At the end of 08 South Africa beat Australia at home to claim the metaphorical, yet still very heavy, title of the world’s best test team.
The players were so happy some of them smiled as they frolicked in the water of Sydney.
Since that win in Melbourne, they have won two tests, lost four, and drawn two.
That is shit in any language.
Так что одержать победу в Мельбурне, они не получили два испытания, потеряли четырех, и извлечь два.
For a long time South Africa have be known as chokers, but this time they got to the top, however briefly, but they are now spiralling in some 05 Ashes Freddie kind of hangover.
If they played India in India tomorrow, they couldn’t beat India with a stick, even if India was a limbless child hung from a tree piñata style and South Africa was a non-blindfolded sober adult with fully functioning motor skills.
13 months ago this was the best test team on the planet, now their coach is leaving due to irreconcilable shitness.
During the past 13 months Graeme Smith’s captaincy and bear like demeanour have been lauded all over the planet for getting the side to the top of the tree, but if your team falls straight out of the tree it doesn’t mean much.
Two home series losses is not the resume of a top test team, even England don’t do that. Obviously something is wrong inside the camp, and Arthur leaving them on the edge of a “SUPER TEST CROWN HEAVYWEIGHT DECIDER” says that pretty clearly.
In modern times, thanks to pioneers like Vettori and KP, the coach gets axed when there is any rumbling, and had Arthur not jumped, I’d say the dude was going to be thrown out the door like the poor unheard of bowling coach.
On reflection, all of Arthur’s talk leading up to the last test was like some salty old criminal looking for that final score he could retire on.
I might bag Saffas but I truly mean this, South Africa are a proud race, and unlike other countries, they don’t accept draws, even come from behind draws. So Arthur, with or without his score, was going.
Obviously the harmony between Smith and Arthur was strained, as it usually is when you are losing. We don’t know what went on the change rooms, but I doubt it was anything as fun as Graeme Smith drilling Arthur’s asshole and then giving him a reach around.
Now that South Africa have seemingly imploded, I feel at a loss, I sort of hoped they would run cricket with an iron kitten killing boot for a few years so I would have plenty of material.
That seems highly unlikely now, as it stands their only chance of beating India would be Sachin coming out as a cross dresser on the eve of the first test, and even then they’d still need a green deck.
I almost feel sorry for them.
Almost.
Half the Indian team is injured.. probably the best time to sack Mickey mouse. They’ll win anyhow.
It doesn’t seem as the test championship now. Just a battle of the chimps. No.1 for how long!?! :)
.-= Mock Wah´s last blog ..B.B.O.T.D – Left arm class =-.
The rumor is Smith only employed a few rusty trombones, if there had of been drilling, he would have stayed.
Ah, nuffin to worry. They play India, the team that made heroes out of Nicky Boje, Alistair Cook and Franklin Rose and handed our career best batting figures to more half the bangla side.
SA can still beat India. Dravid and Yuvraj are out with injuries and the bowling is still not good enough to get a good side out twice on flat batting tracks. On the other hand, SA have some good bowlers so I feel the series could go either way.
If you’re looking for ursine comparisons, I nominate Smith as a “drop bear”, but one which looks to mind numbing yet effective tedium as its MO.
how come Brad Hodge isn’t here talking abt his ton??! surprised!!
.-= Mock Wah´s last blog ..B.B.O.T.D – Left arm class =-.
No doubt the Saffas are not world champions. I’m not sure Arthur can be blamed for that. But I’d take Steyn and Morkel over any new-ball pair in the game. They alone could cause a stir in India. Morkel v Sehwag sounds like fun…
.-= SD´s last blog ..‘I’m nowhere near Test cricket’ – Morgan =-.
SD, two overs of bowling to Sehwag could end in Morkel shaking in the corner of a psyche ward.
Rayden, Dravid and Yuvraj have hardly been the lynch pins of India’s success in the last two years.
Brad, I thought you were the omitted?
Mahek, Not saying he won’t play, just saying the outing would effect the team.
