England stitch up innings victory:

England 9/574d** beat South Africa 343 & 133 (50 ov, G Swann 5/54, S Broad 4/43) by an innings and 98 runs : T2 D5 at Durban. England lead series 1-0 with two Tests remaining.

Few surprises as England today completed the victory which their bowlers had set up on D4. Graeme Swann took 5 second innings wickets giving him 9 for the match (and, deservedly, the Player of the Match award). Stuart Broad made good use of the conditions to finish with 4/43. The other bowlers were barely needed or used.

There is no doubt that South Africa can regroup. The challenge for them is how best to do so. The first step will need to be a tough selection process. How considerations other than recent performance impact upon some key questions, eg whether Makhaya Ntini should be retained, will be very interesting.

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** From The Times :

England's first innings total was reduced by one run overnight after the umpires ruled that an overthrow that crossed the boundary was worth four runs not five, as the batsmen had not crossed. England's revised total was, therefore, 574.

England sweep South Africa aside and head towards victory : T2 D4

South Africa 343 & 6/76 (32 ov) trail England 9/575d (170 ov, A Cook 118, I Bell 141, M Prior 60)by 156 runs with 4 second innings wickets in hand: T2 D4 at Durban.

England added 4/189 in sunshine to its overnight 5/386 before reducing South Africa to 6/76 as gloom (both literal and metaphorical) descended over Durban. This is not to let the home team off the hook: Test match days don't come much more one-sided than this, particularly when honours on the preceding ones have been fairly evenly divided.

There were several very good performances from England players, including Graeme Swann's 3/22 from 12 ov and Stuart Broad's 3/18 from 9, but the standout one was Ian Bell's 141/227b (1x6, 10x4).

I've not been alone in thinking that Bell was the weak link in the England batting chain, but this innings has proved me wrong. Sure, he began tentatively on D3 but once he'd found his touch he kept propelling his team into a strong position. And there was more: when South Africa batted again he caught Ashwell Prince at short leg off Swann, which precipitated a collapse from 1/27 to 6/50. Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel held on until the umpires decided that the light was too bad, but at 6/76 with a further 156 runs required to make England bat again surely, despite the surprises of D4, only bad weather can save the Proteas. If it does that will be unfair to England.

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Sunshine transforms Durban and England batting: T2 D3

England 5/386 (123 ov, A Cook 118, P Collingwood 91, M Bell 55*) lead South Africa 343 on first innings by 43 runs with 5 first innings in hand: T1 D3 at Durban.

The sun came out at Durban, helping to change the nature of the pitch and the match. Some doughty batting from Alistair Cook 118/263b (11x4) and Paul Collingwood 91/215b (7x4) put England well on the road to a first innings lead. In the last session Ian Bell overcame some initial discomfort against Morne Morkel to push the total along with a fluent 55*/84b (1x6, 5x4).

Good as the English batting was, the South African bowling contributed to this. Morkel excepted, it looked ordinary for most of the time. On the evidence of the series to date Makhaya Ntini is not worth his place. On D3 he was better than on D2 but rarely looked more than steady. He has an admirable record but there are other considerations which the selectors will bear in mind when the team for the next Test is chosen. Paul Harris also bowled (to continue in damn-with-faint-praise vein) steadily, yet his 1/92 from 23 ov didn't look as impressive as J P Duminy's 1/39 from 13. Most batters can survive against him by watchful waiting, waiting that is for the far from uncommon loose balls.

With three days gone and the England first innings still in progress a draw looks the likeliest result, and the one which South Africa is probably already resigned to. An England win isn't out of the question but its 4-specialist-bowler attack will need to lift against the solid and deep South African batting, not to mention the pitch.

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England fight back after South African tail wags : T2 D2

England 1/103 (26.2 ov, A Strauss 54) trail South Africa 343 (108.3 ov, G Smith 75, J Kallis 75, A B de Villiers 50) on first innings by 240 runs with 9 wickets in hand: T1 D2 at Durban

Interesting day's play entirely under lights at an overcast Durban. First the last five South African wickets added 168, (58 of them coming from a Dale Steyn dominated last wicket partnership with Makhaya Ntini.

343 looked good until Andrew Strauss belted 54 from 67b (9x4) and took the wind out of the Proteas' sails. At least Morne Morkel dismissed him but that platform, and specifically the relatively easy manner in which it was achieved, will give England heart, South Africa food for thought and the spectators and viewers reason to keep watching (and hoping that the weather holds).

