Australia Vs South Africa Test Series Discussion Thread

[Mailman the 2nd]

In the 2011â€"12 Australian summer, a disappointing series draw with New Zealand gave rise to calls for Ponting to be removed from the team following perceived underperformances. The selectors resisted the calls, selecting Ponting for the Boxing Day Testâ€"the first of a four-Test series against India.[253] Ponting scored two half-centuries in Australia's first Test win,[254] followed by a century (134) in Australia's first innings of the second Test in Sydney. The century was his first in Test cricket in almost two years.[255] His fourth-wicket partnership of 288 runs with Clarke, who went on to make 329 not out, set a new record for the biggest partnership by an Australian pair of batsmen against India.[256] Australia sealed the series win by defeating India in Perth, and in the fourth Test in Adelaide, Ponting and Clarke beat their own record, putting on 386 runs. The partnership was the fourth highest to that point in Australian Test cricket. Ponting's own score was 221.[257] During the innings, he became only the third player and the first Australian (after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who were playing in the same match) to pass 13,000 career Test runs.

That's why you shouldn't drop Ponting Cic

You looked ridiculous when you called to drop him and Clarke last year and you'll look ridiculous again.

Just don't do it

[JBs-Hawks]

In the 2011â€"12 Australian summer, a disappointing series draw with New Zealand gave rise to calls for Ponting to be removed from the team following perceived underperformances. The selectors resisted the calls, selecting Ponting for the Boxing Day Testâ€"the first of a four-Test series against India.[253] Ponting scored two half-centuries in Australia's first Test win,[254] followed by a century (134) in Australia's first innings of the second Test in Sydney. The century was his first in Test cricket in almost two years.[255] His fourth-wicket partnership of 288 runs with Clarke, who went on to make 329 not out, set a new record for the biggest partnership by an Australian pair of batsmen against India.[256] Australia sealed the series win by defeating India in Perth, and in the fourth Test in Adelaide, Ponting and Clarke beat their own record, putting on 386 runs. The partnership was the fourth highest to that point in Australian Test cricket. Ponting's own score was 221.[257] During the innings, he became only the third player and the first Australian (after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who were playing in the same match) to pass 13,000 career Test runs.

That's why you shouldn't drop Ponting Cic

You looked ridiculous when you called to drop him and Clarke last year and you'll look ridiculous again.

Just don't do it

+1

Class is forever.

[Cicjose]

so playing poorly for a number of years all around the world can be compensated by one good Australian summer????????

[BB67th]

so playing poorly for a number of years all around the world can be compensated by one good Australian summer????????

Well I think it is pretty hard to justify dropping a man after he has just made something like 500 runs in his last home series.

[Mailman the 2nd]

so playing poorly for a number of years all around the world can be compensated by one good Australian summer????????

You might as well drop the entire team, play the entire Shield team, watch them fail, drop all of them and fold.

Because that's the logic we seem to be going with here

[Cicjose]

anyone can score runs on their home turf tho................

Cheteshwar Pujara for India is a prime example

but with the lack of exposure for the younger guys at the top level they are never going to get better

at least India are trying to build a team with Dravid and Laxman gone and Tendulkar Sehwag and Gambhir likely to be soon ousted are being rewarded in spades by the youth they are prepared to play.

no risk no reward, hence why we are falling behind the rest of the world............

[JBs-Hawks]

I'm just extremely thankful you aren't on the board of selectors cic.

[Mailman the 2nd]

Well, no

Dravid was 39 and Laxman 38

That's about the same age as Ponting will be when he retires (he's 37 now)

By that logic we should get rid of Hussey as well, and South Africa should get rid of Kallis

The argument that you shouldn't play them is simply nonsensical. You play your best team every test match. Leave the introductions for the ODIs and 20/20s.

Australia has only 2 seasoned veterans in their team.

South Africa have about 2-3 as do India, England and any other half decent cricketing nation.

[Cicjose]

say goodbye to being competitive in 5 years time

[BB67th]

OK, how about we just agree to disagree here, wait 5 years, see who is right, and then come back to it.

[Nige]

I wanna see Bobby Quiney score at least 50 this match :(

[Nige]

I wanna see Bobby Quiney score at least 50 this match :(

Well...so much for that :-\

[Chelskiman]

What a ball.  ???

Need another 250 from Pup.

[Grazz]

Didnt think the cricket would be on in SA till 3.30, turned it on just in time to see Punter get owned by Kallis. Bugger.

[Grazz]

Onya Warner.