Disaster in Durban
29 Dec 2009
Outstanding bowling from Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann left South Africa facing a humilating innings defeat at Kingsmead.
Trailing by 232 runs, the Proteas made a solid start to their second innings, before Ashwell Prince (16) was caught at silly point off the second delivery of Swann’s first over with the total on 27. The England spinner struck again in the last over before tea, when Hashim Amla (6) played a loose drive and was bowled through the gate by one that spun in sharply.
It got even worse for the hosts soon after the break when Jacques Kallis (3) failed to play a shot to a Broad delivery that cut back and knocked out his off stump.
Broad then produced two knockout blows in consecutive deliveries when AB de Villiers (2) and JP Duminy (0) were also dismissed without playing a shot — De Villiers was trapped lbw by one that cut back and clipped the pad (the Proteas unsuccessfully referred the decision, with Hawkeye showing it hitting the top of off stump) while Duminy’s attempt to shoulder the first ball he received saw it clip the inside edge of the bat and cannon into the stumps.
Graeme Smith had watched all this carnage from the other end, but he soon joined his team-mates back in the pavilion when Swann trapped him lbw for 22 to make it 50-6. The Proteas referred the decision more in hope than anything else, and Hawkeye confirmed the ball would have clipped leg stump.
Mark Boucher (20*) and Morne Morkel (7*) took the total to 76 before bad light halted play at 4:30pm with 16 overs still remaining in the day’s play.
Earlier in the day, England had resumed their first innings on 386-5 with Matt Prior (11*) and Ian Bell (55*) at the crease. Prior, who was dropped late on day three when he had just 6, went on to make 60 before being bowled by Duminy, while Bell took his tally to 141 before being caught behind off Dale Steyn. Four balls later, Andrew Strauss declared the innings closed on 575-9.
South Africa 343 (1st innings)
Graeme Smith 75, Jacques Kallis 75, AB de Villiers 50, Graeme Swann 4-110.
England 575-9 dec (1st innings)
Ian Bell 141, Alastair Cook 118, Paul Collingwood 91, Matt Prior 60, Andrew Strauss 54, Morne Morkel 3-78, JP Duminy 3-89
South Africa 76-6 (2nd innings)
Stuart Broad 3-18, Graeme Swann 3-22
South Africa trail by 156 runs
Click here for the full scorecard
215 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 » Show All
29 Dec 2009, 17:44 pm
@Sheriff: Kepler is not liked by the senior players….he once called Smith and Kallis fat and had a full go at Pollock when he was captain. His cricket knowledge may be very good but he’s diplomacy or lack thereof wouldn’t endear him to the team members.
29 Dec 2009, 17:51 pm
@Jozi:
And they were fat!
Ok so he lacks the EQ, no then he needs to stay away.
I wonder how fit this team is. Lack of fitness can contribute to injuries.
Also you need a layer of players that can replace the regulars when going through a dip. Right now, because of lack of depth he needs to wait for the play to hit form.
I would have dropped AB some time ago, he seems to be battling with confidence and for some time now.
29 Dec 2009, 17:52 pm
Ntini must go in my book.
Prince is not an op[ener and Dumminy must also disappear. His lack of runs is a serious concern.. I would bring in De Wet and Rudolph..
29 Dec 2009, 17:59 pm
@Sheriff: If Arthur goes, who do you replace him with. I don’t see any coaches in the domestic league who are capable of fulfilling that role.
Internationally you could ask G.Kirsten to return home but if you go with Kirsten then Smith can’t captain the team….their pairing wouldn’t work. Gary is a quite sort of guy, he would need an Amla type captain for him to be effective…..check how well he seems to work with Dhoni ( another quite, laid back dude)
Maybe Duncan Fletcher, he’s coached in SA before and he is a good coach.
AB is another of those youngsters who needs to learn his craft. A little too excitable at times but he’s come a long way…..he’ll come good eventually.
29 Dec 2009, 18:01 pm
@WP_: Rudolph was anounced elligible for selection on December 2nd.. I hope that is still the case. He is the answer to the problem we are having with prince opening.
29 Dec 2009, 18:03 pm
@Jozi:
Yip, a bit of a problem.
Anyway mates, nice chatting.
Look forward to Biff’s speach tomorrow: “All credit to England, they delivered …”
They must interview coaches as well, like in rugby.
