788 Responses to Cricket: 3rd Test – England vs South Africa (Thursday 16 August to Monday 20 August 2012)

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  751

  grootblouBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 7:09 pm

  748 @ jan-jan-jan-die-bokbul-van-die-bosveld:
  Ja… ek dink nie dis so ernstig nie.

  Habana is weer sy ou self, onder Heyneke Meyer as baas van die plaas!
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  752

  jan-jan-jan-die-bokbul-van-die-bosveld on 20 August 2012 at 7:09 pm

  gesluit verklaar ! 😉
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  753

  grootblouBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 7:10 pm

  752 @ jan-jan-jan-die-bokbul-van-die-bosveld:
  Nou moet Oompie Puma net weer sê dis stil hier op R-T innie week…. hehehe
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  754

  grootblouBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 7:13 pm

  259 Cricket Comments today alone… well done boys!
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  755

  7andaBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 7:23 pm

  @ grootblouBokJan:
  why you say its the modem?
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  756

  7andaBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 7:26 pm

  Look what I found in a mates psu https://p.twimg.com/A0wVVsUCYAA7ruo.jpg
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  757

  grootblouBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 7:56 pm

  755 @ 7andaBokJan:
  Because I use a D-Link DSL-2750U ADSL Modem / Router with Wi-Fi and a 3G Failover portion built in… on the fastest DSL line Telkom offers in my area.

  I distribute my WAN requirements via a Server which supplies bandwidth controlled access to computers [via Antamedia Hotspot Software] connected to the Network by means of a Gigabyte, gigabit 24-port router / switch to the rest of my office (where I also have another gigabit 16-port switch) and from there to an Access Point (gigabit Lan & 300 mbps Wi-Fi Access Point mounted about 20m up in the air), which Access Point is configured in Bridge mode to be a Wi-Fi Hotspot (signal amplified by a 15dbi Omni-directional Antenna) for my own enironment as well as that of three neighbouring houses and to 1 house a block and a half away due to the fact that I have a Directional 2.4 Ghz antenna up at that far junction, pointing straight to my Omni-directional antenna.

  So the D-Link alone is a modem, it’s also a router, it’s also a 4-port hub (switch)… and it’s got the 3g Failover Modem feature….

  So yeah, it’s a modem…. go figure.

  My D-Link DSL-2750U somehow reset itself, on it’s own (most probably due to our fluctuating power here in the Panne where my home and office is – even though I employ Line Interactive UPS’s on all my equipment), to factory defaults. But not to worry I got it going, no sweat… it’s easy to do when you make a living in the IT Industry, like I do. If I had’nt managed to re-configure the Modem / Router, due to it being faulty, also no sweat because I keep them in stock… stock I sell to clients, as part of the business I do.

  You’d eat your left ball to have a setup like I do here in my offices…. ask the people who have seen my office and who blog here on R-T.
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  758

  superbokspringJan on 20 August 2012 at 8:25 pm

  @ grootblouBokJan:
  754
  if i was here i could have added another 100. Great win Proteas, i just love Radio 2000, they kept me in touch today, i missed this site though.
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  759

  grootblouBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 8:31 pm

  758 @ superbokspringJan:
  We were cooking here today!
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  760

  superbokspringJan on 20 August 2012 at 8:38 pm

  @ grootblouBokJan:
  Great if i settle down i will read through all the wisdoms here. I am glad we won this one, 2-0 is thousand times better than 1-0.
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  761

  Scrumdown on 20 August 2012 at 8:47 pm

  Great win Proteas.

  Real professional display throughout the series.

  Only slight glitch was not being able to force a result at Headingly. Otherwise excellent, and entertaining crickey.

  Well done also to England for not just capitulating this afternoon.

  Swann and Prior must have had some SAFFA hearts in mouths somewhat for a while there.
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  762

  grootblouBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 8:54 pm

  761 @ Scrumdown:
  Did you see tomorrow’s Lions Presser for 11:00 has been indefinately postponed…. I think you would have received the mail from them too.
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  763

  7andaBokJan on 20 August 2012 at 9:53 pm

  @ grootblouBokJan:
  Faulty no U think more overloaded with too many connections
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  764

  Blue Bird on 20 August 2012 at 10:24 pm

  Good Evening Rugby ‘Jans’..

  Your resident Pom just popped by to congratulate your team on their final result today.

