Sunday, December 21, 2008

Trembling from the Shock Waves

Forget the part where South Africa chased down 414 runs on the final day of a test.

Forget the part that it was against Australia.

Forget the part that is was the 2nd highest chase ever to win a test match.

This match had way more shock waves in store than any shock treatment being dished out at an asylum!

How shocked I am from the happenings at Perth can be guaged from the fact that my fantasy team is dangling at 15th in Jrod's Cricinfo league!

Before I go on I would like to take a pause and be the first to admit to Damith - buddy I was wrong.

Way wrong.

Now on to the shockers.

Ponting's first ball duck.

If you say you expected it, I'll put my last dollar that no one expected a quack from Hussey.

Australia 15-3. Well maybe not as shocking but still, 15-3!

Krejza holding the fort and rallying the tail around him to lead the Aussies to 375. I had no idea he could bat. And he did it again in the 2nd innings.

Kallis got his 63 faster than De Villiers. Who would have thought.

Johnson picked up 8 wickets. Not in the match, in the bloody innings.

South Africa's 281 was probably the only thing I expected in this match.

Hussey failing for the 2nd time in the match.

Haddin, confident after a century against the Kiwis, smashed 46 in the 1st innings. I didn't think he could continue the good form but then came the beatious 94. Gilchrist sir, you have been replaced.

Shocking!

Harris picked up 2 wickets more than Steyn, not shocking till you read that it was at Perth!

Brett Lee's match haul of 1-132. Yes sir, at Perth!

Smith's 100.

De Villier's unbeaten 100.

Kallis' 2 fifties!

Duminy's 50. A debutant!

Craziness!

This was Australia they were up agianst damn it.

414?

This wasn't happening.

Chokers did someone say?

Why didn't they choke?

For once the South African batsmen lived up to their hype and Kallis found the perfect match to get back into some batting form.

I still can't believe it.

Make your pitch on this post...



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8 Pitched:

  1. Anonymous said...
     

    It all sounds unbelievable: Australia!!! Perth!!! South Africa!!! But thats until you see the year - 2008!!!
    Perth is no longer the beast it used to be, Australia are no longer the force they used to be and South Africa have evolved into the best Test team going around.
    It was a magnificent test match, but did it live up to the hype? The pace bowling from both sides was good but not what the papers had us believe apart from Johnson's brief burst and even then that was batsmen giving themselves out more than him prising them out. The final chase made this match memorable to me and should finally displace this myth that Australia are the best test side, far from it, I place them 4th.

  2. Gaurav Sethi said...
     

    i'm glad boucher got a rest from the runchase. boy, did he look happy.

  3. Anonymous said...
     

    I was one of those who went mad in their first innings choke... quite a few bets riding on it and came back on top in the second. Amla was the key as I mentioned but it turned out more than him, it was ABD. What a wonderful year smith and ABD are having.

  4. Anonymous said...
     

    Biggest test series of all, No I guess not, not because of SA but Australia they don't have the bowling to take 20 wickets in a match unless Lee strikes form they are not even #3 in my opinion.
    With Ponting,Hayden and Lee out of form and in the absence of any quality spinner this Australian team cannot beat a good team unless that team itself screws up its chances.

  5. Q said...
     

    Achettup, 4th might be a bit cruel.. we're all thinking of the short term.. it will be quite an echievement for any team to remain at the top the way the Aussies have for the last decade and a half..

    This said, I agree that the Aussies have fallen and that too comprehensively... and what happened at Perth was unbeievable. Not many teams chase 414...

    Still 2 tests to go.. I would expect the Aussies to come back hard!

  6. Q said...
     

    Yep NC, thank god he was kept away from it.. a rarity..

  7. Q said...
     

    True Scorps.. ABD has done really well.. I think im going to go dig up some stats on him..

  8. Q said...
     

    Wasim their bowling will never be the same but their batting strength still won them matches after McGrath and Warne left... but with the batsmen not firing, Australia's stocks are depleting fast..

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