Stupendous Steyn rocks India
8 Feb 2010
Dale Steyn put on a masterclass of fast bowling to topple India for 233 and confirm his status as the world’s premier bowler.
Day three belonged entirely to Steyn, who seemed to have supernatural control over the direction the ball would veer through the air, while the India batsman were left wishing for supernatural intervention to rescue them from the massacre.
Steyn’s extraordinary spell in the third session of play – in which he took five wickets for just three runs in five overs to finish with figures of 7-51, his first two scalps coming in the morning session when he sent Sachin Tendulkar packing with a superlative outswinger that brushed the edge of his bat, and accounted for Murali Vijay, who’ll be lamenting his decision to shoulder-arms one that tracked backed appreciably – forced India to follow on. At the close of play they were in desperate trouble at 66-2, still 259 runs behind.
Spare a thought for Virender Sehwag, who crafted a characteristically aggressive century (109 from 139 deliveries). However, outside of 136-run stand between the India opener and Subramaniam Badrinath, the hosts’ scorecard looks decidedly woeful – Gautum Gambhir the only other batter to get into double figures.
Sehwag’s departure, thanks to a careless waft at a wide Wayne Parnell delivery, signalled the outset of a dramatic capitulation – 192-4 becoming 233 all out in the space of 18 overs.
Paul Harris got a delivery to bounce fiercely out of the rough outside MS Dhoni’s leg stump and brush the India captain’s glove en route to Jacques Kallis at slip.
Cue the Steyn Show.
He had Badrinath caught at mid-wicket, before pinning back Wriddhiman Saha’s off stump with a sublime 140.7 kph reverse-swinging delivery. Zaheer Khan then fell to 141.8 kph gem, tailing in once more and catching the inside edge before smashing into the sticks.
Amit Mishra took his seat in the pavilion two overs later, this time it was a 143.9 kph rocket that again kissed the inside edge and mangled the furniture. Finally, Harbhajan Singh’s resistance ended when he was wrapped on the pads by a delivery that defied physics in its flight path – swinging from well outside off stump.
After a brief consultation with his team, captain Graeme Smith enforced the follow-on with a 325-run lead, and soon India were reeling once more.
Morné Morkel accounted for Gambhir with a ball that swung into the left-hander and rocked his off stump – Gambhir not offering a shot. Steyn wasn’t done, and profited when Sehwag flashed wildly at an unthreatening delivery, nicking off to first slip.
Tendulkar holds the key to India’s fortunes, but even the most optimistic India supporter would be reluctant to back the little master to not only wipe out the deficit (with the aid of a partner who is equally skilled and resolute), but also set the Proteas a competitive target.
Unless India stage an impossibly brilliant fight back only one result looks likely at this point.
South Africa (1st innings) – 558-6 declared
Hashim Amla 253, Jacques Kallis 173, AB de Villiers 53, Zaheer Khan 3-96.
India (1st innings) – 233
Virender Sehwag 109, Subramaniam Badrinath 56, Dale Steyn 7-51
India (2nd innings) – 66-2
Murali Vijay 27, Sachin Tendulkar 15
For full scorecard click here
India trail by 259 runs with 8 wickets remaining
By Ryan Vrede
188 Comments
8 Feb 2010, 07:53 am
110/3… don’t rate Parnell at all however he has only had 4 overs so far.
8 Feb 2010, 08:04 am
@Rebels_Shark:
Why not.
Explain yourself.
8 Feb 2010, 08:13 am
There is a guy named Rusty Theron who, for the last 3 season performed excellently for the Warriors in the T20, Mtn40 & Supersport stuff …. way better than Parnell.
8 Feb 2010, 08:16 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quita_Prince:
Quita.
What is that.
So, why don’t you add Quota Parnell to your nic.
8 Feb 2010, 08:21 am
typo … parnell isn’t a quota. he is a great talent – just needs some more game time @ domestic level
8 Feb 2010, 08:21 am
I wonder if ‘Quita’ is in fact our old friend Pietman… Trolling is his forte…
8 Feb 2010, 08:23 am
$610,000.00 and the Delhi Daredevils say you are wrong.
Parnell is a good bowler, swings it both ways, still very young but will bulk up and speed up when he gets a little older.
I think he has the ability to become a Wasim Akram type bowler.
Good prospect.
8 Feb 2010, 08:25 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quita_Prince:
I watched Parnell skittle some poor unfortunate team in MTN 40 or whatever.
He doesn’t need it.
So.
Have you added QUOTE AMLA to your list too?
8 Feb 2010, 08:26 am
@wpw:
Could be.
He landed here yesterday morning, or last week, or whenever.
8 Feb 2010, 08:27 am
@Dawn:
Sorry … quota!
8 Feb 2010, 08:28 am
amla made more runs in 1 hour than Prince & Duminy made together in 10 in… read my lips prawn. Its not about race. Its about performance. Prince & Duminy is a quota … Amla not. Okay? Los die papsak
8 Feb 2010, 08:30 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince:
YES! It is him.