29 Dec 2009, 18:05 pm
Sheriff if you want to drop AB, all it shows is your lack of cricket knowledge. After Kallis, he is probably our best batsman. We need to look at numbers 1, 3 and 6 in the top order
29 Dec 2009, 18:13 pm
@Sheriff: the last time i saw arthur he was hiding behind an avertising board so i guess it’s back to that board for him tomorrow and this time he will stay there!
29 Dec 2009, 18:14 pm
@dj:
Hi DJ
Where’s AJ, BJ and CJ?
Listen I have nothing against AB, superb fielder actually. But he dropped someone last week at Centurion.
I think he was also responsible for Biff’s run-out in the 1st innings.
He is tentative, I hate that (not him) in a player. He also seems to think that he has some music talent – like many Afrikaner males, every week another artist – how bizarre?
Someone needs to work with him to get that self-belief up and then he will be fine. Problem is that he will probably take over from Boucher who refuses to retire. I dont mind – as long as he delivers he can stay even if he is 40!
29 Dec 2009, 18:15 pm
154 Jozi, yes Fletcher sounds.
Didn’t know that bit about Kirsten.
Well Fletcher & Smith click?
29 Dec 2009, 18:19 pm
@Valkyrie:
Biff is probably as dominant a captain as Hansie Cronje.
Arthur likes that it seems. He remains in the background.
One has to ask: exactly what is his role?
Im sure he has a:
* Fitness coach
* Mental coach
* Bowling coach
* Analysts
Biff interacts with the team members, selects or states his preferences and handles the media.
So what does Mickey do?
If Mickey was black or cullert the keo gangsters would have asked these questions a long time ago?
29 Dec 2009, 18:22 pm
160 Sorry, Fletcher sounds good.
Well = Will
29 Dec 2009, 18:23 pm
@williforde: I don’t know but one thing is certain, if Arthur goes we need to bring in a coach who’s not star struck. A tough talking, knowledgeable oke…..I’m thinking Steve Waugh but he’s a damn Aussie.
@Sheriff:
Keo gangsters? so you reckon the senior players are running the show or is it Eric Simmons who sends Biff sms’s from the bushes….
29 Dec 2009, 18:26 pm
Later mates.
29 Dec 2009, 18:32 pm
163 Jozi – Steve Waugh, interesting. Talk about tenacity, I hated Steve when he just wouldn’t give up.
If Jones could help us win the World Cup, Steve can….
29 Dec 2009, 18:34 pm
@Sheriff: have to agree with you there mate.arthur was an average opening batter for griquas and ended up coaching the proteas while gary kirsten was a good test opener and ended up coaching india,the most cricket mad nation on the planet.things like this can only happen in south africa!
29 Dec 2009, 18:36 pm
AB devilliers is legendary. The English pundits are in awe of the man..
We need to re-evaluate our bowlin g attack and our top order batsmen..
29 Dec 2009, 18:40 pm
Now we know how Oz felt last year. Except, they know how to stay on top. (And are returning rather quickly too). Remember too, look back at the match and see that some curious decisions were made by Biff…Biff needs a bashing too.
Obviously it is as simple as this, we are being outplayed and dominated by the English.
29 Dec 2009, 18:42 pm
Tantalize this, could Biff be the current problem? One who dominates so strongly could be a case of power corrupts….
29 Dec 2009, 18:45 pm
This was on the cards from day one of this teast. Saw it coming a mile off, Just like 49-0 hammerings, when mediocre useless kop toe idiots don’t know wtf is cutting around them and thinking they the bees f’ng knees, thats when reality strikes home. Its a damn fine thing that happened here, was right on the button. These kop toe poeftas need to get smacked hard where it hurts till they realize the truth of where their grandiose useless kop toe heads are actually at. Sweep clean the Arthurs and the gathering of the little boys club clique. Drop the rubbish and start again, just like the rugby boys gonna have to do if they seriously want to stand a chance of progressing from the shambles they left behind in Europe at the end of November.
29 Dec 2009, 18:50 pm
@Tbozknows: don’t get silly now.i’ve got no problems with ab but he still has a long way to go…a legend would not have made that fundemental error today after seeing how kallis got out.hopefully that will be a learning experience for him.
29 Dec 2009, 18:57 pm
@mindispower: sad but true.was rather painful to see how the poms got cockier and cockier with every passing minute and i did not blame them…but still very painful!the barmy army also turned kingsmead into an english home-ground…eina!
