Second Test. SA v England. Cape Town, Jan 2-6

[Dr Cricket]

Shouldn't Australia be judged the same as india, they need to win away from home.
SA don't have the depth any more to be the same side, batting reliant on Amla/De villiers and Steyn gone past 30 still got Phillander and morkel though.

[Making_Splinters]

Shouldn't Australia be judged the same as india, they need to win away from home.
SA don't have the depth any more to be the same side, batting reliant on Amla/De villiers and Steyn gone past 30 still got Phillander and morkel though.

Australia look a more complete side to me than India, they have very good pace bowlers and a decent spinner unlike India who are reliant on their spinners to win them games. In terms of the batting Australia look to have the depth of talent to cover all bases, both sides have two outstanding batsmen but Australia look long term to have more answers to the missing peices. It has always been the way that there is a sub continent non sub continent divide. Australia are more conditions that will suit them away from home than India do.

South Africa are only missing two batsmen, an opener to partner Elgar and a middle order batsmen to replace Bavuma. Steyn should be able to come back and play for another couple of years.

[Dr Cricket]

Australia biggest test will actually be batting really, especially now when sides often prepare result pitches at home.
Australia batting don't like movement either from spin or seam.
one reason I have doubt on them.
NZ vs Australia should be a good watch.
if NZ win Australia should be classed just like India, if Australia win you might be right Making Splinters.

Suppose India got time to find bowler since they don't go away properly till end of 2017.

[greyblazer]

The bounce seems to have died down. SA used the heavy roller??

[Making_Splinters]

I think if Burns and Ussie can bed in then Australia will have the best top order in Test cricket. Smith and Warner are now established performers and Vogues is providing the stop gap solution down the order till he moves on probably at the end of next season with the likes of Maddison, Lynn, Handscomb and Bandcroft or even Klinger and Marsh waiting for a chance.

Australia have never been a side you keep down for a long period of time ever since Border took them over decades ago, and a probably the only side that can say that. The key for me at the moment is can Mitch Marsh live up to the hype, if he can Australia will have an excellent side.

[Dr Cricket]

I think if Burns and Ussie can bed in then Australia will have the best top order in Test cricket. Smith and Warner are now established performers and Vogues is providing the stop gap solution down the order till he moves on probably at the end of next season with the likes of Maddison, Lynn, Handscomb and Bandcroft or even Klinger and Marsh waiting for a chance.

Australia have never been a side you keep down for a long period of time ever since Border took them over decades ago, and a probably the only side that can say that. The key for me at the moment is can Mitch Marsh live up to the hype, if he can Australia will have an excellent side.

but will there score runs in Asia/england though.
got the bowlers but worry about them scoring runs outside Australia.

[mikesiva]

I think Philander and Morkel are roughly the same age as Steyn, so they don't have much longer to go either....

Another failure for van Zyl...time for old man Stephen Cook to warm up?

[Dr Cricket]

I think Philander and Morkel are roughly the same age as Steyn, so they don't have much longer to go either....

Another failure for van Zyl...time for old man Stephen Cook to warm up?

philander supposedly looking for a kolpack deal.

[Making_Splinters]

I think if Burns and Ussie can bed in then Australia will have the best top order in Test cricket. Smith and Warner are now established performers and Vogues is providing the stop gap solution down the order till he moves on probably at the end of next season with the likes of Maddison, Lynn, Handscomb and Bandcroft or even Klinger and Marsh waiting for a chance.

Australia have never been a side you keep down for a long period of time ever since Border took them over decades ago, and a probably the only side that can say that. The key for me at the moment is can Mitch Marsh live up to the hype, if he can Australia will have an excellent side.

but will there score runs in Asia/england though.
got the bowlers but worry about them scoring runs outside Australia.

Assuming South Africa do not recover from their downwards trend, personally I don't see that as being impossible, I think Australia are the best placed side to take over from them as the top ranked team in terms of their depth of talent, the improvements they are making and the fact they have a higher number of favourable overseas conditions than India. England have the potential to become an exceptional Test side at present but it is still far too early to call on them because we need to see how Hales, Compton and Taylor do long term. India are third in the pecking order simply because since Khan they have failed to find a single pace bowler who can be consistantly at a decent pace and success.

[mikesiva]

I think Philander and Morkel are roughly the same age as Steyn, so they don't have much longer to go either....

Another failure for van Zyl...time for old man Stephen Cook to warm up?

philander supposedly looking for a kolpack deal.

The West Indies lose Test cricketers to the T20 leagues, while South Africa lose Test cricketers to Kolpaks....

Wow, only two wickets to fall today so far.

[Aidan11]

Am I being pessimistic if I say this already looks like a draw?

[Dr Cricket]

I think Philander and Morkel are roughly the same age as Steyn, so they don't have much longer to go either....

Another failure for van Zyl...time for old man Stephen Cook to warm up?

philander supposedly looking for a kolpack deal.

The West Indies lose Test cricketers to the T20 leagues, while South Africa lose Test cricketers to Kolpaks....

Wow, only two wickets to fall today so far.

kolpaks worse since SA lose them forever unless their break the contract like faf du plesis did.
west indies players can still play Test cricket or play for their country, kolpaks can't although not sure ECB/ICC can legally stop them playing international cricket.

[Aidan11]

Nice one Ben.

[mikesiva]

Am I being pessimistic if I say this already looks like a draw?

With Elgar going for 44, south Africa may be hard pressed to avoid the follow on....

[backfootpunch]

there are over three days to go

if south africa have a bad hour and lose 2 or 3 top order wickets at any point they will lose