Only one person calls me prawn.
Jy praat kuk.
According to your twisted criteria, Amla is a quota.
Admit it.
He’s not white, is he.
8 Feb 2010, 08:30 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince:
Gotcha!!!
Nic changes can’t hide your *****.
8 Feb 2010, 08:36 am
Good start to the day for us, getting three wickets in the morning session. Keep on plugging away boys. If the Indians can avert the follow on today, score 354 runs, this test is most probably dead.
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince:
Well, you can prove that by adding “quota Harris” to your name because he hasn’t perform very well also this international season, has he?
Can you confirm who has the better average: Kallis or Tendulkar?
8 Feb 2010, 08:36 am
oh the race card… loose a argument and you play the race card. pathetic. Is that how you got your job?
8 Feb 2010, 08:39 am
on the flat tracks in India i’d guess that Tend has a .0007 better avg than kallis. Whats the ave innings score on these Indian pitches over the last 2 years .. 700?
8 Feb 2010, 08:39 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince:
You talking to me?
No, I got my job legit.
How did you get yours?
8 Feb 2010, 08:40 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince:
I can’t believe I’m talking to someone with this ludicrous nic!
8 Feb 2010, 08:43 am
Promising start to the week here….
8 Feb 2010, 08:56 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince: 15
Are you talking to me?… are you talking to me?… who are you talking to?… are you talking to me?
16
I posted their career average stats for your benefit on yesterday’s cricket thread. Go have a look and don’t make a fool of yourself again.
@gunther: 19
Very good start, Gunther. Three wickets in the morning session is always VERY GOOD. Now for Sewagh and we will be really on top.
8 Feb 2010, 08:58 am
C wag is the key…
8 Feb 2010, 09:01 am
@nama1:
He’s off to change his nic back to Langenh0ven
8 Feb 2010, 09:01 am
Despite having lost three wickets early on, the Indians are still batting at a run rate of close to four (3.9 to be exact). If only we could have done that yesterday, we could have declared earlier with even more runs on the board.
Oh well, that’s spilled water. Just hoping that we’ll get there someday.
8 Feb 2010, 09:02 am
you should google Sehwag … just a though before you make your name Omar Henry again
8 Feb 2010, 09:06 am
@Dawn:
Silly little man. He has issues.
8 Feb 2010, 09:10 am
@Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince:
Why?
8 Feb 2010, 09:45 am
100 for SEHWAG at a strike rate of 75.
We need to get him out. During our last tour to India, we also put up over 500 runs in the first inning before Sehwag blitzed us with one of the best innings’ ever.
8 Feb 2010, 10:04 am
@nama1: 14
Quota Harris?
Whatever dude.
8 Feb 2010, 10:11 am
@nama1: His out.
8 Feb 2010, 10:19 am
Sehwag’s wicket was huge. Now we need another two or three wickets in this session and we’ll be on top.
8 Feb 2010, 10:31 am
Sehwag out. YES!!!
The debutant is playing well here. Agree WPTID, another two wickets in this session will be just swell.
8 Feb 2010, 10:48 am
Why’s the stadium so empty? The World’s 1 and 2 ranked teams in India where cricket is a religeon and 4 kids are in the ground?????
8 Feb 2010, 10:50 am
@Schizo: Cricket’s not that big in Nagpur apprently…
8 Feb 2010, 10:51 am
We should get them 7 or 8 down by the close….
8 Feb 2010, 10:55 am
@WP_: Maybe they don’t eat curry down there either…
I don’t buy that. Sadly I think Test cricket’s on its last legs. Pro20 hit and giggle has killed a great game!
8 Feb 2010, 10:58 am
@Schizo: No serouisly…
In the main cricket areas in India like Chennai or Kolkata tests are packed…
Tests will always be much more exciting than circus cricket Pro20
8 Feb 2010, 11:02 am
@nama1: 14
Btw, coming from you, that Harris is a quota comment was ridiculous… You, the man who clings to facts did not even check his..
Against the Poms he got 11 wickets in 5 innings, that’s not bad… for a “holding bowler” now is it?
8 Feb 2010, 11:03 am
@WP_: Still don’t buy it. Then why have a test match – between the top 2 teams – in Nagpur if you’re not going to fill a stadium. It’s like having a Bok test in Bloem.
Especially since lack of interest in Test Cricket has been such a huge “media thing” lately, you would have thought to show the world that Tests were still relevant the ICC would have recommended a stadium where it would be packed to the rafters…
I’m wearing black. In mourning for a great game!
8 Feb 2010, 11:05 am
Yippee-ca-yay!
Harris gets Dhoni!
Come on boys – get two more wickets before the end of today, and we are in the pound seats!
8 Feb 2010, 11:07 am
And Harris just got the Indian Captain MS Dhoni out caught at slip!
Good going for a quota!
8 Feb 2010, 11:09 am
Oh yeah baby!
