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,

Adding further to your points H_T ... here's my take on things, not necessarily a strong view on my part ...

Kallis - played his last game in a winning series against India and made a century in his last knock. Good note to go out on and he may well have made his decision to retire beforehand anyway.

Smith - the timing seems odd but what if he was always going to retire after this current series anyway? The view could be that at least he hasn't retired after or during an easier series.

As for England, Swann has since stated that he'd been contemplating retirement for quite some time and Trott had a debilitating illness and has since made inroads towards making a comeback. Others like Prior simply lost form and was dropped and if Pietersen had a choice in things, he'd still be able to play for England.

I agree that the way the Australians have played may have confirmed those retirements but I'm doubtful that we've been the cause of those retirements like some may think.

What is also of note is that South Africa only play 5 Tests in the next 15 months (2 against Zimbabwe and 3 at home against the West Indies)

Edited March 4, 201411 yr by Macca

said this months ago,best all rounder since sobers.

couldnt beleive he retired.

we are now o/100 and the towel seems to be well and truly thrown in.

just hope thier top bats put up the class they have shown in the last 5 years.

Edited March 4, 201411 yr by jazza

Adding further to your points H_T ... here's my take on things, not necessarily a strong view on my part ...

Kallis - played his last game in a winning series against India and made a century in his last knock. Good note to go out on and he may well have made his decision to retire beforehand anyway.

Smith - the timing seems odd but what if he was always going to retire after this current series anyway? The view could be that at least he hasn't retired after or during an easier series.

As for England, Swann has since stated that he'd been contemplating retirement for quite some time and Trott had a debilitating illness and has since made inroads towards making a comeback. Others like Prior simply lost form and was dropped and if Pietersen had a choice in things, he'd still be able to play for England.

I agree that the way the Australians have played may have confirmed those retirements but I'm doubtful that we've been the cause of those retirements like some may think.

What is also of note is that South Africa only play 5 Tests in the next 15 months (2 against Zimbabwe and 3 at home against the West Indies)

Wow, I didn't know Sth Africa's Tests to come were so......much to look forward to... .

I've since heard Smith speak and he had contemplated where he'd rather finish and Newlands had been on his mind for some time.

It may seem harsh but I can't believe Swann retired mid series. If I was to be any harsher I would say he'd be trying to keep his bowling average from ballooning out any further.... .

Well played Aussies.

Lead of 343, already 109 for the morning session. I have been enjoying Warner's fireworks so far on 85*

Wow, I didn't know Sth Africa's Tests to come were so......much to look forward to... .

I've since heard Smith speak and he had contemplated where he'd rather finish and Newlands had been on his mind for some time.

It may seem harsh but I can't believe Swann retired mid series. If I was to be any harsher I would say he'd be trying to keep his bowling average from ballooning out any further.... .

Well played Aussies.

Lead of 343, already 109 for the morning session. I have been enjoying Warner's fireworks so far on 85*

Yep, good point. Swann probably should have waited until the end of the series. It wasn't a good look regardless of whether he thought he was done or not.

Warner batting has become phenomenal. It should be noted that he made 70 and 66 as part of a losing cause in the 2nd Test.

Jeez talk about doolan hogging the strike for zilch - 64:39

doolan intent on holding his wicket

davey slowing down as he views another ton

get on with it boys

Doolan definitely needs to hurry the fark up. This isn't tiddlywinks, there is a series win against the number one team on the line here. Either start hitting or get out trying.

In Dollsns head there are hive coaches saying "we need top order batsmen who can play a test innings and not revert to one day shots"

Edit : sent from small phone with fat fingers.

Edited March 4, 201411 yr by Biffen

both in their shells - partnership 51 runs off 126 balls

waste...plenty of wickets in hand

Btw - Duminy snuck into my test team for the demonland ultimate world champion cricket tragic super test teamand justified his spot this test.

I think as I have Broad,patto,Warner etc I win based on calendar averages for the season.

Relax, we've got this ...

1-153 in that session. There's a stack of time left. We'll have this match wrapped up before the tea break tomorrow.

Doolan has done quite well if a run a minute for the session was the goal. He's scored his last 32 runs off 53 balls. We can't be expected a relative newcomer to score at a run a ball. They could have sent Watson or Smith in but chose not to.

Patience.

Not sure what the tactic is here, to have scored 123 off 20 overs, then after Rogers went out 57 off 22 overs. I guess Clarke is trying to find a balance between leaving enough time and having just the right target - too large and they won't go for it (Smith is a conservative captain and we've seen South Africa's prowess at batting out draws), but too small in the time we need to bowl them out and they're good enough to chase it down (e.g. if we bowl for 130 overs, and they score at 3.5 an over, that's 455, so we need to be careful).

Absolute Jaffa from Morkel to Warner on 99, but he survived and managed back to back centuries this Test. 20th time an Australian has accomplished this feat.

Now sit back and enjoy the fireworks for the next 45min by Warner and Watson.

Edit:- Make it 20mins on second thoughts...

Given the pace we're going at now, it's hard to see why Warner and Doolan went so slowly before lunch.

