Not sure why Ponting didn't stick with spinners for longer, I know he couldn't get many more overs out of them but they were getting wickets. And I don't think the tail bats as well against the spinners.

er.....er....er...Lewis had bowled extremely poorly prior to his final overs, Stuart Clark still had overs, there still were three more overs possible from the spinners, Lee still had an extra two more.

I can't think of a positive reason why Lewis was bowling. Unless Ponting wanted to hold the record for having a bowler have the worst ODI figures?

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Watch this for a perfect about.
James May

there is a nasty little theory that ponting did it for just that reason - to prove he was not int. calibre.

i don't buy into myself .. obviously ponting would have loved to win the series and not be handed an embarrasing title (i can vouch for that - i captained a rugby u/15 side to a 80 - 3 defeat) of being the worst losers on the planet.

still, a very interesting question and i can't for the life of me think of a better answer than the theory above

Well, don't worry BL. My first stint of captaincy in Under 9's soccer was met with a 16-0 loss!!!

I heard about that theory. But would you risk losing for it?

I can't think of a better theory either but surely there is something else? A great match nonetheless.

South Africa were still over 400 they always looked like winning with 5 overs left, no matter who bowled they would have gotten punished, he bowled Lewis due to him having a good reputation of being able to put the ball in the block hole. What a match though.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Sure hope they play it over here


Just incredible....

They needed 77 off 7 from memory?!?!

With Bracken and Lee still with overs, Lewis would be the last bloke I'd throw it to.

lee is the easiest to slog with his pace... and the batsmen in that form.... bracken would have gotten the same treatment also.. S.A was on a roll... just accept it

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It was an extra ordinary match and with a match like that, its easy to show thousand mistakes on the part of the losing side. SA played brilliant cricket, thats all.

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My computer can beat me at chess.....but its no match for me at kick boxing.

It was an outstanding encounter of cricket in the fifth ODI between South Africa and Australia.

A brilliant century by aussie skipper Ricky Ponting helped Australia to reach a mammoth world record score of 434 in 50 overs for the loss of four wickets.

Hold it.Don't assume the result of the match right now because it would be difficult to believe this-South Africa won the match.Hope you're still there,not fainted,because you've still got to read this.

A Ricky Ponting follow up was created when Herschelle Gibbs cracked a brilliant 175.Had he stayed till the end,he would have probably been the first to reach the 200 mark in ODIs.South Africa made 438 for 9 in 49.5 overs.

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I enjoyed the match because I wasn't playing it.I am the opening bowler for my team and would not want to get a sound thrashing like the Australian and South African bowlers did.

We all hope to see more wonderful cricket like that.Don't we?

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Karthik Venkatesan