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What a game of Test cricket, what a game for Test cricket and what an insane Test cricket series we saw! This is one series that would ensure Test cricket can live on. Now we continue to hope qualitative fixtures get encouraged and continued efforts are made to avoid "overkill cricket" by the games administrators to avoid the flood of clashing formats.
The victory for the Baggy Greens results in the two match series being a draw.
"If only it had been three matches" is what we're all thinking but then again I'm not sure if I would have been able to take any more twists and turns.
It reminded me o
f the 2006 Test match at the same ground, where
Justin Langer was held captive in the change room by his team mates to prevent him for walking out to bat as he was consumed with guilt and concern in the possible event of the lower order being dismissed as the run chase came down to the wire.
JL's confinement was due to the serious life endangering risk of him batting after the concussion he suffered after getting an
Ntini express to his head in the 1st innings in his 100th Test.
The tail got the Baggy Greens home, resulting in a nail-biting conclusion but within a different context for the series result. Quite funny JL was there, along with Punter for this one.
This Test resulted in the highest successful chase at the Wanderers in Test cricket following the above mentioned Test. A great achievement.
It's a ground that's produced some classic Baggy Green vs The Proteas encounters.
Congratulations to both teams for one of the most bizarre Test series I have ever seen.The next few weeks following this series will be interesting.
The new selection panel will have to make some tough decisions.
As it was for this Test, injuries have perhaps made their jobs a bit easier but you should get the impression that there will be some career defining decisions made.
The Chappell-Hadlee series may present a chance for a few players to really push their case before the
Border-Gavaskar series, while it does seem it may be a good time come the conclusion of that series for crucial decisions to be made for the benefit of the team moving forward.
The point is that you support the team in any case with who is selected, even though we all know the frustrations we've endured with the inconsistency of the former NSP, who did make some good calls upon reflection.
This is a time of change and the final result of the 2nd Test may be an indicator of what has to be done.
Well done to the Baggy Greens in any case though after that fighting spirit returned to help get over the finish line having been submitted on a number of chances to pass the guard of the opposition.
Michael Clarke will be mighty proud of the overall turn around and of course most of the players, who had a forgettable time at Newlands, contributed within the game to help in some way.
That must be acknowledged irrespective of the potential decisions to come.
Instead of the usual match review, I will try and find all the positives with regards to each player this series.
By contrast, to read what I had to say prior to the series for our Squad,
have a read at this article.
Tour summary:1st T20: Won by 5 wkts
2nd T20: Lost by 3 wkts
Drew 1-1
1st ODI: Won by 93 runs (D/L method)
2nd ODI: Lost by 80 runs
3rd ODI: Won by 3 wkts
Won series 2-1
Warm-up game: Won by 7 wkts
1st Test: Lost by 8 wkts
2nd Test: Won by 2 wkts
Series drawn 1-1
Michael Clarke:It was a mixed series for Michael as a player and Captain but there's no doubt he would have learnt so much.
He started the series with a century that I rate as one of his best without a doubt.
He scored 151 and to have seen him do it live was even better as he performed in mighty challenging conditions with the ball darting about. The team was in trouble as well.
What followed this century was a tally of just 15 runs which will be a disappointment for him after saying his century was a waste and forgettable.
His tactical execution must have been hard with Ryan Harris being sent home injured and his bowling unit not being red hot. He will have better understanding for the upcoming matches and also have a few more options to work with at his disposal.
Very proud of his leadership and the way he handled everything with respect and responsibility.
"This is one of my greatest Test matches, no doubt. A big part of that is the way we got beaten in Cape Town. To be able to fight back and the rollercoaster throughout the Tests, the light, the weather, the chasing, the record last-innings total, for so many reasons it's one of my most special Test matches and I'll remember it for a long time." Source:
Cricinfo.comShane Watson:Hmm, what to say about Watto?
As an all-rounder he delivered with the ball in the first Test. In the second, his injury worries resulted in his bowling being cut short. He did manage to play an invaluable innings of
88 in a
solid stand with Phillip Hughes but missed out on another century and this was followed by a misjudged leave, resulting in a duck.
I don't doubt Watto's ability with his batting in any conditions and stand by my belief he has discovered his natural game. My worry is his workload and this has to have an affect on his body. Well, it already has!
He took on the opening role in very daunting circumstances back in 2009 and he adapted mighty well. That statement
Matty Hayden made that if you aren't scoring centuries as an opener, you simply aren't doing your job to the full extent springs to mind in a harsh but truthful way.
This would apply to Watto and seeing his importance with the ball - being able to swing it and trouble the best of batsmen - not too mention his importance with the bat as our most valuable player, I hope to see him shift down the order.