29 Dec 2009, 19:00 pm
@Valkyrie: I agree, maybe legendary is an exageration, however this talk of dropping AB id ludicrous.
29 Dec 2009, 19:05 pm
@Tbozknows: agree with you there mate.
29 Dec 2009, 19:17 pm
The tale of a sad story by the score sheet:
Prince – 2,16
Amla – 2,6
Duminy – 4,0
My prediction is none of those players will be dropped for the next Test.
29 Dec 2009, 19:26 pm
Baiting again aren’t we?
Valkyrie…..please ignore, this has been a nice thread so far apart from the few nasty posts about Amla’s beard etc.
29 Dec 2009, 19:34 pm
#171
Oh please. Everybody is human. Everybody makes mistakes. Even Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting do.
Geez, talk about having unrealistic expectations
29 Dec 2009, 19:37 pm
170 skopskiet
Big talk from a small man.
29 Dec 2009, 19:40 pm
@Jozi: will do.just as well i have to run off to the shop.nice chatting about cricketing matters for a change without the usual ulterior agendas.
29 Dec 2009, 19:42 pm
@Valkyrie: Cheers man
29 Dec 2009, 19:48 pm
Innings defeat? On a pitch prepared by a home-town groundsman to suit the home team’s strengths? Not a good look, is it? Pop goes the bubble.
29 Dec 2009, 19:53 pm
@TheTackler: Thanks tickles…..remind me again how many trophies or major series has the black caps won…….you can get away with it on the rugby debates because the all blacks are a class act but not so on the cricket I’m afraid.
29 Dec 2009, 20:00 pm
@lungburner:
Amla’s COMPOUND Test average (?runs/?Innings) against the Big Four, namely Australia, India, Pakistan and England are as follow:
Before Durban test: 32.95
After the Durban Test: 31.85
These numbers are lower than these of Gibbs (42), Gary Kirsten (45.2), K. Wessles (41) or Graeme Smith (49.8)
But they are similar to A Hudsons’ (33.5) average.
29 Dec 2009, 20:06 pm
Jacques Rudolph must be close to selection again. If eligible.
I’ve heard from someone on here that he is, but I’m not sure…
29 Dec 2009, 22:39 pm
The Black Caps have won ONE ICC Championships trophy. Identical to the Proteas.
Makes you laugh, doesn’t it?
29 Dec 2009, 22:44 pm
I see the Proteas accidentally stepped on their egos and strangled themselves again. Ho hum!
30 Dec 2009, 00:19 am
In fairness, this is the same England team fresh from winning back the Ashes, minus that prick Flintoff.
Maybe with Rudolf, McKenzie, Gibbs or even Nel the sad farce of today would have been averted, just to think what would have happened if there was no rain in the afternoon?!
The worst still was to read The Telegraph who called the SA Team “Micki Arthur’s Brave New World”
30 Dec 2009, 00:32 am
I would like to see one of McKenzie, Gibbs or Rudolph back in the fold. We need it
30 Dec 2009, 02:23 am
At least England won the Ashes in their own back yard with their own turfkeepers preparing the English wickets to suit their strengths. The Aussies were also very firmly in rebuild mode after the retirements of several key stalwarts.
The absolute spanking they’re dishing out to SA is on South African soil, with the wickets prepared by South African groundsmen to suit the local team’s advantage. And this is a full-strength, on top of their development curve formerly number 1 ranked Protea test team playing on home ground.
And they are not just being beaten. They are being utterly flogged. Humiliated, in fact.
They’ve gone belly-up.
30 Dec 2009, 03:07 am
@lungburner: #135
AMLA’S record
Matches: 38
Runs: 2579
Average: 40.93
100′s: 7
50′s: 14
@Hondo:#183
You seem to be very selective with the stats you provide.
I’m sure if you take the same approach re Kallis’ stats, you will find that it is not the same as his overall stats. Why don’t you indulge us?
@WP_: #184
Rudolph? In whose place?
Prince? Who has two scores of 150 odd runs in his five previous test innings’. Admittedly, he failed twice against England in this series as an opener, but you don’t chuck the kind of consistency and experience that Prince provides in the middle order away because your experiment with him as an opener failed.
Amla? Scored a century just in the previous test. Probably has the best record of all the batsman in the team currently at Newlands, where the next test takes place.
That leaves AB and JP. Who are you going to leave out of the two?
