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South African skipper Graeme Smith says he's no pitch doctor

Graeme Smith is adamant he has not dictated the type of pitch he wants for South Africa's second Test against Australia in Port Elizabeth, despite the venue's curator telling Smith's Australian counterpart Michael Clarke that he was beholden to the home team's captain and coach.

On Tuesday Clarke expressed his surprise at the response to his question to the St George's Park curator about what was he planning to do to the pitch before the match began on Thursday.

"I had a chat to the groundsman today, [who said], 'At the moment the grass is 8mm high.' I asked what he's going to do with that. He said, 'I'm going to speak to their captain and coach before I make a decision,' " Clarke said. "That's the groundsman's plans, so I'm interested to see what the South African captain and coach's plans are for this wicket."

The second Test.
The second Test.
While Smith and Proteas coach Russell Domingo were seen in discussions with the curator when the home team trained on Tuesday afternoon by Wednesday morning Smith downplayed the significance of those discussions, when asked directly about the curator's deference to him.

"That's very kind of him. One thing I've learned is when you ask for things you generally don't get them, so we tend to stay away. We're just happy with a good Test wicket," the South Africa captain said.

"We just requested a good Test wicket. Ultimately he knows this wicket better than all of us.

"Obviously we'd like a wicket that can produce a result, a wicket that will provide good cricket over the next five days."




Well, someone is telling porkies......



South African skipper Graeme Smith says he's no pitch doctor

They're running scared.

Second Test pitch no longer so green

Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 7:23 AM
Source: AAP
Author: Rob ForsaithSecond Test pitch no longer so green
Photo Source: AAP


The grassy Port Elizabeth pitch has been cut back and could be shorn further before the second Test begins.

Michael Clarke, speaking on Tuesday, believed a day-three finish could be on the cards if curator Adrian Carter did not trim the centre strip.

St George's Park groundsman Carter on Tuesday told ESPNcricinfo the "furry" pitch "scares" him, and he was awaiting further instructions from the South African camp before deciding what to do with it.

On Wednesday at approximately noon in Port Elizabeth, Carter fired up the mower but still left a thin layer of grass on top for the contest, which begins at 7.30pm AEDT on Thursday.

South Africa need to at least draw if they're to avoid their first Test series loss since 2009.

With rain expected on Thursday morning, it's understood Carter plans to assess the surface early on day one before deciding whether to smooth it further.

"It certainly looks better today," Clarke said on Wednesday.
"It's going to be a good Test wicket."

Australia and South Africa boast four of the top five bowlers in the ICC's Test rankings, and the hosts risk adding to Mitchell Johnson's potency if they serve up a green top.

Australia can wrap up their first Test series win on foreign soil since April 2012 if they defeat the Proteas in Port Elizabeth.

Clarke tipped a far more even contest than the resounding win in Centurion, where Johnson claimed career-best match figures of 12-127.

"South Africa are a wonderful team with a lot of experience. They'll be at the top of their game," he said.

"I don't think one loss should be an indication that it's a generation change or South African cricket is in trouble.

"They're a very good team led by a very good captain.

"We're improving as a team, but I think we believe we're still a long way from being the best team in the world."

Shane Watson bowled off a shortened run-up in the nets on Wednesday as he continues his recovery from a calf injury, but the allrounder isn't expected to feature in the second Test.

Clarke recently revealed Watson would only return to the Test side if he's fit enough to bowl.

As such, Australia are set to take an unchanged XI into the match.
Graeme Smith would not reveal who will take Ryan McLaren's spot in the side, but promised his teammates would fight back at Port Elizabeth.

"This week it's about not carrying too much baggage from Centurion," Smith said.

"Centurion is behind us."


Second Test pitch no longer so green - News - SportsFan

West Indies v Ireland: Ed Joyce stars as Irish record famous win


First Twenty20 international, Sabina Park, Jamaica

Ireland 117-4 (19.1 overs) beat West Indies 116-8 (20 overs) by six wkts

Match scorecard


Ed Joyce starred with the bat as Ireland earned a famous six-wicket win over West Indies in Wednesday's Twenty20 clash at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

West Indies scored 116-8 off their 20 overs, Chris Gayle top-scoring with 18, and Alex Cusack, Kevin O'Brien and Tim Murtagh taking two wickets apiece.