  Looks like you had fun here, nice that one blog can put up a cricket thread for sports lovers to chat on.
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  765

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 2:12 am

  @ Blue Bird:
  Nice to hear from you, although i am almost just as scarce around here lately, you are way too quiet , having a busy time?
  Great win by our boys, i am really proud. We have a good team now. You will see when the new ICC ranking come out we will have 4 batsmen in the top 15 maybe even top 10 and i wont be surprised if we have 3 bowlers in the top 10. Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.
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  766

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 2:38 am

  Some comments by Mark Nicolas

  Kirsten does it again

  After Test and World Cup success with India, Gary Kirsten has now led his native country to No. 1

  Mark Nicholas at Lord’s

  When India won the World Cup in Mumbai a year ago last April, one man stood quietly in the shadow of the celebrations – modest, unassuming, satisfied. His part in the triumph was immense, his need for recognition nowhere in sight.

  When he became coach of the India team, he brought the gift of serenity. Great cricketers, constantly on edge from the expectation of their people, were encouraged to breathe, to smell the flowers along the way. First interviewed during the crazy minutes that followed MS Dhoni’s winning strike was Sachin Tendulkar. Amongst others, Tendulkar spoke warmly of Kirsten’s contribution. Next thing Gary knew he was lifted upon the shoulders of the Indian players and paraded to the adoring masses.

  Late this afternoon, while the South Africa team collected their winning medals from the suits on the podium at Lord’s, Kirsten could just about be seen in the small walkway that divides the Pavillion and the Allen Stand. He watched proudly but detached. The players do the yards, the players get the prizes. On the evidence of the past month, South Africa are the undisputed Test match champions of the world. When Kirsten switched horses, returning home after the World Cup and waiting only a short while before taking the South Africa job, he moved from a team slipping over the hill to one still climbing it. A wise bird indeed. One appointed by wise men, for Kirsten knows how to get the job done.
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  767

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 2:42 am

  Mark Nicolas-

  Smith did persevere with Tahir, which is exactly what the Smith of bygone years would not have done. He would have run for cover, turned to the trusted, rotated the seamers, set the field back, instructed wider bowling and so on and so forth. Not now, not the Smith of today. With time and through battle, comes maturity. Once he thought himself bullet proof, now he knows they hurt. Thus he has listened, a skill in itself and allowed his imagination to take him places he has not been before.

  That choker tag is a damn thing to live with. India’s World Cup was one that South Africa fancied but Kirsten was doing for the Indian cricketers what the South Africans needed for themselves. He was taking the pressure off. He was encouraging them to play less desperately: to relax head, neck, shoulders, hands and to perform from instinct and passion. He was saying, it is all right to be who you are as long as you are just that and not a pale, self-serving imitation. Trust each other and take responsibility, said Kirsten. Be calm, he added, because no heated situation was ever won by frantic response.

  So Smith persevered with Tahir while England took the risks required to save the series. Just as Smith places more slips, and for longer periods, while South Africa attack the off-stump more than a fourth and fifth stump. Just as Smith posts leg-gullies and fly-slips. And just as Smith surprised with his declaration at Headingley, sensing victory when others saw only parity.

  It is for Smith that one feels most pleased. I have this image of him walking to the wicket in Sydney three and a half years ago, broken hand bandaged, to try and save the Test. The ground stood to him before a ball was faced one-handed. Imagine that, Sydneysiders applauding a Saffer for his courage. That match was ultimately conceded but his team have not lost a series away from home since 2006. In the modern age of fly, sleep, play that is something to behold.
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  768

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 2:46 am

  MarkN…..

  High-quality cricketers respond to a platform. Set them up, they will do the knocking over. Have you ever seen a man start a Test career like Vernon Philander? Ten months ago, it was “Who the devil is Vernon?” Well, now we know. An integral part of the one of the best fast-bowling attacks the game has known – balanced, smart, potent, accurate. His arrival in the team coincided with Kirsten’s. No coincidence then.

  What else has Gary Kirsten done for them? Well, Jacques Kallis. That’s Jacques the bowler mainly and Jacques the batsman a bit. The finest all-round cricketer of the age – right up there in any age – was showing signs of wear. Kirsten re-fitted him, suggesting pace and variety were enviable gifts and that in shorter, sharper bursts he could bring them back. Kallis the striker, not Kallis the foil, was reborn. And with bat in hand? Kirsten must simply have said, “Show off, matey. You might as well. You’re that good and it doesn’t last forever, this crease life. Loosen up a bit and have some fun, Jacques.”
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  769

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:12 am

  Which Test cricket series win was the best to date by SA?
  1 Current win over Andrew Strauss’ England – Graeme Smith
  2 Win over Ricky Ponting’s Australia in 2008/09 – Graeme Smith
  3 Win over Bill Lawry’s Australia in 1969/70 – Ali Bacher
  4 Win over Michael Vaughan’s England in 2008 – Graeme Smith
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  770

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:12 am

  superbokspringJan wrote:

  2 Win over Ricky Ponting’s Australia in 2008/09 – Graeme Smith
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  771

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:16 am

  Proteas now have 120 ranking points compared to England’s 117. They will have to defend their ICC ranking status when they travel to third-placed Australia for a three-match series in November and December.
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  772

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:17 am

  It was Philander’s seventh five-wicket haul in less than a year of Test cricket. He has taken 39 wickets this calendar year, which is just one less than the leader, Stuart Broad of England.
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  773

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:19 am

  ICC Test Championship (as of 20 August, after the England-South Africa series) rankings:

  1, South Africa, 120. 2, England, 117. 3, Australia, 116. 4, Pakistan, 109. 5, India, 104. 6, Sri Lanka, 98. 7, West Indies, 90. 8, New Zealand, 80. 9, Bangladesh, 0.

