Four Tests to come in March. Always a hard-fought series, should be entertaining. The 2 best seam attacks in the world on what should be seam friendly pitches. Wonder if either side will post 300+ in an innings in this series. Probably going to end up being ABDV vs. Steve Smith. No word yet on Dale Steyn's availability but he should be fit. Looking forward to this. Aussie quicks ran through a strong SA A side yesterday but they haven't looked too clever with the bat themselves.
Australia Tour of South Africa 2018/Ball tampering
- Thread starter freeurmind
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
The test series I look forward to the most! Hoping for 2-2 and Steyn to play at least couple of tests.
Actually think it will come down to whose tail bats better, Smith and ABDV might be constants but if all the wickets around them are gone it won't matter much. Cummins scored key runs once again vs. South Africa A and I have no doubt he'll score some more in the test series.
If South Africa continue to field 5 bowlers and De Kock bats @ 6 in his current form I think Australia will hammer them. Also looks like Du Plessis will miss the first test which is a huge loss.
I think this will be the series where AB returns back to the top of this sport.
South Africa looked pretty ordinary for large chunks of the India tour. I'm not convinced Australia are that good, but I'm not sure they'll need to be.
Great read. One of my favorite cricketers.
http://thecricketmonthly.com/story/...ica-be-if-kallis-hadn-t-played-the-way-he-did
http://thecricketmonthly.com/story/...ica-be-if-kallis-hadn-t-played-the-way-he-did
They've selected a very good squad. Saffers will win this.
Squad Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungisani Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.
Here is that Saffer squad. 15 named which is a lot. Not sure why Bavuma isn't asked to go find some form with the Lions. Going to be interesting to see the Sa selection policy. No Steyn for the first test and probably this entire series. Nice to see Mulder in there, he looks a real prospect. Klassen being named might mean QDK is under some real pressure to keep his place.
Here is that Saffer squad. 15 named which is a lot. Not sure why Bavuma isn't asked to go find some form with the Lions. Going to be interesting to see the Sa selection policy. No Steyn for the first test and probably this entire series. Nice to see Mulder in there, he looks a real prospect. Klassen being named might mean QDK is under some real pressure to keep his place.
I agree, this may very well come down to which tail wags hardest. SA have got terrible memories of Aussie tails taking games and series away from them in SA. SA could pick Mulder or De Bruyn both batting allrounders in the top 6 and a keeper at 7 to balance the side but I feel Gibson is going to go for that 5 bowler lineup again which is a worry.
I'm picking Australia to win this 2-1.
Morne Morkel will retire from international cricket at the conclusion of this series.
Surprised. He's not that old
I'm not that surprised. He's 34 this year.
Morkel’s been one of my favourite bowlers in recent times. When he gets the length right, very difficult to play him with the bounce & speed.
This should be a good series. Hope Steyn can play some part in the series.
This should be a good series. Hope Steyn can play some part in the series.
I think the Saffers bowling attack is in good hands. Against India, he looked the least threatening of all their bowlers. Rabada, Philander, Steyn and then Ngidi were better than him.
I doubt SA can win this series without Steyn,Philander/Morkel/Rabada good three man pace attack but lacks the cutting edge which Steyn would bring in.Batting largely depends on Amla/ABD and FDP to produce the long innings.
I think they're looking at Steyn playing the last two tests fitness permitting.
Not surprising. Expecting Steyn to retire soon too. Would end up as a wandering t20 player mostly
Steyn and Amla turn 35 this year. De Villiers and Du Plessis turn 34 this year so there will be a changing of the guard in their team soon enough. Hopefully their careers all finish without winning a home against Australia. Australia have got some history to protect in this upcoming series.
Khwaja and Bancroft out. I don't know why Aussies dropped Renshaw. Absolutely stupid decision.
39/2.
39/2.
Haha, on the radio station I'm listening to a commentator mentioned Quinton De Kock's ''devil may care'' approach. Not often a member of this site is mentioned on a cricket commentary.
50 up for Warner in the nation that is his home away from home.
Warner out caught be De Villiers off the bowling of Philander for just over 51. Australia 95/3 at lunch. Smith will be joined by Shaun Marsh after lunch.
Worried about Bancroft at the moment. If he doesn't perform in the first two tests, he'll have to be dropped. Dale Steyn bowling to him in the third test is cover your eyes stuff.
Quite even after day one, AUS are 225-5 with a current 48* partnership between Paine & M.Marsh
Decent day's cricket. Pitch looks decent. SA bowled ok, a few loose deliveries.Bad light striking as usual in Durban. Tomorrow morning will be key, if OZ can get above 350, they will be in the driver's seat. Surprised de Bruyn bowled so little. Du Plessis deserves some flak for wasting the reviews, cost them later on in the innings and may cost them further yet.
Australia all out for 351. Happy with that as a 1st innings total. Mitch Marsh fell painfully short of a ton, dismissed for 96. Maharaj took 5 wickets.
Australia well ahead at this point.
Lyon took two wickets in his first over including Amla for 0.
Shocking, spineless, gutless, feckless and sadly typical of this batting lineup.
Just saw the wickets from South Africa's innings - Starc is bowling absolute thunderbolts and Lyon is cementing the "AT" in GOAT.
I'm puzzled by Renshaw not making the squad, though I'm glad to be proven wrong by the Marsh brothers finally hitting their straps on a more consistent basis over the summer.
I'm puzzled by Renshaw not making the squad, though I'm glad to be proven wrong by the Marsh brothers finally hitting their straps on a more consistent basis over the summer.
Starc deliveries to dismiss Philander, Faf and De Bruyne were incredible. Not many batsmen can do anything at those.
We saw this a few times in the India series as well. Just that we couldn't capitalize, and had some shocking team selections.
Australia should win this test, and the series fairly comfortably.
Australia cruising to victory, but Khawaja away form struggles continue, good for Bancroft to get a 50+ and in quite good time as well
Not looking like a cruise anymore
Badly need to dismiss De Kock and the obdurate Markram then victory will probably come.
Terrific innings from Markram but was hoping he’d survive the day & set up a chase for day 5 
Call it the curse of Ish
Australia will get out of this. Lyon, Warner and Philander might cop some questioning from the ICC post match.
What happened?