Nonetheless, Warner scoring twin tonnes is immense, three in six innings, with another two 50s, all in a row. Great form.

Well done Davey Warner - history!!!

They're going at T20 clip now ... amazing stuff.

475 seems like a timely target.

We'll either want 30 or 40 minutes at them before tea or it might be a 500 lead we're looking for. At this rate, we might achieve both goals.

Declaration at around about 11.20pm our time at a guess.

To think that they were all out 47 in the equivalent innings at this ground just two years ago!

3-15

Johnson has now racked up 58 wickets @ 14.05 in less than 3 and a half months (8 Tests)

Surely that's some sort of record.

Yep, good point. Swann probably should have waited until the end of the series. It wasn't a good look regardless of whether he thought he was done or not.

Warner batting has become phenomenal. It should be noted that he made 70 and 66 as part of a losing cause in the 2nd Test.

A little birdy told me that a lot of the drama and Trott's breakdown was due to Swann sleeping with Trott's better half.

Doolan definitely needs to hurry the fark up. This isn't tiddlywinks, there is a series win against the number one team on the line here. Either start hitting or get out trying.

great understanding of the game.

bloke playing his first test,not enough runs in front as yet.plenty of overs left,can get fast runs after lunch.

got a feling the coaching staff,captain wouldve sent out the message if they wanted doolan to run himself out or get on with the game.

also think warner would have blasted him about strike rate or balls faced if needed.

next you will ape the media and tell us about "brave innings"

great understanding of the game.

bloke playing his first test,not enough runs in front as yet.plenty of overs left,can get fast runs after lunch.

got a feling the coaching staff,captain wouldve sent out the message if they wanted doolan to run himself out or get on with the game.

also think warner would have blasted him about strike rate or balls faced if needed.

next you will ape the media and tell us about "brave innings"

You've "got a feling" do you mate? So in other words you are speculating on what his instructions would have been, as all of us are. Clarke's body language looking on suggested that he wasn't 100% comfortable with the scoring rate, and it was rightly raised in the commentary several times. Doolan was plodding along when there was 9 wickets in hand and time was a factor. If his instruction was to do that, fine. I don't see why it would have been.

As cute as I find this obsession you have developed with picking apart my posts, with little personal jibes thrown in, I'm really not that interested in indulging them anymore.

You've "got a feling" do you mate? So in other words you are speculating on what his instructions would have been, as all of us are. Clarke's body language looking on suggested that he wasn't 100% comfortable with the scoring rate, and it was rightly raised in the commentary several times. Doolan was plodding along when there was 9 wickets in hand and time was a factor. If his instruction was to do that, fine. I don't see why it would have been.

As cute as I find this obsession you have developed with picking apart my posts, with little personal jibes thrown in, I'm really not that interested in indulging them anymore.

so the commentators had a feeling also.wow

not picking your posts for any reason as such.

they got enough and quick enough after lunch,if there was a slow scoring panic,they wouldnt have batted down as far as they did.

also the "commentators" also mentioned enough runs were scored and no more were needed at about 450.lead.

so "time" couldnt have been a factor.

also ,what was your "feeling"of seeing pups "body language.mmm you have a dip at me about my feelings,but your "body language" reading is ok .is it "mate"

just an opinion,enjoy travel free wednesday.

Just saw the highlights of the 4th day.

Wonderful sporting send off for Graeme Smith by both the South African and Australian teams.

The equal of the send off the South Africans provided Ponting at the end of his career when last in Australia

It's great to recognise the contributions of two outstanding players

Just saw the highlights of the 4th day.

Wonderful sporting send off for Graeme Smith by both the South African and Australian teams.

The equal of the send off the South Africans provided Ponting at the end of his career when last in Australia

It's great to recognise the contributions of two outstanding players

was also good to see kallis and boucher there to send off thier great mate.

steyn was very good to have a crack in a lost cause on day 4.got a lot of respect for this bloke.

so the commentators had a feeling also.wow

not picking your posts for any reason as such.

they got enough and quick enough after lunch,if there was a slow scoring panic,they wouldnt have batted down as far as they did.

also the "commentators" also mentioned enough runs were scored and no more were needed at about 450.lead.

so "time" couldnt have been a factor.

also ,what was your "feeling"of seeing pups "body language.mmm you have a dip at me about my feelings,but your "body language" reading is ok .is it "mate"

just an opinion,enjoy travel free wednesday.

Christ on a bike.

So in other words you are speculating on what his instructions would have been, as all of us are.

Read. Comprehend. You're speculating. I'm speculating.

It's silly and plain wrong to suggest that time wasn't a factor. Of course it was. You want to a) accumulate enough runs to defend and b) ensure you are left with enough time to bowl the other mob out. Achieving (a) quicker assists with (b). Not complex. As it turned out, Doolan did finally sacrifice his wicket and Watto/Smith came in to achieve a and b, but it doesn't make examination of Doolan at the time any less warranted.

Yes, it was mentioned in the commentary a few times. So what? Moody thought it was an issue worth mentioning. You don't. I know whose opinion I give more weight.

Enjoy yours. Say hi to the cows for me.