Sorry I am late Mock Wah. I was out celebrating a vintage innings with The Omitted among others. Usually it is just me talking myself up here, but everyone I spoke to after the carnage was just as in awe of me as I was. Am a little pissed I couldn’t bat out the remaining overs, as I cant remember seeing them better
I was so pumped during the second innings that I thought I might give a bit of lip to this sites golden boy, 4D (Dirty Dirk the Delhi Daredevil). The poor bugger couldn’t buy himself a wicket in his final few overs and I was pissing myself. Bryce on the other hand, was exceptional. Unfortunately his brilliance, like mine, will be forever lost on most.
If you can find it on YouTube, check out Dave’s catch off Rhett Lockyear.
JRod, Sachin could bomb an Indian city and he’d still play for India. Being a cross-dresser will only get people in India to not ostracise the cross-dressing community.
.-= Mahek´s last blog ..FICA and the need for a Collective Bargaining Agreement – II =-.
My guess is Prince is the reason for smith and arthur friction. Arthur keeping prince (quota freeloader who does zilch). and smith do not like any non performing guys in his team.
And prince come out praising arthur prove that is the case. I think.
Sachin can do no wrong to foolish indians. As long as ponting scores century , sachin will even bat on one leg unless opposition has real fast bowler knock him down. Then he take “REST”. Ha.
I still think SA can win if india make green oitch by mistake. This time no curator or state cricket board dare to do that. It is no 1 ranking at stake. So you will see flat turning pitch.
So india will win. Good thing for india is yuvi is out. He is useless in Test anyway. I am not sure on M vijay , i would take kohli as he seems to want to prove he is belong.
Odds are towards india’s win. I hope there is no umpiring blunders. Indians do not want UDRS in india for sure. They think they get favourable decision from umpires in india.
South africa can win if Steyn can bundle out India. Indian bowlers suck. This must be the worst bowling unit for no 1 test team. No penetration!. They get wicket when batsman lose patience and by pure luck.
I think it is still even stevens.
I am just glad it all unraveled under Mike Proctor’s watch..
Indians are pansies when it comes to the short ball. If the Toygers could shake them up like that, imagine what us Saffers can do. Unless they make some sleeping beauties to play on.
The only pansy when it comes to the short ball is P.Ricky. You bowl short to the likes of Tendulkar, Sehwag and Laxman at your own peril. Say, how is that two-man bowling attack working out for you?
.-= Mahek´s last blog ..FICA and the need for a Collective Bargaining Agreement – II =-.
Why the deuce does the cricketing world *still* make noise over flat/turning tracks in India? Generations have come and gone and that is the best shit you can come up with for whining? How often in the past decade have you heard the Indian team whine about foreign conditions? And no, we dont serve monkey brains for dessert in India.
coinbox.
Let’s see. Saffers have always played well in India. Even when they were well and true chokers. Stale Deyn’s gonna be a handful and so is Morkel. The only wild-card is if God decides it’s time to obliterate Lara’s longstanding record on a whim. Frankly, that’s the only thing that will decide the series one way or the other. I don’t see Indian bowlers getting 20 wickets unless it’s a spinning minefield.
Sehwag is the key in that india from winning or play for draw / lose. if pitch is flat, Indian fast bowlers are worse in flat track than steyn &co. We saw how jayawardene piled on runs against zaheer & co in rajkot.
I really think Tygai is better bowler. But will india go with 3 fast bowler 2 spinner?. or 2 fast bowler and 2 spinner. I think it will be 2 +2 and score as much runs and hope SA crumble against spin.
For me i do not have confidence on mishra. I find his fingers/palm so small ball is actually coming out without any spin. He is poor man narendra hirwani. Ojha is better choice than mishra. Mishra gives lots and lots of 4balls.
It is all about mental when you play against SA.
Key is always how indian openers handle steyn. If steyn has no swing in indian pitches , mammoth score in the offing.
All my puppets/slave yakking in this thread…where is the sachin the midget.
Rumour is that Arthur might take up the (semi) vacant NZ position.
Now why would someone, on the back of being knifed by self-important captain, want to take that one on?
.-= Leg Break´s last blog ..Death or The Maiden =-.
The comments on this website can be expected considering its target audience of ill informed cricket fans and people who like lame jokes and cliches, but Jarrod, i expected more from you when writing about the Arthur issue. You obviously do not have the faintest idea of the workings of the South African political system in sport. Australians (and south londoners) can not begin to understand the complexities of the South African society.
