matt
30-12-2008, 02:24 PM
The Proteas have taken the second Test match and as a result the series against Australia.
It's their first series win ever in Australia, and the first series loss for the Aussies on home soil in something like 17 years.
A mighty effort by the tourists, indeed.
Commiserations to Ricky Ponting and his team. All things have to come to an end eventually.
A lot of things went wrong with this series from an Australian point of view, nonetheleast being the failure to fire from most of the side's senior players.
As Ian Chappell and Ian Healy commented during the lunch break, it's a fabulous opportunity for selectors to reassess and look to rebuilding following the loss of so many great players in recent times and the imminent departure of a few more.
One comment they made, which I agreed very strongly with, is there needs to be a return to the attitude of the mid to late 80s...when there was a focus on bringing through a crop of young, talented players. It's hard to know when to let some of the older heads go, especially when they've been such a key part of past glories....but it has to happen. We've also not been so aggressive in our youth programs.
Times like these should be looked at in a positive way. It's time to take stock and ring the changes.
Having said that...despite injuries and players horribly out of form, both Test matches went to five days and the Aussies were very competitive. Just no 'killer' instinct like days gone by.
Again...hearty congratulations to Graham Smith and his team. That's a fine effort:thumbsup:
And hey....it is, after all, just a game.
It's their first series win ever in Australia, and the first series loss for the Aussies on home soil in something like 17 years.
A mighty effort by the tourists, indeed.
Commiserations to Ricky Ponting and his team. All things have to come to an end eventually.
A lot of things went wrong with this series from an Australian point of view, nonetheleast being the failure to fire from most of the side's senior players.
As Ian Chappell and Ian Healy commented during the lunch break, it's a fabulous opportunity for selectors to reassess and look to rebuilding following the loss of so many great players in recent times and the imminent departure of a few more.
One comment they made, which I agreed very strongly with, is there needs to be a return to the attitude of the mid to late 80s...when there was a focus on bringing through a crop of young, talented players. It's hard to know when to let some of the older heads go, especially when they've been such a key part of past glories....but it has to happen. We've also not been so aggressive in our youth programs.
Times like these should be looked at in a positive way. It's time to take stock and ring the changes.
Having said that...despite injuries and players horribly out of form, both Test matches went to five days and the Aussies were very competitive. Just no 'killer' instinct like days gone by.
Again...hearty congratulations to Graham Smith and his team. That's a fine effort:thumbsup:
And hey....it is, after all, just a game.