To quote Brydon Coverdale; "
Watson does not want to give up opening, but Australia's problem is that he has taken too many wickets in recent times. Or rather, Watson has had to take too many wickets." Quite amusing but there' some truth to it and it points to the workload.
His technique works well against a new ball so keep him up top in limited overs. Further reason I do hope he is shifted down the order for Tests is the mention he made of the challenge he faces having to switch his mindset quickly when they head off the field from bowling, where he is a member of the bowling unit.
Extra workload mentally.
An okay series by his standards and I hope he rests up well before the summer.
He may miss the Chappell-Hadlee 1st Test but this may be a chance to trial a new opening duo. He'll be back though and I hope he'll be strong and fit to dominate this summer.
Phillip Hughes:Like most of the team, it was a mixed output from Phillip in the end.
A score of
88 in the 1st innings of the 2nd Test saw some luck go his way as well, similar to that of 2009 where he scored 75, but as a young man he still has so much time on his hands.
His dismissal in the 2nd innings wasn't new and I still think that
having the aggressive/aggressive opening duo is not the way to go. If it comes off it is destructive but the question will be how often will it come off?
This isn't me being a pessimist but rather asking the question. Stats will show it is an inconsistent duo and the partnership that has worked over the last 15 or so years has been the cautious batsman alongside the aggressive batsman.
He may very well hang onto his place for the Chappell-Hadlee series with Watto and Shaun Marsh likely to miss due to injury worries and it will be interesting to see whether David Warner slips into the debutant seat to partner him or whether Usman Khawaja move up from three to partner Hughes.
It's another question the new selectors will answer.
I don't think Phillip is in the clear yet but whichever way it goes he shouldn't get disheartened. Plenty of time on his hands.
Shaun Marsh:A man who has adapted so damn well to Test cricket.
His composure at Newlands, in his innings of 44, was another example of his class and cool style to just play each ball on merit and take his time to get in control. His injury restricted him in the 2nd innings and the delivery he was dealt didn't make life any easier for him.
The word is he is still in a fair bit of discomfort so we will probably see a return for the Border-Gavaskar series. We sometimes see injury resulting in players losing out but with the sun setting upon Ricky Ponting's glorious Test career and potential places requiring a solid player as opposed to a promising but inconsistent player (no reference to Punter directly here), Shaun wouldn't be out for too long.
Pity we didn't get to see the full capability of Shaun batting in South Africa but he'll be back!
Usman Khawaja:Ussie stood out when it mattered most and he can be mighty proud.
After trying to play the anchor role in the 1st innings, similar to what Shaun Marsh has already done so successfully, he was sent packing LBW. He's had a handful of starts in his short career but finally it was converted into a match defining innings and he played his part with 65 runs.
Partnering Ricky Ponting in an attempt to keep knocking runs off the target must have been a surreal experience for him upon reflection but after getting out second last ball of the days play would have bugged him throughout that night.
All in all what I saw was a young man capable at doing this for a long time to come (New South Wales games aside), just like Shaun Marsh, and with a few more chances for the summer on home soil I look forward to seeing his career take shape at the elite level.
His wagon-wheel was is worth analysing, alongside the actual footage of his innings.
The question about what the selectors discuss with Ricky Ponting is what will likely determine where Usman is currently heading but the chance to get stuck into a Test or two against the Black Caps seems inevitable with Watto and Shaun likely to be rested.
Ricky Ponting:I was so proud to see Punter contribute when he was needed. As mentioned already, that was experience and self-belief for you from a proven match-winner.
He only managed
62 in the end and it was a sad end to his innings after a patient display to get the well needed runs under his belt. The context of it was his contribution assisted in the teams victory.
I am not sure how his
70 runs at an average for the series of
17.50 sits with the selectors and if it wasn't for his prolific career he would have been out of the side a while ago now already, let alone this series.
The debate will be what happens now?
Punter has nothing left to prove. All I can see now is a potential chance to have one last go to try provide what possible value he has left to the Baggy Greens for the summer. I am not sure what would be discussed internally with the side and what the general vibe is within the leadership group, but Punter has made us proud and if he was to walk away from Tests and end of the summer with a limited overs series so the Australian cricketing public can see him one last time to give him the send off he deserves, why not.
The logic would be that in the best interest of the team it seems the Usman Khawaja is gearing up, Shaun Marsh is ready and there are a handful of blokes on the side who can start with their grooming.
Punter is a team player and I hope the decisions on his player status is made with the teams best interest at stake.
It wasn't Test series I was hoping for as a massive fanatic of Punter as a player and a person, but atleast we got to see him give us something to remember in this series during this gloomy period of his Test career.
I will continue to support him until the curtain is drawn on his career or whether there's a few more game before light must fall.