Steyn takes out Badrinath, we really have them under the cosh now!
Two new men at the crease, India 221/6!
8 Feb 2010, 11:09 am
@Schizo: Agreed it should be better attended!
Maybe they know that they’re going to lose!
6 down now! Steyn gets another
Should bowl them out today
8 Feb 2010, 11:11 am
And Steyn bowls Saha!
India seven down!
8 Feb 2010, 11:11 am
@WP Till I Die:
Dale Steyn has four wickets! Come on, get the fifer, you deserve it!
8 Feb 2010, 11:12 am
All this quota talk hacks me off so much.
Players go through form dips and rises. It should be as simple as that.
One of the great examples was when Aussie stuck with Mark Taylor through a torrid time towards the end of his career. He kept getting low figure scores yet they stuck with him because they knew what he could do. He rewarded them with a huge knock. And that got him out of the pit before he retired.
Prince is quality not quota. He was on fire and couldn’t do anything wrong a season or two ago. He’ll come right.
Duminy is quality. Anyone who’s ever coached him or had anything to do with him confirms this. Sure, he’s young but stick with him and he’s going to be another runs machine for SA.
Amla has always been quality, even when people (much like they’re bleating now about Duminy) were mouthing off about him being quota a few seasons ago. The selectors stuck with him and he’s rewarded them.
Now Harris. He’s just plain bollocks and always has been. And always will be. To be a spin bowler you need to have spin. Also… you need to have variety. He’s got nothing!
8 Feb 2010, 11:12 am
7 down! 222/7
8 Feb 2010, 11:14 am
@Schizo: Interesting how a “bollocks” bowler can manage to get 83 test wickets…
8 Feb 2010, 11:20 am
@WP_: if we had a quality spinner he’s have 166 wickets. You can’t truly believe that Harris is the answer to our spin berth. Really?
8 Feb 2010, 11:21 am
@Schizo: I;d like to see you try to face him…
166 wickets? Dont be ridiculous… He’s only played 28 matches.
8 Feb 2010, 11:22 am
Fifer for Steyn! Khan out!
8 Feb 2010, 11:23 am
Edit: he’d NOT he’s
8 Feb 2010, 11:25 am
@Schizo: At the moment he is, yes. Imran Tahir should maybe get a go too when his papers are sorted
8 Feb 2010, 11:27 am
Our last quality spinner was who…?
Paul Adams…
He got 134 wickets in 45 tests
Harris has gotten 83 so far in 27…
He’s not doing badly
8 Feb 2010, 11:27 am
Steyn gets another wicket! Bowls Mishra!
Six wickets for Steyn!
8 Feb 2010, 11:27 am
6 fer for Steynkie!
8 Feb 2010, 11:28 am
@WP_: gotten/got…. Not sure
Dof moment
8 Feb 2010, 11:29 am
@WP_: I’m a sub-club cricketer. Obviously he’d get me out.
He’s not the answer to SA spin plain and simple. Compare him to any of the spinners in almost any other test nation. Would you rank him above Vettori or Swann – and they’re not even the big guns like Muralitharan, Kaneria, Hauritz…
8 Feb 2010, 11:30 am
@Schizo: Who are you to call him bollocks then?
Haha, that’s hilarious
8 Feb 2010, 11:30 am
If Steyn gets another one here, it will be his career best bowling.
Previous best: 6/49 (he’s currently on 6/51).
8 Feb 2010, 11:31 am
look steyn is good, but there are better bowlers than Steyn : unfortunetely not of the right colour … bowlers that can compete with Steyn includes : Bashier Walters, Plaaitjies, Kleinveldt, Abdullah and Ethy mbalati (spelling)
8 Feb 2010, 11:32 am
@rashied: Nice attempt st trolling.
But not at all good. Needs work
8 Feb 2010, 11:33 am
@Schizo: So he may not be as good as Vettori or Swann, but he does the job for us mate..
Who would you rather have Botha?
He hardly turns it either
8 Feb 2010, 11:33 am
Kief, cool and kwaai.
8 Feb 2010, 11:33 am
@WP_: My point is that he’s not quality and should probably not be in the team. Not that he’s “better” than Paul Adams or Joe Blogg. He’s not a patch on ANY of the other leading nations spinners.
Personally, I’d rather see another medium pacer that can bat rather than him.
8 Feb 2010, 11:35 am
WP_ have you ever, ever given praise to a non white player before? I rate Ntini highly aswell … on top form he is 20% better than steyn
8 Feb 2010, 11:36 am
@Schizo: It has NOTHING to do with ‘ANY of the other leading nations spinners’.
And everything to do with SA. Why go for an all seam attack? That’s boring and one-dimensional
8 Feb 2010, 11:36 am
@Jack Parow smaaks the Proteas heavy like:
Howzit Jinx!
8 Feb 2010, 11:37 am
@rashied: Oh course I have. Who the hell are you
8 Feb 2010, 11:38 am
He does it! Steyn gets his career-best, seven wickets in an innings!
