Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA

South Africa : 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickleton, 3 Wiaan Mulder, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 David Bedingham, 7 Kyle Verreynne, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi

Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Marnus Labuschagne, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

SA won the toss and will field.

Marnus apparently opening with Usman. Oz batting looks a bit experimental.

Not surprisingly there's a bit of movement.

SA start with two maidens.

Little Kane having a cup of tea in the pavilion.

Not a lot happening in the first half dozen overs - but, then Waj nicks one from Rabada and gone for a duck.

Marnus done all the scoring at the other end.

12/1

Green glances his first ball for four - but, nicks his third and Markram holds an excellent low catch.

16/2

Cat and mouse cricket.

41/2 after 17 overs.

Oz obviously cautious not wanting to lose another wicket before lunch.

There's a bit of movement, but not a lot of pace or bounce in the pitch. The odd false shot.

It's not scintillating cricket for the neutral....

And Marnus nicked one while I was typing that.

47/3.

Head comes in and things will doubtless happen more quickly for a bit!

@Chris-B said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

And Marnus nicked one while I was typing that.

47/3.

Head comes in and things will doubtless happen more quickly for a bit!

For a bit. Down the leg again...

South Africa is a world of pain at the moment. 43-4. This might not last to the weekend.

@sparky said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

South Africa is a world of pain at the moment. 43-4. This might not last to the weekend.

Oz were in a lot of trouble when I went to bed at lunch. Head just out and the rookie Webster next in.

I thought the big stumbling blocks might be Smith and Carey, but Webster looks to have played a blinder.

South Africa quite a way behind now.

Is lords in June really the best time for this game? Still, I'd take 14 wickets over 400/2 on the first day.

@Cyclops said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

Is lords in June really the best time for this game? Still, I'd take 14 wickets over 400/2 on the first day.

Best time and place to guarantee a crowd who'd watch two neutral teams. And every cricketers dreams of playing at Lords and getting their name on the honours board.

@sparky said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

@Cyclops said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

Is lords in June really the best time for this game? Still, I'd take 14 wickets over 400/2 on the first day.

Best time and place to guarantee a crowd who'd watch two neutral teams. And every cricketers dreams of playing at Lords and getting their name on the honours board.

If you can make it there you. can make it anywhere....

South Africa don't like playing in cricket finals much

@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

South Africa don't like playing in cricket finals much

@canefan said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

@MN5 said in Cricket: WTC Final Oz vs SA:

South Africa don't like playing in cricket finals much

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Australia are also a much, much better team.

Rabada for Starc is probably the only guy who would make a combined team.

Great catch, hugely important wicket for Aus. I don't mind who wins but hoping SA can get at least par to set up the second innings

Not many runs.

Australia close on 144-8, 218 ahead after South Africa were all out for 138.

South Africa will need to make the highest score of the match batting last.

I think what it probably demonstrates most is the fairly rude combination of two good bowling attacks in favourable conditions versus two batting lineups that haven't played test cricket in a while.

it's good to finally hear the Australian selectors coming under pressure. Their conservatism has made the AB selectors look like reckless mavericks in comparison. For far too long the Aussie test side's MO was 4 of the top 5 failing, one getting runs in conjunction with someone from the lower middle order, and getting all out for about 280. Then their all time attack giving them a 100-run lead.

Khawaja, and Marnus continuing to be selected. Warner given a year longer than he deserved. Ignoring all evidence and pretending Green is no only undroppable, but a top order player. Giving young players a game or two before reverting.

The side will now go to the Windies and get runs, fooling the selectors in to giving all these guys their desired Ashes farewell. If England actually show up in Australia for once, they could be in for a rude shock.

Well, except the Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood will take 80 wickets at 22 between them.