In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck believes that an exciting one-day series is on hand for spectators and cricket lovers.
A little less than a week ago, there was a debate raging in cricketing circles in Australia as to whether 50-over one-day internationals would have to make way for the more popular Twenty20 format.
That line of thinking according to well known commentator and columnist Peter Roebuck, can be ignored for the near future, given the two nail-biting one-dayers that have been played between Australia and South Africa – one at the MCG where the Proteas secured a three wicket victory with a couple of balls to spare, and the second at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, where the Australians won by five runs.
In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck believes that an exciting one-day series is on hand for spectators and cricket lovers.
“These (two) teams are well-matched, as has been obvious since the South Africans arrived a few months ago. Both sides fielded superbly but Australia took their catches and began brightly. Both teams bowled beautifully in the five-over powerplays and both teams depended too much on scoring heavily in that period. Despite losing their way with the bat, Australia deserved their victory (at the Bellerive Oval) because of their tenacity in the field and accuracy at the crunch,” says Roebuck in his article.
“With any luck, this series of five matches will be decided in the final encounter in Perth. In so far as the tourists have an edge it lies in their astute strategies and committed teamwork. Insofar as the Australians have an advantage it can be found in their ability to plunder an entire cricket community in search of fresh and fit players,” he adds.
He is of the view that the Australians prevailed because they won the battles of the new ball.
The South Africans, on the other hand, misjudged the chase and allowed the home team to scamper through.
“As 2-1 was the right score for the Test series so 1-1 reflects the one-day series. Roll on the third match a the SCG on Friday. So far the idea of replacing the old triangulars with a five-match series has worked,” he concludes.
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