Welcome back Pom! Did you get to to meet saman?

Tuesday... I think it also boils down to patriotism somewhat. I would quite happily watch 2 of my countrymen grind out a draw or a victory for 10 hours with no problem at all. Sure the shorter forms of the game can be exciting, but the greatest test of a cricketers mental strength, talent, and character is test cricket. Watching my countrymen overcome all odds to get a draw, no matter how boring others might see it as, is about as exciting as it can get for me. I'm sure you feel the same about the Aussies

Fair enough Ed, that's a deal. I am however somewhat surprised as to why people supposedly surprised at England's demise. One only needs to look at the recent stats of the teams and individuals in general to come to realise that this result is nothing more than what should've been expected. I'm not being arrogant in victory, not at all, nor am I saying SA is a great team (not yet anyways), but come on, when was the last time England did anything meaningful against meaningful competition? 2005? You get my point.

Hey saman... Did you get to met Pom_in_PTA?? Will be interesting to hear his excuses, he had no doubt that England would win the first 2 tests, it was just a formality according to him... hahaha! I agree with you about Tim Ellis' piece, what bollocks. But that is the pommy way, find some other way to run the opposition down when they beat you. And another thing... I realise that this is an English website, but is every single article about Eng vs SA test series about flippen England?? Every article speaking about what England did wrong and not one about what SA did right... come on chaps a bit of objectivity please

Penny... Fair enough, bringing Ponting into it maybe wasn't called for and was irrelavant, so I retract the statement. However, I was not patting AB on the back at all, if you read my initial post I slated AB and hoped the SA coach and captain would haul him over the coals for it. The point I was making was that Vaughan carried on like a stuffed pig about it but when the boot was on the other foot he refuses to admit guilt. Tuesday summed it up perfectly, thank you Tuesday. (never thought I'd say that!)

Fair enough Ed, there definately are too many grey areas. What annoys me is that the South Africans put their hands up and said ''Our bad, sorry chaps''. Vaughan still carries on about it and as if the cricketing gods destined it, he goes and committs a similar offence. Instead of admitting it, he denies the whole thing and still insists he claimed the catch. There was a bit too much of Ricky Poning in Vaughan's reaction to me...

I didn't know god had a dairy tisatito. Does he do pasteurized milk or unpasteurized milk?

So AB messed up, I slated him for that in an earlier post. But at least he admitted it, his coach admitted it, and now a young cricketer has learnt a vaulable lesson. Then along Mr. Vaughan... who carries on like a stuffed pig on the balcony and even takes AB on about it at lunch, goes and commits the same crime as AB! The major difference? Vaughan and his coach are having a little whinge about it and insisting the catch was clean... do they have a TV in the dressing room???? Disgusting England, pathetic effort, maybe Vaughan has sour grapes after becoming Steyn's bunny. Dont you agree Ed or are your views as one-eyed as Botham and the rest of the incompetent and moronic Sky Sports team. At least the supersport presenters lambasted AB for the incident...

tisatito... For a guy who worships TendulkAr so much, you'd think you would be able to at least spell his name correctly...

Very disappointed in AB, thats not on. Hope Smith and Boucher really haul himover the coals for that, I'm sure they will. The SA commentators really into him, more than the English commentators did, and rightly so. I am just glad it was given not out. Damn you AB for sinking to Ponting-esque unsportsmanlike behaviour...

I agree with Ed, we must not drop Boucher. You guys are all forgetting one important thing, if Boucher gets removed, the team spirit and dynamic will go south. Boucher holds an important position of authority in the team and rightly so. Dropping him will have ramifications off the pitch that will translate into poor performances on the pitch. No player should be untouchable, but for now that's how it is. Don't want to ruin the good team spirit that we currently have!! Somehow, someway though, Duminy needs to get a run. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he is the next big thing in SA cricket. Watching him bat is like poetry in motion.

