Test series - Aus v Sth Africa

[Bomber]

Where's Jonny Lidon? Just seeing if he is offering odds, seeing the saffers are obviously favourites with their no.1 ranking now.

Whilst it still looks a bit like dad's army playing for Australia, at least most have had a decent shield warm up and look better prepared than in recent years.

Think it may be another one of those 1-1 series, but hoping we can sneak a 2-1 win.

[the fink]

hard to pick but this aussie team reminds me of the socceroos in that they can win games but not as menacing as they once were. looks like hilfy to carry the drinks they say

[DOC]

hilfy to start, swinging the ball up there he has to start, lyon or starc for the drinks, depending on the pitch on match day

batsmen are in good form so should be ok, hughes putting the pressure on, seems to have sured up his technique and short ball game

wade starting was the right move, never took to haddin

[Jay Walking]

Might be a rare Brisbane Test loss. That South African bowling line up is quality!

[Bomber]

They can bat a bit too. Conditions and coin toss win could be key to the first test.

[DOC]

They can bat a bit too. Conditions and coin toss win could be key to the first test.

clarke will play lyon i feel, hes not brave enough to play 4 seamers and rely on his spin, plus hes that that good a captain to balance it

[ruud]

Apparently south africa is bringing their best bowling attack of all time

[Red-4-Life]

Going to be tough with all these injuries that have popped up over the last 2 days

[Jay Walking]

We are going to be in a lot of trouble

[Old Redback]

Sicknote Watson is out now as well - bang goes Australia's hope.

[Jay Walking]

Lucky I already had some money on South Africa last week

[Bomber]

No balls bowled yet, so am still hopeful. Need to win the toss and attack the bowling when we bat.

[bapa]

aussies to be humiliated against the saffers!

ps, how many POMS in the saffers team?

[Delete Your Account]

aussies to be humiliated against the saffers!

ps, how many POMS in the saffers team?

Just one Pakistani, afaik.

[bapa]

AUSTRALIA will engage Hashim Amla in a "psychological" sledging war and ruthlessly target legspinner Imran Tahir, according to a top-secret dossier obtained exclusively by The Courier-Mail.

In an explosive development on Gabba Test eve, The Courier-Mail can reveal the entire Australian game plan for each South African player.

The lengthy two-page "Protea Files" blueprint reveals the Australians will:
* Look to get into Amla's head "and play a bit of a psychological war" with the world's best batsman. The Aussies will also attack him with a short-pitched barrage;
* Ramp up the pressure on novice Test spinner Tahir in the belief he "can be very impatient with his bowling and it leads to him being expensive." The dossier says there is no way Tahir will be able to dry up an end, like accurate former South African spinner Paul Harris;
* Seek to exploit doubts in the mind of hard-edged Proteas skipper Graeme Smith by trapping him on the crease and dismissing him lbw;
* Test the staying power of fast bowler Vernon Philander, who has been good with the new ball but is "pretty much untested coming back for third and fourth spells";
* Bat aggressively against towering South African quick Morne Morkel, who the Australians believe can be inconsistent, with the dossier saying: "We want to put him off his game by scoring on both sides of the wicket";
* Aim to "really test" Jacques Kallis out with a bumper onslaught - and the Aussies are also very aware of his high batting backlift.

MoreCraddock- Secret dossier a double-edged sword
The Courier-Mail's discovery of the Australian game plan, will light the fuse for an intriguing and hostile battle this summer as Australia tries to regain its former No.1 Test ranking.

It is one thing knowing what your opponent is going to try to do, but it is quite another thing trying to counter their plans and from not allowing them to mentally destroy you.

It is not the first time a secret Australian cricket team dossier has inadvertently filtered into the public domain.
There was major controversy in 2000 when former coach John Buchanan's game plan leaked out before a one-day series in New Zealand.
Buchanan was accused of deliberately leaking the game plan but it was more likely he simply slipped it under the wrong door at the Australian team hotel.

It is not known who constructed the current Australian team game plan. The Australian team refused to comment last night but did not deny the veracity of the dossier.

Former Test skipper Ricky Ponting yesterday spoke generically about bouncing the South African top-order but the dossier reveals Kallis, Amla, and JP Duminy are specifically the batsmen who will be bounced.
There are also well-laid plans for lesser-known South African players such as opening batsman Alviro Petersen, with the Aussies planning to befuddle him by swinging the ball away and then dismissing him with an inswinger.
AB de Villiers, who has taken over the Test wicketkeeping since the retirement of Mark Boucher, has consistently denied his wicketkeeping responsibilities are affecting his batting.

The Australians think otherwise.
They rate de Villiers as being a batsman who "has the potential to be the best in the world" yet they feel his "batting has been deteriorating while he has been keeping wickets".
JP Duminy scored big runs on South Africa's last tour here but the Australians feel they can get him out pulling, with the dossier revealing "he has an odd sort of defensive pull, it is neither here nor there".

[Red-4-Life]

rain to the rescue

[Jonny Lidon]

Sorry, just seen this as I've been away with work.

Happy to take a carton of beer off you Bomber.

A case of castle v a case of carlton draught?

[DOC]

Sorry, just seen this as I've been away with work.

Happy to take a carton of beer off you Bomber.

A case of castle v a case of carlton draught?

this test should be a draw, hopefully we can hold off in adelaide then we have the advantage in perth with the bounce

[Bomber]

Sorry, just seen this as I've been away with work.

Happy to take a carton of beer off you Bomber.

A case of castle v a case of carlton draught?

This test? Looks like we may have to share a slab. Mind you, I think I need a few days off the grog after these last few days...

[swannsong]

Australia have South Africa on the ropes

[Bomber]

Shame they dont allow for an extra day's play IF an entire day is washed out. I can understand time lost due to rain, bad light etc, and I know they tack on hours to make up some time, but a whole day? I understand anything more than one day wouldnt be feasible too. Would have made for a better finish.

[Bomber]

Win the bloody toss, Clarkey!

[the fink]

Win the bloody toss, Clarkey!

done that we are batting !

[PDog]

Win the bloody toss, Clarkey!

done that we are batting !

Warner looks like he's on a mission

[Steve#4]

1st wicket down....LBW/C&B?

Warner still in though....

[adam]

3 down and in deep poo

[Stitch This]

On your knees Ponting.

[Steve#4]

I was driving listening and was thinking, how would Saffers do without Kallis.....I guess we will now find out...Spooky.

[Bomber]

3/139 and Warner 85no off 88 balls, Clarke doing ok too, 36no I think.

[adam]

Warner 100

genius!!!!