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Moving off topic Australia finished Day 1 of their Test against South Africa on 297/4 with Shaun Marsh called up from The Big Bash making 146 and counting not bad for a 30-y-o with a Test Average of under 30 prior to this Test - can't wait to see how Saffers bat without Jacqes Kallis.............

Meanwhile to return to the vanquished they have sacked their best player, demoted their coach and Cap'n Cook is taking a time out! lol.gif

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Australia collapse a bit from 331-4 to 397 all out. Brad Haddin out for a duck after his red hot streak in The Ashes.

Enter Mad Mitch...........

Yeehaw..................

Followed by

next

140-6 at the close

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140-6 at the close

Yeah, there are few better sights in sport than a fast bowler at the top of his game. I thought SA initially wanted to attack Johnson, but it never really worked perhaps they will be more circumspect in the second Innings. Their batsmen will have to do better or they will be facing a refreshed Johnson after Australia put the game out of reach - if it isn't already.

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Still a long way to go but Australia definitely in the box seat, and that's three centuries in four tests from Steve Smith, will be watching the A league football on telly tonight with the sound turned down, whilst listening to the test on the radio, waiting for big Mitch to finish them off.

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Yeah, there are few better sights in sport than a fast bowler at the top of his game. I thought SA initially wanted to attack Johnson, but it never really worked perhaps they will be more circumspect in the second Innings. Their batsmen will have to do better or they will be facing a refreshed Johnson after Australia put the game out of reach - if it isn't already.

Aye, me as well.

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Follow on avoided - I suppose I better get on with my chores.

Great innings by De Villiers, great name for a panto villain. In an ideal world he'd be a double of Dick Dastardly, hope he get's his century.

*******************************

Drat, drat and double drat, ABDV out for 91 - Johnson again!

59.6

Johnson to de Villiers, OUT, slower ball, drives again but can't clear mid-off - Johnson has another! Tried to mete out some more treatment, down on one knee to drive but the ball spooned off the toe of the bat. Was 131kph, so only slower by Johnsonian standards... De Villiers' thrilling resistance is ended nine short of a century

AB de Villiers c Warner b Johnson 91 (241m 148b 10x4 2x6) SR: 61.48

Mad Mitch again, finishing with 68/7 - all in under 10 mins

61.1

Johnson to Morkel, OUT, goes round the wicket, snorting bouncer and there's a thin edge through to Haddin! Johnson has seven-for and Australia have claimed an 191-run lead

M Morkel c †Haddin b Johnson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

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Day 3 ends with Australia 479 ahead if they stick to their Ashes routine they'll declare when the lead hits 500 giving them 5½ sessions to bowl SA out. With Mad Mitch in this form that should be the most probable result.

Edited by Bud the Baker
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..............and Clarke declares after 3.2 overs with the pitch showing signs of variable bounce.

***************

Wicket for Mad Mitch in his first over - Clarke rewarded for his early declaration. Off to walk the dog and then to the match, curse early kick-offs! spudnikconfounded.gif

Thanks for the update, I missed it, had a power cut. thumbup2.gif

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Second Test

SA make 3 changes and give a debut to Quinton De Kock - no sniggering please! Australia unchanged.

SA win the toss of De Kock ooolala-sign.gif , erm I mean the coin and are currently 61/2 from 25.2 overs.

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Day 2 and SA grind their way to 322/5 on a slow pitch with ABDV making a century - the 115 overs (so far) is the most Australia have had to bowl since last summer and only 6 short of the total they bowled in the last Test in two Innings.

Attritional cricket - SA batting with the series in mind.

SA 423 Australia 112/4 - Classic Test cricket bat for 5 sessions and hit the opposition when they're tired.

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Day 3 - Australia all out for 246 a lead of 177 for SA. Will there be enough time for SA to force a result & will this change the momentum for the remainder of the series?

SA score 20 runs of the first 4 overs of their Innings so game on!

Next ball lol.gif ! Game really on!