Jacques, Rather than just bagging me and the fans of this site why not tell us what you believe. Because, and you may be shocked to know this, I may know more about the cricket side than you realise, and you will know more about the political side than I do.
Ahh, Belarus, hot bed of Saffer sporting envy
Indians find SA’s style of cricket suffocating, they much prefer the natural aggro of the Australians. It really does depend on the opening spells – SA bowlers v/s Sehwag/Gambhir. It could very well end 1-1.
Yuvraj out is a blessing. No Dravid or Laxman is bad bad news. Murali Vijay seems the only decent Test prospect we have. Kohli is a poor man’s Yuvraj – brash Panju flat track bully – but he deserves a shot, if only to prove the point. Raina – fuck eet, utterly nonsense player. Kaif got a double and a hundred last week. Rohit got a triple in the Ranji. Throw in the usual loser madraasi prospects, and our cup overfloweth.
Really Yawn, where is your sense of traditional Indian hospitality! The real fun part is when India wins by an innings in under 4 days on a turner – the indignant whitey chuts will chorus – unplayable pitch – not fit for test cricket – killing test cricket – ban the centre, etc. etc.
I never said anything about spinning tracks – if I wasn’t clear, “sleeping beauties” referred to out-and-out batting pitches. I reiterate my statement about short deliveries – you will never see Ricky and co lose their wickets like Sehwag and Gambhir did in the last test vs the Toygers. Indians just aren’t natural hookers – oops.
First Test at Nagpur, considered one of the better pitches for fast bowlers in India; good pace and carry backed by the favorable winter season. Indian batting has failed in the last 2 Tests played here – first against Australia (victory by 300+ runs!), followed by another draw against England (a huge failure by Indian stds at home). This ground is famous for Ganguly’s alleged dropping out at the last minute in that fateful Test agnst Aus. Yuvraj would be happy to miss this Test. Bottomline, advantage Steyn & co. (courtesy statsguru)
Second Test at Kolkota. I think Eden Gardens has been batsman friendly of late. Hopefully Bhajji can turn it in India’s favor. Cant rule out Zaheer Khan at both the venues though.
Without Dravid, it is definitely advantage SA.
coinbox.
Indians are pretty shit against the short ball (simply a matter of what you grow up playing), but thats not going to be SAs main weapon in India – it will have to be McGrath-like nagging lengths that will do it.
I remember a discussion by Ian Chappell and some other whasisname Aussie about why Aussies do better in the sub-continent than desis do in Australia. They felt its easier to adjust to lower, slower pitches having grown up on fast bouncy tracks, than the other way around. It may even be true, but I thought it was unfair to reduce Aussie success to just this. When you see SA bat, you wouldnt think so though, they cant play on low spinning surfaces at all.
Yeah, enough of BCCI’s hospitality! Bring out those dustbowls!!!
coinbox.
India squad for first Test: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, S Badrinath, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, M Vijay, Sudeep Tyagi, Abhimanyu Mithun, Wriddhiman Saha.
My only problem is Badrinath, but then Shrikanth is a fellow Tambrahm, so what do you expect. No Dravid, if Laxman stays unfit, we are fucked in Nagpur.
Dont worry, they’ll dig up Eden after we get raped at Nagpur.
Timothy, SA did not complain last time we did them in on a turner to draw the series. In fact, they were quite sporting about it. But the frikkin ICC got all antsy.
so any guesses who gets in for dravid? i imagine laxman will play. vijay keeps his slot. this was a chance to be bold and pick rohit / pujara. i just hope they don’t waste a cap.
and they actually picked a reserve keeper who is not dinesh karthik?!
the board’s XI for the tour game actually looks pretty good. rohit / rahane / nayar / pujara / manish pandey. i can’t wait these guys to get in the team and kick some arse. but sachin can play until the day he dies and falls off.
I think the second spinner is picked on a coin toss – there’s been some of Mishra and Ojha the last couple of series. Doesn’t this worry anyone?
.-= Rishabh´s last blog ..IPL 3 – Transfers – You read it here! =-.
Doesn’t bother me, I’m just asking.
.-= Rishabh´s last blog ..IPL 3 – Transfers – You read it here! =-.
