South Africa v Australia; Third Test at Newlands, Cape Town

[The Speaker]

I'll be going to bed sharpish.

I expect AB to go on the counterrack after the break as he is - it is imperative that we tie him down, using a leg-side dominant field ala India 2004 if need be.

Khawaja/Shaun Marsh both weaken our fielding greatly. I wouldn't be opposed to having Renshaw in at #3 instead of Khawaja. A good slipper, in good recent SS form and is not too bad against spin bowling.

I'm not sure why our fielding is often so mediocre. Could be a confidence issue requiring sports psychiatrists. The current coach (Brad Haddin) rarely fielded and was an inconsistent keeper. You'd keep him on as keeper coach at a pinch, but not as fielding coach surely?

Truth be told, I'm not convinced we'll ever be #1 (again) with the Smith/Lehmann/Saker axis. Smith often lacks tactical inspiration, Lehmann's role is unclear given man-management (Maxwell aside) is not a clear Smith wekaness and Saker appears to go along with whatever Smith/Lehmann wants rather than reading the conditions before approving any short-pitched barage at the tail. Apparently when he was England's bowling coach he was able to read the conditions and influence his sides into bowling first (to great success against us at the MCG 2010/11), but he hasn't really shown that ability here.

We need a more tactically adept coach (Gillespie? Not sure, especially given his relationship with CA) and a more imposing bowling coach (probably McDermott if he isn't on one of his legal adventures, or Allan Donald at a push).

In Smith's favour, there are no other realistic candidates. Warner would be a PR disaster whereas Mitch Marsh (whom The Speaker rates highly as a captain) is not yet a permanent fixture of this side.

I personally wouldn't have any qualms with Warner becoming captain, as long as Lehmann was not the coach. But Smith will keep it.

 

[Moonwatcher]

I imagine Bancroft claims that he acted alone then gets some financial compensation from Boof / Smith.

 

[Richard Pryor]

How do you prove it though?

G Smith who is very vocal attacking Bancroft wasn't suspended when faf used his zipper but surely that was Smith telling him to do it but how can you prove it?

Yeah, unless Bancs wants to end his own career by hanging the hierarchy out to dry there won't be any consequences for anyone but him unless Cricket Australia drop an internal hammer.

 

[Charlie_s123]

Not a great look from Bancroft, but I've seen blatant ball tampering from Asu, England, India, Pakistan and SA now. It's obviously rife in International cricket and serious measures need to be taken to stamp it out. I think it would be unfortunate (but predictable) if Bancroft / Australia were made the scapegoats of the concerted effort finally to stamp it out. Anyway, we'll wait and see.

 

[frankrizzo]

So Lehmann sent Handscomb out to the pitch to hand Bancroft the item that bancroft used on the ball?
He picked Bancroft because he likely wont be picked after this tour?
the sacrificial lamb !

Bancroft is our leading run scorer for the series and the match he would miss is in this series so poor choice for sacrificial lamb.

 

[IKnowtheDog]

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Get AB and it's.game on

We aint chasing 300+...and we are more likely to be chasing closer to 400! Buckleys chance.

 

[Doc_]

Not a great look from Bancroft, but I've seen blatant ball tampering from Asu, England, India, Pakistan and SA now. It's obviously rife in International cricket and serious measures need to be taken to stamp it out. I think it would be unfortunate (but predictable) if Bancroft / Australia were made the scapegoats of the concerted effort finally to stamp it out. Anyway, we'll wait and see.

So if others cheat, that makes it ok?
Geez m8.

 

[IKnowtheDog]

Yeah, unless Bancs wants to end his own career by hanging the hierarchy out to dry there won't be any consequences for anyone but him unless Cricket Australia drop an internal hammer.

Fair to say James Sutherland won't be a happy camper and I wouldn't be surprised he reads the riot act to this squad

 

[frankrizzo]

Yeah, unless Bancs wants to end his own career by hanging the hierarchy out to dry there won't be any consequences for anyone but him unless Cricket Australia drop an internal hammer.

Even if he blamed Smith what could the icc do?

Smith could just say no I didn't tell him to do it and it ends there.

 

[JG22]

Theres no way to get out of that is there lol

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Yeah we needed to chase under 200. Game was over after our gutless middle order shit the bed.

 

[Bedi]

We aint chasing 300+...and we are more likely to be chasing closer to 400! Buckleys chance.

i'd back us to chase 320

 

[lewigie]

Lehmann's time is almost up anyway I would've thought? When was he retiring/moving on?

 

[Charlie_s123]

So if others cheat, that makes it ok?
Geez m8.

No, I didn't say that at all. I said it's an issue which occurs throughout International cricket which needs to be seriously rubbed out, but it would be unfortunate if Australia / Bancroft became the 'example' to do so.

 

[frankrizzo]

i'd back us to chase 320

They(legally I'm sure) got the ball reversing after I think 33 overs, we aren't chasing 250 let alone 320 vs that.

 

[Juddy88]

Can we get Rabadas lawyer for Bancroft. If anyone can get him off it will be him.

 

[JG22]

remember when afridi bit the ball lol

 

[Moonwatcher]

Lehmann's time is almost up anyway I would've thought? When was he retiring/moving on?

Don't think we would be changing just before a world cup, particularly when the incumbent holds the cup.

 

[Bedi]

NFI where that went

 

[happy_eagle]

Renshaw wouldn't have done it......

 

[Moonwatcher]

Bladerunner's lawyer did a decent job too.

 

[010203]

Lehmann's time is almost up anyway I would've thought? When was he retiring/moving on?

End of the Ashes series next year.

 

[Richard Pryor]

Lehmann's time is almost up anyway I would've thought? When was he retiring/moving on?

When his contract expired at the end of 2019.

 

[Moonwatcher]

End of the Ashes series next year.

Is that after the world cup?