4.1

Johnson to Smith, OUT, Johnson bursts through Smith's defence. Full and quick, 147ks, just outside off, angling in, Smith defends in front of his body, and edges it onto the stumps. Was it the expectation of the short delivery that did him in? He didn't move forward to defend this one

GC Smith b Johnson 13 (12b 2x4 0x6) SR: 108.33

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Day 4

SA set Australia a target of 448 to win the match, which would be a record. Australia currently going like an express train @ 77/0 off 20 overs.

Australia just lost their fifth wicket (156/5) - time for the fat lady to start warming up those vocal chords.

Got the makings of a classic series.

Edited by Bud the Baker
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  • 2 weeks later...

Third & final Test goes into it's final hour on a knife-edge & with tempers frayed!

Dale Steyn and Michael Clarke in a big altercation. Angry words exchanged. The umpires step in. They are almost like wrestlers having to be kept apart. Clarke is angry. Real angry. boxing.gif

123.6

Johnson to Philander, no run, and a ripper from Johnson produces a wicket. Or does it? He has reviewed this. This is a ripsnorter. Dug in short, rising towards the helmet. It has hit him on the shoulder. Johnson appeals. It is given. The umpire thinks it has hit the glove on the way. I think it has kissed the thumb on the way, but the glove is off the handle. This is a sensational review from Philander. I don't think he can be given. He is not holding the bat when his thumb is hit. Many replays have been shown. Mind you, there is no Hot Spot on the glove. What a review. Minutes have passed. Even Aleem Dar is nervous. He is about to cross his hands, which means the original decision stays. But then he crosses his arms, and rules it not out. This is not out. What a moment. Well done, Big Vern for such awareness of the law and the circumstance

Into the final hour with SA @ 259/8 needing to survive a minimum of 15 overs to draw the Test & Series!

Edited by Bud the Baker
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Australia win!

It's 10 to six. What an end to the match. Don't go by the margin in runs. Australia have won this by 27 balls. They have had to grind for every wicket today. South Africa didn't gift them a single stick today. It was good-old fashioned struggle for a win. South Africa did their best to give their captain a farewell gift, but Australia were just too good. There were some really heated-up scenes in the last session, but now both the sides are congratulating each other. Forget childish sledges and howling dogs, there is also great respect for each other in these two sides

134.3

Harris to Morkel, OUT, Bad knees. No matter. Harris does it one last time. Australia celebrate. This is sensational bowling. Now he can get the surgery in peace. What an absolute beaut Harris is. Bowls this full and fast, beats the inside edge with the angle, and bursts through the gate. The off stumps is rattled. So is Morkel. So is Philander

M Morkel b Harris 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Lehmann coaching from sidelines. Suggested him to go round the stumps

134.2

Harris to Morkel, no run, pushes this down leg. One down. 28 to go

Morne Morkel walks out to his song playing in the stands. There are 29 balls to survive. Harris goes round the wicket

134.1

Harris to Steyn, OUT, Oh Ryan Harris you beauty. With knees that need surgery. He produces a yorker. The Aussie spirit lives on. Another injured man walks off. Steyn has played 44 balls. Harris gets an outswing yorker, this is just outside off, Steyn looks to dig it out, gets an inside edge. Off bail of off. That terrible sound for Steyn. How terrific for Harris. The bail almost didn't come off. Not for the first time has a bowling change produced a wicket first ball

DW Steyn b Harris 1 (75m 44b 0x4 0x6) SR: 2.27

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  • 3 months later...

England look likely to lose the Test Series against Ceylon tomorrow (will be the first time the Ceylonese have won over here!) and Cap'n Cook's individual form and his captaincy are under scrutiny. He should survive for the present because there are no obvious options. As in all sports it all turns on slim margins a draw in the previous Test with Ceylon down to their last partnership and a marginal decision on the second last ball.

Regarding Cook I've always felt No.3 is a far better position for a Test Captain to bat from as it gives more time to switch focus to batting after a long spell in the field and indeed IIRC Viv Richards & Alan Border both dropped down from 3 to 4 in the batting order after becoming Captains.

Edited by Bud the Baker
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