Cricket:1st Test Sa v Aus

[Dakink]

Cant wait for this - the real stuff starts with a close series beckoning!!


Pitch delays Test team
From Greg Buckle in Cape Town
March 16, 2006

AUSTRALIA has delayed naming its team for today's first Test with South Africa to avoid any hasty judgments on how the Newlands pitch will play.

South Africa had been hoping for a seam-friendly wicket but the pitch has a brown and dry appearance, indicating that Australia's likely selection of leg spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill will pay dividends late in the game.

"I'll have a closer look at it today. I don't like making too many judgments about it too far out from the game," said Ricky Ponting.

"Both ends are a little bit bare which is quite good for us.

"It won't have to be that bare. In Melbourne and Sydney (in December and January against South Africa) we went in with both spinners on wickets that were quite juicy on day one, and as it turned out we ended up winning both of those games.

"The wicket will have a bit to do with that, but we've just got to pick the four bowlers we think are most likely to take 20 wickets for us in the Test."

Ponting added that world record-holder Warne has shown he doesn't need everything in his favour.

"It doesn't matter what the wicket looks like. He's a class performer in all sorts of conditions," he said said.

Merv Hughes is Australia's selector on duty for the first Test.

South Africa is facing a nervous wait overnight with leading paceman Shaun Pollock battling to shrug off a back injury. He could be replaced by Andrew Hall.

Fellow quick Andre Nel appears to have overcome a foot complaint, according to captain Graeme Smith.

South Africa spinner Nicky Boje has a bout of food poisoning, but is expected to play.

Possible teams:
SOUTH AFRICA: Graeme Smith (capt), AB De Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock , Nicky Boje, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini.
AUSTRALIA: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz, Stuart MacGill.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0...-23212,00.html

[Dakink]

Ill post the starting line ups as soon as they are released!!

Cant wait for this - though what the heck were the selectors thinking sending Bracken home? The one bowler that has really troubled SA!


Proteas ridicule Bracken absence
By Ben Dorries
March 15, 2006

GOBSMACKED South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has ridiculed Australia's decision to order swing specialist Nathan Bracken home before tomorrow's first Test.

The Proteas batsmen were expecting to face the left-armer but will instead probably confront evergreen Queensland player Michael Kasprowicz as Brett Lee's new-ball partner in a two-man pace attack.
Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill are almost certain to play together in Cape Town despite South Africa ordering local curators to prepare a well-grassed pitch to negate Australia's dual-spin threat.
Cape Town is known as a fast bowlers' graveyard and Warne bowled 98 overs at the venue in 2002, including 70 in the second innings, as Australia claimed a four-wicket win.
South Africa is expecting to face two spinners but was also preparing to face Bracken.
Arthur claimed to be astonished when told Bracken, who took 5-67 in the remarkable one-day game this week, had been left out of the Test squad.
"Has he gone home?
Has he really?," Arthur asked.
"That really surprises me because I think Bracken is a really good bowler.


"He was the one guy we thought would stay. "I've looked at the squad closely but I didn't realise he wasn't in it."
With Warne and MacGill set to join forces, all rounder Andrew Symonds will be Australia's third seam option on a pitch expected to have more bite than the usual surface.
It is an area South Africa believes it has an advantage as it prepares to load its team with seamers.
"It will be interesting to see the wicket because I don't think there's any secret we'll be looking for wickets with a little bit of grass on," Arthur said. "We want to try and negate the Warne and MacGill factor because we do think Australia will play two spinners in Cape Town. The third seamer is going to become very important."
The No.4 batting spot remains a headache for Australia after casting aside Brad Hodge. Recalled veteran Damien Martyn appears to have the inside running over young gun Michael Clarke.
It is possible both could play later in the series if Australia bolsters its batting when it does not play two spinners.

The Courier-Mail

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0...-23212,00.html

[Coaster]

The day Aussie selectors start listening to the South Africians is the day Bennett starts listening to the supporters

[DeeGan]

No MacGill - disappointing is all I can say, SA would of had no answer for both Warne and MacGill. Play your best wicket taking bowlers IMO - on this tour, that will be Warne, MacGill, Lee and Kasper with Symonds the third seamer.

Cannot wait for the test match to start :D

[DeeGan]

Australia lose the toss, Smith elects to bat on a wicket that is a little damp apparently.

Tough decision to bat or bowl according to Smith.

Let's go BINGA and KASPER!!!!

[Steelers]

I still can't believe Bracken was sent home.

[DeeGan]

I still can't believe Bracken was sent home.

Or that Gillespie was not the guy who replaced him...don't get me started on Hohns and his merry men... :curse:

[DeeGan]

Kasper gets the first wicket for Australia after a most frustrating start where he bowled 4 no balls in his first two-three overs.

[Steelers]

Kasper gets the first wicket for Australia after a most frustrating start where he bowled 4 no balls in his first two-three overs.