  Note: Zimbabwe are currently unranked, as they have played insufficient matches.
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  774

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:23 am

  Skipper Graeme Smith dedicated the win to Boucher at the post-match presentation. He also wrote “We miss you Bouch” on his shirt.

  “It was a tribute from the team,” Smith said. “It was meant to be his 150th test. He’s been an integral part of the Proteas family for so long and it was something as a team we felt we wanted to do.”
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  775

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:25 am

  Boucher was quick to respond to the kinds gestures from his former team-mates via his Twitter account.

  “Thnx @GraemeSmith49 ,the Proteas squad and 2 all the messages from everyone!That was a special touch! Proud to have been apart of that squad,” he posted.
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  776

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:35 am

  By Shane Warne

  18 Jul 2012

  I am leaning towards England winning 1-0 or 2-0 with rain washing out the other Test. England have had a good summer so far. They have been outstanding in all forms of the game. The 4-0 win over Australia will make them feel good about themselves and they also demolished the West Indies quite comfortably.

  There are no weak links in the side. Everyone is in good touch. South Africa have been doing OK recently but England in their own conditions will be very tough to beat. South Africa will have to play their best cricket at all times to beat England in their backyard.

  We have had only about 10 days of sun since March. Any team coming over here at the moment face overcast, cloudy conditions with the ball swinging and seaming. The wickets are not flat so there is a lot on offer for the bowlers. England’s attack know their home conditions very well and are the best at exploiting them. That is where they have the advantage over South Africa.

  England will look at South Africa and see they are strong in the middle order and the key to South Africa posting big scores is the axis of Amla-Kallis-De Villiers at three, four and five. England have to try to strike early to expose that middle order to the ball when it is still swinging and seaming around.

  If you bowl well to Graeme Smith you can cut off his scoring. He went something like six Tests against us and his highest score was 18. If you bowl full and wide to him, he struggles because he can’t drive. If you go for lbw you have to be careful because he clips you through midwicket, but bowling wide ties him down.
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  777

  superbokspringJan on 21 August 2012 at 3:40 am

  More from Mr Warne

  South Africa are very regimented and disciplined. What I always found playing against them was that the more imagination and flair you showed the more successful you would be. Unorthodox tactics unsettle their rhythm.

  It was the right call by the selectors to drop Jonny Bairstow. It could have done him more harm than good playing against Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. Ravi Bopara, his replacement, will have a little bit of confidence from the one-dayers but I still have question marks over him in Test cricket.
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  778

  Scrumdown on 21 August 2012 at 6:29 am

  762 @ grootblouBokJan:
  Yes I saw the e-mail after having rearranged my day.

  As a former Chairman’s Council friend of mine said (tongue in cheek) “how so unlike the Lions”, to which I replied, “Yes, normally they’d only give you an hours notice?

  Something brewing in the wings?

  Wouldn’t be surprised if they were going to launch a court challenge to the automatic relegation and ask the court for a promotion / relegation game and SARU have stepped in somehow.

  They’ll eventually go down with barely a whimper IMO.

  Time for a full bloodied revolution in JHB Rugby? Methinks it may be brewing.
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  779

  Baaiekatte-Jan on 21 August 2012 at 9:49 am

  Damn computer was in for repairs, so by the time I got here to post the cricket was all over and looks like the discussion also over, so I would just like to make one observation.
  This is not just because he took vital wickets, but I think Vernon is maybe the most consistent test cricket bowler in the world today. I watched all his deliveries and the line and length is perfect just about every time, the fact that he only conceded 30 runs when England was trying to attack proves this.
  This is so different to Morne Morkel, who, when he gets it right is very effective, but man, does he get it wrong a lot of the time, yesterday he was all over the place, and when he got the wicket off a no ball I nearly tore my hair out (whats left of it). Not sure how effective Vernon would be in the shorter versions of the game with the field restrictions, but for test cricket, great.
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  780

  grootblouBokJan on 21 August 2012 at 10:57 am

  763 @ 7andaBokJan:
  Sorry if I don’t take you seriously, but you’re talking a lump of kak.