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One partnership but little else as England put South Africa on back foot : T2D1

South Africa 5/175 (61ov, G Smith 75, J Kallis 75) v England: T2 D1 at Durban

Fortunately Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis were in good form as England made early inroads into the South African batting on a day truncated by bad light (and a slow over rate).

From 2/10 Smith and Kallis batted beyond tea, increasingly asserting their authority over a disciplined England attack and adding 150 before Graeme Swann had Kallis well caught at slip for 75/132b (7x4). 3/160.

At 166 Smith was run out in a mix up with AB de Villiers for 75/186b (9x4). 4 runs later J-P Duminy was plumb lbw to Graham Onions, leaving de Villiers and Mark Boucher to grope their way in the deteriorating light to 5/175.

So it was England's day, though it's hard to tell what a good score for the team batting first in the humid conditions might be (250 is my uninformed guess), or whether the light, weather and over rates will allow enough play on days 2-5 to achieve a result.

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Further tales of two Tests #5

Test(s) Day 4 x2

At Durban Australia 352 and 5/331 dec defeated South Africa 138 and 370 ( JKallis 93, AB de Villiers 84, P Siddle 3-61, S Katich 3-45) 2nd Test D5.

At Port of Spain England 6/546 dec and 6/237 dec (38.4 ov, K Pietersen 102, M Prior 61 ) drew with West Indies 544 and 8/114 (65.5 ov, G Swann 21-13-13-3 , J Anderson 16-7-24-3) 5th Test D5

After their stout resistance on D4 South Africa disappointed. By losing 7/126 (Graeme Smith did not bat) to an Australian attack whose key members - Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus -motivated themselves for one more hard day's persistence, they threw in the towel.

The lowest score from the Smithless top 6 was JP Duminy's 17. Yes, the Durban pitch did play a few more tricks and the quick bowlers were well supported by occasional spinners Simon Katich and Marcus North, who took a combined 4/81 from 31.2 overs, but the Proteas, as in T1 at Jo'burg, disappointed.

Australia are now deservedly 2-0 up, something at the start of the series I wouldn't have thought possible

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At Port of Spain two quickfire innings,Kevin Pietersen's 102/92b (9x4, 1x6) and Matt Prior's 61/49b (8x4) propelled England to 6/237 before Andrew Strauss declared (IMO too late). This didn't leave England quite enough time to take 10 West Indies second innings wickets, well as James Anderson 16-7-24-3, Graeme Swann 21-13-13-3 and Monty Panesar 19.5-9-34-2 bowled on a pitch which turned many good length deliveries into grubbers;

Matt Prior was given the player of the match award, He certainly batted well in each innings but conceding 52 byes, not to mention some missed catches, during the match should have counted against him. Or is the modern wicketkeeper a batter first and a keeper second (or third...)?

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Lawrence Booth in The Guardian has a report card on the England team performances in the series.

Further tales of two Tests#4

At Durban Australia 352 and 5/331 dec (94.4 ov ov, P Hughes 160, R Ponting 81) v South Africa 138 and 2/244 (80 ov, J Kallis 84*, AB de Villiers 68*) Test #2 D4

At Port of Spain England 6/546 dec and 3/80 (15 ov) v West Indies 544 (178.4 ov, S Chanderpaul 147*, B Nash 109 ,C Gayle 102 , S Broad 3/67, G Swann 3/131) Test #5 D4

South Africa need another 302 runs with 8 wickets in hand to bring off an unlikely victory at Durban. The likelihood of them doing so, or at least holding out for a draw, has increased since they began to chase 546.

Australia batted on for a short time today, during which Phillip Hughes advanced to 160/323b (15x4, 3x6) before being dismissed.

Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla provided a reasonable foundation for the South African chase, but the really impressive work was done by Jacques Kallis 84*/161b (11x4) and AB deVilliers 68*/166b (7x4). The Australian frontline pace bowlers are tiring, Andrew McDonald has looked ordinary, and while Marcus North has bowled economically he hasn't looked like taking a wicket. Some of Simon Katich's left arm wrist spinners were more hittable but others looked threatening on the increasingly benign pitch.

Durban has a tradition of pitches holding up over a long time: it is now 70 years to the day(s) of the 1939 South Africa - England test which was left drawn on the ninth scheduled (eighth actual playing) day so that the England team could catch their ship home.

Australia may regret dropping Kallis at slip from the first ball he faced, and it won't be a surprise to see Graeme Smith come to the crease if he feels that circumstances warrant.


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At Port of Spain a draw looks likely after the West Indies took their first innings total to within two of England's.