Tik, tok, tik, tok, time is running out. You have to make a decision, and quick. The next test starts in three days time.
Before you decide, consider Rudolph’s record:
Matches: 35
Runs: 2028
Average: 36.21
100′s: 5
50′s: 8
Keep in mind that his average is inflated by that undefeated double century he scored against Bangladesh on début.
30 Dec 2009, 03:17 am
Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have done nothing more for world cricket than to totally contaminate the averages and turn them all into a complete nonsense.
30 Dec 2009, 04:07 am
@TheTackler: 191
I agree that that is the case for now. But …
They said the same about Sri Lanka at one time. I don’t think they do any more.
The entrance on the big stage of players like Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Kaluwitharana, Jayasuria, Murali in the late 80′s to middle 90′s has changed all that.
30 Dec 2009, 04:15 am
3 simple little decisions by the Smith / Arthur farce starry eyed kop toe charade could have averted this disaster. . . De Wet, Parnell in, Ntini, and one of Harris or Duminy or Steyn out. . . Prince to 4 or 5 after De Villiers. Amla to open. . . But at the start of this test I sensed the writing on the wall was imminent, a big wake up call was due, same as that 49-0 thrashing White and Smit took in Aus, Arthur and Smith were due a hiding of note to smack them out their kop toe stupor. Like all big headed idiots require, some correction to their kop toe stuffed up brains was absolutely on the cards. This Micky mouse Arthur fool is the greatest quota coach of all time even a worse farce than fakey Jakey White who needed an astute Australian to guide him by the nose out of his mediocre misery when all hell was staring him in the face in 07, if they don’t get an Aussie coach to come fix this shambles and teach this other kop toe twit Smith a lesson in humility then the little white Micky mouse quota coach will simply have to go, no time to carry useless idiot coaches that are so far out their league its frightening. . . The most dismal batting and bowling performance by an SA side in a very long time if not of all time. Legends like Kallis shouldering arms to an inswinger that takes out his off stump, and then Duminy watching almost the identical delivery cleaning his wicket as he mimicks Kallis’s stupidity. 5 down for 50 in 2nd innings after being roasted by two and a half tons in the first innings is pure pathetic paranoia status set in, and the beauty of it all is its exactly what the doctor ordered for this Smith / Arthur ivory tower built on quick sand to come tumbling down. About time and not a moment too soon. . , and Smit and his senior player coaches in the rugby fraternity better be keeping a hawk eye on such realignment proceedings because their own little wakey wakey kop toe realizations could be staring them in the face just around the corner just the same if they not careful. . Just like in 2006.
30 Dec 2009, 05:42 am
@nama1: The same was once said about NZ. They took a month of Sundays to chalk up their first cricketing test win, let alone series triumphs and trophies and stuff. And they’ve never ever played a five-test series against anyone, ever.
But, upon their admission to the top tier, they ALWAYS put up a damned good scrap right from Day One and they never acted as easybeats where the acknowledged big boys could artificially inflate their batting or bowling averages.
And today they’re taken pretty seriously. Pakistan have recently come away with only a squared three-test series.
And they have exactly the same amount of historical silverware in their trophy cabinet as South Africa.
So, they didn’t screw up the record-books. As, indeed, neither did Sri Lanka.
But Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have been dreadful to the record-books and the historical averages. They HAVE been the most abysmal easybeats — in spite of one or two freaky flukish shock results (like the Proteas losing to Holland about a decade ago)
30 Dec 2009, 05:54 am
@skopskiet: Harris got a blimming FIVEFER in the very most recent test innings he played in two weeks ago against this same England team and you’re seriously beating the speculative drum to have him dropped? On a famously-turning wicket like Durban? Are you truly plain stupid or are you just bloody pug ignorant? Sheesh! Get a grip!
30 Dec 2009, 05:57 am
Colonialist sports are for old hackneed colonialists who take themselves far too seriously. One can’t take any of these minority sports types all that seriously unless you live in India or Pakistan where it becomes a religion. But out here in the old empirical colonies its just another means of passing the time between real time eventualities.
30 Dec 2009, 08:23 am
@skopskiet: Bull.
30 Dec 2009, 09:38 am
I smell A Rat
30 Dec 2009, 09:45 am
Lets be honest, the Proteas is chokers.
30 Dec 2009, 09:46 am
ARE chokers.
Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] 5 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.