The day when wickets fell like ninepins at Newlands

Kersi, Re Michael Clarke's 151. The other side of that coin was that the other ten Aussie batsmen did not score more than 11 South Africans and 11 Australians. While the 284 was a reasonable return in the circumstances the rest only got 133 between them. Mind you, that was still nearly three times more than they got in the second dig so perhaps we should be grateful.

How do Australia do it? I mean to bowl a team out for below 100 having scored 280 odd is a great achievement but then to chuck it away so pathetically... From a neutral (well, nearly neutral) perspective Australia are like a ship without a rudder. It boils down to leadership if you ask me. Ponting was not a good captain, he just happened to lead what was probably the best team oif all time. Following the key retirements his lack of leadership skills has been exposed. Is Clarke up to it? great batsmen but he doesnt seem to be universally respected in the dressing room. Some of my Aussie mates are blaming the pitch just, just as they did on boxing day. When I persuade them to prise their other eye open they concede that the pitch wasnt as awkward for the other team, as Smiith and Amla proved today. The point is that strong leadership can help to stop the panic which spreads when it looks like a collapse is looming. Come on Aussies, sort out your test side. It pains me to say it but cricket needs a strong Australian side

That is very sad news. And some nice tribute pieces as well. The thing I remember most about Vinay and his writing, especially about cricket, was that it always gave off a feeling that there whatever calamity Australia had suffered, or the game had endured, that there was always hope. Im not sure if people agree with me, but reading his work, it almost seemed like Vinay had a great spirit. Afterall, no-one has ever hoped like a cricketer. He will be missed.

You can't keep saying he was one of the better batsmen. Smith dropped a sitter off him and he got 9. In the context of the innings, that isn't any better. Sorry it just isn't. He's an opener for god's sake. An opener who can't handle the moving ball, not even a little bit of movement.

I watched it. The pitch wasn't that bad, if it gets reported there is something really wrong.. I've seen enough horror Aussie collapses to recognise the signs. It's like they suddenly become lazy with the bat in hand then NO-ONE can stop what ensues.

It's Remembrance Day today and amongst the fallen we have to spare a thought for our top order who fell like nine pins. This day will be memorable for many reasons but none so unique as for Nathan Lyons who became the top run scorer for his team! Who would've thought? Eh? Let's hope we can pick up the pieces in the second test and show some gumption.

Here's a rather amusing one-sided game. Taken from "The Book of Heroic Failures" by Stephen Pile: The Least Successful Cricket Match: At the turn of the century in England, grown men were put to shame by two schoolboy teams in Cambridge. The match brought together Kings College Choir School and the Trophy Boys XI. The Trophy Boys won the toss, batted and were all out for nought. Then Kings went in, and Trophy's first ball was a no-ball. This gave Kings Choir School a score of one and victory in the match.

Yesterday was definately the culmination, but this slide has been evident for some time. Very worrying times indeed. More on that here... http://therestijustsquandered.com/2011/11/11/australian-batsmanship-charting-the-collapse/ But with our backs to the wall, one would have expected the 'experienced' players to step up, maybe not big runs but a grinding 20-30 off 100 balls from the likes of punter/haddin/mr cricket would have steadied the ship. Instead we get more ducks than a french restaurant. 106 Years of life between them and not a single bl000dy run. Time to bring in 3 with the combined age of 75, sacrifice a few series and start thinking about winning that precious little urn back. The floor is your Rod & Andy.

Does anyone know what time the tide will be in in Cape Town today? Looks like it is Australia's only chance.

I'd like to think Cosgrove is in the pcture. Almost the only player to perform well on wet decks last season, and one of the few players with a decent amount of county experience. His recent form is terrible though so that works against him. That and he's had his card marked, but perhaps new selectors will think differently.

Cowan's form dropped off last year, so he needs to get back to making substantial scores to warrant consideration. So too Klinger. Rogers should've been picked with Jaques when Australia's batting coach (scoff) and his bestest buddy were faltering. Maddinson looks a likely prospect.

