wetie of ek hiermee saamstem nie. Die Ingelse was ook seker ‘n swak span, dis hoekom ons die eerste keer in hoeveel jaar daar gewen het verlede jaar, en die Indiese span in Indie was ok seker maar swak span, dis die dat ons die reeks gedeel het??
Ons span het uitstekend gespeel en dan wys dit gewoonlik die swakplekke uit in die ander span, en dis wat nou met Australia gebeur. Ons kon maklik die 2 toetse verloor het, en dan sou Australia weer te sterk gewees het vir ons. Australia bly ‘n sterk span en ons het hulle verneder op hulle tuisveld. Om hulle te probeer vergelyk met Ali se span en te probeer sê wie is die beste is in my opinie om appels met pere te vergelyk.
January 6th, 2009 at 8:18 am
En ek hoop ons kry die 375 sonder ons kaptein, want ons het die kolwers om dit te doen as hulle honger genoeg is.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Reply to Vloye @ 8:18 am:
314 with 8 wickets in hand on that pitch… methinks they’ll attempt the draw and keeping the unbeaten streak alive… launching the assault for #1 in the home series…
January 6th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 10:19 am:
Maybee you are right, but if they keep on batting at 3 an over and not loose to many wickets, it could be an interesting last 30 to 40 overs.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Reply to Vloye @ 8:16 am:
interesting, very good point.
agree that this present SA side perhaps does not have the worlds two greatest batsmen (pollock and richards), but to win in oz against this oz team who have dominated allcomers for 15 years is a totally different prospect to Bill Lawry’s side.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Reply to cab @ 11:53 am:
this oz team who have dominated allcomers for 15 years
============
Now without McGrath, Warne, Lee and and?
Not the same thing.
Good team, not a team with the makings
of a great team – yet.
Bacher’s team would have finished them
and this OZ team off in four days.
I suppose age always favours the old in
arguments like these, but then insight
usaually comes with age.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 12:59 pm:
Hallo Boerman.
Alles wel?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 12:59 pm:
that is also true, that they have lost Mgrath and Warne.
However Ponting, Hayden and Hussey are the modern day equivalents of Pollock and Richards, three batsmen with test averages all over 50. They also have 3 pace bowlers all capable of bowling 150+. they also have not lost a series in 15 years at home. It all contributes to a formidable unit.
Reply to Cosa @ 1:12 pm:
hoegannit BGG, lekker vakansie?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Hallo Cosa,
Ek sien die Bulle se verlore seun, is terug in PTA en sy verdedigings adviseur, soek al klaar weer werk op Loftus.
Dink jy hy gaan terug?
of het hulle hom by die “short & curly”?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Reply to Cosa @ 1:12 pm:
Ja, wat, besig om te oorleef. Sal
dalk nog in jou myn moet kom werk.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hallo Cab, Ploos.
Lekker rustige vakansie, is nou weer op datum gerus!
January 7th, 2009 at 2:28 am
3/95… Macca gone in the usual manner… Kallis too… really disappointing… Amla looking good… but there’ll need to be a ton from someone and at least an 80 from here for us to get close to a draw let alone hauling in the total…
January 7th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Amla too… 4/112… doubt they can bat the day now…
January 7th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Woke-up 15 minutes ago –
Boertjie will most probably ask if I wetted my bed
to find SA 154/4
eish – ek weet darem nie so mooi nie . . . . .
I do hope AB and JP pull this one through again
January 7th, 2009 at 5:21 am
Reply to The Brand @ 5:00 am:
JP never looked comfortable… particularly against the spin… gone for 16…
Ab on the other hand is looking comfortable… let’s just hope he remembers to ‘walk in’ with the bleddy bowler this time…
I have $100 on RSA for the draw at $5.2- $1… not looking good at all… lol!
January 7th, 2009 at 5:40 am
Just Steyn and Ntini to come after Harris… shocker of a decision against Boucher… :rant:
January 7th, 2009 at 5:45 am
Siddle bowling superbly again on this pitch… Harris painfully uncomfortable against his quicks… getting smashed all over the body…
Storm clouds just around the corner…
January 7th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Clarke into the bowling to lift the overs in case the rain comes…
January 7th, 2009 at 6:07 am
And now AB chops it on with a bad shot… farrrrrrrk… with rain just around the corner…
January 7th, 2009 at 8:12 am
there are some major heroics going on in Sydney.
Smith, broken hand and all walks in to bat after Steyn is dismissed, 8 overs remaining in the day.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:23 am
5 overs left…
January 7th, 2009 at 8:25 am
op my nerves soos lank laas
January 7th, 2009 at 8:26 am
nou net 4
January 7th, 2009 at 8:35 am
2 overs left, what a legend smith and Ntini is turning out to be.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Smith gone in the 2nd last over, Aus win, but what heroics.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Aaaarghhhhhhhhh… I’ve been out grocery shopping with the old dear… and just happened to walk past an appliance store 1hr later and Ntini and Steyn were still in
and I just knew Smith would come out… so we high-tailed it out there once I told the old gal their was the potential for a cheeky $520…
Jissus those last few overs were tough!
Awesome…
(but can’t help but feel we lost that rather than Aus won it… needed a few more batsman to stick around just a wee bit longer)…
January 7th, 2009 at 8:45 am
And the ball that got Smith hit the crack
would have got most left handed batters
January 7th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Reply to Vloye @ 8:45 am:
It was a duzi… a replica of the previous ball with the divergence…
So proud of all the boys… (bar a few)…lol!
January 7th, 2009 at 10:32 am
I watched the last 40min… Awesome scenes and hat off to Smith and the Boys!
Looking forward to the SA tour
January 7th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 10:32 am:
Yep now IMO that is going to prove the true test… 3 brand new caps took this win and will be heading out to RSA…
Aus really do have an infinite fountain of diversified cricketers…
Here’s hoping they get NAAIED (sic)…
January 7th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 10:47 am:
On a half decent pitch I think they will battle to bowl out SA. However if the Aussie batsmen get there s..t together our attack will have a similar problem. Only “dangerous� bowlers in these 2 sides are Steyn, Johnson and maybe Morkel/Siddle when they get momentum. Going to be fascinating!
January 7th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Ja, this side is still far from the
“mean machine” that Clive Rice’s
Transvaal team was in the 80′s.
Not to mention Bachers Boks. They
did not suffer “dead rubber syndrome”
after going 3-0 up against the OZmob
in 1970.
And they had some decent batters and
bowlers that consistently performed
instead of flash-in-the-pan performances.
This side has Smith, and Steyn on a good
day.