SA tour of Australia, Oct 22-Nov 28

[rich1uk]

they say that the pink ball has an extra layer of lacquer on it to try and help it keep its colour longer, wonder if thats why the swing has been so inconsistent as i remember anderson always saying that it takes a few overs to get the lacquer off the ball and get it swinging

[yuppie]

Watching again Khawaja sold him a dummy.

Needs to go on and make a big score now.

Been close a few times in this series. Needs to make sure he gets well past his 100.

[yuppie]

they say that the pink ball has an extra layer of lacquer on it to try and help it keep its colour longer, wonder if thats why the swing has been so inconsistent as i remember anderson always saying that it takes a few overs to get the lacquer off the ball and get it swinging

Also im guessing in Adelaide that the ball would move a lot less than in Hobart.

I have a read a little about the extra lacquer on the pink ball to help it last. The article i read also suggested that due to this lacquer that it might be tougher to influence the ball by the usual means from bowlers. That might be from sweat, roughing the ball or other means. It seemed to suggest the ball would be more consistent through out the 80 overs of use.

In the long run on a pitch like Adelaide, that could make batting pretty easy when set?

[mikesiva]

Khawaja gets his century!

[yuppie]

Excellent 100 by Usman.

Again making batting look very easy.

Has been one of only 2 shinning lights for Australia in this series.

[rich1uk]

they say that the pink ball has an extra layer of lacquer on it to try and help it keep its colour longer, wonder if thats why the swing has been so inconsistent as i remember anderson always saying that it takes a few overs to get the lacquer off the ball and get it swinging

Also im guessing in Adelaide that the ball would move a lot less than in Hobart.

I have a read a little about the extra lacquer on the pink ball to help it last. The article i read also suggested that due to this lacquer that it might be tougher to influence the ball by the usual means from bowlers. That might be from sweat, roughing the ball or other means. It seemed to suggest the ball would be more consistent through out the 80 overs of use.

In the long run on a pitch like Adelaide, that could make batting pretty easy when set?

add that to the extra grass they leave on the pitch to further protect the pink ball and it makes du plessis's decision to bat first even stranger imo, as you would think the best time to bowl would be on day one before the pitch dries out a little

[yuppie]

they say that the pink ball has an extra layer of lacquer on it to try and help it keep its colour longer, wonder if thats why the swing has been so inconsistent as i remember anderson always saying that it takes a few overs to get the lacquer off the ball and get it swinging

Also im guessing in Adelaide that the ball would move a lot less than in Hobart.

I have a read a little about the extra lacquer on the pink ball to help it last. The article i read also suggested that due to this lacquer that it might be tougher to influence the ball by the usual means from bowlers. That might be from sweat, roughing the ball or other means. It seemed to suggest the ball would be more consistent through out the 80 overs of use.

In the long run on a pitch like Adelaide, that could make batting pretty easy when set?

add that to the extra grass they leave on the pitch to further protect the pink ball and it makes du plessis's decision to bat first even stranger imo, as you would think the best time to bowl would be on day one before the pitch dries out a little

Indeed, though batting first is the safe bet with the unknown quantity of the day night test cricket. It seems pretty good batting conditions at the moment, so a good time to make ones test debut.

I wonder what Smith would have done if he won the toss?

[sussexpob]

To be honest, I have never quite understood why we give more weight to the location that a player was born and lived as a child/teenager (something they have no control over) compared to the positive choices they have made as an adult. An adult has decided to come and live and work in the country, gain citizenship and commit themselves to that country. Shouldn't that count for more than an accident of birth?

Good words.....

People should determine their own identity, not have it set out for them.

[yuppie]

Handscomb makes a debut 50.

Certainly seems a good pitch to be batting on, probably one of the better test venues to make a test debut.

Australia lead and a very expensive over from Philander.

I guess now Australia will be looking to bat just the once if they can. No need to risk another batting collapse.

[rich1uk]

Handscomb makes a debut 50.

he looks a little bit like he will be vulnerable to full deliveries if there is any sort of movement as he stands pretty upright and quite deep in his crease, but once he got in today has looked very good

[sussexpob]

Handscomb makes a debut 50.

Indeed. What was it someone was saying after the last test about Aussie test prospects benefitting from time in county cricket. Apparently I was crazy for suggesting it, and that it was impossible anyway.

[Gingerfinch]

Was Voges dropped?

[yuppie]

Handscomb makes a debut 50.

he looks a little bit like he will be vulnerable to full deliveries if there is any sort of movement as he stands pretty upright and quite deep in his crease, but once he got in today has looked very good

Yep, the little i have seen it looks like he will be susceptible to the moving ball. Batting in these conditions at Adelaide will make most batsman look good. And 3 Australian bats today have looked very good.

Undoubtedly he will be labelled a hero if he makes a 100. But he has more chance going the same way as Blewett and Hughes than a G Chappel.

The feed I'm looking at the SA bowlers look pretty flat. Obviously not working as hard on the ball as they have in the last 2 tests. Hard to get motivated for a dead rubber, though the accusations of ball tampering would surely make them want to prove themselves.

[sussexpob]

Going to be interesting in the next decade or so moving on when you see the effects of increased migration between Australia and UK.

Lots of Aussies in England, and now an Englishman in the Aussie team. Are we going to start to see bidding wars from boards to get young talent?

[yuppie]

yep ill take credit for that jinx