Openers put Aussies in charge
6 Mar 2009
Australia are in control after day one of the second Test in Durban, despite a good final session from the South African bowlers.
The day belonged to Australia, but it could have been a lot worse for the Proteas as openers Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich put on an opening stand of 184. The green opening partnership evoked memories of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer in their prime as they set about dispatching the South African bowling attack to all corners.
Morne Morkel in particular came in for some rough treatment in his opening spell going for 25 runs off his first two overs.
Hughes came out all guns blazing and quickly moved to his maiden Test century and things looked grim for the hosts before Jacques Kallis got the all important breakthrough when the youngster was caught by Neil McKenzie at gully.
Ricky Ponting contributed just nine runs to the Australian total before he became Paul Harris’s first scalp of the day when the Aussie skipper mistimed one and lofted it straight to McKenzie at deep mid-off.
Dale Steyn, who along with Morkel had a tough day, was finally rewarded when Katich lost his concentration and edged an easy one to Graeme Smith at first slip.
Harris then grabbed his second wicket of the day when he removed the dangerous Michael Clarke with a fine ball that pitched on middle stump and straightened before clattering into the stumps.
Australia will still be very happy with their day one performance but some good, tight bowling from Harris and Kallis in particular has given the hosts some hope.
South Africa will be hoping for a few early breakthroughs tomorrow as they look to expose the visitor’s tail, but if Ponting’s men get off to a solid start a score well in excess of 500 should be on the cards.
Australia 303-4 (1st innings)
Phillip Hughes 115, Simon Katich 108, Michael Hussey 33*, Paul Harris 2-64.
For a full scorecard click here.
45 Comments
6 Mar 2009, 09:02 am
Good luck Proteas. Graeme please try and win the toss for a change and bat first this time.
6 Mar 2009, 09:11 am
There are two serious selection errors that are going to cost us:
1. Paul Harris is dead weight. If he was a “strike” spin bowler who gets wickets, we could afford to carry him (he can’t bat or field), but he isn’t. Johan Botha is the man for the job. He’s at least as good a bowler as Harris, and unlike Harris he makes an all-round contribution.
2. Ashwell Prince. We have to find a place for him. His grit and tenacity was sorely missed in the first Test. He’s the only one of our batsmen who can be relied on te keep his head when all the others are losing theirs, and to fight through the tough patches. Besides which, you can’t just drop the vice-captain. If someone had to make way for Duminy, it should have been McKenzie. Or possibly Boucher, but I’m not so convinced about that last option yet.
6 Mar 2009, 09:40 am
Lost the bloody toss AGAIN and Aus bat first once again. Lets hope SA strike with some early wickets. I hope Hughes gets out early as i think his a bit of a wanker
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I have a good feeling about this test. we’ll win, no doubt
6 Mar 2009, 09:42 am
#2 pierre: YES, agree have said it all week. Harris not as good as Johan Botha. Botha can bowl and bat much better than Harris. NM just not making the runs when he opens. Faces many balls before he goes out and yes, does take the shine off the ball like Joe said but thats not good enough we need RUNS. Bring in Prince or I really hate to say this as I think Boucher can still have a good game. But maybe drop Boucher and make AB keep. (AB dose not want to but just tell him thats where he must play) Thats for the future. Today they should have played Albie Morkel. I know they may need a spinner in Durban but Albie can bowl with a lot of swing which would have been good enough and he can BAT.
Anyway good luck to our Team. Looks like the weather wont be good for this test.
6 Mar 2009, 09:52 am
Pitch: There’s a lot of grass on the surface, typical of Kingsmead which offers a lot of assistance to the fast bowlers. Interesting though that Australia have opted to bat. With the fierce heat, the moisture could dry up very quickly and open up the cracks as the match progresses. It’s always a positive move though.
BTW – does anyone know who the vice-captain is now that prince is out?
6 Mar 2009, 09:59 am
My concern is that SA is showing the signs of lack of self-belief. My money is on Oz to take the series 3-0. Sux but I do believe that. The mindset is back to 2007….
Well, after midnite her in California so not sure how long I can stay awake.