7/51, his new career best!
8 Feb 2010, 11:38 am
Steyn has 7 …
8 Feb 2010, 11:38 am
@WP_: We wouldn’t be all seam. Duminy can turn his arm over.
8 Feb 2010, 11:38 am
@rashied: Ntini isnt getting younger. Yes he was a quality bowler in his day, but that day is past. And no he is not bettter that Steyn or Morkel or Parnell or Lonwabo Tsotsobe for that matter
8 Feb 2010, 11:39 am
steyn you beauty!
8 Feb 2010, 11:39 am
WP
I don’t know why you have your panties tied in a knot re this Harris issue. I was merely responding to Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince’s statement “Its not about race. Its about performance.” regarding his choice of nic. You really can’t tell me that Harris performed well this season. His counterpart in the English team, Swann, took 20 wickets, playing on the same pitches while here in SA. Harris could not produce the same kind of performances and you know that.
Again, I was not kicking Harris, I was calling on QDQP to be consistent.
8 Feb 2010, 11:40 am
@Schizo: Duminy will be a good spin bowler one day but he’s still finding his feet.
At this stage I feel it would be too much to ask him to do all the spin bowling on his own
He is immensely talented though and will be a great all rounder
8 Feb 2010, 11:41 am
@nama1: Yes he has performed well this season Mr Mini Cricketer.
8 Feb 2010, 11:42 am
Brilliant Steyn. Absolutely brilliant. Well done.
Second time round may be tougher. Keep your head down and give it to them one more time, with help from the others of course.
8 Feb 2010, 11:43 am
@WP_: But the point is Harris still shouldn’t be in this team. You could quite easily replace him with another sub-standard fast or medium pacer who would pick up as many wickets as Harris (Friedel de Wet comes to mind) and leave the spinning up to Duminy.
8 Feb 2010, 11:43 am
soooooo??
whats happening guys?
whats the score?
8 Feb 2010, 11:44 am
lmao vergil what a name
8 Feb 2010, 11:45 am
ok, i see the follow on has been forced.
steyn you beaut!!! must be the top test bowler in the world at the moment surely?
looks like biff declared at just the right time, this ones ours for the taking.
can the indian batsmen hold out for over two days or will they make us cry like onions did?
cmon proteas!
8 Feb 2010, 11:47 am
Amla could’ve had 265 by now at the rate he was batting. 3 runs every over
8 Feb 2010, 11:49 am
3 runs an hour i mean
8 Feb 2010, 11:51 am
so where is the tackler to tell us what a poor bowler steyn is?
egg on the face for you tacklebag. maybe you should learn to shut your big gob and just let people think you are a fool?
8 Feb 2010, 11:51 am
@rashied:
You like trolling, don’t you? Go find a bridge somewhere else.
8 Feb 2010, 11:52 am
@rashied: troll
why try and be something you will never be?
8 Feb 2010, 11:54 am
India are 1/1 in their second innings!
Morkel nails Gambhir, makes him his bunny!
8 Feb 2010, 11:56 am
@WP Till I Die: WHAT!!! gonna be a long day in India…
National strike and marches to be held, beware those flaming torches being hurled onto the field.
What a test, nice one.
8 Feb 2010, 12:02 pm
@rashied:
Steyn is the best in the world, bud. No one can touch him at the moment. He just needs more work on his opening spell.
He has the 5th or 6th best strike rate in the history of test cricket the last time I checked.
No boet, try another one.
@WP_:
Let’s see. Harris has a SR of 83, an average of 39 and an economy rate of 2.87 this season. Kallis and Morkel have a better ER than him, yet you claim he is doing a good holding job.
Come now WP. You are not always right, you know. The only thing counting in Harris’ favour, is that we don’t have an alternative at the moment. I agree with you that his overall record is decent, but as far as this season is concerned, he should be included in that other guys’ name as a below average performer.
8 Feb 2010, 12:03 pm
@FireStraeuli:
I would believe that if there were more than 10 people at all three days of this test, combined.
No-one’s there.
8 Feb 2010, 12:04 pm
Why do we want Kirsten to coach us again?
8 Feb 2010, 12:04 pm
@FireStraeuli:
Just 20 schoolchildren screaming like banshees for the whole day to make it seem as if there’s a crowd.
8 Feb 2010, 12:05 pm
@rangerman: 81 – Very right, Steyn is the best fast bowler in the world at the moment. Someone here said it was Johnson from Oz a month back. Wrong it is our boy Steyn. He was just brilliant today. The best ever we have had. 7 for 51 runs. Is just awesome.
8 Feb 2010, 12:06 pm
the samoosa shops wont make any money today
8 Feb 2010, 12:08 pm
after this test Kallis will be ranked nr 1 batsman … and Steyn nr 1 bowler
8 Feb 2010, 12:08 pm
Wow! Morkel really hurt Sehwag there. Good bouncer into the rib-cage.
8 Feb 2010, 12:08 pm
@rashied:
Pietman … is that you.