Brendan Nash's 109/257b (17x4 - most of them on the off side) was his maiden Test century. He agonised on 99 for what must have been more than half an hour. Shivnarine Chanderpaul accelerated today to compile an impressive 147*/361b (13x4,1x6). Stuart Broad bowled well in the later stages but the others found the pitch didn't give them the fourth day assistance they'd wished for.

England are only 78 ahead: it's hard to see ten Windies wickets falling on day 5, even if England rocket ahead in the first session before declaring.

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Further tales of two Tests#3

At Durban Australia 352 and 3/292 (87 ov, P Hughes 136*, R Ponting 81)v South Africa 138 (57.3 ov, J P Duminy 73*, M Johnson 3/37, A McDonald 3/25). Test #2 Day 3

At Port of Spain England 6/546 dec (158.5 ov, A Strauss 142, P Collingwood 161, M Prior 131*) v West Indies 4/349 (109 ov, C Gayle 100 ret hurt, B Nash 70*, S Chanderpaul 52*) Test # 5 Day 3

Australia in the person of Peter Siddle bowled three balls to South Africa at the start of the day's play at Durban. These were sufficient to take the last two wickets (Graeme Smith remained retired hurt ) without addition to the total.

Australia then batted for 87 overs and lost three wickets for 292. :Phil Hughes scored his second century of the match and became the youngest Test cricketer to do so: he knuckled down and looked even more resolute than he'd done in the first innings. Ricky Ponting played at almost his best for 81/189b (12x4) - almost because he was caught in the deep off his trademark pull shot.

Australia's lead is almost insurmountable, even for a team like the Proteas who have recent form in chasing down large fourth innings totals. The rest of the game looks like becoming something between an attritional battle and a one sided collapse.

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At Port of Spain England wrested back some of the initiative when they had the West Indies 4 (probably 5 because Chris Gayle had retired hurt) for 203. Then the left handers Shivnarine Chanderpaul 52*/163b (3x4) and Brendan Nash 70*/167b (12x4) kept their side in the game with an unbroken partnership of 146 for the fifth wicket. The England attack bowled steadily, with Monty Panesar producing more variety than he's done for some time and without a lot of good fortune. Yet they didn't look running through their opponents, despite claiming Ramnaresh Sarwan's wicket cheaply for the first time in the series.

The Windies have only to draw to win the series 1-0. They will therefore be more than happy with a draw. England, despite some professions of optimism eg by Stuart Broad in a post play interview on TV, will need to lift a couple of notches to obtain the result which eluded them in Antigua.

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Further tales of two Tests#2

At Durban Australia 352 ( 107.4 ov, P Hughes 115 ,S Katich 108, M Hussey 50, D Steyn 3/83) v South Africa 7/138 (57 ov, J P Duminy 73*, M Johnson 3/37, A McDonald 3/25) Test #2 Day 2

At Port of Spain England 6/546 dec (158.5 ov, A Strauss 142, P Collingwood 161, M Prior 131*) v West Indies 1/92 (19 ov) Test #5 Day 2

An extraordinary day of fluctuating fortunes in Durban saw South Africa regroup and dismiss Australia, who reached 329 before the fifth wicket fell, for 352. When the Proteas batted Mitchell Johnson took two wickets - Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla - in his first over, and removed Graeme Smith with a broken finger in his second. Ben Hilfenhaus had A B de Villiers lbw in his third over, leaving the opposition in tatters at 3/6 (effectively 4/6 as Smith will play no further part in the match). Across both innings 9 wickets, by no means all tailenders, went down for 29 runs.

Jacques Kallis retired hurt at 56, shortly before Johnson bowled Boucher neck and crop. J P Duminy played a classy lone hand while Andrew McDonald's accuracy accounted for another three, including Kallis who was clearly out of sorts when he returned.

At the end of the day South Africa on 7/138 must have been bitterly disappointed with their batting. Yes the bowling, especially Johnson's, was very good (how long before Australia will field a spinner again?) and it's a cruel blow for any team to lose two of its top six batters injured, yet only Duminy of the fit four pulled his weight.

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In Port of Spain England added 258 against a generally moderate West Indies attack. After Fidel Edwards, again the exception who proves the rule (or my opinion), removed Andrew Strauss, who barely added to his overnight score, for 142/271b (11x4), Paul Collingwood 161/288b (12x4) and new father Matt Prior 131*/198b (12 x 4) led the way as their team trotted to 6/546.

The West Indies collapse which England supporters must have hoped for did not eventuate. It took the fifth bowler used - Monty Panesar - to take the only wicket, with what looked to my early morning bleary eyes like a straight one which Devon Smith misread. But, as the South African bowlers showed, tomorrow is another day.

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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.

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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.

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