What a fantastic advertisement for Test cricket. The second Test in Port Elizabeth did not disappoint – well, unless you are an Aussie fan!
I genuinely believed Australia could do something special in the fourth innings to win the game, especially while David Warner and Chris Rogers were motoring along with a century stand.
But alas, the beauty of Test cricket came to the fore.
A partnership-breaking wicket and all of a sudden South Africa got a sniff to put the Aussie batsmen under pressure.
They knew runs on the board were ultimately going to dictate the way the fourth innings was going to pan out.
There are reasons very few teams successfully chase down big totals late in Test matches – the sheer amount of runs, deteriorating pitch and the pressure the batting team puts on themselves.
Pressure is an interesting one. The reality is pressure is perceived. The better players can maintain focus on the job at hand (score runs) and not worry about other things that take them away from their job.
That is the aim of the fielding side in these situations – to get the batsmen thinking about everything but the job at hand!
Discipline with the ball on a deteriorating surface will have the batsmen getting into a negative mindset. Then it is just a patience game for the fielding side.
They know they are one delivery away from a wicket and the batting team know they have to not only keep out the good and very good deliveries but also look to score runs.
Then you throw in an attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, backed up with some part time spin and the challenge becomes even more daunting!
The South Africa bowlers were outstanding.
Steyn is simply one of the very best fast bowlers to ever play the game. He bowls fuller than most quicks and threatens the stumps, pads and outside edge constantly.
And, as we saw day four, late reverse swing makes the challenge even more difficult.
Philander does need conditions to suit and it was obvious in this game he tried to show critics he can be effective on non-helpful surfaces by charging in and looking to bowl faster.
The jury is still out on this, yet he did make some important breakthroughs during the match.
Morkel bowled with the most aggression I have seen from him.
This is exactly how he needs to bowl – fast and nasty. It complements Steyn and Philander perfectly.
Australia have two issues.
Firstly, if Shane Watson plays, who makes way for him? I think he will, considering he can provide some useful overs, so it will be down to Alex Doolan and Shaun Marsh.
I have a feeling Marsh may be the one to make way – I think Australia liked what they saw from Doolan in the first Test and he has been spoken about for a while now.
I sense a decent run in the team is possibly on the cards for him. This would seem harsh on Marsh, however you can’t play them both so my guess would be Doolan.
The other issue is the make-up of the seam attack. Can Ryan Harris front up for another Test? Is Peter Siddle under pressure?
If they believe Harris can get through then he will play. Siddle is way down on pace. He has done a decent job in recent times but I must admit to some concerns with his lack of pace.
I first noticed this in the Big Bash League, when he played a game for the Renegades. He bowled a lot of slower balls and when he bowled his stock ball he was rarely reaching 130kms.
I just wonder if he is carrying a niggle that is stopping him bowling flat out? Or is there another issue we are unaware of?
The reality is he needs to be bowling 135-140kms to be at his most effective.
The selectors will be monitoring him very closely I’m sure. If they decide he is not the best option then James Pattinson will play.
1-1 going into the deciding Test. I can’t wait for the match to start!
Just a shame we can’t see these two sides battle it out over five Tests.
Simoc
Guest
That was Pattinson from the past. The present one looks tame and not presently at test level. I'de go for Bird.
TembaVJ
Guest
He is going to know what KP experienced when he walks out this weekend for sure. :)
jammel
Guest
Would be very surprised if Hughes plays - he is a batter batsman i think than Doolan and Marsh. But just can't see them playing him. That would give us our potentially best batting line up though! Warner Rogers Hughes Clarke Watson Smith Haddin
LaurensK
Guest
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Ted
Guest
Has anyone else thought that Siddle's changed his pace to match his first change role? He seems to bowl a bit quicker in the early overs of his first spell, somewhere around the 135km mark or so, then afterwards he returns and bowls 127-133kms. I wouldn't drop him, since he picks up key wickets and because neither Pattinson or Bird have had any real match practice for a few months. Nevermind that Pattinson and Bird have a history of breaking down, Patto particularly during matches.