You guys are also forgetting something... take Boucher away, and Kallis will probably follow. Those 2 are joined at the hip. I'm all for friendship and standing up for each other, but they take it a bit far. Their friendship comes before their careers it seems. (And I'm NOT making any sexual references before someone tries to jump on that bandwagon)

I'm 1.81m, 106 kg's and used to consistenly bench 120 - 140kg's, with a spotter there only to prevent me choking myself if my arms gave way... which they often did at that weight! Boucher benching 110kg's is definately believable. My mate, who is 1.79m, once benched 220kg's, no assistance (human or chemical). So it's possible, benchpressing is 60% strength and 40% technique. Much like scrumming.

Yip Ed, those AB's island boys are strong buggers! So I can believe it. But I'm more like Will Farrell in Anchorman... welcome to the gun show! lol

Ed... ah yes, benching 110kg's is decent, but I was refferring to bicep curls. 50kg in each hand is seriously hardcore! (ok I admit I can't do it either!). Just for the record, back in my rugby days my biggest bench press was 140kg's, although I wouldn't get near that now!

CricketChick.. I'm all good thanks, just sitting here working on the guns with my 50kg dumbells... 99, 100! Ok I'm done! Phew! haha! I also think dropping Boucher would be a major mistake, he might not be performing great, but form is temporary and class is permanent, and he'll be back. The fight and aggression he brings to the team cannot be replaced, as much as I'd like Duminy to be there.

Wow so apparently I have multiple personalities! Awesome! I'm so hot right now... Cricketchic, how YOU doing? :-)

Penny... nom de plume? Easy on that latin there tiger! Swinnger... to comparing test cricket to 20/20 is like comparing the Art of War to Pacman... Pacman is fun and entertaining, but the Art of War is all about strategy, intelligence, patience, and is a test of character. Test cricket all the way for me

MasterG... I agree, I think will definately be the happier of the 2 teams having drawn this test. Their confidence levels will also be on the up, whilst the English will be tired and demotivated after toiling in the field for 3 days. I look forward to the next test. The critisicm of Ntini is a bit unfair as all of SA's bowlers were awful, but I feel they will all bounce back strongly. Would like to see Zondeki in the team, but feel Ntini deserves another shot. Having 3 relatively young and inexperienced frontline bowlers might not be the wisest move. I would also love to see Duminy in there, as I believe he is the next big thing in SA cricket. A week ago I would've said drop Prince, but you can't now can you. So Duminy must maar wait I guess...

alumrock... Firstly I'm not the one posing as Asif. Secondly... Let's see, Waqar Younis, Shaoib Akhtar, Asif... those are the ones that I know about. Wasn't Wasim Akram also accused at some point?

"they can not accuse asif for drugs becasue he is a pakistani and pakistanis say no to drugs"... Alumrock, I can only say this... hahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha!

(A tribute to certain Pakistani fast bowler, sung to the tune of a well known song...) I was gonna play some cricket, but then I got high... I was gonna make something of myself, but then I got high... I told everyone I was innocent in Dubai! And then I got high, then I got high, then I got high...

I'm here! Havent been hiding at all, more like partying it up after a big win against the All Blacks in the rugby. Yes, cricket sadly comes second in my sport life, with rugby top of the list. The initial horrid few days suffered by the Proteas was to be expected, we have a habit of starting off badly. But order is slowly being restored... hopefully we can still pull off the draw and then start winning after that. I believe that if SA manages to fight out the draw, it will do more for their confidence than England's going into the next test... anyone agree?

Any chance of a neutral doing the live commentary here on C365? Using every opporutnity to have jibe at the SA is getting a bit annoying. Yes we are being put to the sword but no need to get personal and insulting...

Tuesday... you dont know the first thing about respect, so dont even attmept to use that word. You haven't respected KP as you say, theonly reason you like him is because of the history with him and Smith... come on you know I'm right...

Well played England and KP. SA have a habit of starting off a test series badly, so I expect them to bounce back, especially Steyn, as he always does.

