Macca

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.

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)

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!

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.

Go away and bother someone else with your inane ramblings.

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.

Patto has bowled some good deliveries but not enough dot balls. He's just starting back again of course so he gets a bit of grace. Still looks a good batting wicket - 3 wickets per session today and we can push for victory on the last 2 days (both the last 2 days have been extended by at least half an hour*) *Another half an hour can also be added to the end of each day if insufficient overs have been bowled - makes for a possible 2 x 7 hour days of actual play. There's another one - Johnno!

I reckon Marsh was the victim of the unwritten rule of last in, first out. Lehmann mentioned that the batting order in this particular Test was the originally preferred order for the 1st Test (Watson obviously didn't play in the 1st Test so that put paid to those plans) Remembering that Doolan seemed to be next in line for a spot (he was put on standby for the 5th Ashes Test in Sydney) I might have kept Marsh as well but I can understand the selectors thinking. I also remember reading somewhere that they were going to try and give Doolan a decent run at it. We can at least say that a new player has been given a decent chance. The reasoning behind Siddle being dropped was that he'd dropped his pace (once again, according to Lehmann) However, I reckon he dropped a yard of pace quite some time ago. He's still managed to fill the 3rd seamers role more than adequately so it could be that Pattinson's training form got him over the line. Lets hope Patto does bowl well as we're almost certainly going to need him to. Meanwhile, Clarke is now 149 not out. He sure knows how to convert 3 figures into something a lot bigger. A great knock - memorable, in fact.

If we take the view that there isn't a player who has had a line ruled through their name, we do have a number of alternatives (batsmen) moving forward. Khawaja, Hughes, Henriques, Maxwell or Marsh may get more chances (it's pleasing to see that Maxwell is going to play County cricket this season) In shield ranks there are any number of batsmen who have got a bit of potential (none seem to busting down the door but that possibility does remain) The selectors will need to replace Rogers sooner or later but Chris may go on for a few more years yet. With improved training methods and what not, professional sportspeople are continuing on past their traditional age of retirement. The bowling ranks are looking good with Starc, Cummins and a few others waiting in the wings. Muirhead, Boyce and Ahmed are plying their wares with their leg spin and all 3 show a bit of promise. According to your logic, anyone who thinks that Clarke is a good skipper is somehow thrown into the category of "Idolising National Leaders" It's just utter nonsense. I've no interest in arguing this out any further - there's no point. Don't quote me again - on any matter.

It was a really gutsy knock from Michael (judging on from what I did see and from the subsequent reports) Even his harshest critics should be giving credit where it's due.

Yep, Alex deserves a good go at it. We've asked him to bat in a tough spot for a newcomer and that needs to be taken into account when we're appraising him. He's shown a bit and his shots through point and cover have looked classy. Agree with the rest of your post. Siddle will play Test cricket again ... he has dropped a yard in pace but he should be able to get that back with all the help the modern day sportsperson can get these days. In many ways he's an ideal 3rd seamer and opportunities will come his way again (especially with the rate of injuries to our fast bowlers that's been happening in last few years) Watto at no.6 ... I like it. It effectively means that if the selectors want to look at an Henriques, Mitch Marsh or maybe even a Maxwell, the replacement for Watson subsequently just slips into the same batting spot (or thereabouts) We're in a great position to push for victory with Steyn out. I thought that the South Africans might have had the upper hand going into this Test but we've come out and won the 1st day quite convincingly. So far, so good.

I'm not going to engage with you if you're going to resort to these sort of acidic and insulting comments. You are so far off the mark it's laughable. My view has nothing to do with adulation or worshiping of any description. I simply applaud good leadership and excellent performances in sport and I try not to play personalities. When it's the other way around, I'll comment accordingly. Your hatred of Clarke is obvious and it's there for all of us to see. The truth is that you're carrying on like a sore loser - take a good look in the mirror.

If ever a player deserves a century, it's Clarke after last nights gutsy effort. Battered and bruised after surviving a torrid over from Morkel, he soldiered on to be 92 not out at the close of play (well supported by Smith, who is 50 not out) Along with Warner's tremendous century, Clarke's knock could prove to be a match winning one. All this in the most important Test of the year (arguably) Kudos to both players. Steyn looks like he's twinged his hammy and that's bad luck for him and his country ... but, that's sport. Playing 3 Tests in 22 days was always going to test the players durability. Advantage Australia.

Another from Jeff Lorber Fusion's latest album, 'Hacienda' ... this track is called "Fab Gear" Macca's jazz 6.9

Here's a couple from Steely Dan ... not quite jazz or maybe it is? First "Black Cow" from their acclaimed album 'Aja' ... then "Haitian Divorce" from their album recorded a year earlier called 'The Royal Scam' Macca's jazz 6.8

Plenty like him a lot despite all that. It's unnecessary, but he seems to thrive on it. Must say, he does bring more people to the game ... maybe even a few who follow the super short version of the game

3 x t20's follow on after this Test. Looks like we're already in that mode 0-43 after 6 overs

Captains and/or coaches live and die by wins. They either get credit for the wins or their position often comes into question if the losses are sustained. That's just how it works. Lehmann and Clarke should both be getting credit for our team's turnaround. However, having sustained losses doesn't always mean a coach or a captain loses his position ... there are numerous examples of that not always being the case. Border and Simpson's positions weren't called into question even though we didn't become a winning 'Test' outfit until '89. Winning the World cup in '87 bought some time but that's just me speculating. Anyway, I like Clarkey's style. He's a bit different to how a few of our previous captains have been but that's ok. He's just won the toss and we're batting ... well done 'Pup'

Clarke is a fine, tactically aware captain and Boof is a fine coach. I believe we've got an ideal set-up right now and support both men wholeheartedly. What does seems obvious is that Clarke is not well liked by quite a few of the fans ... but who cares? He's not there to be liked. He's there to captain his country well and make runs. As far as I'm concerned he does both jobs very well. He's having a rough trot with the bat lately but he's got plenty of brownie points. Clarke has just come off winning 6 Tests in a row and we're in with a show of winning a series in South Africa. He should be getting more credit but isn't.