Just a few Test-return nerves... hes got it out of the system and is firing :)

[DeeGan]

Stu Clarke has two for! Looks like the decision not to play MacGill is working out thus far with the "horses for courses" selection here.

:laugh: @ Graham Smith - another budding "Test Great" seeing his career average pinned back by the Aussies :D

[DeeGan]

Scorecard thus far...

G. Smith: . c. Gilchrist, A b. Clark, S - 19
A.B. De Villiers: b. Kasprowicz, M - 8
H. Gibbs: 16*
J. Kallis: . c. Hayden, M b. Clark, S - 6
A. Prince: 1*

Andrew Symonds doing a good job too - go the Queenslander :D

[Steve Dangerous]

MacGill should definately be playing ffs

but that said, Clarke is having a dream debut. 3 already!


i think the thing going against Stuey was with him they'd only have two true pacemen, as roy's bowling isn't exactly something you'd rely on. they wanted a frontline first change seamer i guess.

[Steelers]

SAF are 6/104 with Clark's figures at a staggering 4/29!!! Top stuff mate

[MOPL]

SAF are 6/104 with Clark's figures at a staggering 4/29!!! Top stuff mate
Good stuff Hope Clarke has some success he has copped a bit of a bagging and a hammering in lead up games.

OH AH Stuart Clark just doen't sound right!!!!!!

[Steve Dangerous]

Clarke and Kaspa are really makin sure the selectors don't regret their selections. top stuff the both of em.

[DeeGan]

Clarke and Kaspa are really makin sure the selectors don't regret their selections. top stuff the both of em.

Well Clarke in particular eases the frustration for me in re: to no MacGill - he takes '5 for' in his debut. This from FOXSPORTS.com.au:


Sleepless Clark 'lives dream'
From Greg Buckle in Cape Town, South Africa
March 17, 2006

STUART Clark took a remarkable five-wicket haul on debut overnight as Australia bowled South Africa out for 205 in the first Test.

At stumps Australia was 1-63 in reply, a deficit of 142.

It was an emphatic show of strength by the game's top-ranked side after the embarrassment of conceding a world-record score of 9-438 in Sunday's deciding one-day international in Johannesburg.

South Africa crumbled to be all out in 63.5 overs at the Newlands ground here, after skipper Graeme Smith won the toss and batted first on a wicket offering some assistance to Australia's three-pronged seam attack.

Clark, a surprise inclusion at the expense of leg spinner Stuart MacGill, took 5-55 from 17 overs, with Ashes reject Michael Kasprowicz (2-44) also bowling well in his comeback match, replacing the unavailable Glenn McGrath.

Clark, 30, became the first Australian to take five wickets on his debut Test since Brett Lee's 5-47 against India at the MCG in December 1999.

He claimed key quartet Smith (19), Herschelle Gibbs (18), Jacques Kallis (6) and Mark Boucher (16) and also cut down top-scoring tailender Nicky Boje (31).

Clark, who said he had a sleepless night on Wednesday not knowing whether or not he would be playing, said said the team management only decided after the pre-match warm-up that he would play ahead of MacGill.

"It is a dream come true. Every kid grows up wanting to play for Australia," he said. "It was a bit of a surreal experience."

There was one lapse in Clark's performance ? when he dropped a catch at mid-off from No.10 batsman Andre Nel off Brett Lee.

The incident came soon after he had taken his fifth wicket and he admitted he probably had one eye on the scoreboard.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said it had been a calculated risk to bat first in seam-friendly conditions. He thought his players were a little flat after their efforts on Sunday but is confident they can bounce back.

Australia's seamers exploited the movement in the wicket which groundstaff had heavily watered to ensure that the re-used pitch holds up for five days.

Kasprowicz bowled opener AB De Villiers (eight) and removed Jacques Rudolph (10) after Shane Warne fumbled the chance at first slip and kicked it back to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Pace spearhead Lee (3-37) was damaging in the second session, dismissing Ashwell Prince (17) and Andrew Hall (24), both snapped up by Matthew Hayden whose diving effort to remove Hall was his third catch of the innings and 100th in Tests.

Lee also claimed Andre Nel (18), ending a stubborn 32-run stand for the 10th wicket with Makhaya Ntini (17 not out), in the highest partnership of a forgettable innings.

A reliable seam bowler in the McGrath mould, Clark has been mentored by Test cricket's leading paceman, who is unavailable for the tour because of wife Jane's cancer battle.

Clark became the 396th player to wear the baggy green cap for Australia after an on-field presentation by former fast bowler and selector Merv Hughes.

Australia lost opener Justin Langer (16) to a contentious lbw call off Nel, but the left hander had been fortunate to not be given out caught off the gloves in Makhaya Ntini's first over.

Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting added an unbeaten 42 for the second wicket.

The Proteas left out leading paceman Shaun Pollock because of a back injury and recalled Hall for his first Test since March 2005 in the West Indies.

