What a terrific fightback!
Inspite of all the hype, I have always believed that Australia would just streamroll South Africa in this series. However, the fight and gumption that the Springboks have displayed in this first Test now gives me hope that we can maybe look forward to some great tussles like what we saw in the Ashes during the summer. With Kallis returning in the Boxing Day Test, the South African batting order looks solid. They only need to do something about their bowling attack. The only spinner they had in this Test was Justin Kemp! I have no idea why Nicky Boje isn't in the team. They need atleast one quality spinner to take advantage of the rough in the second innings. And, I believe Boje is better than all the pathetic spinning options that England has (seeing Udal bowl makes me cry! :(()
Am disappointed that I missed out on watching this great knock from Rudolph because I was seeing the drab Ind-SL match instead :(
posted by Harsha V. Madhyastha @ 6:31 PM
3 Comments:
Aye. On a sluggish Motera pitch with repetitive bowling and routinely faltering batsmen. The breaks from office to run down to the cafeteria for an over were not really worth it.
i think the biggest factor that led to the draw was the lack of a penetrative third seamer in the aussie ranks -- with all due respect to bracken he doesnt command the same degree of fear/respect from batsmen he is at best a steady bowler who can contain in odis. aussies already have a steady bowling option in mcgrath i would definitely bring back gillespie or mcgill (if they play at scg/mcg) given that the springboks are pretty suspect against spin!
Kaushik - Let's hope India's tour of Pakistan will be more competitive. Even if not, the situation will be different as on current form, there's a possibility Pak might Ind, not the other way round :)
Nicetry - Yeah, I have always failed to understand what problem the Aussie selectors have with Macgill. In every match that both Warne and Macgill play, it always seems like the latter ends up taking more wickets. Anyway, the news is that he's been left out of the Boxing Day test as well. I sympathize with him :(
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