8 Feb 2010, 12:09 pm
@Dawn: What’s up with the lack of spectators, I thought cricket was like a religion in India, not very religious are they…lol
8 Feb 2010, 12:09 pm
@rashied:
Got tired of the Quota this Quota that nic?
8 Feb 2010, 12:10 pm
india 0 steyn 7
beaaaaatiful…. do we still think biff should have batted for another hour this morning?
8 Feb 2010, 12:10 pm
@FireStraeuli:
Puzzling it is.
Weird to see miles and miles of empty seats.
Maybe cos they not doing too well?
8 Feb 2010, 12:12 pm
@gunther: Heck no, Who wanted us to bowl for another hour? We declared at the right time.
Good captain our Biff
8 Feb 2010, 12:12 pm
@gunther:
Biff can’t bat for an hour to save his life.
8 Feb 2010, 12:13 pm
I could do with some scrambled eggs and a rashied of bacon….
breakfast all day….
8 Feb 2010, 12:13 pm
@Dawn:
Works on my gat.
I just get up to make me a cuppa coffee and he’s out.
8 Feb 2010, 12:14 pm
I agree with the declaration, Amla simply isn’t good enough to have the highest SA individual score
8 Feb 2010, 12:15 pm
Steyn gets Sehwag!!!!!!!!!!
HE’s on eight wickets for the match!
8 Feb 2010, 12:17 pm
@rashied:
Listen
Change your nic back to quota this quota that before I launch a jihad on you.
8 Feb 2010, 12:18 pm
@Dawn: Dawn, it is test cricket and even in India it has taken a fall with the supporters. Normally it is full to the rafters there the stadiums, but think most go now to see the odi’s and the 20/20. Pity as cricket is the number one sport in India.
Anyhow we doing very well, small crowd does not matter at this stage for us. Money wise for them it will be a disappointment with the gate sales.
8 Feb 2010, 12:20 pm
@WP Till I Die: Steyn is on fire for sure. 8 wickets in this test but actually 8 wickets in one day is really awesome.
8 Feb 2010, 12:33 pm
With about an hour’s play remaining and 18 overs to be bowled, 2/3 wickets before the end of play, and we can end this tomorrow.
8 Feb 2010, 12:41 pm
8 wickets in a day, is brilliant. Let’s hope he can make it ten. I wonder if that has been done, ever.
8 Feb 2010, 13:04 pm
@nama1:
Not sure…the record for most wickets falling (both sides) in one day is 27…back in 1888.
Recently we’ve seen 20 wickets falling in one day in some Tests:
SA v India, 15 December 2006
Zimbabwe v NZ, 7 August 2005
India v Australia, 3 November 2004
Maybe that’s a starting point?
8 Feb 2010, 13:06 pm
Well done Steyn!
Valkyries silence is deafening on this blog.
Maybe he/she/it died of an OD humble pie?
8 Feb 2010, 13:10 pm
@nama1: I remember a certain black England bowler who got 9 or 10 in one innings. Not sure if it was a test or ODI.
8 Feb 2010, 13:14 pm
@nama1: Good question, especially for a swing bowler in India. Don’t think it’s been done before. He may even get more !!
8 Feb 2010, 13:15 pm
@Karoolander:
Only two people have taken 10 wickets in a Test innings, Jim Laker (Englishman, back in the fifties) and Anil Kumble.
Jim Laker took 19 wickets in the Test against Australia in 1956, so he probably holds the record – 9 for 37 in the first innings, 10 for 53 in the second…
8 Feb 2010, 13:16 pm
@Karoolander:
Are you talking about Devon Malcolm when he destroyed SA. I think he got 8.
8 Feb 2010, 13:19 pm
@nama1: Remember that twas at the Oval in Kennington.
8 Feb 2010, 13:21 pm
@nama1: Yes, that sound about right.
8 Feb 2010, 13:25 pm
@WP Till I Die:
That record will probably never fall, figures of 19/90 for the Test.
8 Feb 2010, 13:34 pm
@WP Till I Die: did you know he (laker) also got ten wickets in a warm up match for Surry against the same Aussie side that year also…
8 Feb 2010, 13:37 pm
Those of you who still want to play in the S14 superbru
The easiest way to get people in is to give them your pool code and send them to www superbru com/super14
Your pool code(s) are:
Keo’s muppits: wrenlest
8 Feb 2010, 13:50 pm
RYAN
What kind of delivery is this ………….
“reverse swinging in-ducker”
8 Feb 2010, 13:55 pm
One that I just made up now in an effort to impress you my dear. Fear not, I’ve mad the change.
8 Feb 2010, 14:05 pm
@Ryan:
Fool.
You could’ve started a new trend!
“reverse swinging in-ducker’ is nogal lekker.
8 Feb 2010, 14:22 pm
@Dawn:
its an inswinging yorker that swings the oppisite way to what you would typically expect, it happens when the ball is old…
not to be confused with the reverse wharthog….
aka the shallow pig shuffle…
8 Feb 2010, 14:25 pm
@gunther:
Isn’t a yorker a breed of dog?
