posted Nov 22, 2008

It's actually a shame Nel isn't available, it basically would have backed the aussies into playing a spinner and preparing slightly more spin friendly tracks. with Nel fit SA have the bettter all out 4 man pace attack. though this left armer may provide much needed variety if comes to that.

However, how times have changed, I remember Smith asking the pitch be watered before they played the aussies last time, they were that terrified of spin and warne.

I'm sure they'll still be worried about Clark though and you do feel that whenever south africa worry about someone or some particular aspect that they bring about their own downfall.

The New ball will be massive for the saffers, with steyn and morkel/ntini they have really fast options and hayden's just chucking his wicket away against far less scarey opposition. The proteas can get into them quickly and make the new ball count whenever it comes around they should win the series.

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posted Nov 22, 2008

South Africa will be hoping Ntini plays well, his powers seemed to be fading somewhat during the tour of England. They have the bowling options but they will all need to click.

With Hayden and Ponting not playing the great cricket they can, the bowlers should back themselves to run through the top order quickly. If they can do this the game is in their hands.

South Africa have the best top-order in cricket and if their bowlers give them the upper hand, they could come away with the elusive win.

Beating Aus in Aus is the final barrier for them... win this and they could be ready to make their challenge on the No.1 spot.

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posted Nov 22, 2008

Ntini has developed his bowling to bowl over the wicket and round the wicket to left handers. This should help South Africa. I hope that the series doesn't see certain cricketers getting favourable decisions from the umpires. Ponting, Hayden, Hussey, Clarke and Kallis seem to never get bad decisions. Even good calls do not go against them.

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posted Nov 22, 2008

I think SA have their best chance to register a win in Aus with Aussie batting looking out of form. The key will be SA batting which always falter against Oz.

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posted Nov 22, 2008

"The key will be SA batting which always falter against Oz."

I agree with NM that is where SA will win or lose the series

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posted Nov 22, 2008

I expect Steyn to do well against the Aussies....

My main concern is Morkel, whose form against Bangladesh has looked patchy. He can't afford to be that loose against the Aussie batsmen.

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posted Nov 23, 2008

No ntentions of winding up anyone here. But a pitiful 1-10-1 success record against Australia only shows that SA is just another team in the club of nations such as WI-Pakistan-Sri Lanka-New Zealand, who have been hopelessly dominated by Australia in this current decade.

In fact it is amazing that the 5 nations all put together, have managed to muster just 3 wins against Australian in the last 9 years!!

What/who do South Africa have in their team that would produce a different result, or at least threaten to produce a different result this time around ?

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posted Nov 23, 2008

I thought morkel bowled some unplayable spells in england personally.

I don't think he looks any worse out of form than brett lee and I'd fancy him to do well.

I am hoping that the new younger players in the saffers team will rise to the challenge of australia and we have a tight series. too often south africa's past players under preformed on the really big stage.

I'm very interested to see amla play them. To me he has a distinct laxman-ness about his batting, especially for someone like south africa, very wristy. If he can replicat laxmans success against australia he'll be key.

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posted Nov 25, 2008

Well, squarecut, the Saffers have put togehter a pretty good run in Test cricket, beating England in England, and drawing a series 1-1 in India, so they have improved....

At the same time, while the Aussies are still a top team, they're not as good as they once were.

It's going to be interesting to see if Zondeki gets a look in....

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