Re: Australia v Sth Africa

"JPD" <john_p_darcy@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:ff9f127d-52d2-4bbe-9829-65db08168ef2@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Dec 2, 8:11 am, "will_s" <wl...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> Sth Africa will beat Australia in AUSTRALIA and become the World 
>> Champions
>> of Test Cricket.
>
> That's a pretty bold statement.  With the reservation of not having
> analysed the rankings situation, I find myself agreeing.  I think
> Australia's batting will be exposed by the RSA attack.


total 100% agreement
>
> Last time around, three years ago, South Africa were the better side
> in Perth (at least, for the first two days).  Australia was bundled
> out for 258, and that was a weaker attack than the one we will see
> this month.  The difference in the match was Brad Hodge.
>
> The Sydney Test of that series was an advertisement for Test cricket,
> IMHO.  You can keep your ODIs and you can send the kiddies off to play
> T20.  South Africa was again on top for much of the game, which was
> interrupted by rain on the 4th day, helping to set up the climax.  On
> Friday 6 January 2006, Graeme Smith declared South Africa's second
> innings closed after drinks and set Australia 287 to win in around 76
> overs, something not typically achieved in Sydney on the 5th day.
> Ponting and Hayden proceeded to make it look like a training drill,
> with a 182-run partner****p, and Ponting finished 143 not out, his
> second century of his 100th Test.  That day featured both sides
> batting and bowling, so the spectators got to see all the players and
> an attractive run chase and a home win.
>
> But I think South Africa is a better team now.

And Australia is definitely not as good