Joyce contributed 40 not out and Andrew Poynter 32 as Ireland triumphed with five balls to spare.

Ireland will play the World T20 champions again on Friday.


West Indies v Ireland

First T20: Ireland won by six wickets

Second T20: 21 Feb, 19:00 GMT

Only ODI: 23 Feb, 13:30 GMT



The hosts won the toss but failed to make that count as Cusack and O'Brien ended with identical bowling figures of 2-17.

Murtagh finished with 2-28 and George Dockrell and Max Sorensen both took one wicket each.

Ireland lost William Porterfield for four in the first over of their innings, and Paul Stirling followed him to the pavilion for a duck in the second over.

Joyce and Poynter revived the Ireland innings, aided by Gary Wilson and O'Brien.

Joyce was playing his first match of the Caribbean tour after missing the opening stages because of family commitments.

Ireland's victory came at the same ground where they beat Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup.

The teams meet again on Friday at the same venue before a one-off one-day international on Sunday that precedes England's limited-overs tour of the West Indies.

West Indies will defend their World T20 title in Bangladesh next month

Well done Ireland .

They produce some talented players.

The sooner they get test status the better - as it will stop the poms from poaching their finest

One T20 win hardly constitutes proof they need test status, fuck the Paddies don't even have a domestic first class competition....

Not looking good for us seeing any cricket today.
Hourly forecasts are at > 50% chance of rain all day.....


http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/...ekday=Thursday

Originally Posted by Necron99

Graeme Smith is adamant he has not dictated the type of pitch he wants for South Africa's second Test against Australia in Port Elizabeth

The question is if there is an anti-Mitch pitch?

I think he is bowling so well and extracted far more than Steyne out of the pitch for the first test he could bowl on any surface and still take wickets.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by Necron99

Graeme Smith is adamant he has not dictated the type of pitch he wants for South Africa's second Test against Australia in Port Elizabeth

The question is if there is an anti-Mitch pitch?

I think he is bowling so well and extracted far more than Steyne out of the pitch for the first test he could bowl on any surface and still take wickets.

He doesn't have many choices, anything he does to counteract MJ will also hamstring Morkel. It's traditionally a slow pitch, if they make it any slower it will just be a draw, which is already on the cards due to the weather.
As well, we have the better spin options....

Originally Posted by Bobcock

One T20 win hardly constitutes proof they need test status, fuck the Paddies don't even have a domestic first class competition....

It's not their first time to get a win. They have beaten some of the big boys too.

I've heard they are next in line for test status, and a few years at top level - well, mostly against the other minnow teams , should see them improve .Couldn't be worse than the deshis - who many thought would follow in Sri Lankas footsteps and improve standards within a few years.

Originally Posted by Necron99

Not looking good for us seeing any cricket today.

rain is quite likely

^ bummer

Looks a good chance all day.

but 1mm or 0 mm? what does that mean? Isolated drizzle?
We might get lucky. Sacrifice a small animal..

Indeed. Bummer.

Afghanistan beat Australia in the U/20 T20 Cup group match.

Australian coach said it wasn't fair as the Afghans were bowling hand grenades all day.....

boom...boom..tish..

20 min from the toss and.....


rain....

They are crapping themselves again, already

Smith sounded very clear-headed: "It's important to not get caught up in the emotion." In other news, Alviro is caught up in the (e)motion. Out with gastro"

"Alviro might have 'gastro', but not the runs"

10/1

Smith gone to Harris. LBW

Smith gone LBW to Harris.

He's due for some wickets.

Elgar still to get off the mark.

Clarke really mixing it up with field placings to suit conditions.

Here's Amla..

Edit: And he's gone!!! - LBW to mighty Mitch



SA 11/2

MJ gets Amla LBW.

11/2, seen it all before......

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

LBW to mighty Mitch

did he limp off ?

I might officially resign from this thread if play continues as is...

Originally Posted by baldrick

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

LBW to mighty Mitch

did he limp off ?

Nope. But he looked like he needed to go poopies.

Elgar is still looking at his third duck in a row to Mitch......