Australia vs South Africa first cricket Test: Why you should be excited about WACA opener
The series starting in Perth on Thursday features two teams who have not beaten each other on home turf since their respective spiritual leaders were Nelson Mandela and Makybe Diva.
Predictability be damned. It is more than a decade since Australia defeated South Africa in a home Test series, and when the Proteas last beat Australia at home they were the Springboks.
There is something unique about the clash between these two nations, a neutering of home-turf advantage that constantly refreshes one of cricket's premier rivalries.
Having broken Australia's 15-year unbeaten home sequence in 2008 and repeated the dose in 2012, South Africa again hold a strong hand on Australian soil. If AB de Villiers were not missing with an injured elbow, they would be outright favourites.
Even without him, their bowling depth gives them a clear edge. A likely all-pace attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada will offer no respite to an Australian batting line-up wearing more question marks than the Riddler.
South Africa's batting will cause surprises. Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis need no introduction. Dean Elgar might have made a pair against Australia on debut, but so did Graham Gooch. Two games after that ignominy, the tough left-hander made the first of his four Test centuries.
For Meade only.
For Meade only.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: For Meade only.
Wicket maiden first over!!!!!!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: For Meade only.
Hashim Amla gone for a duck!!! Saffers 2/5!!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: For Meade only.
3: 20 FMP!!! This is supposed to be test cricket not T20!!!
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: For Meade only.
4:32
I don't think Meade will be venturing into this thread
I don't think Meade will be venturing into this thread
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: For Meade only.
4 / 78 at lunch
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
-
Econoline
- Posts: 9607
- Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:25 pm
- Location: DeKalb, Illinois...out amidst the corn, soybeans, and Republicans
Re: For Meade only.
CUBS WIN! 
People who are wrong are just as sure they're right as people who are right. The only difference is, they're wrong.
— God @The Tweet of God
— God @The Tweet of God
Re: For Meade only.
Econoline wrote:CUBS WIN!
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
-
MajGenl.Meade
- Posts: 21238
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:51 am
- Location: Groot Brakrivier
- Contact:
Re: For Meade only.
Well, the Proteas kicked ass in the very silent series of non-tests recently. I realise there were considerable distractions for you there. We'll see what happens later in the WANCA..... actually I hadn't been aware that the match had begun. But I shall doubtless hear more about it, even here in Namibia (there's a reason for this side-venture)
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
-
MajGenl.Meade
- Posts: 21238
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:51 am
- Location: Groot Brakrivier
- Contact:
Re: For Meade only.He
244 all out? Not so much noise from down under now is there? 
97 for 2 is looking a bit good altho' The Hashmaster getting two outs for 1 is a bit feckless.
97 for 2 is looking a bit good altho' The Hashmaster getting two outs for 1 is a bit feckless.
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: For Meade only.
looks like my initial optimism got the better of me. I feel sorry for poor old Stein though
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: For Meade only.
There must have been a posting mistake...Why you should be excited about WACA opener
The headline and the story must have come from two different articles, because there's nothing in the story that answers the question asked in the headline....
-
oldr_n_wsr
- Posts: 10838
- Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 am
Re: For Meade only.
What language is being spoken here?
-
oldr_n_wsr
- Posts: 10838
- Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 am
Re: For Meade only.
Ah Planet Cricket. That explains it.
Re: For Meade only.
What? can't you see the thread says, For Meade only.oldr_n_wsr wrote:Ah Planet Cricket. That explains it.
“In a world whose absurdity appears to be so impenetrable, we simply must reach a greater degree of understanding among us, a greater sincerity.”
-
oldr_n_wsr
- Posts: 10838
- Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 am
Re: For Meade only.
Sorry for my drunken rambling.
I thought you meant "Mead" as in fermented honey.
JK
I may be rambling, but not drunk (nor drinking).
I thought you meant "Mead" as in fermented honey.
JK
I may be rambling, but not drunk (nor drinking).