Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Graeme Smith terms Mitchell Johnson a useless bowler, South Africa V Australia, 2nd test Port Elizabeth
Mitchell Johnson, the fast and furious bowler of Australia, is at the top of his game and firing all cylinders. But South Africa cricket captain Graeme Smith might have just irked Johns when he termed him a 'useless' bowler. On a day before the start of 2nd test match between South Africa and Australia at Port Elizabeth, Graeme Smith said: "I truly believe that the wicket played a big role in the success that he had. The stats, even in the Ashes, say that he picked up a lot of lower-order wickets."
More I read the statement made by Smith more I believe that Smith has lost his composure and uttering useless words due to nervousness of facing the speedster first up in the morning of a test match. Or Is he thinking of himself as a lower order batsmen. Well he might, the way he got out fending couple of bouncers in the first test at centurion.
Michael Clarke on the other had looked pretty calm and was sensible in his assessment of pitch and seemed clear in his head with what he is going to do during the course of next 5 days. The pitch looked greener than the normal Port Elizabeth cricket pitch. "I think if the wicket stays like it is it will be a three-dayer, expecially with two fantastic bowling attacks. So I don't think it will stay like that," opined Michael Clarke, captain of Australia.
Unless South Africa batsmen improve their technique against fast and bouncy short pitch bowling, it is hard to see how the currently ranked number team in ICC test ranking can manage to not to loose some more rating points. The form Mitchell Johnson is in at the moment, pitch will not make any difference.
May be South African's are going for a lottery. They know that they have no chance against the Australia's pace attack and the best option is to design a pitch that is 'bad' and 'nasty'. The next thing they are hoping for is to win the toss and put Australia in, if pitch remains green. Or if it is designed to crumble after 1 day, happens on a bad surface, South Africa might bat first. But 'who will win the toss?' is just about anybody's guess and planning strategies based on assumption of winning the toss can be self destructive.
My take on SteynVSJohnson is bit different. Steyn has kinda given up and Johnson is improving ball by ball. He has continued with sheer pace and breath taking bouncers and this is why he's been succeeding. However it is fear of being injured and end up in Hospital. Ryan Harris is Bowling good line and length which is also complementing all the effort put up by Johnson. Clark & co have a very good chance of winning the second test if they put up big scores and leave rest on the pace attack!
This is the first time in a long time that I am negative about the Proteas' chances. Alviro Petersen is not nowhere in form, in fact a walking wicket. Elgar is just not test standard (one good innings in test cricket vs NZ, but he was dropped early). Under the high ball he looked like a primary school boy. I simply have lost all confidence in him.Then rather Wayne Parnell - at least he can bowl. Steyn always has some or other injury, the latest jippo guts. What next? Philander looks as if he is sleep walking, bowling military medium on the legs and Morkel, well Morkel is just Morkel. Robbie P can talk the talk and he and JP Duminy are totally out of their league. JP has the worse average of any no 6 playing for SA since WW II. None of them in the team on merit. Apart from The Oval vs Eng, Amla scored the bulk of his runs after having been dropped, sometimes twice. Will that happen against Aus? Not likely! Last night I dreamt that AB went first ball. I woke up in a sweat!
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| Graeme Smith looking at heavens and thinking if johnson will brake his hand even as he makes a comment that will not go well with johnson |
More I read the statement made by Smith more I believe that Smith has lost his composure and uttering useless words due to nervousness of facing the speedster first up in the morning of a test match. Or Is he thinking of himself as a lower order batsmen. Well he might, the way he got out fending couple of bouncers in the first test at centurion.
Michael Clarke on the other had looked pretty calm and was sensible in his assessment of pitch and seemed clear in his head with what he is going to do during the course of next 5 days. The pitch looked greener than the normal Port Elizabeth cricket pitch. "I think if the wicket stays like it is it will be a three-dayer, expecially with two fantastic bowling attacks. So I don't think it will stay like that," opined Michael Clarke, captain of Australia.
Unless South Africa batsmen improve their technique against fast and bouncy short pitch bowling, it is hard to see how the currently ranked number team in ICC test ranking can manage to not to loose some more rating points. The form Mitchell Johnson is in at the moment, pitch will not make any difference.
May be South African's are going for a lottery. They know that they have no chance against the Australia's pace attack and the best option is to design a pitch that is 'bad' and 'nasty'. The next thing they are hoping for is to win the toss and put Australia in, if pitch remains green. Or if it is designed to crumble after 1 day, happens on a bad surface, South Africa might bat first. But 'who will win the toss?' is just about anybody's guess and planning strategies based on assumption of winning the toss can be self destructive.
My take on SteynVSJohnson is bit different. Steyn has kinda given up and Johnson is improving ball by ball. He has continued with sheer pace and breath taking bouncers and this is why he's been succeeding. However it is fear of being injured and end up in Hospital. Ryan Harris is Bowling good line and length which is also complementing all the effort put up by Johnson. Clark & co have a very good chance of winning the second test if they put up big scores and leave rest on the pace attack!
This is the first time in a long time that I am negative about the Proteas' chances. Alviro Petersen is not nowhere in form, in fact a walking wicket. Elgar is just not test standard (one good innings in test cricket vs NZ, but he was dropped early). Under the high ball he looked like a primary school boy. I simply have lost all confidence in him.Then rather Wayne Parnell - at least he can bowl. Steyn always has some or other injury, the latest jippo guts. What next? Philander looks as if he is sleep walking, bowling military medium on the legs and Morkel, well Morkel is just Morkel. Robbie P can talk the talk and he and JP Duminy are totally out of their league. JP has the worse average of any no 6 playing for SA since WW II. None of them in the team on merit. Apart from The Oval vs Eng, Amla scored the bulk of his runs after having been dropped, sometimes twice. Will that happen against Aus? Not likely! Last night I dreamt that AB went first ball. I woke up in a sweat!
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