8 Feb 2010, 14:28 pm
@gunther:
What about the bushpig bouncer?
8 Feb 2010, 14:30 pm
@Dawn: #126 & 128 lol….i’d love to take you out this valentine’s day
8 Feb 2010, 14:32 pm
@nama1: 89
I wrote this in 37 Against the Poms he got 11 wickets in 5 innings, that’s not bad… for a “holding bowler” now is it.
The reason why I put holding bowler in inverted commas was because that what someone else had called him…. I believe you have too.. I didnt claim anything
“You are not always right, you know”. Funny you should say that, as you always seem to think you are…
Stats is all you go on, because you dont know any better. Are you really saying that a Economy rate of 2.8 is bad? hahaha And he picked up his fair share of wickets…
Please man that you are pathetic…
Your ignorance regarding cricket is shining through. Give it up.
Never mind the fact that Harris scored 97 runs against England in 5 innings at an average of 24.3.
Compare this to Prince’s 97 runs in 7 innings at 13.8 and then you have some embarrasing stats there…
Harris, a bowler, who’s batting is a bonus and who often has to face the 2nd new ball out-performing Prince…
Hmm…
Here come the boring excuses… Not an opener blah blah blah
8 Feb 2010, 14:36 pm
@Dawn:
no its somebody from the city of york….
the bushpig bouncer should not be attempted if there is reverse swing….however if love is in the air then all well and good…
8 Feb 2010, 14:40 pm
124 Dawn
What’s wrong with a reverse swinging in ducker?
8 Feb 2010, 14:42 pm
@Ryan:
Why can’t you stop this nic changing, nic stealer. It seems to me that he has one over you guys or your service provider as far as IT is concerned. He even called somebody by his real name today (see 80) which suggest to me that he is able to hack your site. He probably already has the detail of all the bloggers on this site.
Or is there another explanation. You guys putting somebody up to it in order to generate hits.
8 Feb 2010, 14:44 pm
@WP_:
Did I say there was anything wrong with it?
Ryan is at this very moment sending it to the world’s commentators for use in the next game.
The reverse swinging in-ducker is what Ryan did over the weekend, in the early hours, when it was still dark. It was on his mind as he wrote this story.
8 Feb 2010, 14:45 pm
@nama1:
Wait! You must mail the webmaster Roy … see bottom of page.
8 Feb 2010, 14:47 pm
135 Dawn
Oh! Haha, was confused. Very interesting
8 Feb 2010, 14:49 pm
But I think Steyn did bowl a few reverse swinging in duckers
8 Feb 2010, 14:54 pm
@WP_:
blah, blah, blah.
Give it up, man. You were the first on here saying he was in the team doing a holding job.Remember our discussion around the end of Nov. last year regarding his role in the team? But this is not the first time that you deny something that you said on this forum. Shows me what kind of person you are.
If you regard his performance this season as good, then you probably don’t aim high enough.
The reason I provide you with stats everytime is because YOU want evidence. Unlike rugby where you can subjectively punt somebody, cricket has stats that you can use to prove a point. I guess stats are kak now that it proves your assertion re Harris’ season wrong.
Question to you. What do you think Harris’s answer will be if you asked him to rate his season?
8 Feb 2010, 14:54 pm
@WP_:
nothing its bowled many a maiden over….
8 Feb 2010, 14:59 pm
@Karoolander: Ja , it was Devon Malcolm. Vinnige Fanie bounced him on the scone and he got the moer in. In our second innings he went through us like a dose of salts. An excellent example of controlled aggression.
8 Feb 2010, 15:04 pm
Harris has had a solid season.
Contrary to popular belief he’s has been good.
Perhaps I said too that he was a holding bowler. I forget… No big deal, he’s be doing a good job and deserves his place in the team. Standards are too low? Certainly not Mr. “I cant even hold a cricket bat but I’m the most knowledgeable cricket blogger on here and I’m never wrong” (I’ve given you a new nick now NAMA)
He’s been better with the bat than Prince plus he’s got 12 wickets in 5 innings. I’d say pretty good!
8 Feb 2010, 15:08 pm
140 gunther
haha, I’m sure!
8 Feb 2010, 15:15 pm
harro is not setting the world alight, what saved him in this series is jp’s bowling…harro would have lost out to botha but that would have given the proteas two offies… the selectors wanted variety, which harro gives….mind you if he doesn’t do a decent job here then he is a gonner…sa will look to grow duminy into the spinners role and look for another seamer….