Michael Hussey:Huss had a rare hiccup this series but, like Punter and Hads, he put runs on the board for the final innings and assisted in someway for the run chase. It was better than his previous innings.
He continues to be a beast in limited overs cricket and a proven match-winner.
After a cracking series in Sri Lanka a bad series could be seen as one of those things but we'll need the full value of Huss against India in the Border-Gavaskar series.
Huss is still a worthy candidate in limited overs cricket but what will the new selectors decide with the Test arena?
Another summer with our middle order rescue ranger will answer this question for the time being. He had a very low moment this series when he dropped Hashim Amla at the close of play of day 2 following that dramatic day of 1st Test, but we move on.
A forgettable series by him but as a bloke who works so hard at his game and has the best work ethic in the business, opponents will always be nervous with the Huss walking out into the middle.
Brad Haddin:Maybe a little too late for Hads?
Unlike Ricky Ponting, you get the feeling Hads just doesn't have the records behind his name to suggest he may be holding onto the Keeper duty for the summer.
This shouldn't take anything away though from his match defining innings where he Hads scored a crucial
55 runs from 106 deliveries.
Patient, cautious and plenty of responsibility was shown for the better part of his innings and it was good to see him play classic strokes which he just executes so elegantly on his day.
Well done Brad! The circumstances certainly must have made it an overwhelming pressure.
He just looked so upset when he was dismissed after his valiant effort and I kind of felt relieved for him most of all when Patty Cummins hit the final boundary.
I will always back a player as best as possible but you do get the feeling that if
Matt Wade has a good game for Australia 'A' and
Tim Paine makes a positive return, Hads may be wrapping up his career at the elite level.
It's a case of progress and being a Keeper is tough enough with regards to natural instinct, the importance of solid basics and being the best at the job, always in the game.
Hads unquestionably had all the goods when he was given his Baggy Green cap. He'd waited a damn long time behind
Adam Gilchrist. The challenge was the debut came when he was at his peak so to still be around is impressive. He waited long enough to ensure he held onto it as best as he could.
The question of progress will define what is left for him.
Will younger Keepers be looked towards?
Will the new selectors wait on Tim Paine instead of potentially blooding Matt Wade, given Tim has already represented the Baggy Greens?
Even though it was a freak innings, will that shot from him in the teams 2nd innings of 47 all out be shoved aside?
What value will the selectors feel Hads still has to offer?
The good news is he put the runs on the board when the supporters and the team needed him. Many will be livid he wasn't there until the end but without those 55 runs, it may have not been a win.
The bigger question of his medium to long term value is what will be carefully considered here.
Mitchell Johnson:Mitchell's bowling certainly won't be what's keeping him in as a default selection.
His batting however is where you have to say, "
Good on you Mitchy!"
He was unbeaten in both innings for the 2nd Test and his batting romance continued with the Wanderers. His output proved vital and he was awesome in the 2nd innings, totally awesome!
I will copy and paste something from my previous article:
Heading into this series MJ looked so confident. Something happened at Newlands and he's really struggled in this series. The question for the selectors would be whether they keep him in the side for the usual understanding of his ability to win games.He did get the vital wicket of Hashim and had a catch spilled off his bowling, but I'm going to leave the opinions up to you.This statement from Jacques Rudolph, regarding MJ, should make you think carefully."The fact that he was bowling with his new run-up maybe gives away a little bit of his headspace in terms of where he's at," Jacques Rudolph said. "I thought our batters capitalised really well." It was still damn good to see Mitch play brilliantly with the bat in hand.
He's such a champ of a bloke and I'm sure we all just wish he'd come right for a consistent period of time because he's so brutally good on his day, but is this enough for a new selection panel?
Ryan Harris:Ryano is a beast and it's so exciting to see him bowl, especially when he gets that skid with the new ball and sufficient movement to trouble the best of batsmen.
Heading into this series he stated his intentions to try and bench mark
Dale Steyn (misinterpreted by many goons as a cheap trash talk about Steyn) but Ryano has one big issue...it seems his injuries will not allow him the luxury of sufficient Test cricket.
During the Proteas collapse of 96 runs, Ryano was instrumental and bowled his heart out and created enormous pressure. Shane Watson's wild wicket frenzy just added to this and Ryano had started the series off in style following his good performances in Sri Lanka.
He also created chances during the final innings of that Test but the catches were put down. He had done his job in many regards which I acknowledge.
Sadly his body couldn't handle it and the concern that the game was done and dusted in two and half days, 7 sessions.
He deserves to be the man to deliver the new ball duty, no doubt, but his unlikelihood to play against the Black Caps is a worry and can his body hold up for a full Border-Gavaskar series?
Will his injury risk perhaps play in the back of his mind as we saw with the
Ben Hilfenhaus (knee issue), the closest match to Harris regarding current experienced bowlers.
