On 03/03/2014 at 10:29, Macca said:

Great bowling from Harris. Might have had 2 in that over!

Both Harris and Patto are getting a bit of reverse swing by the looks of it.

4 wickets before lunch - excellent result.

Harris back to his very best after a poor second innings in the 2nd test, seems the selectors continue to get it right.

An outright certainly not out of the question.

  On 03/03/2014 at 10:56, gsmith12 said:

Harris back to his very best after a poor second innings in the 2nd test, seems the selectors continue to get it right.

An outright certainly not out of the question.

We're well on top Smithy. Would have taken 2 wickets in that session. 3 wickets was a win.

2 more wickets and we're into their tail.

  On 03/03/2014 at 11:03, Macca said:

We're well on top Smithy. Would have taken 2 wickets in that session. 3 wickets was a win.

2 more wickets and we're into their tail.

It's getting the next two that's the hard bit. Amla going before lunch was huge, but de Villiers, du Plessis and Duminy are the wickets we've struggled to take (as opposed to Smith and Petersen, with whom we've had little trouble really).

Having four in the shed by lunch is a great result though, doesn't matter who's out.

  On 03/03/2014 at 11:14, titan_uranus said:

It's getting the next two that's the hard bit. Amla going before lunch was huge, but de Villiers, du Plessis and Duminy are the wickets we've struggled to take (as opposed to Smith and Petersen, with whom we've had little trouble really).

Having four in the shed by lunch is a great result though, doesn't matter who's out.

The ball is doing a bit - it's more a matter of just getting one wicket. They've been playing their shots so that can increase our opportunities.

... and there it is! Johnno again!

  On 03/03/2014 at 11:33, Macca said:

The ball is doing a bit - it's more a matter of just getting one wicket. They've been playing their shots so that can increase our opportunities.

... and there it is! Johnno again!

A B de Villiers - key wicket. We've got them by the throat.

Now 6/146 with Duminy out.

Ball moving and Steyn to bat with a hamstring injury.

  On 03/03/2014 at 11:46, Whispering_Jack said:

A B de Villiers - key wicket. We've got them by the throat.

Self belief and confidence can take you a long way in sport. A lot of it is above the shoulders. The Aussies have well and truly got their mojo back.

Now for the footy club to do the same! 8-10 wins this season for starters! (at least)

  On 03/03/2014 at 10:33, dee-luded said:

He's finally showed up under full provocation, to stand up & be counted; its about time after all these years.

Cripes, he's scored 27 Test centuries, 8000 runs and averages 51. That's elite in anyone's language. I think he's well and truly 'stood up'.

Pesky partnership between Philander and du Plessis, 6/198 and time for Lyon to chip in.

Yep, du Plessis again. He knows how to dig in.

They should fight hard, they are the no.1 team ... not sure we bowled that well in the last hour before tea. About another 38 overs can be bowled from now until stumps (maximum of 2 and a half hours) and the new ball is due in 20 overs.

So we decide not to enforce the follow-on and Rogers and Warner ran out to bad.

After six overs Warner's on 25 from 17, playing as you'd expect in this situation. Meanwhile, Rogers goes to bed on 1 from 19...David makes it look easy sometimes, but it's not.

Effectively 0/234 with two days left, how long do we bat for?

Weather permitting I think 430- 450 to get with 40 overs on day 4 and a full day on day 5 to bowl them out. This target will depend upon how long Warner is at the crease (and if Morkel continues to bowl rubbish). Warner could make the target higher with more overs to bowl if he sticks around.

He is looking at back to back centuries in the one test.

  On 03/03/2014 at 12:21, mauriesy said:

Cripes, he's scored 27 Test centuries, 8000 runs and averages 51. That's elite in anyone's language. I think he's well and truly 'stood up'.

Agree maurie, err, mauriesy (that's a tongue twister). He's averaged something like over 70 (someone will have correct figures) since he's taken over as captain!

  On 03/03/2014 at 16:06, Rogue said:

So we decide not to enforce the follow-on and Rogers and Warner ran out to bad.

After six overs Warner's on 25 from 17, playing as you'd expect in this situation. Meanwhile, Rogers goes to bed on 1 from 19...David makes it look easy sometimes, but it's not.

Effectively 0/234 with two days left, how long do we bat for?

I reckon we'll need at least 4 sessions. Ideally 120 in the first session and another 80 or 90, declare at ~2:30 with a lead of ~440/450 with around 4.5 sessions at them.

edit....similar to RR^

Edited March 3, 201411 yr by H_T

This Australian XI finshes off another proven performer and captain at the top level.

Graeme Smith retires. Been a giant in the game for a long time. Tough and admirable leader. He has been picked apart by the Australians. Made the right decision. He would have been pushed at the end of the series. He has symbolised South Africas frailties in this series.

