Looks Like Australia Choked Again, HA HA

[JG3282]

Lewis is rated as a good finisher because of that time in NZ when three wickets fell in the last over to win the game for Aus, but the thing is it doesn't take a genius to work out that of those three wickets, two were brilliant run outs that would otherwise have been runs for the Kiwi's

[MickyB]

Agreed, even M Clarke or Symonds would be harder to hit out of the ground than poor Lewis. The cricinfo.com commentary could not believe that Lewis was bowling, every second ball he bowled was followed by comments such as 'not good enough', 'why isn't Lee bowling' etc. I would have rather lost by 100 runs or 10 wickets then to lose something that should have been unloseable. Surely Ponting could have stacked the offside field and instructed his bowlers to bowl outside off when they needed about 57 off the last 5 overs.

I've been livid about the match all day, I guess whinging isn't going to fix it, although I am worried that Bracken won't be there for the tests when he is clearly perfectly suited to the SA conditions and in great form.

[blueoval]

This will be a media circus for the aussies when they get back. I just hope they think about what just happened and make the test series worth watching before they do.

I went to bed last night very unhappy, not coz it was just 2:30am but because of what had happened and it was 2:30am!!!!

I'll get over it, but Im not sure how many others will.

[JG3282]

I can sense the Ashes Part 2 coming on

Look also at this:

Hayden didn't make a 50 in about 2 years. So the press got up him and suggested he be dropped. Next match he makes a scrappy ton and is in the side for life.

Brad Hodge makes 203 n.o and three matches later with an average of 58 is dropped for guy who had been dropped a few months earlier.

Damien Martyn recalled after averaging 24 for WA.

Stuart Clark & Brett Dorey selected during the most recent season despite having modest records.

Mike Hussey having to wait 5 years for a game.

Adam Gilchrist out of touch for ages, critics suggest he be rested, suddenly makes 80 odd in a test and his chances of a rest are well & truly gone.

Andy Symonds continually proves he is not up to test standard. Has one good innings of slogging and is guarranteed a spot in the side regardless of form.

Simon Katich has a poor batting technique, bats slowly in one dayers and generally does not score many ruuns. Phil Jaques is young, exciting, punishing as an opening batsman, makes 90 odd in his first match. Guess who opens in the next match.



Anyway, since Boof Lehmann got the @55, its become blatantly obvious who the real captain was

[Focussed]

well said.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

At the end of the day Australia should be able to defend 434 as a batsman Pointing is brilliant as a captain i dont know if he's the best man for the job.

[BA GT-HO]

OK

I did some research and here are some stats:

Mick Lewis:

ODIs: 7
BALLS: 341
RUNS: 391
WICKETS: 7
BEST BOWLING: 3/56 (on debut)
AVERAGE: 55.85 (a wicket every 55.85 runs)
RUNS AN OVER: 6.87

Now why is this bloke still in the side ahead of people like Tait, Kasprowicz and Gillespie? He took 3 wickets on debut at the death in NZ against the tail end, and has done nothing since, and concedes more than A RUN A BALL!!

Gillespie has taken over 140 wickets at an economy rate of 4.21, Kasprowicz has taken 67 wickets in 43 matches at an economy rate of 4.51.. :

[joshf2]

Originally Posted by Focussed

During the innings break on Fox sports they had Mark Waugh & Brendon Julian discussing the game. During this time Julian said South Africa had a 1000-1 chance of winning!

that sounds like something Hansie would like ;)

[billyb35]

Simply incredible that they could score that many runs.

Simply f...ked that they can't defend that amount of runs.

[blueoval]

Yes the majority of comment has been said. It will continue to be a sad day for cricket in oz. SA deserved to win after this shocking loss.

Im gonna hide in my corner now.

[12]

Talking of betting, CH10 Sports report said someone had bet $20'000 on a Aussie win after Australia finished their innings (don't know if this is possible, I though all bets had to be made before the game began). There was only a few $100 to be gained anyway, and it looked like a sure win for the Aussies.. boy was he/she wrong. $20'000 GONE down the drain!!

[T3rminator]

Jeepers!!! "Live betting" also known as "Betting on the run" can be done over the telephone in Australia, but is illegal over the internet. So yes it is possible these two blokes could have done it over the phone.

I would like to know what the odds were on the Sth Africans to win. I would also like to know what their odds blew out to when Dipenar went out and the score was 3 for 1. Probably 1000 to 1 I'd imagine.