Like Shaun Marsh, it was an anticlimax to the series for what could have been delivered by Ryano.
Peter Siddle:Pedro gives his best and until the day he retires I will never fail to acknowledge this.
He just keeps at it all day long and does his best. His lack of variation will always be a talking point and when he is not hitting a consistent line and length he becomes an easy pick for quality batsmen.
It would seem that there is risk in continuing to play an ambitious work horse like Siddle alongside Mitchell Johnson, a match winner who has just been in too much of an inconsistent portal.
At the MCG I would always be considering Pedro as a man to play in the starting XI. As a fixed prospect I get the impression that he will become a player that will be picked based on conditions and bowling unit fitness.
He was alright this series and didn't have much luck go his way, which I hope the selectors would take into consideration but the general consensus from casual onlookers is that he didn't look too threatening.
Patrick Cummins:I was nervous about his debut after seeing
Peter George in a brief experiment after some excellent cricket for the Redbacks. It was an opportunistic move by the selectors and Patty's selection was even further based on potential rather than a reasonable amount of First-class matches.
Nevertheless, he didn't ask for the opportunity (like Nathan Lyon) and with the obvious fact he was there to potentially play, it was up to Patty to grab his chance and fight for it!
Heading into the series though you couldn't shrug off his speed, maturity beyond his years and a refreshing attitude.
Seeing a player receive his Baggy Green is, in my opinion, a beautiful moment.
As the second youngest Baggy Greener (cap #423) it was a historical moment for Patty being given his cap by Punter.
It was an absolute joy to see his composure in the first innings where he took 1 wicket of a Test match legend, the catch taken by Punter.
It was a memorable thrill to see him take
6-79 on debut at 18 years of age in what many will say was a sensational performance by the young leader of the pack on the day.
Then it was a dream debut made into reality when he smashed a short pitched delivery for four to the deep mid-wicket boundary to ensure the team won the match.
To round it off Patty was awarded the Man-of-the-match award.
You have to be so proud for him.
It's early days. His pace is epic and he just doesn't strike me as a flash in the pan.
The risks are obvious. He's a fast bowler and a young man. He's had some body hassles already and the strain on the body of a fast bowler is grueling. I understand he had a buggered up toe after his first day of Test bowling. His work load is going to have to be managed with serious care and he will learn more about his abilities both physically and mentally in time.
He will have a bad game, he will lose his rhythm and he will struggle.
What will get him through this is a strong support group, the correct management behind his game and of course the key of experience.
It was as good a debut as you could have asked for. Come the summer he will have massive support and deserves it. Hopefully he will have the senior bowlers step up so his job will be less intensive.
The same may be said in the case of
Vernon Philander, another bowling debutant who shined in both Tests.
Nathan Lyon:The top scorer of the 47 all out innings bowled well when he had the chance.
The key now is to stick with him long enough to give him an honest go at the elite level. Nate is a player with a story of talent scouting. He took a 5for on debut and is only 23 years old.
He will need an extended run to really come into his own and discover his strengths and build his confidence.
The new selectors
CANNOT fall into the trap as the previous selectors did in the
post-Warne panic ordeal with so many prospective spinners being thrown in and out. We also don't want to see poor treatment as we saw with
Nathan Hauritz who really did try his best.
I like Nate's bowling and would really like to see more from him. Give him a good run and we will see plenty positives come out. He managed 4 wickets at a decent average.
BATTING STATS: (taken from Cricinfo)
BOWLING STATS: (taken from Cricinfo)
All in all, obviously we can see that the many areas Michael Clarke and the side will be desperate to start trying to perfect and urgently need to regain consistency in the batting department.
Still many key moments being lost that a younger side needs to experience to understand how to "
go for the kill" when the opportunity is present.
Very frustrating but the players will be even more frustrated, but a win is a win and that's what it's about for all concerned.
Well done to the Baggy Greens and what a brilliant series. If only it had been one Test longer.
Been wonderful to have written all about it and, as always,
thanks for YOUR valued input!A very good photo showing a debutant on cloud nine and an experienced Baggy Green who has been fighting a battle for his career and the team.
© AFP
Here's a reminder of the Australia 'A' Squad that will take on New Zealand.
With Ryan Harris and Shane Watson likely to miss due to injury, there's a few players who will be eyeing a return, while a few will be looking to debut at the elite level and get a place for the summer.
George Bailey (captain), David Warner, Michael Beer, Tom Cooper, Ed Cowan, Ben Cutting, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nic Maddinson, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk).I hope to get a Podcast up within the week with regards to the challenges the new selection panel may be facing.
Thereafter, maybe I can get
Dan Stapo to share his view on the summer as he will be attempting to attend a number of games.
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