8 Feb 2010, 15:20 pm
Fair enough, if he doesnt perform or get wickets he will and should be gone, as it should be with EVERYONE
8 Feb 2010, 15:47 pm
@WP_:
well thats how it was for Ntini?
its how it should be for everybody…
I sense alviro’s time is near…
8 Feb 2010, 16:01 pm
WP Exept for JP of course He is going to be a great one day
8 Feb 2010, 16:13 pm
I am sorry guys, but some of your comments just shows a lack of understand for test cricket in general – take the Paul Harris debate for instance; the guy is a good bowler with one of the best averages of a South African test spinner, he is however slightly down on his confidence after the English batsmen came after him and subsequently he is bowling slightly fuller and slightly faster through the air – a great tactic to keep the runs down, but a horrible tactic if you want to take wickets. His challenge will now be to get through this bad patch and start bowling more attacking deliveries again – which he already did today.
Like any cricket who goes slightly off the boil, he needs some time to get his form and confidence back. If he doesn’t get it back in a reasonable time, but all means drop him, but to do so after one mediocre series would be foolish and unfair.
Now, you do not need to agree with me – but both the fired and re-appointed selection panels do… so if you don’t you may wish to get to know the game slightly beter before you shoot your mouth off again.
As for the comments above that Harris needs to be replaced by another seamer, you probably do not remember four years ago when we languished in 5th or 6th spot in the ICC rankings…mostly due to the fact that we did not have enough variation in our bowling attack.
8 Feb 2010, 16:15 pm
@Kerneels: sheesh, sorry for the typos…
8 Feb 2010, 16:34 pm
148 Kerneels
Thank you!
Here is someone who ACTUALLY KNOWS a little bit about cricket AND what they are talking about.
Not some know-it-all stats monger.
Wow what a relief.
8 Feb 2010, 17:08 pm
@WP_: vehemently agreeing with kerneels does not miracously transfer his supposed knowledge of cricket to your brain. Calm down
8 Feb 2010, 17:26 pm
151 Pearl Rose
He shares cricket knowledge of a similar ilk to mine.
Pipe down there Pearl
8 Feb 2010, 18:20 pm
OMG!
This WP_ dude is a real piece of work.
Harris was interviewed the day before the test and admitted that he needs to improve… One woul d swear he is as good Shane Warne the way you are punting him…
8 Feb 2010, 18:25 pm
Best bowling performance of the last 5 years.
If we can get rid of Tendulkar and Dhoni before lunch then the game is as good as won. But I have a feeling Tendulkar might be wearing his “Genius” cap tomorrow so We need ti get rid of him while the ball is new.
8 Feb 2010, 20:08 pm
so get rid of the lily white poodle quota coach and suddenly this Team seems to find a new lease of life and starts shooting from the top drawer. Lil Mick seems to have been the fly in the ointment all along.
8 Feb 2010, 20:10 pm
@skopskiet: Typical. Yet more unsupported assertions without any knowledge of the internal team dynamics, planning, etc etc.
Well done Smith et al !
8 Feb 2010, 20:22 pm
well what would I know about internal team dynamics except that what seems pretty obvious is that as soon as the shackling constraints placed over the team by an inept and very ordinary quota coach are removed suddenly the team as a whole starts functioning on a whole new other level. Should have gotten rid of the overrated lil quota coach long before now and perhaps the sky would have long time ago been the limit.
8 Feb 2010, 20:23 pm
Kepler a tough man….perhaps him,Vincent Barnes and Corrie are the right mix ….
Glad they called up Charl Langeveld as well….
Amla and Steyn producing really stunning performances….and lets not forget King Kallis.
Just get Tendulkar early…..its never over with players like him and Dhoni still in the mix.
8 Feb 2010, 20:28 pm
@grant10: Hey G10, you’ve been quiet today…very hard to get an argument going when you’re not here, so I had to go pick on some AB’s…they’re as easy to rub the wrong way as the Bulls and you on John Smit…..good to see ya old boyeeeee.
8 Feb 2010, 21:31 pm
Hey grant10
Did u notice Smit’s Bok contract was renewed for a further 2 years?? Bissie only gets a 1 yr contract. Hmmm, interesting!!
8 Feb 2010, 22:03 pm
@skopskiet:
Proteas won the previous test match….with the same lilly white quota coach.
And under him South Africa got no.1 status as well winning in england and oz for the first time in 40 odd years.
keppler is also lilly white by the way.
Gary kirsten is the lilly white coach of india….is he also a quoat because india have been getting hammered for the first 3 days regardless of them currently holding no.1 status?
what a vindictive all round poor south african you are.
8 Feb 2010, 22:05 pm
@wpw:
…they know the fabtabulous Gary Botha is back, that’s why.
8 Feb 2010, 22:12 pm
@skopskiet: evening Skop. you lost me there bud. Quota coach? Arthur? Am I on the wrong page?
8 Feb 2010, 22:13 pm
Oh dear.
Gary Botha… Lol
8 Feb 2010, 22:17 pm
Just by the way is it impossible for a white to be a quota.
By definition a quota is a player who wouldnt normally be in the side but others factors such as race are keeping him in the side/forcing to be picked.
It is only done to get more colourful faces in the side to appease politicians and quite frankly it pisses me off.
