Test Match Cricket

16 from 11 - looking like a draw now

This is becoming terribly anti-climactic.

Ah this is great drama, Philander turning down single opportunities to stay on strike while India have 9 lads on the boundaries

Final over Steyn on strike. 16 needed, can’t see him going for it

6 from the last ball. :rolleyes:

Steyn hits a six with the last ball but it is too late. Match drawn, SA 8 runs short. Can’t help but think they bottled this somewhat

Bizarre. 16 from 11 would be a shoe in in one day, never mind 20/20. The mind is a funny thing.

South Africa settled for the draw from about 3 overs out .
Why else did Vernon not take any of the singles to ensure he had the strike for the last over?
A big cop out by that horrible cunt Smith as usual.

Swann says some England players have no idea how far up their own backsides they are.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/10533573/Ashes-2013-14-Graeme-Swann-departs-with-swipe-at-England-team-mates.html

KP obviously and probably Broad as well I reckon, Bandage.

Is Swann not part of the Broad clique? Just another pathetic cut at KP I reckon. I really dislike Swann.

[quote=“Special Olympiakos, post: 877381, member: 366”]South Africa settled for the draw from about 3 overs out .
Why else did Vernon not take any of the singles to ensure he had the strike for the last over?
A big cop out by that horrible cunt Smith as usual.[/quote]
Fairly clear from his quotes after that Smith wanted them to go for it. Looks like Philander took the decision. They should have looked to get some singles and twos when Dhoni pushed the field back. I note India don’t seem to be getting any criticism for not pushing for victory after exposing the tail. Only an injured Morkel and incompetent Tahir left to come.

Would be great to get a proper book out of that dressing room. But Swann’s imminent media career will prevent him from writing it.

Jacques Kallis is retiring from test match cricket after the Durban test

His batting form hasn’t been great, but showed he can still contribute with the ball in the first Test. Very surprised he’s not staying for the Aussie series. Looks like he will fall short of 300 wickets now. One of the modern greats, will leave a massive hole for the Saffers to fill. Interesting to see what they do with the balance of the team now. I expect they’ll go with four quicks and Duminy to bowl some spin against the Aussies. Find another batsman to bat at seven, move Faf up to four and Duminy to six.

[quote=“Special Olympiakos, post: 875370, member: 366”]Whilst I am overjoyed Australia have regained the Ashes I am a lttle sad that the wonderful spectacle of Boxing Day at the MCG has been reduced to dead rubber status.

The fact Stokes is the first Englishman in their 6th innings to reach 3 figures tells you all you need to know about where this series was won and lost.[/quote]

Maybe just look on in as the 9th test in this never ending Ashes series with the score currently standing at 3-3 and all still to play for.

Prior dropped. Monty in. Australia won toss and put England in. A bit cloudy.

Its a bit of a strange one. He’s looked a bit sluggish last few tests but South Africa have only had 6 tests in 2013. Compare that to Australia and England both playing 14 tests. He many have slipped a little, but thought he would have hung in for the three test series against Australia, where he could have crowned his career with a fair few personal milestones. As you said, he’s on 292 wickets, 204 more runs needed to overhaul Ricky Ponting (and Rahul Dravid in the process). South Africa have won their last two series in Australia, but haven’t won a home series against Australia since withwashing them 4-0, 44 years ago. Last test in that series is on his home pitch at Newlands as well.

Kallis in my book the best cricketer of the last 25 years - ahead of Tendulkar, Lara, McGrath, Warne et all.

Anybody else having problems getting the internet feed of TMS*?

*I’m in Eire rather than on the mainland, but have a download to enable me to listen to BBC as one would be able to on the mainland, and am having no problems viewing BBC1 TV on my laptop.

Smith should have left that chance off Carbery to Clarke at second slip instead of diving across him.