Now lets close out the Test and the series.

It's clear it was a premeditated decision but I'll admit when I heard the news of Smith's retirement my first thought was, "another one bites the dust".

It's strange because I always thought of Smith as a young man given he took on the captaincy so young. Was a truly great player in his day.

Speaking of players we've forced into retirement, I see Swann is joining the commentary team over in the old dart. I think he has misjudged just how much the manner he bowed out of the game has affected his public standing. The fans are still not happy with him based on the comments I've seen. He didn't just disgrace himself, he disgraced English cricket. Good luck Swanny, I have a feeling you're going to need it.

  On 03/03/2014 at 10:48, Macca said:

Go away and bother someone else with your inane ramblings.

maca, its all truth. face it.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idolatry

  On 03/03/2014 at 10:56, gsmith12 said:

Harris back to his very best after a poor second innings in the 2nd test, seems the selectors continue to get it right.

An outright certainly not out of the question.

I went to the club lat night to watch it after they were 4 out.

harris was fantastic, a huge change from his effort last test.

and the variation of watto was very handy.

  On 03/03/2014 at 12:21, mauriesy said:

Cripes, he's scored 27 Test centuries, 8000 runs and averages 51. That's elite in anyone's language. I think he's well and truly 'stood up'.

yes without taking many barrages like the true aussie cricketing hero's.

Punter withstood much more at the front-line than this bloke.

I have Full respect for what he's done in this test, & its about time he stood on the frontline, instead of back in the command post like the poms at gallipoli. all he has to do to be a hero is stand up-front, against the onslaught.

as a leader he shouldn't hide from intimidation. he should Lead from the very front.

Edited March 3, 201411 yr by dee-luded

  On 03/03/2014 at 23:47, dee-luded said:

I feel sorry for you - in fact, the only reason I ever spoke to you previously was because no one else would.

Seek help

Agree with a few of the above posters ...

If we have a lead of around about 450 by tea, we'll then have 4 sessions at them. 3 of those sessions will most probably be 2 and a half hours long. That is, in effect, almost an extra session. Ample time to press for victory.

We're in the box seat and the weather forecast is for fine weather.

  On 03/03/2014 at 23:59, Macca said:

I feel sorry for you - in fact, the only reason I ever spoke to you previously was because no one else would.

Seek help

i already new you did macca I respected that niceness but now your just hitting out like a little kiddie macca itsa your idolotry thats childish, & especially wehn it makes you so preciuos about your skipper. childhood fantasy taking reality proportions in your mind

its not me who needs help old boy. the truth is out there for You to seek.

I already been way along that path.

I not particularly seeking forum friends as it were, I don't need to speak one on one with forum postors. I'm here just to read & put forth ideas & thoughts, like most here. and I don't fell lonely. I feel sad for the way things are changing, & values are diminishing, such as your friend clark, who is about the same talent as kim hughes. just in a different Era... stats are only relative to the current environment. by the way I felt sorry for kim hughes to.

so I take it we're getting a divorce macca, I here daisy is available.

This is now getting creepy.

The Smith retirement comes as bit of a surprise. If he had it in mind to retire at the end of this series then I'm not sure how he can get the timing right unless his team were to go out with a series win (that may still happen but it's a long shot)

As for his own form, he's struggled, but we have bowled very well to him. Going out on top may have been his original goal.

It seems as if the last 2 sides we've met (England and South Africa) are/were in the process of a transition period (but we weren't to know that) Whether our team has been a contributing factor to both team's transition period's is debatable.

Smith has been a terrific batsman and leader and has had a fine career. They'll still be no.1 in the world (technically) regardless of the result of this current match so in many ways, it may be a good time for him to retire.

  On 04/03/2014 at 03:03, Macca said:

The Smith retirement comes as bit of a surprise. If he had it in mind to retire at the end of this series then I'm not sure how he can get the timing right unless his team were to go out with a series win (that may still happen but it's a long shot)

As for his own form, he's struggled, but we have bowled very well to him. Going out on top may have been his original goal.

It seems as if the last 2 sides we've met (England and South Africa) are/were in the process of a transition period (but we weren't to know that) Whether our team has been a contributing factor to both team's transition period's is debatable.

Smith has been a terrific batsman and leader and has had a fine career. They'll still be no.1 in the world (technically) regardless of the result of this current match so in many ways, it may be a good time for him to retire.

We were in a transition stage of sorts until Boof came to the rescue, injected some confidence and continuity (unchanged team in Ashes).

I think we've been a contributing factor to England's changes (Trott, Swan, and co...) and maybe Smith's alarm bells on retirement started ringing when his mate Kallis retired pre-series. And Australia just confirmed his thoughts,