6 Mar 2009, 10:01 am
#3 Noodles: Damn, What does that Punter have to win the toss all the time?#3 Noodles: Who ever Bats first in Durban will always have the upper hand. Especially that the weather is forecast for rain on and off. Damn wish we won that toss.
6 Mar 2009, 10:03 am
#5 Noodles: NM I think.
We needed to win that toss to win this. Going to be very hard. We need to bowl very, very well. Especially to their lower order.
#6 mindispower: Just stay awake…hehehe.
6 Mar 2009, 10:09 am
#8 Puma: Gonna try real hard. Re my original comment, believe me, I will be most unhappy if my prediction is correct. It’s just that Oz has an incredible cricketing program on all levels. I was never one to believe the gloom and doom of years of recovery. They are simply too good.
I do believe we need a “miracle”. Like those in Oz. Man, that has to rate os one of the better series ever!
6 Mar 2009, 10:29 am
#3 Noodles:
How many tosses has Oz won/
Havent they won them all??
6 Mar 2009, 10:32 am
I dont know if quick wickets is the only answer, in Joburg first innings, we had Aussie in trouble, at about 30 for 3 as I recall, and then it went South, we have got to find a way to get rid of the Aussie tail as well, we cant have a guy like Mitchell Johnson making 96 again.
Any idea why we seem to have such a problem with the Aussie tail?
The Aussies on the other hand can be pretty confident that once Boucher has gone they are going to wrap things up pretty quickly.
Anyway, lets hope things go right this time, and also that GS makes 100. Historically it seems that is Smith performs well, we tend to win the match
6 Mar 2009, 10:33 am
They’re 5 of 5. i guess punter is the better tosser than smith. no surprise really though
6 Mar 2009, 10:34 am
Why can’t we win the toss?? graeme smith is such a chop when it comes to the toss!! the pitch looks fine, aussies set for 400+ its going to spoilmy weekend,thank goodness my cheetahs are going to win tomorrow to make up for it.!
6 Mar 2009, 10:37 am
#11 cat66:
The problem is – we dont consider the tail as batsmen! We take them for granted! Instead of bowling full we send short delieveries and that does not make sense! Bowl full and they will give you an edge – check Aussies 2nd innings in Jo’berg!
Also whats the status on Tahir? Is he any good to be tried @ test level yet? If he can spin the ball then it will be handy against the tail ender as well.
Bytheway its a good start by the Aussies!
6 Mar 2009, 10:37 am
#11 cat66: we have never lost when GS makes 100
6 Mar 2009, 10:39 am
#14 masudvorajee: hes available in april so yeah we all good to go but i don’t know when they will give him a chance because they would raher test botha before tahir.
6 Mar 2009, 10:45 am
the key is for morkel to click and harris to kain the batsmen from day 3 with the ball!!
6 Mar 2009, 10:55 am
#14 masudvorajee: You right we bowl too many short deliveries to the tail enders. Their tail enders can bat though right down to Siddle. Johnson is a much better batsman than people think.
We on the other hand have not real tail enders that can bat. Once we past Boucher the rest cant really bat. Steyn got that 72 at the MCG and was also lucky he could have been out a few times. When Polly was playing we used to bat almost all the way down.
Needed to have Albie Morkel in today instead of Harris. Bats far better and can bowl well too. Also its forecast for rain on and off this weekend. So today being a lovely hot sunny day they will make many runs like they done at wanderers. Tomorrow if we have them out and come to bat and its rain on and off like at wanderers, we are on the back foot straight away chasing down a big score in not so good conditions.
Was important here to win the toss.
6 Mar 2009, 10:57 am
#17 tokolosi: Should have played Albie Morkel instead of Harris.
6 Mar 2009, 11:16 am
So our vice-captain gets the chop and the imbeciles & the selectors don’t see it fit to even call him, he has to find out through the newspapers! This is just disgraceful, i hope they lose this bloody series!
Where else in the world does this nonsense happen? Prince looked really troubled on inside edge…kudos to him cause he was still professional enough to play for his franchise in the 20/20 series…
Mess them up punter!
6 Mar 2009, 11:19 am
This Reds side aint half as bad as people make out, or is that the Tahs aren’t as good as their results suggest?
6 Mar 2009, 11:23 am
#20 Transformation: dont be that way man!
i agree, disgraceful but thats saffa sport. maybe we dont know the full story, but you cant support the aussiesz man, biggest cheats in sport.
6 Mar 2009, 11:27 am
Hmmm. morkel is on shaky ground for real. When was the last time he put in a matchwinner for the Proteas?
6 Mar 2009, 11:31 am
Eish, kuk start to an important test….
I believe Harris should be kicked to the kerb, slow in the field, kuk batsman, average spinner at best. Straight swap for Albie Morkel.
Boucher, sorry mate, you have been good to us but form is ****, AB takes gloves and Prince takes Bouchers place, provides stability in the batting and you dont lose AB fielding as Prince is equal to him…
The bowling coach needs a kick up the ***..
6 Mar 2009, 11:35 am
Ouch, I dont know if I can keep watching this, we are getting hammered, and Morkel is having a nightmare, 20 runs in one over? You expect that in 20/20 not tests.
Ah well, maybe the Aussies will have a collapse, although watching our bowling I cant see who is going to cause it.
C’mon guys we at the very worst need to at least get a draw.
6 Mar 2009, 11:51 am
What the hell is going on here?
6 Mar 2009, 12:45 pm
#24 Travelling Shark: Also Harris should be replaced by Johan Botha. Today they should have played Albie Morkel.
6 Mar 2009, 13:07 pm
#24 Travelling Shark:
About Boucher! What form are we talking here mate? Boucher is in for his keeping, neither AB, nor Kuhn or Smyt can replace him when it comes to glove work.
Also AB is NOT at all keen to get the WK job – you cant force him!
Its the job of Smith, McK or Prince, Kallis, Amla, AB and Duminy to score those 70s and 100s to take the score past 400 and then let the bowlers do the talking.
In Jo’berg, our batting let us down and not the bowling!
6 Mar 2009, 13:10 pm
We loved our guys when we won those tests and now all of a sudden we want to kick out some players and the bowling coach as well.
No team in the world has better bowling attacks and its never easy to handle RAW talents like Morkel and Steyn. Our bowling coach and physio has done a superb job. Give credit when its due.
Problem is with lazy and laid back mindsets and attitudes. After winning series in England and Australia we started taking world cricket as our backyard cricket. Its NOT easy to get and maintain the No.1 tag for decades. We have to learn this and then and only then we will become No.1.
Good luck boys, game is not over yet!
Lets do it again!
6 Mar 2009, 13:15 pm
Well played Hughes! Hope our players get some mental from this innings from little fella!
Aus – 159/0 in less than 40 overs
6 Mar 2009, 13:33 pm
That dropped catch from Smith has changed it all….Grrrrrr! If only that catch was taken!
Australia 182/0
What a start!
6 Mar 2009, 13:45 pm
Masudvorajee
I have never posted a comment on the cricket before, so how do you know what my stance has been on the Proteas. I have always felt that yes it was an immense performance in Oz, but if Steyn didnt fire and Duminy didnt continue those once in a life time performance then it was always going to be a tough ask for us to restrict the Aussies.
If the any team score 400+ I would say your bowling hasnt exactly been up to scratch, can you disagree?? Yes the 2nd innings was much much better. I never said the bowling coach should be kicked out, just needs a kick up the ***.
So the only reason we have Boucher is to keep wicket? that seems a bit of a waste, I would like my wicket keeper to have a test avg of over 40 after playing in as many tests as he has. Of the 29 50′s he has scored, he has only converted 5 of those into 100+ , the main reason I guess is that he has run out of quality partners, yet, you cannot disagree that his form has taken a dip…
Harris is not the answer, Botha would be better – in all aspect, fielding, speed, batting and leadership.
Prince not being in the side is the most ridiculous decision.
I completely agree with you that the mental side of the game is something that we need to focus on alot more, We have to develop the never say die attitude that seemed to be growing while we where in OZ.
6 Mar 2009, 13:47 pm
Hughes is not doing too badly for someone who according to AB de Villiers is supposed to be scared of the fast stuff. Maybe he reckons if something scary comes at you the best option is to just hit it as hard as you can.