SA to bowl first... Good decision by Smith me thinks, given all the moisture about in the last few days. I was hoping we'd have a bowl first

KP_Rocks... How can you rate KP above Smith and Vaughan in the captaincy stakes when KP has never captained a team other than the most recent ODI? Just because you like a player or think he is good doesn't mean he will make a good captain. Hell, KP couldn't lace Kallis' boots as a test batsman, but I think Kallis would make a terrible captain.

Tuesday... check out the article on Graeme Smith on BBC Sport, sure to make your feline infected blood boil...

Here we go... its almost time...

OkUKman... Height and bounce are not Steyn's strengths, it's his ability to swing the ball more than Sidebottom or Anderson at 150km/h that makes him so dangerous.

Tuesday... Yes we have a high murder rate, and one has to be vigilent when in SA. However 90% of the crimes and murders committed are confined to the very poor 'townships', where I can assure you none of the cricketers would be staying. They will be very safe in SA. Although I'd gladly take "mini-me" Ponting on a tour of Alexandra... They really like foreigners there.

I know I said I wouldn't comment on this, but I feel the need to point out Pom's contradictions... If the pretend-a-african thing has nothing to do with skin colour and rather a person's attitude, then how can you call the cricket team pretend-a-africans?? Have you met them? Do you know their views or attitudes towards things? I think not. So stop trying to justify yourself buddy. You don't know my views either, but if you go back and read my comments on transformation, my feelings about my country, etc. you will notice I am all for transformation, it is the methods that need fixing. So before you try brandish people pretend-a-africans maybe find out a bit more about them. If certain 'old south africans' ridicule you because of your colour then call them anything you want, hell I'll even join you, racists are my pet hate. And you and I both know that your 'pretend-a-african' comments have everything to do with colour and nothing to do with attitude, changing your tune now won't fool me. And you are only stooping to the level of the same people who ridicule you.

Only 2 more days till the most anticipated series of the year gets underway! I for one can't wait, no if's and but's, this is the real deal and the time where the players need to step to the plate and do their countries proud. I feel the team that has the strongest mental resolve will take it. My prediction... 2-0 to SA. I hope I'm right!

That's interesting one.. Hashim Amla a flash in the pan or the real deal? I reckon he is the real deal. The last time a player was given an extended run after an awful start to his career like Amla has, that player turned out to be pretty darn decent... anyone heard of Jacques Kallis? So I trust the selectors, and it seems their faith in Amla is starting to pay off. Jonhenry, only a pleasure, Tuesday's ramblings should never be taken seriously anyways.

dazzler also likes to talk in the third person, it makes dazzler feel important

i agree. i have always said i have no problem with transformation, as it gives us the opportunity to tap into so much talent that was previously untouched. The reason i get so annoyed, is i dont believe any of the administrators give 2 hoots about transformation, but they use it to the advantage of their own agendas, whatever they may be. They are all corrupt, incompetent morons who dont deserve to be there and have failed thousands of youngsters in failing to establish a transformation system that works. bottom up, install quotas at junior and club levels, and even provincial if need be. The best white and the best black will still filter through. KP was coming through the ranks around the same time as Graeme Smith... why did Smith make it? he stuck at it, he worked, he didnt expect everything to be handed to him on a silver platter, whereas KP did. He has a fighting spirit and the backbone of a 3 year old girl. i'm glad England took him off our hands for us

shesh... talk about scraping the barrel

i've been saying it for ages now on the forum, JP Duminy is the next big thing in SA cricket. Hopefully now the selectors will agree. Oh and Arthur's comments on JP needing to perform on a consistent basis at provincial level in the onger format of the game... Duminy topped the batting averages in the SS Series this year, averaging over 90. Anything else Mr. Arthur?

"It's a tough game and out there from time to time emotions will boil over and perhaps some of the words said would not be acceptable in gentile company but they are said and that is what happens." Then why did you charge harbhajan singh you hypocrite...