As a black man myself it is just degrading and cheapens black sportsmen
8 Feb 2010, 22:22 pm
Did you hear Neil McKenzie was sacked as captian of the Highveld Lions…
8 Feb 2010, 22:26 pm
@wpw:
did he do a Zuma and have a baby out of wedlock with Gerald Mojolas daughter?
8 Feb 2010, 22:26 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl:
….talk about being held to a different standard.
8 Feb 2010, 22:30 pm
just sorry Neil, everything will be “A” ok then.
8 Feb 2010, 22:36 pm
Wasnt sacked at all. He’s just signed a contract for Hampshire and they thought it would be better for new leadership to take over.
He’s served his dues at that franchise that’s for sure. He’s captained since 2004
8 Feb 2010, 22:40 pm
Zuma is a bloody disgrace and an embarrassment for us blacks
8 Feb 2010, 22:49 pm
Plus there have been some disagreements in the Lions camp.
No surprise that the new captain is of colour
8 Feb 2010, 23:30 pm
@skopskiet:
Of course, the facts tell you Mickey was appointed by the quota CEO, Gerald Majola, because Smiffy wanted someone he could maniupulate.
But then you’ve never been one to be weighed down by facts.
I suggest you aim your ire in the right direction, Skop. His name is Gerald Majola.
I do agree, though, that Arthur was useless.
9 Feb 2010, 00:50 am
@wpw: I’ve yet to meet any bowler at any level who does NOT see the need for him to improve. The day I meet such a man, I’ll know I’ve met a crazy delusional egomaniac.
ALL bowlers always need to improve. Harris is no different. But Harris has a very good test analysis by world standards: superb, team-leading economy and he regularly takes several top-order key wickets. He got a fifer in the 2nd test against England, for instance — winkling out the top order with flight, guile, and subtle variation rather than just out-and-out mega-spin off the deck. And his deliveries are all non-chucking and legal, unlike Botha who chucks.
9 Feb 2010, 05:53 am
Thabiso
Stop pretending to be ‘black’
I too can reister my nick as ‘Johan’ and pretend to be an Afrikaner… Idiot!!
9 Feb 2010, 05:59 am
@wpw:
Stop being yourself. It isn’t working for us either…
9 Feb 2010, 06:31 am
@TheTackler:
The Proteas seven wickets for 41 runs needs very little improvement Pilgrim.
9 Feb 2010, 09:22 am
You could improve to 7 wickets for 25 runs, bub.
9 Feb 2010, 09:23 am
Stephen Jefferies once took all 10 wickets in a test innings.
9 Feb 2010, 09:46 am
@TheTackler:
I remeber that, i think I was at that game.
9 Feb 2010, 09:52 am
@TheTackler: all 10…in a proper test match?
When…
9 Feb 2010, 13:29 pm
It was obviously a first class game seeing that he played no tests
9 Feb 2010, 13:35 pm
@TheTackler:
Yes, and so did James Laker in 1956 against Australia…in a Test!
And he took 19 wickets in both innings…still a record for best Test bowling:
James Laker, 19/90!
9 Feb 2010, 17:35 pm
Mario Olivier got all 10 sticks in an innings in a SuperSport series game a season or two ago..
10 Feb 2010, 03:57 am
@WP Till I Die: Proves my point: ALL bowlers — especially test bowlers — ought to adopt the “I should do even better” attitude.
10 Feb 2010, 03:58 am
Jefferies played “tests” in the rebel series era.
11 Feb 2010, 11:54 am
@WP_: 150
I don’t know if you have a reading problem but this is some of what Kerneels said in p148 re Harris’ season:
“Like any cricket who goes slightly off the boil,…”
“If he doesn’t get it back in a reasonable time, but all means drop him, but to do so after one mediocre series would be foolish and unfair.
Both these statements indicate to me that Harris’ performance this season was not as good as it can/should be in comparison with his overall performance.
Now, what was it that I said that got our resident cricket expert WP_ spewing foam around the corner of his mouth. Let me see:
74
WP
I don’t know why you have your panties tied in a knot re this Harris issue. I was merely responding to Quota_Duminy_Quota_Prince’s statement “Its not about race. Its about performance.” regarding his choice of nic. You really can’t tell me that Harris performed well this season.
89
I agree with you that his overall record is decent, but as far as this season is concerned, he should be included in that other guys’ name as a below average performer.
Compare that to your analysis of Harris’ season.
It went from “not bad” (37) to “well” (76) to “solid” and “pretty good” (142)
How is it that you agree with Kerneels if he says Harris has underperformed this season yet you disagree with me if I say the same?
@TheTackler:
Jefferies took 10 for WP against OVS, if my memory serves me correctly. It was not in a “test” against the rebels.
11 Feb 2010, 12:00 pm
@WP
“stats monger”
Well, well, well.
Isn’t it just ironic. I remember you producing Neil McKenzie’s stats of two/three year ago against WI, Eng and Bangladesh when you were on your crusade to have him included in the test team ahead of Prince.
You are a joke.
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