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[reptilescorpio]

Steyn with a hamstring strain. Huge out.

Not being sent for scans thankfully

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Warners making it look easy. Weird.

 

[legend166]

Would be massive if Clarke can get through this. Problem for South Africa is that Steyn can't come on and back it up.

 

[Rezbit]

Steyn will be back. Seems to be a common occurrence these days with bowlers coming and going with niggles.

Quality bowling but Clarke does seem out of form. Fatigue related? Haven't seen him bullied by short stuff for a long time.

 

[captainnapalm]

This series has basically been the South African team vs Johnson and Warner. And currently South Africa is losing.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Good innings, despite the working over clarke got. The run-rate is still pretty high, so clarke has all the time in the world to get his head in really, especially with warner ticking on.

 

[DeSo]

That session is test cricket.

 

[Moxx19]

Why the hell didn't Morkel pitch a few up?

 

[Rezbit]

Wow the cricinfo guy is saying Steyn unlikely to come back this innings. Time to cash in boys.

 

[Moxx19]

Warner almost hit that back to Australia.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Please don't get out to a part time spinner clarke.

 

[Moxx19]

Lol Dave

 

[Antiwhippy]

Great innings, but goddamnit stop getting out to part time spin bowlers warner.

 

[hamchan]

Ah well good knock Warner. May be a knob off the field but he sure can bat.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Ah well good knock Warner. May be a knob off the field but he sure can bat.

You know I read the "sure can bat" the same time mark nicholas said it.

 

[Rezbit]

I'd love to see Smith chalk up some good first innings runs here

 

[Antiwhippy]

Is it just me or does kyle abbott take forever to complete his overs?

 

[chicko1983]

Smith, what a shot.

What a player, I love watching him.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Good score, they are probably going to have to pile on a pretty big score........ if we can bat seemingly well then so can SA.

 

[hamchan]

Pretty great watching Clarke get hammered by Morkel earlier in the day and now he's nearly at his 100 at stumps.

 

[Rezbit]

Sucks I had to go to bed as I would have loved to watch that. Awesome work by Clarke to nearly get a hundred after looking out of it. Smith getting it done too, turning into a quality player.

 

[chicko1983]

Sucks I had to go to bed as I would have loved to watch that. Awesome work by Clarke to nearly get a hundred after looking out of it. Smith getting it done too, turning into a quality player.

I boiled the kettle at midnight and made a strong coffee to watch the last session. I couldn't end up getting to sleep at the end of the day!

It was great batting by Clarke against morkel and smith played some awesome shots as well.

The pitch was showing some variable bounce and warne said in an interview that Clarke felt it was very variable which didn't help him during morsels barrage.

If Clarke goes on and makes a big hundred here, it will be one of the gutsiest Aussies innings that I have seen for a while. Other batsmen probably would have gone off or try to play an attacking shot but got out. Clarke stuck to his guns and wore some for the team over giving his wicket away. It was a captains innings which you'd expect from an Aussie captain. If he goes on and makes a big hundred, it could go down as his best given the barrage, match situation and series situation.

If steyn doesn't come back in this match, it's going to be bloody tough for South Africa to get back into the game here. They are probably thinking about how they can get the draw already...

It must be pretty serious though judging by the fact that he was sitting in the players lounge with changed clothes and no one working on him, like he had already decided he wasn't going back out for the day 10mins after going off.

 

[Moxx19]

saw every minute and loved it. this test shows why I love test cricket.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Wait, why is shane warne doing the press conference for australia?

 

[Antiwhippy]

So steyn likely out for the rest of the match with a hamstring strain.

Shame. It would have been a great match if he played.

 

[hamchan]

Clarke leaving that ball that went over the top scared the crap out of me.

 

[Antiwhippy]

This is ridiculously tense for what it is.

C'mon clarkey, get the hundred so I can go get dinner.

 

[hamchan]

Goddamn, he's been on 99 for so long.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Why are they still bowling Philander? Smith is taking him apart with ease.

Why isn't Morkel bowling with Abbott?

Doesn't that make the most sense????


EDIT: One of the best tons you've made Pup! Great work!

Even Clarke under that pressure got Philander away no problems lol

Get him off captain!

 

[Dizzan]

One of his best tons ever I'd say. Not the prettiest but the grittiest.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Philanders current spell

9 overs, 55-0.

Get him off Smith, what are you doing. Morkel was menacing as FUCK yesterday! Get him in there early! Clarke was off his game! Could have blown him down!

Smith hasn't captained well this series. Too complacent, waiting for the batsmen to get himself out rather than be pro-active.


EDIT: FINALLY.

OH WAIT.

HE'S IN FOR ABBOTT? >_<

 

[hamchan]

Congrats to Clarke. Courage like that is why he's captain.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Hah, SSmith isn't here for a haircut. Didn't expect that!

 

[Rezbit]

Well done Clarke, made tough work of that 100th run lol. Bat on Smithy.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Goddamnit smith. Well done though.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Fuck. Didn't bounce.

:/

Great knock again SSmith!

 

[Antiwhippy]

Haha, man that could have gone so bad for watson.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Jeez Smith is having a huge whinge out there

EDIT: JEEZ that would have been run out if the throw was good!!

 

[hamchan]

lol Watto with almost the first ball LBW

 

[Antiwhippy]

Almost ran himself out second ball!

 

[kmag]

Watson really is a dopey effer isn't he?

Unlucky for Smith, probably one of the worst ball you'll ever see take a wicket, the lack of bounce did him.

 

[Dizzan]

So this game is looking like a draw even at this early stage. What does it do to ranking points?

 

[Antiwhippy]

So this game is looking like a draw even at this early stage. What does it do to ranking points?

Draw still brings australia to second I believe. A bit early to call it a draw now though. Depends how SA bats.

 

[Dizzan]

Draw still brings australia to second I believe. A bit early to call it a draw now though. Depends how SA bats.

True but it doesn't look like there are too many demons in the pitch. Shame its not a 5 test series.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Same thing was said about PE and look what happened.

Of course I don't really expect the south african batsmen to collapse in such an incredible rate, but australia has put itself in a pretty good position with their scoring rate.

 

[reptilescorpio]

Shiiiiiit Vernon in trouble :/

 

[hamchan]

Only 26 overs bowled this session.

 

[Antiwhippy]

To be fair there was a lot of drama and delays with the wind.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Abbott is bowling really well. Exactly that nagging line and length that philander should be bowling more consistently.

 

[reptilescorpio]

lolololol whole Aussie box was having a laugh at Warnie sleeping on the job, even Clarke picked it up on the big screen and had smile and shake of the head.