[Jeld-Wen Falcon]

Originally Posted by 012

Talking of betting, CH10 Sports report said someone had bet $20'000 on a Aussie win after Australia finished their innings (don't know if this is possible, I though all bets had to be made before the game began). There was only a few $100 to be gained anyway, and it looked like a sure win for the Aussies.. boy was he/she wrong. $20'000 GONE down the drain!!

Sucked In I say. But if someone has that kind of money to throw away like that why not donate to a good cause.

[nobbystang]

I can't believe no-one is calling for Pontings head. How can you lose the ashes, the first two of this series and then post 434 in the final game to set up a win and still get rolled. He must be the worst skipper Aus has ever had

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by nobbystang

I can't believe no-one is calling for Pontings head. How can you lose the ashes, the first two of this series and then post 434 in the final game to set up a win and still get rolled. He must be the worst skipper Aus has ever had

I completely agree!

[EF, What else?]

I hope u mean as Captain, coz his perfomances with the bat have been extrordinary!

[blueoval]

yes as captain, not as a player

[HLC]

oh dear...



just, oh dear...

[EF, What else?]

I agree his performances as captain havnt been to flash, but who is able to replace him? Shane Warne i dont believe is a viable option, he'l be gone in a few years, and no-one else really could stand up. Gilchrist has to much on his plate already

[chief]

Well I stayed up al night and watched the match. How would SA feel going in to bat needing 8.7 runs an over before a ball has even been bowled. The previous record for the highest score in an ODI was 398 Sri Lanka V Kenya in 1996. Kenya is great a long distance running but not a cricket. So this effort to get 434 and SA to bet that is unbelievable. What a great game and full credit to SA. Pointing should still be captain. Lewis should be left in SA and Gellispe brought up. Lewis' bowling figure 0 - 113 of 10 overs. Thats 11.3 an over!!!

[nobbystang]

give pup or roy the guernsey. yes ponting did well with the bat but he who loses the ashes to that england side with the decisions he made should have gone then. at least having pup as skipper he'll have years to become a great leader. how Ponting was even considered after his effort at the bourbon & beef steak was a mystery to me. lee is bowling heaps better due to maturity but ponting is exposed as an inferior skipper when mcgrath isn't there

[red_hotxr6]

Ricky ponting was so humle in his defeat, "we have to put this behind us as quickly as possible,". Not, we thought we had enough runs on the board to do the job, but they ran all over the top of us, especially that catch to dismiss Gilchrist, that was absolutely incredible,only one other person could have done that, Jonty Rhodes. Australia needs to realise that they can be beaten and not be so complacent. After saying all that the test series is going to be a ripper. Yes girls do like cricket too.lol

[uglybob]

Originally Posted by nobbystang

give pup or roy the guernsey.

haha please tell me you're kidding?

[MickyB]

Mike Hussey for captain I think. And Warne while he is still playing test cricket. Won't happen though.

[Bucket]

Originally Posted by AC/DC

I hate the current Australian Cricket team, , they act like a bunch of spoilt rich kids, and they show NO maturity or leadership towards our younger youth.

Well done South Africa, , good to see the Australians get beaten.

( P.s. - Yep, I am a true blue Aussie )

Ac/DC

Every team has their Idiots including South Africa, we just hear more about ours than others

[Josh_XC]

i totally disagree with the thread name, australia i reckon didnt choke, it was the best match ive ever seen, both teams played there heart out and it showed, australia has nothing to be ashamed about.

[wiresquire]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

At the end of the day Australia should be able to defend 434 as a batsman Pointing is brilliant as a captain i dont know if he's the best man for the job.

Agree. Ponting is a poor captain. This match adds to some of his other failures as a captain.

Brett Lee is allegedly the no 1 one dayer bowler in the world. So how the hell is it that he only bowls 7.5 overs out of a maximum 10??? How come no-one has called him on this?

Who to replace him? ANYONE. As I said to a mate, Ricky is lucky he's scored a ИИИИИload of runs of late. But even that is not enough to make up for bad decisions on the field.

[Focussed]

isn't michael clarke being primmed for the captaincy?

[EF, What else?]

I really dont like Michael Clarke, apart from a century on debut, he hasnt shown anything to justify a place in the Australian team. Plus the fact it seems to have all gotten to his head, dont like him at all