H_T

Yeah that's fair enough. Watson has four 50's and Strauss three 50's and a century. Fwiw: - Series stats Watson - 397 runs from 9 innings @ 49.62 ; HS of 95. Strauss - 307 runs from 7 innings @ 43.85 ; HS of 110. All I asked was can a case be mounted....

Can a case be mounted for Watson over Strauss as opener ? Or does Strauss get the nod due to his century and probably his captaincy ?

Unbelieveable player. What a Test Match. Day 5 is a must watch. Should go down to the wire with these sides. They've been neck and neck throughout. Kallis has now passed Ricky Ponting for Test Match centuries. Kallis 40, Ponting 39. Fwiw Tendulkar is on 51. Harbhajan 5 wickets.

Somebody say demerit points ? what demerit points ? B)

Amazing. 146. Well bowled by Morkel. I was banking on Sachin getting a red ink. 75 demerit points for excessive emoticon use.

Tendulkar bowled by Morkel for 146. Trail by ~20 runs. Nothing in it. titan - your pick btw.

Tendulkar has surely passed that now, 136* at Tea in Cape Town. Class personified. Being treated to an absolute Cricket feast in this game. Steyn starring, Kallis, Laxman, Tendulkar starring, Harbhajan starring. Great clash 1 v 2. Prior to the series I and others tipped South Africa at home, I get the feeling India may edge ahead here with Tendulkar at the helm. The pitch has a few demons creeping in and any lead (trailing by ~46 at the moment) will be very handy.

Did RR beat you to Martin ?

Quite rightly recognised as a first round draft pick in D'lands Best Int. XI.

Kallis is durable, very durable. It's amazing a guy of his bulk and size has played at the peak for so long. Hitting the crease bowling time after time I would have thought may cause an injury or three. But no, he has continued on his merry way. Magnificent cricketer and competitor.

Whole heartedly agree. I was too focussed on Test Match cricket to make note of that.

Now averages 46 with the bat. Less than 16 for this Ashes series. Not sure why only 15% out of 3000 + *Daily Telegraph readers (*note: A Sydney paper) want him as Australian captain. But it might have something to do with his love for body art and modelling underwear as well as his poor form with the bat. Looks a very nervous player out in the middle, very fragile. Clarke I would suggest is in need of an injection of confidence as well as a tough fought out innings - an almost S.Waugh like gritty innings (game saving) - that the 'punters' might find attractive. Then they might turn around. His bat must do the talking. Not at One Day or Twenty/20. But Test match cricket. *Usman's innings today I thought was very good. Beautiful straight bat. Defended well, very watchful. Brilliant debut innings full of poise, patience and a good eye. Softest hands I've seen since..... reminded me much of David Gower. Made 37 but occupied the crease and faced over 90 balls in a good little partnership with Watson. Just what Australian cicket needs and a good replacement for Ponting at no.3 IMO.

Saw the Indian openers facing Steyn & Morkel and equally interested. Particularly Sehwag. Sehwag doesn't have much footwork at all to someone like Steyn. Appearing awfully flaky. The South African's planned accordingly with Smith at short cover/midoff in the catching position. Sehwag was out in the previous Test caught behind in slip driving on the up against the swinging deliveries of Steyn (outswing), and fell again driving on the up this time holding out to Smith with four slips in place and stuck on the crease. Sehwag is awfully flighty against good opposition and gets made to look second rate, despite a good Test record. The Test series in South Africa supports this. Hit & miss. Kallis is superb. I posted recently (it may be in the Best International XI thread) a comparison between Ponting-Tendulkar-Kallis their averages as well as their contributions held since turning 34. Kallis is held in high regard here at Demonland.

It's an exciting time for many to make hay while the sun shines in the second half of the shield season. RR's pick in the other thread.

Was one of the 68,000 + strong crowd for Day 3. It's not often you get an attendance like that (tad more than day 2) to a game that appears in control by the away side. Must say there was plenty of red & white around the G. Beautiful day weather wise. Can't say the same for the cricket...someone should tell Watson the 20/20 games are still to come. Try for a run like that then. Not in a Test Match.

Interesting call. Time will tell. beautiful day here at the G. Agree totally with Rogue - no excuses for run outs when 2.5 days to go and 360 odd behind. The openers were doing well too.

I'll give you something funny. You may have gone today. But guess what, I'm taking a break from my holiday to attend day 3 with a few mates tomorrow ! The positive is, hopefully we'll see two sides bat tomorrow ! Whilst I have said before that cricket is indeed sometimes a funny game; peaks and troughs can be experienced throughout. The Aussies on day 1 experienced a record trough that I doubt even the most optimistic of people believe the Aussies cannot come back from. But I'll leave you with words of wisdom and hope: Two days down, three to go. The bright side of things says: 1. good batting conditions with sunshine ahead 2. Most of the Aussie top order are due (despite poor form/technique) 3. Perhaps a day 5 pitch that may keep low. 4. Heaven help the Aussies....... It showed how important the toss was. And how important that whoever batted first must dig in the first two hours of play and retain wickets. Yep. Probably the biggest deflation after one of the biggest build ups to a series alive at 1-1 after Perth.

Good article. Can imagine him checking the rearview mirror around the Great Ocean Road.

I don't know the exact stats - but it seems to be the case. Gee South Africa played well. The bowlers had to work hard to knock over India in the second dig.

So where or what number would you put Ponting at if you bring in D.Hussey ? Who would you bring in to replace Clarke for his rest then for the Boxing Day Test ? Importantly, who do you promote up the order if Ponting drops down ?

Congratulations Sachin Tendulkar - 50 Test Hundreds. 14,500 run milestone. Sth Africa def India. Man of the Match J.Kallis - Test Double Hundred (maiden)

Hughes will also open. RR - it's your pick on the Best XI.

Certainly is. Whilst all the talk on Australia's first dig of 268 was all the criticism of the failure of the top order. Many forgot that in the Test Match - England were yet to bat and that there was still 4 more days play; three more innings to take place, not forgetting a total of 268 to erase on a pitch offering a fair bit for the bowlers; particularly if they bowled well. The conclusion of Day 1 showed enough promising signs for me from the bowlers to come to the conclusion that this test match was not over. MJ was bowling with noticably better reach and Harris whilst a little inaccurate was getting good swing.

Write them off at your peril. Back to the wall stuff. MJ has found his mojo. Watson, Hussey are shining lights with the bat. God help England if ever Ponting & Clarke kick into gear. Looks as though it is 1-1 and they head to Melbourne; centre stage. The series is alive.

Mitchell Johnson went back and worked on his bowling. He is hitting the crease taller and with more control. It's enabling him to swing and causing trouble for the batsmen.