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South Africa and Australia yet to be separated
By Mark Tilley last year, at the end of March, 72 Comments »
If Australia’s series win in South Africa has taught us anything, its that they are not, repeat not, to be underestimated, especially by the English, ahead of this summers Ashes clash. Their mini resurgence has seen new players step manfully into the breach and come out victorious. Phillip Hughes, Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Marcus North, etc; men who have been drafted in when the team was in a period of crisis and who have partially lifted their side out of the doldrums.
South Africa’s innings victory over the Aussies in Cape Town has levelled their six match rivalry spread across two tours at 3-3. If we were looking for any indication as to who is the best Test nation in the world, then it looks like we’re going to be kept guessing, at least for a little while longer. The manner of South Africa’s victory today suggests that the momentum is with the Proteas and it was the first defeat by an innings suffered by Australia since India crushed them in way back in 1998.
One could also argue that Australia’s defeat in India last year is further proof that they are in no shape to brand themselves the number one side. They are a team in more in transition than Martin Johnson‘s perennially developing England rugby side. Siddle and Hilfenhaus have done the jobs asked of them by Ricky Ponting and they have done them well but the imposing figures and reputations of Brett Lee and Stuart Clark must be looming large over them and predicting Australia’s line-up for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff in July is nigh on impossible.
South Africa, for their part, are also not 100% certain on a definitive starting team. Opener Neil McKenzie was dropped for the last Test, making way for debutant Imraan Khan. Khan didn’t have too memorable a debut but makeshift opener Ashwell Prince certainly did, ruthlessly blasting the small matter of 150 runs. Paceman Morne Morkel was also not called upon; brother Albie Morkel was drafted in instead, taking one wicket and scoring a helpful fifty in support of AB de Villiers. South Africa are not in crisis, not by a long stretch, but the series loss was unexpected in the wake of their heroics down under and they certainly have some improving to do before they can once more lay claim to being the top of the pile.
Three Test match victories each is a perfectly fair reflection of the two sides’ efforts against each other in both series. Australia looked dead and buried after defeats in Perth and Melbourne but have fought back in the manner of a wounded champion. The pretenders of South Africa were shocked by the resurrection from the Australians in the first two tests but their victory today has at least reminded doubting observers of their quality and potential.
By the by, how well is Mitchell Johnson playing at the moment? More wickets than he can possibly count and now a maiden Test hundred. The boy gets better and better with every passing game and he looks set to play an impossibly crucial role in the Ashes.
72 Comments »JP Duminy – a class act
By Mark Tilley last year, mid-January, 2 Comments »
Yes, Australia may have handed it to South Africa in both Twenty20 games. But at least JP Duminy is still dominating the frail Aussies. His innings today of 69 not out off 41 balls underlined his class in the shorter form of the game and continues his extremely impressive run of scores Down Under.
For Duminy, this tour has certainly been a breakthrough for him. Making only a single on Test debut in Perth, he followed it with an impressive unbeaten fifty in the successful run chase, giving solid support to centurion AB de Villers and guiding the Proteas to an historic win. And as if that wasn’t enough, he blitzed the Australian attack all over the MCG in the next Test, making a fantastic 166, batting with the tail. That innings dragged South Africa back into the game, having been pretty much out of it when he came to the crease.
Duminy had a quiet final Test but by then he had already impressed all the right people. His classy stroke-play is what draws most to him and the way in which he has accumulated his runs proves he has a fantastic temperament, well suited to Test match cricket. However, he can still perform in the limited overs arena with a bold 78 in the first T20 match followed by today’sinnings. He has five more one day games to continue being a thorn in Australia’s side.
Duminy looks to have a great future before him. He appears to have already ousted Ashwell Prince from the South African middle order and if he can replicate his Australian success when the Aussies come back for the return series, then he’ll surely be well placed to be one of the world’s best batsman for years to come. Well played, indeed.
2 Comments »Mahela Jayawardene gives South Africa a hiding
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of July, 4 Comments »
He’s approaching Brian Lara’s record score of 400. After losing Sangakkara for 287, to bring to an end the all-wicket record partnership of 624, Jayawardene has kicked on, to now be 373 not out of Sri Lanka’s 4 for 754. There is still two full days to go for Sri Lanka to go so do not expect a generous declaration anytime soon!
Ashwell Prince’s debut Test as South Africa captain is proving to be memorable in more ways then he would like.
Update – Top-shelf mozz from the Corridor, as Jayawardene is bowled for 374. Only Lara (twice) and Hayden have scored more.
4 Comments »Prince of South Africa
By Will 4 years ago, mid-July, No Comments; be the first!
Patrick reminds me of the news Ashwell Prince has been appointed the South Africa captain for their tour of Sri Lanka. Graeme Smith, seemingly like most cricketers these days, has an ankle injury. But Prince’s elevation is noteworthy as he becomes the first non-white captain of his country.
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