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[Tim the Wiz]

This move really could backfire for Ponting if one or two South African batsmen put on a big score.

 

[master15]

Huge day in store for us. Australia's inexperienced bowling will be severely under pressure here.

Still good to see Bollinger strike early today. Kallis and Boucher are the key players for them.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Damn that was a sweet catch......... it is a catch 3rd ump said so.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Amla gone, hes an awesome batter, Duminy in now, hes another tough one.

 

[master15]

Missed Kallis dismisal but I heard one of the replays made it look a little touch and go.

And there goes my favourite South African batsmen. Amla looks like a class act, very beautiful style, he'll just be kicking himself that he hasn't been able to kick on during this series.

Good start for Australians here, go to ensure they keep pressure on.

 

[Grug]

Amla is definitely a beautiful batsman to watch.

Mark Waugh like.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Dumniy gone, look like it was going over the stumps, all the appealing payed off i guess hes gonna be awesome in a few years so no need to be disappointed. Hadden dropped him before as well.

 

[master15]

Amla is definitely a beautiful batsman to watch.

Mark Waugh like.

Exact reason why I like him so much

And nice break through for Johnson, for Saffers Prince being injured was a blessing in disguise as Duminy is very, very promising guy.

Wonder if Smith will bat...

 

[master15]

Asoka de Silva has a rather ordinary game, poor decision wasn't really close to being LBW. Shame for Boucher but we'll take it...

 

[tri_willy]

Asoka de Silva has a rather ordinary game, poor decision wasn't really close to being LBW. Shame for Boucher but we'll take it...

yea, a lot of the umpiring has been very ordinary, several decisions going against both sides. boucher was rather normal in his dismissal compared to the first innings when he chucked a fit after getting bowled by siddle
seems like the aussies will get the win as the team who bats at the scg first usually gets the win, well traditionally anyway

 

[master15]

seems like the aussies will get the win as the team who bats at the scg first usually gets the win, well traditionally anyway

Maybe not they say it's going to rain. Oh dear how cruel would that be for Australians. Rain, rain stay away...

 

[tri_willy]

Maybe not they say it's going to rain. Oh dear how cruel would that be for Australians. Rain, rain stay away...

if that were to happen, it would further add meaning to a series whitewash against australia.

south africa: 2, rain: 1
australia: 0

 

[Grug]

Harris gone.

One wicket to go... unless Smith bats.

Piss off rain!

 

[santouras]

this is what we're playing against boys

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR033.loop.shtml

 

[santouras]

cricinfo commentary...

Its pretty cloudy still. Rain is in the air.

noooooooooooo

 

[Grug]

Storm looks like its going to dodge the SCG.

 

[santouras]

Storm looks like its going to dodge the SCG.

 

[master15]

If Australia can't close this out and get tis last wicket with this pitch, dare I say this don't deserve to take the game out. Partnership is almost 20 now.

Come on...

 

[Grug]

First time my avatar has been quoted.

 

[santouras]

good thing according to the radar is that if the storm does come, its moving quickly and there's not much behind it

 

[Grug]

Would be a fitting end to the series if the tail is able to wag again and for SA to save the match.

 

[santouras]

no it wouldn't

this is getting ridiculous. It's not brain surgery to get a tail ender out. One ball right at the head, the next one on the stumps. Wash, rinse, repeat

what is going to be interesting is if smith comes out..... there's no way australia will treat him with kid gloves if he comes out.

 

[master15]

Frustrating just doesn't sum it up adequately. This is the stuff that will make you pull your hair out...

 

[Grug]

there's no way australia will treat him with kid gloves if he comes out.

Of course they wouldn't.

You step across the white rope, you declare you are up for it.

 

[master15]

First these chumps will need to get out number 10 and 11 which they seem uncapable of achieving at this point.

 

[Grug]

Here comes Smith.

Got to respect that.

 

[master15]

Kudos to Smith, now lets see what he's got.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Round of applause as Graeme Smith comes out to bat.

What a fucking game.

 

[Grug]

Just when you thought Hayden couldn't be any more out of favor.... he drops a sitter.

 

[master15]

And Hayden shells a sitter.

Dear god...

 

[santouras]

johnson is trying too hard...

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Mitchell Johnson looks tired. Smith is defending well. How can this man do this? Amazing player. One of the greatest moments of cricket I've seen.

 

[santouras]

he needed to bounce him. only 6 overs remaining.....

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Australia need to focus on Ntini. Smith looks too solid, even with his double injury. This is when tailenders tend to fuck up.

 

[santouras]

siddle is a good option. He'll bounce him out

 

[Grug]

Draw looking very certain.

Smith is a warrior.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Ntini hits two fours off Hauritz. :lol

 

[tri_willy]

fuck smithy bowled!!! epic win!!! beauty by johnson

 

[santouras]

YES

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I stood up and clapped inthe lounge room, fuck yeah.

 

[Grug]

AUSTRALIA IS WINRAR!!!!!

What a brilliant end to a fucking epic test match.

Graeme Smith is a legend.... but we deserved that win and got it.

Props to Grug for talking up Mitchell Johnson for months here.

We only needed a draw to retain the no 1 ranking, but this gives us a little (wafer thin) buffer.

Bring on the one dayers.

 

[santouras]

on a more serious note, hayden needs to be dropped and ponting needs to remember how to captain a team in the field.

 

[master15]

Some may call that entertaining but after two tour losses and really frustrating few weeks, frankly I could have done with a much more comprehensive bowling performance especially near the end :lol

Christ...

 

[Grug]

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[Grug]

Some may call that entertaining but after two tour losses and really frustrating few weeks, frankly I could have done with a much more comprehensive bowling performance especially near the end :lol

Christ...

We're just spoilt after years of dominance, we are used to doing opponents in 4 days but moments like this afternoon is what test match cricket is all about.

 

[Grug]

on a more serious note, hayden needs to be dropped and ponting needs to remember how to captain a team in the field.

Yeah, Haydos is gone.

The good news is that Siddle looks like a real find. Coming along very, very nicely.

 

[master15]

We're just spoilt after years of dominance, we are used to doing opponents in 4 days but moments like this afternoon is what test match cricket is all about.

Oh no question, it's heart-racing stuff but the way summers been going I would rather it have ended much, much sooner. I was getting MCG flashbacks when Steyn and Nintini were out there for more than an hour.

Next up 20-20, will you be watching Grug?

 

[tri_willy]

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yes, we need more johnathon brown :lol :lol :lol

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Australia win, but what a game. Two overs away from the draw and all. Finally, Johnson bowls the right line to him. However, Graeme Smith did everything he could. Great end to one of the greatest series I've ever witnessed. The moments where Graeme Smith came out to bat, where Clarke made his first SCG century, where Duminy scored his first Test century, where Mitchell Johson got 8 wickets in a mesmerizing spell at Perth. All fantastic.

This series showed once more why Test series is so great.

I totally agree with Smith as Man of the Series, totally deserved. Bring on the silly season (T20s) and the ODIs. Most of all, though, I can't wait for the return tour in South Africa. Might just purchase SelectTV or Foxtel to see that.

 

[Puck]

fuck. i had $100 on SA to win when they were $20.

oh well, would have spent it on piss anyway.

great test and amazing series.

smith is a total champ. listening to his comments and the courage and strength to go out and bat and fight for a dead rubber is the stuff of legends.