TOPIC:

Another pointless two day game in the build up where the top order has been dismissed by Olivier, whom in my view, has been unimpressive when playing test cricket for the Boers. Let us hope they come good -- I will never forget the efforts of the late Phil Hughes in South Africa.

It is actually a 3 day game AR, so the top order will possibly get another bat depending on how today goes. It is worrying though that a second string attack should dismiss the top order so easily ableit without Warner. Makes you wonder how they will go against Philander, Rabada and Morkel.

mikeh: thanks for the correction. Your right, mikeh, their bowlling will be a threat in the series. I actually think the Africans could struggle with the bat, because as you know, De Villiers and Du Plusis are strugglling a wee bit with both form and injury.

Will Steyn be fit for part of the series?

Steyn won't be fit till the 3rd test was the last I heard. Apparently there is still some doubt about Du Plessis for the 1st test as well. He would be a big loss. Both teams have their batting problems so will be interesting to see what type of wickets they produce. I would probably bet on some flat tracks as the South Africans would be worried about the potency of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood with their batting which struggled against the likes of Kumar and Bumrah in the recent India series.

South Africa played 5 bowlers against India in the recent series just finished in SA, it will be interesting to see if they continue with that selection policy against us....with Philander coming in at 7 that makes for a very long tail for the Saffas!

Proteas get away with selecting 4 or 5 pacemen because most of them bat very well - probably only Morkel being the "bunny"
The worry for Australia is the swing & movement in SA - but it'll be a Kookaburra ball not a Duke
Interesting to see who opens with Warner

The wickets will be green and will seam around, that is what South Africa want to produce, Those types of wickets keep bowlers in the game all day. Yes Australia lost three wickets,
Uzzie is the current number 3 but possibly under the most pressure, Handscome got caught at point again and Smith belted three 4's and a 6 before he tried to hit another one in the stands, so I would not worry about his form. He was rust before the recent tests against the poms........

Bancroft will open with Warner and he will go ok because the wickets are similar to the WACA

I think whoever can consistently get to the 250 mark will win these tests, and if one side has a batter that can get to 100, they will be match winners.

Cant wait, it is always good to watch cricket with fast bouncy wickets where there is something in it all day for the quicks......

India's fast bowlers had little trouble getting 10 SA wickets.... don't think Aust attack will have any touble....India's batsmen bar Kohli hampered any chances of India winning....the obvious key is for Aust batsmen to get to 300 in the first innings....do that regularly and Aust should win....or atleast put the Saffies under the pump.....

Southerner wrote: Proteas get away with selecting 4 or 5 pacemen because most of them bat very well - probably only Morkel being the "bunny"
The worry for Australia is the swing & movement in SA - but it'll be a Kookaburra ball not a Duke
Interesting to see who opens with Warner

Should have thought it would be straight forward regarding who opens with Warner, Bancroft. If its not the case then he should not be there and the selectors may have a little trouble answering why.

ooollllrrrrrry2 wrote:

Southerner wrote: Proteas get away with selecting 4 or 5 pacemen because most of them bat very well - probably only Morkel being the "bunny"
The worry for Australia is the swing & movement in SA - but it'll be a Kookaburra ball not a Duke
Interesting to see who opens with Warner

Should have thought it would be straight forward regarding who opens with Warner, Bancroft. If its not the case then he should not be there and the selectors may have a little trouble answering why.

Oooll looks like Cummins is a monty for the role...LOL