Ponting may have claimed on Wednesday that he is "looking forward" to leading this inexperienced side as they look to defend the five kilogrammes of gold and silver contained in the ICC Test Mace, but the mood among South Africans is that with such an untested Australian side there for the takling, surely the hosts can't let this one slip.
With over 86,000 tickets already sold by 3pm Tuesday for this Test out of the 150,000 available, the South African public - who can have a tendency for fair-weather support - are clearly expectant. It's the most pre-sale tickets to have been flogged for a game in South Africa since England toured in 1998, and with a steady trickle of fans still arriving at the Wanderers ticket office throughout Wednesday a handsome crowd can be expected.
Having named a squad of 12 for the match by omitting spinners Nathan Hauritz and Bryce McGain, the mustachioed David Boon will seemingly have one major decision to make as Australia's on-site selector.
Showing posts with label watch South Africa vs Australia 1st Test live streaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watch South Africa vs Australia 1st Test live streaming. Show all posts
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
watch South Africa vs Australia 1st Test live Streaming
Ponting may have claimed on Wednesday that he is "looking forward" to leading this inexperienced side as they look to defend the five kilogrammes of gold and silver contained in the ICC Test Mace, but the mood among South Africans is that with such an untested Australian side there for the takling, surely the hosts can't let this one slip.
With over 86,000 tickets already sold by 3pm Tuesday for this Test out of the 150,000 available, the South African public - who can have a tendency for fair-weather support - are clearly expectant. It's the most pre-sale tickets to have been flogged for a game in South Africa since England toured in 1998, and with a steady trickle of fans still arriving at the Wanderers ticket office throughout Wednesday a handsome crowd can be expected.
Having named a squad of 12 for the match by omitting spinners Nathan Hauritz and Bryce McGain, the mustachioed David Boon will seemingly have one major decision to make as Australia's on-site selector.
With over 86,000 tickets already sold by 3pm Tuesday for this Test out of the 150,000 available, the South African public - who can have a tendency for fair-weather support - are clearly expectant. It's the most pre-sale tickets to have been flogged for a game in South Africa since England toured in 1998, and with a steady trickle of fans still arriving at the Wanderers ticket office throughout Wednesday a handsome crowd can be expected.
Having named a squad of 12 for the match by omitting spinners Nathan Hauritz and Bryce McGain, the mustachioed David Boon will seemingly have one major decision to make as Australia's on-site selector.
watch South Africa vs Australia 1st Test live Streaming
Ponting may have claimed on Wednesday that he is "looking forward" to leading this inexperienced side as they look to defend the five kilogrammes of gold and silver contained in the ICC Test Mace, but the mood among South Africans is that with such an untested Australian side there for the takling, surely the hosts can't let this one slip.
With over 86,000 tickets already sold by 3pm Tuesday for this Test out of the 150,000 available, the South African public - who can have a tendency for fair-weather support - are clearly expectant. It's the most pre-sale tickets to have been flogged for a game in South Africa since England toured in 1998, and with a steady trickle of fans still arriving at the Wanderers ticket office throughout Wednesday a handsome crowd can be expected.
Having named a squad of 12 for the match by omitting spinners Nathan Hauritz and Bryce McGain, the mustachioed David Boon will seemingly have one major decision to make as Australia's on-site selector. With Phil Hughes' debut as opener a certainty the top five picks itself, while Andrew McDonald and Marcus North are expected to fill the numbers six and eight berths with North also providing part-time spin following his six-for in Potchefstroom.
Mitchell Johnson will lead the attack and Peter Siddle should be a shoe-in as a bowler able to utilise the swing and bounce on offer here, leaving Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus to scrap it out for the final spot in the side in a tussle that could go either way.
watch South Africa vs Australia 1st Test live Score
Australian stalwart Mike Hussey will be looking to the newest members of the team to perform key roles if the Aussies are to retain the title of number one Test playing nation with a series win over South Africa.
The first Test, which gets under way in Johannesburg on Thursday, may include up to four Australian debutants with opener Phillip Hughes, leg-spinner Bryce McGain, fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and all-rounder Marcus North all in contention for a spot in the XI alongside other relative newcomers Peter Siddle (four tests), Andrew McDonald (one) and Doug Bollinger (one).
"They've (new players) got a big role to play in this team," said Hussey. "It's not a case where we're expecting less from the new guys, they're in the Australian cricket team so they're expected to do their job as well as the most senior guys."
The influx of new talent into the national side will no doubt have an effect on team dynamics but Hussey does not believe there will be any on-field 'teething issues'.
"It's more getting to know the guys off the field really, we've all played a lot of cricket, even the new guys have had a few good seasons in first class cricket so they know their game," he said.
"We're just trying to make it as comfortable for them to be around the group as possible to make them feel as though they're definitely good enough to be here and they're definitely part of the team and they've got a big role to play in this team."
Hussey will be looking for an improvement in his own performances - and that of the rest of the top six - in South Africa after the West Australian had a lean summer in the three-Test series against the Proteas on home soil.
Hussey had the first form slump in what has been a remarkable Test career, averaging 17 in six innings, although the 33-year-old did find some form in the recent ODI series against New Zealand, winning man of the series.
"All of the batsmen have their role to play and we all have to do our job, I think that was one of the areas we probably didn't all contribute to in the series in Australia - myself included," he said. "Obviously I didn't score as many runs as I would have liked, but it's going to take a huge team effort to win the series.
The first Test, which gets under way in Johannesburg on Thursday, may include up to four Australian debutants with opener Phillip Hughes, leg-spinner Bryce McGain, fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and all-rounder Marcus North all in contention for a spot in the XI alongside other relative newcomers Peter Siddle (four tests), Andrew McDonald (one) and Doug Bollinger (one).
"They've (new players) got a big role to play in this team," said Hussey. "It's not a case where we're expecting less from the new guys, they're in the Australian cricket team so they're expected to do their job as well as the most senior guys."
The influx of new talent into the national side will no doubt have an effect on team dynamics but Hussey does not believe there will be any on-field 'teething issues'.
"It's more getting to know the guys off the field really, we've all played a lot of cricket, even the new guys have had a few good seasons in first class cricket so they know their game," he said.
"We're just trying to make it as comfortable for them to be around the group as possible to make them feel as though they're definitely good enough to be here and they're definitely part of the team and they've got a big role to play in this team."
Hussey will be looking for an improvement in his own performances - and that of the rest of the top six - in South Africa after the West Australian had a lean summer in the three-Test series against the Proteas on home soil.
Hussey had the first form slump in what has been a remarkable Test career, averaging 17 in six innings, although the 33-year-old did find some form in the recent ODI series against New Zealand, winning man of the series.
"All of the batsmen have their role to play and we all have to do our job, I think that was one of the areas we probably didn't all contribute to in the series in Australia - myself included," he said. "Obviously I didn't score as many runs as I would have liked, but it's going to take a huge team effort to win the series.
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