Clark, who said he had a sleepless night on Wednesday not knowing whether or not he would be playing, said said the team management only decided after the pre-match warm-up that he would play ahead of MacGill.

"It is a dream come true. Every kid grows up wanting to play for Australia," he said. "It was a bit of a surreal experience."

There was one lapse in Clark's performance ? when he dropped a catch at mid-off from No.10 batsman Andre Nel off Brett Lee.

The incident came soon after he had taken his fifth wicket and he admitted he probably had one eye on the scoreboard.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said it had been a calculated risk to bat first in seam-friendly conditions. He thought his players were a little flat after their efforts on Sunday but is confident they can bounce back.

Scoreboard (stumps day one)
SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings
G SMITH c Gilchrist b Clark 19
AB De VILLIERS b Kasprowicz 8
H GIBBS b Clark 18
J KALLIS c Hayden b Clark 6
A PRINCE c Hayden b Lee 17
J RUDOLPH c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 10
M BOUCHER c Gilchrist b Clark 16
A HALL c Hayden b Lee 24
N BOJE lbw b Clark 31
A NEL lbw b Lee 18
M NTINI not out 17
Sundries (15 nb, 6lb) 21
Total 205
Fall: 24 (De Villiers), 42 (Smith), 48 (Kallis), 61 (Gibbs), 76 (Rudolph), 104 (Boucher), 124 (Prince), 148 (Hall), 173 (Boje), 205 (Nel).
Bowling: B Lee 14.5-2-37-3 (1nb), M Kasprowicz 13-0-44-2 (10nb), A Symonds 10-2-22-0 (2nb), S Clark 17-3-55-5 (1nb), S Warne 9-0-41-0 (1nb).
Batting time: 280 mins. Overs: 63.5.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings
J LANGER lbw b Nel 16
M HAYDEN not out 22
R PONTING not out 20
Sundries (lb5) 5
Total: one wicket for 63
Fall: 21 (Langer)
Bowling: Ntini 9-1-30-0, Nel 8-4-14-1, Hall 5-2-14-0, Boje 1-1-0-0. Overs: 23. Innings time: 100 mins.
6978.

- with AFP

[Dakink]

I will eat my hat!! As someone who has repeatedly called for Clark not to be selected I bow to him. Great effort!!

[Titanium_BD1103]

Well done to Stuart Clark... he has shown everyone why he is touted as the next one in line after Glenn McGrath... :D

Well done Australia.. from the reports I heard about this match.. we caught well, bowled well and batted well and overall were good on the park and that is only a good thing.. I loved watching Shane Warne's football skills to Adam Gilchrist to dismiss a SA player this morning on TV... it is classic... :D

[Coaster]

I watched this last night, and it is one thing to get 5 wickets but lets face it, there can be luck involved.

The best thing about Clark last night, was it was not luck, he bowled fantasic.

The spell before lunch was awesome bowling, the way he set up Kalis and Gibbs was simply sensational.

Was very very McGrath like

[Dakink]

Lunch score with Ponting just having got out to Kallis;


South Africa 205
Australia 175/2 (50.3 ov) Australia trail by 30 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Lunch - Day 2 Australia RR: 3.47

Minimum overs
remaining today: 62.3


Hours of Play (GMT): Start 8.30am, Lunch 10.30-11.10am, Tea 1.10-1.30pm, Close 3.30pm

Batsmen: R B 4s 6s S/R

ML Hayden (LHB) 78 160 11 1 48.75 Non-striker

Bowlers: O M R W Econ
JH Kallis (RFM) 5.3 0 21 1 3.82 (0nb, 1w) Wynberg End
N Boje (SLA) 3 1 12 0 4.00 (0nb, 0w) Kelvin Grove End

[brn2bwyld]

Onya Clarkey

[DeeGan]

Great spell of bowling from Brett Lee who took two wickets leaving SA in all sorts of trouble - he got rid of A.B. DeVilliers and the dangerous Gibbs in the one over. The danger man is now Kallis who averages 62 in his second innings and can really get stuck in for a long innings if he finds a partner willing.

The magician Shane Warne got his man Smith - classic stuff from the great man and I believe an LBW appeal turned down was unlucky. The same can be said for Lee who had a plum LBW decision turned down as the ump thought he heard an inside edge.

We are in the box seat here, let's hope all goes to plan and we don't see some game 5 of the ODI series happen here in the first test :D

[Steve Dangerous]

Clark has a debut haul of 9/89.

[Steelers]

Clark has a debut haul of 9/89.

Well he has proved his critics wrong (including myself). But the ket will be to back it up with some consistency.

[Eel 33]

I suppose Graham Smith is eating humble pie atm, smashed by 7 wickets and all done and dusted in under 3 days. Was someone saying something about a ODI a few days ago??? Don't remember a thing. :lol!: :win:

[Steelers]

So much for not being mentally ready for this test :laugh: