Search results for query: *

It's a disappointment as is still performing beautifully at test level and is a point of difference from Rabada, Nortje and Ngidi. They'll need Pretorius and Mulder to provide that role in the team. Having said that, being almost 35 and now a one format player with South Africa only playing a...

Yes that was a huge effort, he couldn't get up for the next test sadly so the entire attack got changed out and they copped a belting over in Perth. That debut by du Plessis has claims as the greatest of all time for a batsman given what he did up against it in the first innings and then the...

Did you watch van der Dussen? He's a guy who looks right in the mould of a Hussey or du Plessis being made to wait until his early 30's for test cricket after coming through the short form sides. Hamza looks to have an impressive game too - based on that first innings and his performances in the...

The wheels looked to have fallen off England after that first session, but pretty good effort to remain in the match. Presumably this will be the final day.

GM still has the classic look - I absolutely love the blue of the version de Kock and Head have been using. But yeah other than that not much stands out at all. Bring back the Woodworms!

Dumb comment for the day. Anyone in their right mind picking him over Anderson, Broad, Archer or Woakes in a test match. Nope. Impressive talent in the short forms though and clearly made of the right stuff for success in the future.

Yeah sorry I did mean that to say "not on top of the stats". Going off "the eye" I would take Stokes the bowler over Jimmy but yes there's not a lot of difference between the two particularly given Neesham's ability at the death.

I would agree, but the decision was made that the second wasn't actually a no-ball, it was not all that far off the stumps so a bit of a grey area not helped by the umpires immediate call and reversal.

Where did this dropkick stupid idea that he was a "mug" come from? Acquitted himself very solidly in the Ashes then followed up with a good series in NZ. Not as exciting a selection as Bairstow or Vince at three but continues to do his job very well. Those are the most Philander figures ever 4...

Pretorius batted very nicely for a debutant, helped haul them out of what looked to be a disastrous first day was unsure how he'd be suited to the number 7 spot but pretty good signs if that's any guide. Philander is as good a number 8 going too so while its not the strongest about I don't think...

Will preface by acknowledging I am on top of the stats. Having said that both teams look about right, so good effort - but struggle to see how Stokes doesn't so much get a look in in either side given the year he has had in the most critical moments.

England have had a very disrupted preparation through illness and other health matters & through the appointments of Smith, Kallis, Langeveldt back into the SA setup there's been a lot of positivity on their side coming into the home summer. So while would expect England to have the personnel to...

Yeah I think tri / quad series are good and still have a place to play in the game, but if moves like this are fixed then it perpetuates the gulf between the haves and have nots.

Off the top of my head he had five series against us - three over there and two in Aus :think: Thats's a pretty significant proportion of an 8 or 9 year test career.

The Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown episode on Oman is outstanding. Should still be on SBS On-Demand.

Still remember watching the cricinfo ticker go over for Craig Simmons last over six to win a game at the WACA against Tassie one summer. https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8627/scorecard/361318/western-australia-vs-tasmania-twenty20-big-bash-2008-09 And the ABC Grandstand call of Aaron Heal...

Think I've dragged out this story before ala Chappelli, but Gilchrist on debut in an ODI tri series over somewhere in India walked out for the very first time in his Australian cap to face Pat Symcox and another spinner in the middle overs on a turning wicket. Over or two in and they switch back...

I agree that Butcher and Shaw were very good selections. Butcher in particular absolutely had the talent to be a fantastic key forward, those handful of weeks in 2011 were genuinely as exciting as I have seen from a young key forward. But wrecked by injury and then later self doubt. Shaw had a...

Absolutely beautiful bowler to watch, one of the most graceful I've seen operating short of a length outside off. There's some great quicks about the moment, but none really in his style I can think of off the top of my head. Hope he goes out with a win.

Nah two nights is better.

It's surprising you don't the drug saga with Malcolm Speed at WA & Victoria was big news at the time for most Australian cricket followers. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/the-nightwatchman/2016/sep/16/duncan-spencer-cricket-fast-bowler

To be honest I think that's a bit of a bullshit strawman, be interested if somebody could actually come up with some evidence of this being the case in the draft as it's one of those frequently parroted lines. Yet I don't see much evidence that it is the reality, just a version that some want to...

Fantastic news for sport in the state. Once these inner city venues go you're not getting the land back and with decent infrastructure there immediately available to be upgraded. Provides footy and cricket with a high class central high-performance venue on an ongoing basis and the presence of...

Banton is an excellent pickup - for this summer, but also will be seeing a lot of him in years to come in an England shirt I'd be tipping.

When 'batters' first became part of the terminology (if I recall correctly Michael Clarke might have been the one to first use it consistently), I cringed. But at that point I only really perceived it being a needlessly American addition to the sport. In recognition of the rapid rise of womens...

Congratulations on your pigheaded ignorance. Do explain how exactly this current test is exhibiting any characteristics of a road? Or perhaps the India test last summer where the pitch was lauded for the entertaining cricket it produced? Yes Australia are comfortably on top, but contest...

Agree, to claim he "was never a threat" is great hyperbole. He played enough decent games with the odd highly impressive one where he'd reaffirm his potential as an impressively athletic full forward. Yes there was more than a handful of games where he had negligible impact, but his good...

Ryan was a very handy player.

Yep, would not have been many out there thinking Cam Taheny or Emerson Jeka would be going 50+ a year ago either.

Keep digging. After that tour he went on to make five of his six test centuries. Winning Ashes, multiple BBL titles and become the best domestic batsman in the country. A good but not great test batsman, excellent ODI record and a very respectable career :)