Yeah, with Katich pathetically exiled, those three at the top are worth taking a look at.

What you describe is the boys' club mentality where we're continually told by the PR machine that 'runs are just around the corner' whilst consistent up-and-comers like Khawaja, O'Keefe and Wade are ignored or have their selection delayed to indulge the flights of fancy of faltering established players. I couldn't see Ponting being at all successful in Shield (see also: Mark Waugh's post-Test domestic career).

Hi Will, Vinay, my very good friend, passed away on 6 March. May his soul rest in peace! He was a superb writer and a good human being who called an axe an axe. He loved his sports - especially cricket - and wrote beautiful prose. And yes, he was a poet with two books on Poems published.

Like I said I have no issues with him being dropped now, though your comment about roads could be applied to just about any player in world cricket these days. My point about him being 22 had nothing to do with who should be picked now but was related to the question you asked a while back about what makes me think he will be a star? Maybe I should have been more clear. All those players you mentioned have improved enormously since they were 22 and I think that it's reasonable to think that Hughes can do the same. There's a reason batsmen don't play their best cricket until their late 20's to early 30's. I agree with you that both Hughes and Ponting should go, though Hughes' century from SL will probably give him the summer in the selectors eyes and Ponting will, at worst, get a farewell tour this summer. It's not nescessarily the right thing but it's the most probable.

Will, Vinay died of a heart attack earlier this year. Vinay Verma, RIP. Heres the epitath Kersi wrote http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/08/vinay-verma-a-titan-among-cricket-writers/

I'm afraid you missed this article a while back http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/08/vinay-verma-a-titan-among-cricket-writers/

Where is Vinay? I used to post here about a year or so ago, I remember Vinay. Loved his work.

Brett I agree mate, we have more chance than Kat playing right now and our chances are a zero X zero= 0 Warner maybe in top 3 at some point in test cricket longer format of the game. But unlike say an aggressive opener like Slater, or Sehwag, i simply don'y confidence yet in Warner's technique. It is better than Hughes, and like Hughes Warner is naturally aggressive and confident player with good eye, but just that rash strokes may hurt his game, or how will he be patient enough to handle a seeming Egnland wicket and seeing out the new ball form say and Anderson or a Tremlett or a broad. And bowlers like Anderson, or shane watson or steve waugh would love bowling to players like warner or Hughes. Naturally a rush of blood here or there, a slower ball, or a good yorker, or swinging delivery, would at times tempt Warner to play a rash stroke. Khawaja has a very good technique and fairly calm head, how ever has been a bit tense so far, he hasn't grabbed his chances yet like Shaun Marsh. But Khawaja I think has a big future no question , has a good all round game solid in all areas, just needs that break out socre to break the ice and release the shackles then he will be a massive run accumulator I think like someone like Alastair Cook. Khawaja looks the type of player who loved to bat all day and convert hundreds into 150's and the occasional 200 hundred. MEd Cowan must be looked at. He has not looked back since going to Tassie. Become there real batting leader when Ponting is not there which is reality all the time just about. And Hussey and Ponting and Hussey are on life support i think in test cricket. I can't see them lasting too 2013 Ashes, and apparently with change of schedules with ODI and World cup back to back being rightly seen as to hard the ashes will be played in next year 2012 or in 2013 in OZ i am not 100% sure but there is to be a change of schedule. I cant see Hussey or Ponting making a 2013 Ashes tour, so why not clean the broom a 4 test series in India would be a great chance for someone like Marsh,Warner,Khawaja, Cowan,Klinger, or even Dan Christian, Steve Smith, or even Aaron Finch to step up and make a claim. And even a talented blotter like Mark Cosgrove to step up. Cosgrove made some useful innings in Tasmania since going down to Tassie. Just needs to stay in shape, keep the weight off stay fit, and make some consistent scores and Cosgrove may win a baggy green for Australia, you never know Brett stranger selections have happened.

Hughes scored single figures in each innings, and was dropped on 2 (a sitter) in the 2nd innings. A "not quite as bad failure" is not a good thing!