Funniest thing is Saffas cant complain if they face a dustbowl and 3 spinners. They pushed the home advantage only last month against england at Jo burg. In SA you expect the ball to bounce and seam by the same yardstick all pitches in India should be minefields. But according to the ICC that s unfair. Remember after Kanpur 08 and Mumbai 04 everyone was up in arms???
Bring back DK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@rishabh – i felt for mishra in the last game. didn’t deserve the drop. for me ojha / mishra are first choice. bhajji is just getting a free ride.
@Sunny – A while ago I though Harbhajan should have been dropped too, but with all the competition, he really has stepped up in recent months – he’s been outstanding in ODI’s and has looked a good bet to get wickets in tests too!
.-= Rishabh´s last blog ..IPL 3 – Transfers – You read it here! =-.
I must say I have to agree with Jacques. Mickey and Graeme might not be as thick as thieves, but I am in no doubt that their relationship is not the reason for the purging.
South Africa doesn’t pick it’s best side. Period. The very first question that is always asked is: “Are there enough Black players?” And the question was always more or less answered by the inclusion of Amla, Gibbs, Ntini and others. The fact that Prince was still included is just a symptom of the Cancer that runs rife through the lymph-nodes of SA cricket.
The truth of the matter is that the SA selection panel and Arthur had not picked enough actual black players. Not colourds, not indians, not whatever Wayne Parnell is, but Black. Like with the Ntini variety.
Word on the street is that they want at least 4 bone-fide, 100% blacks on the team. This is, of course, a load of horse-shit as there isn’t more than two black players in any one of our local sides and non of them bat. So that means they’ll need four black bowlers. That would mean dropping Steyn, Morkel, Parnell and Mclaren or Johann Botha (who’s just been recalled).
The ANC-led Cricket South Africa is a racist organisation down to it’s very core and seeks only to destroy what the former white minority has created. I am so tired of bullshit speculation about what the problem might be, when as sure as God made little apples, the problem is jealousy and hatred.
Here’s a fun fact: SA ranking in cricket and rugby, year end ’09: No 1. SA ranking in Football year end ’09: No 87.
Ask yourselves one question. Why?
Andrew, Mickey didn’t make his quota in the last two tests, but even before this series started I was told that he would lose his job if South Africa didn’t win. At one stage I heard he and Smith would be looking for jobs. Yet Smith remains and I believe that involved finger pointing from Smith’s end. There is more to this than quotas, South Africa haven’t won at home for two summers, that is not good enough from the world’s number 1 ranked team.
Bhajji’s good at home, and I guess Mishra, being a leggie, is a good choice against SA – they are pretty pedestrian against any spin.
SA – when a whitey dominated selection committee or coach is dumped for poor performance, its politics (check their obtuse statements – we were like a family, we were working to a goal, etc etc – fuck you whitey, you screwed up and you are out – not used to being judged on performance are we?). But when a black guy gets into the team, everyone waits for him to fail so that they can attack the system.
Its exactly the same thing here, the high castes fuck up all the time (I mean look at what these fucks have reduced this country to in the 1000s of years that they have dominated, its a fucking pisshole), but no one complains, but if an OBC screws up – everyone talks of “merit.”
India is most racist country in the world. Look at the team. All veg eating midgets one after another who can’t hit the ball because they do not have energy or stamina. These guys choke every time under pressure. They lack physical abilities yet 80% of the selection goes to veg eating midgets again and again past 50 years.
Sooner or later india has to be divided. I hope pak nuke india and done with is obscene thing called hinduism and india.
As long as caste system exist india will be backward country and get raped every day by upper caste. The day temples gets destroyed india will be free. Symbols has to be destroyed to remove castism.
Except God sehwag , I am supporting South africa. I still think even stevens as i am not sure the mental state of south african team after mick arthur resigned.
Also i do not like prince , he is a freeloader. They need another black player if he is filling in quota seat.
You mean whitey sold his brother out to his black master – ah, the irony of it.
The centre cannot hold.
For me i think it is prince is the problem. He is not standing up and counted. if SA can have good opening partnership and put up a big score , they can win it with their bowling attack.
But at present because duminy did n’t click ( he played well only aussie series and got hyped up as next tendulkar…time wiil tell) , pressure is on prince. I do believe prince play spin better than pace , so there is a very good chance he might play well against india.
Except in india if someone do not perform well , they will be replace by another midget.