twodogs
Guest
I agree with you there sidey; patto looked pretty crap but on that note T20 can make any bowler look crap. Bird would not be out of place but I think Oz needs some aggression and sheer mongrel in the attack. Johnson/Pattinson has got a bit of a ring to it as well. I'd hate to relegate Rhino to 1st change but he looks a little lethargic and he could do with a reduced workload, at least for a short time.
a punter
Guest
Good points. Siddle has picked up more wickets than Harris and has performed the bulk of the work amongst the quicks. Siddle may consider himself unlucky if he were dropped. However, I too am concerned by his lack of speed. A few years back he consistently achieving mid one forty Km/h. He needs to get his pace back up.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Gonna be a great third test. Agree perhaps it is time to ring the bell on Siddle, at least for this test. Pattinson or Bird is the real question.
Brian
Guest
Neither Bird or Pattinson has played FC cricket since their injury so none of us know how they are going. I will say the game won't be decided by the toss because we have the good situation where the series history says you must bat first but the ground's history says its much better to bowl first.
Aransan
Guest
Siddle was used more as a stock bowler in the last test, bowling 53 overs to Johnson's and Hariss's 40. That is too many overs to be bowling near 140km/hr. I thought Harris struggled in the first test, perhaps because of the altitude. If Harris and Siddle are over 90% fit I would play both of them, one has to marvel at Hariss as he must be bowling through a lot of pain. If one or both of these bowlers aren't fit, don't play them. If Watson is 100% fit play him as the fifth bowler and bat him at 6 with Marsh to miss out. Unfortunately Marsh has confirmed his prior statistics of failing too often early in his innings and this is a terrible shame as he is obviously very talented.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Having been a massive long time fan of your Test bowling, your magnificent 200 celebration and your superb mullet, I would never disagree with you when it comes to all things bowling, Dizzy, but does Philander really have critics regarding bowling on flat decks? He has played his majority of Tests in South Africa but as we've seen this series, their decks all have their own character.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
You mention Young(er) talent a decent crack.....only thing is I'd hardly call Marsh & Doolan young(er)!
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Yeah, it makes me sad but I think the bell might be tolling for Peter Siddle. He's been a great Journeyman in a low period for Australia, and our only consistently performing quick, but he seems to have had it. Maybe it's an injury, or a technical problem, but he's been down on pace and effectiveness for the last year but has been kept in the team due to one great spell in the first Ashes test in England, and then because of the unity of the bowling attack against the Poms at home. That said, he might be back if he has a rest and excels at shield level. But for now it's time for one of the younger blokes. The question is whether Pattinson is ready. From what I saw of him in the Big Bash and One Dayers he isn't. I'd opt for Jackson Bird.
Adsa
Guest
It's been a long summer for the bowlers and they looked particularly flat as SA ground them down in both innings, a few tweeks to the line up are needed, Pattinson for either Siddle or Harris, this adds a fresh arm and helps Mitch, and Watson to add a bit with his bowling. The Saffers showed they are no.1 for good reasons, to come back after the first test and win so convincingly demonstrates how tough this last test will be for the Aussies.
swannies05
Roar Pro
Good articel Dizzy, and I can't help but agree with you on Doolan and Marsh. If we can learn anything from Hughes and Khawaja it is to give our young(er) talent a decent crack. Marsh was lucky to have been selected anyway and if the selectors can show some faith in Doolan, surely that is the best result for Australian cricket in its medium-term future. As for wishing it was a five test series... truer words have never been spoken.
twodogs
Guest
Gday Jason, The next game may well be won at the toss I reckon. Should be a beaut. Of the bowlers, MJ at one, Rhino at two at Sids a long way back at three. He looks pale and weak. Think he might have to break protocol and have a few T-bones every now and then. Pattinson should come in for a double act of in your face agression with MJ unfortunately for Sids who is lionhearted but ineffective unless he can find 10ks. Time for the selectors to recoup the travel expenses for Hughes and throw him to the wolves.