From all reports Watto is going to bat at no.6. Your way would mean the batting order would largely be kept intact and is possibly the more sensible solution (more particularly for this specific Test) Batsmen tend to like to make a batting spot their own and being shunted about often doesn't help them or the team. Got a feeling that Marsh will make way for Watson but I'm only speculating. ... Watson accepts all-round role From the man himself ...

With the benefit of hindsight and perhaps for those who have shown a bit of foresight, Watson should have, at some time in the last couple of years, been moved to the traditional all rounders spot of no.6 in the batting order. The issue is that when he hasn't played, (which is roughly half the time when counting his entire career) the major part of our batting line-up often has needed to be looked at, addressed or changed. It would have been a far easier exercise to just replace him with another all rounder (or a new batsman) in the same batting spot (no.6) if he'd batted there in last couple of years. The latest news is that Watson* will come into the side and bat at no.6 (replacing Doolan or Marsh) This will mean that at least one other batsmen will need to move from their batting spot. In actuality, it's more than likely that up to 3 batsmen will be moved from their batting spots if Doolan is dropped. Marsh would probably move to no.3 with both Clarke & Smith moving up a spot - or Smith might be moved to no.4 thus leaving 'Pup' at no.5. However, Doolan was originally next in line before Marsh and Hughes so it might be Marsh who is the unlucky one to be dropped (Doolan was on standby for the 5th Ashes Test in Sydney) A settled batting line-up would have been the preferred option going into this vital match and it's entirely possible that we'll have 4 batsmen batting in different spots (including Watto himself at no.6) despite only making one change to the top 6. Not ideal. *Obviously, Watson doesn't get to pick where he wants to bat. He gets told where he is batting in the order (unless there's been a dramatic change in protocol)

Harris looked done in this last Test but before that he's looked fine. The policy has been that if a bowler is ready to go, they play him. Match conditions is far different to training form though. The Cape Town wicket has suited seam bowling previously (Philander picked up 8 wickets the last time we played them there) so if Harris passes a fitness test, he'll probably still play. The pleasing thing is we should have 2 'ready to go' back-ups to come in if need be. Bird hits the seam nicely and Patto will be keen to impress. The toss could be important and it should be noted that they won the toss and sent us in the last time we played them at Cape Town. They won the game by 8 wickets although the match only lasted 3 days. It's going to be interesting to see what sort of track is prepared. The other thing that is interesting is our batting order. If, as is being speculated, Watson plays, do Clarke and Smith move up a notch so that Shane can bat at no.6? Or does Watson slot into the no.3 or no.4 spot depending on whoever out of Doolan or Marsh makes way? Or could Smith leapfrog Clarke and bat at no.4? What is most probably true is that we'll need to be at our best to win as the South African's will be buoyant after their emphatic 2nd Test win. Dale Steyn looks like he's found his form and he might be the difference. For us, we probably need a big game from Johnno.

Rotation policy hey? That old chestnut! I reckon they've got it right now in all seriousness ... play 'em until they don't come up but make sure there are ready made replacements. Bird and Pattinson should be rarin' to go if needed. Perhaps they could have taken 6 fast bowlers in all (to have one more option) but we should be able to put a good enough attack together for the decider. It's looking like Watson will come in (his reverse swing might be needed if the pitch is an abrasive one) Doolan or Marsh will count themselves unlucky if either of them make room but by the sounds of it, they definitely want that option of a 5th bowler who can be more than just a part timer. Watto took 5-17 in the 1st innings of the corresponding Test match from just over 2 years ago ... scorecard Let's hope we get a result ... 1-1 is an acceptable result for us but the Aussie way is to play to win. This upcoming Test should be a beauty.

Well, it didn't quite work out the way we wanted it to but ... if we play well tonight and the bad weather comes into play on day 5, we can get out of this with draw - a win is a real long shot at this stage. They're a bowler down (Parnell) and that helps. Regardless of what we're chasing, we need a very good start when we bat again. If we can get to 1-100 or better still, 0-100, then we'll be well on our way to saving the game. If we get a start like that, then a win isn't out of the question (however, day 5's weather forecast might put paid to a win) Occupation of the crease is of paramount importance and the track is still good enough for any of the recognised batsmen to make runs on. The best thing that could happen from South Africa's point of view is if they are bowled out with about 30-40 minutes left in the first session. Or they declare early. As it stands, unless we can bowl them out, I'd expect Smith to bat on until at least the lunch break. May be wrong on that though. Smith couldn't help but be keeping an eye on the weather that's being forecast for day 5 (they're predicting around about 50mm of rain to fall throughout the day) We need to hang in there and win the 4th day (all 3 sessions)

If we can bat a fair bit past the tea break, we're back in the game. However, the slow wicket may not suit our batsmen to come who at times, like to hit the ball on the up. A few batsmen have been caught out in front of the wicket (Clarke and de Villiers come to mind but there's been a couple of others) Morkel seemed the most dangerous bowler for them although Parnell (the leftie) also bowled well. You're right about the weather forecast for Monday but we can't have a repeat of what happened yesterday. The situation is tailor made for Haddin - let's hope he can get amongst them again but he'll need to be a bit more patient on this deck. Johnson might be needed to chime in with a good contribution as well. I'm expecting the Aussies to fight back hard but the South Africans definitely hold the advantage right now.