The SAAF Forum

And Brad Player, seen him hit a six right out of the park never to be seen again.

Remember the Benson and Hedges day/night series in the early to mid 90s? The Aussies were in town and Warne was at the start of his career and was kicking butt and taking names and had destroyed us - Darryl Cullinan especially. However, I'll never forget Kuiper hitting him for three sixes in a row and one was a no ball...

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

The current SA squad is the best in the world. On par with the Australian team of the 90s -Glen Mcgrath , Jason Gillepsie , Hayden , Gilchrist ,Ponting , Langer , Steve and Mark Waugh. What more do you want if you have Dale Steyn , Morne Morkel and Vernon all slightly better than Alan Donald and Pollock. Amla , Smith , AB , Kallis and JP ?

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I have always believed if done right , armed robbery doesn't have to be a totally unpleasant experience- Brad Pitt as J.D in Thelma and Louise

In all honesty, whilst we have the best test team at the moment, we still have a long way to go before we can be compared to the Australian team you mentioned. You also neglected to mention Warne as an integral part of that team's success. If South Africa have any hope of being able to be compared to that team, they need to consistently dominate the opposition for about 10 years.

South African are certainly the best travelling team in cricket and have been for a while. Have not lost a test series overseas since 2006 - something many cricketing pundits (particularly blinkered Australian ones) tend to forget. If we can win the upcoming series in Australia, it will be the second time in 19 years now that Australia would have lost a test series at home. If we can do that it would be a sterling achievement.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Here are the averages according to cricinfo

Australia- batsmen
Matthew Hayden tests 50 & ODI 43
Adam Gilchrist 47.8 & 35
Steve Waugh Tests - 51 & 32.9
Ricky Ponting 52 & 42
Mark Waugh 41.8 & 39.5
Justin Langer 45.2 & 32
Damien Martyn 46 & 40
Andrew Symonds 40.6 & 39.7

South Africa-batsmen
Hashim Amla tests 49 ODI 59
Graeme Smith 49 & 38
AB Devilliers 48 & 49
Jacques Kallis 56 & 45
JP Duminy 37 & 40
Jacques Rudolph 35.5 & 35.5


Australia-bowlers
Glen Mcgrath tests 21.6 OD1s 22
Jason Gillepsie 26 & 25.4
Shane Warne 25.4 & 25.7
Brett Lee 20.1 & 17.8
Andrew Symonds 37.3 & 37.2

South Africa-bowlers
Dale Steyn 23.5 & 28.6
Morne Morkel 29.7 & 23.1
Jacques Kallis 32.6 & 31.7
Vernon Philander 15.9 & 35.4


South Africa is clearly stronger here just jinxed when it comes to tournaments.

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I have always believed if done right , armed robbery doesn't have to be a totally unpleasant experience- Brad Pitt as J.D in Thelma and Louise

Day 1 at the Gabba between the world's no1 Test playing nation and the revenge seeking Australians ended prematurely due to bad light, with SA, winning the toss and opting to bat first, on 255/2.

Amla and Kallis building formadible half centuries and both well on their way to centuries ... again!!! This after Pietesen slammed 64 off 127 balls earlier in the day. Skipper Biff was trapped LBW and given marching orders, with his score on 10, after Aussies requested a review of an initial Not Out decision. Pietersen's wicket, caught at mid wicket after a poor shot from this brilliant runs-machine.

SA's looking good going into a good night's rest. The pace attack that the Aussies had hoped would obliterate the SA top order never quite fired, with overcast conditions and a steady cross wind not adding to their efficiency.

Aus opted to play their spinner early on (I think in the 15th or 16th over) , but even though this reduced the run tempo to only about 2.0 per over, no timber was added initially.

Looking at the pitch, I suspect we'll see the spinner playing a much bigger and more effective role on days four and five. The Gabba usually have a very stable pitch surface, but with SA opting for a full Fearsome foursome pace-attack pitch marks and foot marks will definitely come into play in the latter parts of the match.

Let's hope the rain stays away.

One concern I have: where is Tahir? I'm extermely chuffed that Rory got his colors at last, and very much long overdue, IMO, but I think we could have done well with a spinner, especially if the conditions stay overcast and damp.

All in all, good day for Proteas, though.

South Africa did rather well considering their skipper's rather ignominious dismissal and a few missed chances on the part of the Australians.

Smith has a habit of getting out cheaply by LBW. I seem to remember Andrew Hudson suffering from the same malaise.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

You're correct. Hudson would often tangle himslef up early in an innings, but usually if he survives the first 30 balls or so he loosens up and relaxes, which usually allowed his feet to move more.

Biff has the same problem. He tightens up early on, forgets that he has feet and gets trapped fairly often leg before. Either that or he swats at a wide ball and gives second slip catching practice.

I think Aus have themselves to blame for today. Their bowlers just looked flat, and very poor fielding from one or two individuals. There were at least three runs that Amla sneaked through into 2's that should have been 1's.

What a marvelous six from Amla of Lyon, hey?

Ja, that and the lucky Kallis no-ball, was close... not that long ago, he would have been out. Will see what tomorrow brings, hopefully the weather gods play ball

Would like to see both Amla and Kallis get their centuries and then just set about demoralising the Australian attack as much as possible... make them run everywhere, score heaps of runs and just generally pile on the pressure so that SA come into the bowling / fielding attack nice and fresh

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

The benefit of technology, hey? Glad they made it standard procedure to check for no ball.

For sure bro, I've (as have a lot of people) been baying for the use of technology in cricket... and in sport in general really. From my point of view, if the game is going to be played properly - the mm count, there's no way to judge that other than by technology.

It'd be great to see how many of the historic results might have differed, had they this technology.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Oh my soul, yes!!! I suspect quite a few Ashes would have had different outcomes ...

And let's be honest, without Technology the Springboks would probably not have been 2007 champs either ... OFF TOPIC!!!!!!

Back to cricket: technology gave the best agme ever, better equipment (Helmets, visors, balls, bats, etc.) it gave us live viewing and now even HD, so why not amend the "rules" to stay in line with other advances.

Just one thing, though. The review process must be addressed. Too many times it happens that the 3rd umpire (rugby or cricket, or any other sport for that matter) takes ages to look, re-look, re-look again, and then do the same from seven different angles, before he finally agrees with the initail call. This takes away the advantage of the advancing team, or in the case of cricket the team with their tails up. It dampens the mood and allows for adrenaline levels to return to "normal" which IMHO takes away a lot of the edge of competition.

I think with regards to LBW decisions they've got it down fairly well: pitch in line, yes/no, height ?, hit in line yes/no. Yes to all three - you're out, doubt - benefit goes to the batsmen. Quick and easy.

Do the same for the other aspects and indeed in other sports as well.

Review process is fine. There is no momentum lost by making a correct decision.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Just watching how Kallis and Amla have gone about their business is something to behold. I think the Aussies are in for it in this series. Chappell and Healey have nothing good to say about anyone other than the Aussie team....and then a breath of fresh air in the form of Glen McGrath came on air! He knows a good side when he sees one...and he praised Kallis specifically and the rest of our team in general

Test cricket.....ah the joy!

I'm looking forward to today's session

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A plan is simply a basis for change.