6 Mar 2009, 13:53 pm
Reckon the Aussies thrive of those type of chirps. Never write-off the convicts….
6 Mar 2009, 16:08 pm
At 259/3 this is painful, can only hope for an Aussie collapse (unlikely), rain (maybe) or some brilliant batting by SA (who knows?)
Maybe I will just watch rugby tomorrow instead:)
6 Mar 2009, 16:13 pm
Harris doing a fine fine job for SA!
Aus 266/4 Clarke gone!
6 Mar 2009, 16:21 pm
320/5 or 6 will be good for SAF!
Go Proteas Go! New ball will be crucial!
6 Mar 2009, 16:54 pm
#3 Noodles: ooo BUNNY!
6 Mar 2009, 23:26 pm
Gee Harris must go.Morkel and Steyn they are bowling ****. Hughes gets runs moving forward so why not aim for the leg stump and make him back pedal.Cant see die Blommetjies beat theAussies and its going to cost me heaps- financially and emotionally as I get stick from my mates in the pub
6 Mar 2009, 23:59 pm
#28 masudvorajee:
The reality is that Boucher’s glovework is ordinary, to the point recently where it has become downright untidy.
Average standing up (drops knicks with regularity); messy with his groundwork.
He is not doing his primary job well.
His secondary job (batting) is equally suspect, while his tertiary job (that irritating habit of regularly running up to the bowlers with some inane advice, no doubt) he seems to do spectacularly well.
He, more than anyone else, is passenger number one in that side.
But he’s also part of the inner sanctum so will need to make 100 consecutive first ball ducks and drop seven straightforward chances per game before Mickey and Graeme even think about dropping him.
That’s SA sport for you.
As for Hughes, I told you guys when our media got all gooey about how we’ll rough up this raw youngster that this kid has talent. Plenty of it.
Of course, we assume we just have to amble in and we’ll take his wicket.
Big day needed on day two…must make the relatively new ball count.
7 Mar 2009, 02:49 am
Oh yes… they’re the great pretendersssss… ooh ahha… pretending on test series win means they’re the besssttt…
How many more times must I say that if your watch Ford Ranger cricket… Australia have infinite amount of talent coming through the ranks…
They could fill 3 test teams and still be 1, 2, 3…
Does RSA even a have a quick bowler… a ‘real’ quick is someone who can regularly hit 150km/h… Aus have 3… RSA has none…
7 Mar 2009, 02:50 am
Botha in for Harris for one…
7 Mar 2009, 08:57 am
I think our problem is in the bowling department mainly. I am a huge Morkel fan – he has loads of potetntial but test cricket is not the place to develope it. He should go play some Kolpak cricket and for his local franchise. Just bowl lots of overs. Harris is no wicket taker but I think that is not what he is there for. SA doesn’t seem to have faith in a wrist spinner who can take wickets but might also be expensive. Boucher is getting to the end of his days now. I really like him but he is not performing with the bat at all. These days a WK has to be able to put some runs on the board. ABs glove work is definately good enough and moving him there can be a temp fix till we find another keeper.
7 Mar 2009, 09:41 am
Having 3 right arm fast/medium bowlers to me does not make sense, too much of the same thing. Tsotsobe and Parnell need to be developed or at least be given a full test at some point in the near future. We need a left arm fast bowler, something to mix up the attack. Look at how successful Johnson has been.
#40 I completely agree with you, this group of friends at the top of SA cricket is not a positive thing for us. It stifles development of players that should be given a chance.
Look at the Aussies, after losing McGrath, Warne etc they took some time to develop the team again. If we lose Kallis, Smith, Boucher, Ntini, do we have the youth with enough experience to takeover? If we are to be the no1 test team, then serious thought has to be given to the future. We have been given an amazing platform to build from by these experienced players, my hope is that we don’t become stale.
Come on boys, big day is needed from you today!! Prove me wrong…
7 Mar 2009, 12:13 pm
botha in for harris. obviously a bit of friction between him being the one day captain and smith. Steyn the world’s best…..well kiss my shaven butt!Still cant work out why they keep bowling at Huighes on the offside instead of the leg stump. he keeps shuffling and getting 4′s. Smith and Arthurs (coach) waste of time.
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