Stupid mistake by SA could hurt them psychologically

I stated this way before the 5th day even began. It would be a mistake
for SA to declare setting a target of around 280 in 75 overs. I wrote
then (and it proved miraculously accurate) that it would be a 60
percent chance of an Australian win with maybe 30 percent chance of a
draw and less than a 10 percent chance of a SA win. It has proved
correct. Actually looks like a complete knockout because some of the
South African bowlers have been even worse than what they should have
bowled.

I wrote earlier that it is COMPLETE IDIOCY to just declare for the sake
of declaring just to prove a point. Yes, you must go for a win (if it
is reasonably possible AND you have the attack for the conditions to
make it so).

South Africa should have ended this series with only a 1-0 loss.
Actually, even in Melbourne if it wasn't for that dropped catch by
Kallis (and earlier by Nel) SA could have won that match, inspite of
some umpiring decisions against them.

Then a draw here would have meant a 1-0 victory for SA. People who know
cricket would have discussed years later that a 1-0 loss could actually
have been a 1-0 victory.

To just hand Australia the test match in trying to prove some stupid
point is needless and could not only hurt them in the test rankings but
more importantly in the upcoming VB series.

Australia would be buoyant after this win and everyone who saw the
series knows that it was in reality a very very close series. Had SA
taken all thier catches, even though some crucial umpiring decisions
went against them they could have still won the series.

Stupid mistake by SA. If they had a bowler like Anil Kumble than maybe
they could have settled for 287. (Although I would have still made a
target of 310 or so and then declared).

SA should have made about 350 and set Australia the target in about 60
overs. It would have been 90 percent a drawn match. And a 5 percent SA
victory and a 5 percent chance for an Australian victory. Australia may
still have done it but then they could have lost wickets and allowed SA
to maybe steal an unlikely victory. Most likely it would have been a
drawn match but there would have certainly been more excitement and SA
could have retained some psychological advantage (knowing that but for
the rain things could have been a lot different).

Cheers

.

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    ... > for SA to declare setting a target of around 280 in 75 overs. ... > Then a draw here would have meant a 1-0 victory for SA. ... > To just hand Australia the test match in trying to prove some stupid ...
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