Further tales of two Tests: RSA v Aus, WI v Eng D1

At Durban Australia 4/303 ( 89 ov, P Hughes 115 ,S Katich 108) v South Africa: Test #2 D1

At Port of Spain England 2/258 (90 ov, A Strauss 139*, P Collingwood 54*) v West Indies: Test #5 D1

Test cricket resumed in the shadow of the Lahore attack, which is still attracting media comment and analysis eg Peter Roebuck in today's Age .

In both matches the batting side is on top. Australia might feel that they've relinquished some of the advantage they'd gained with an opening partnership of 184. Phillip Hughes's 115/151b (19x4, 2 x 6) and Simon Katich's 108/190b (6x4) were outstanding innings, with few false strokes and many brilliant ones, none more so than the two sixes hit by Hughes from consecutive balls in Paul Harris's ninth over, which took him from 93 to 105.

Scorecard

England would have been pleased with their efforts, and delighted with Andrew Strauss's 139/261b (11x4). Their selection of five front line bowlers (versus the West Indies' three) shows that the real contest is yet to begin.

Scorecard