My daughter and new boyfriend are going on Thursday and I'm joining them for the Saturday - The cricket better be good otherwise I'll have to talk to the boyfriend I'm not very sociable when it comes to boyfriends - its a Dad thing

Dale Steyn on Fire

Australia v South Africa: Dale Steyn targets Steve Smith as key wicket in upcoming Test series - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

"You look at guys who are great players like Steve Waugh and not many people can name a team underneath him, but you remember Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke."

Lets try this Dale

Ricky Ponting
Shane Warne
Glenn McGrath
Matthew Hayden
Mark Waugh
Brett Lee
Adam Gilchrist

Yeah, the first test was close, and England have lost the last test match in a number of series over the last couple of years, both dead series (last year's home series to Aussies) and non dead ones (WI away last year, NZ home last year, Pakistan home this year).

Bangladesh deserved the win for sure, they would likely have beaten the Aussies who pulled out of their last series there, and have been well beaten India an Sri Lanka recently.

Still, even though Bangladesh was good practice and despite England being the last team to win a test in India never mind a series, I think they will struggle this time. The top order doesn't have the strength of Pieterson from last time or on form Cook, nor the quality of spin from Swan. However the England middle and bottom order is much stronger (2nd innings against Bangladesh excepted!), they have several all rounders and the Indian batsmen weaker too.

Should be an excellent series, had England not lost against Bangladesh they would have had a decent chance of topping the rankings, instead it's unlikely unless they win the series comfortably like last time. And then not in England's control with an unusually poor South African outfit playing in Australia now, and Pakistan being in NZ shortly. Though Asian teams typically tour NZ badly, on the other side Pakistan played excellently at times in England just gone so will have a shout if they play anything like that, as NZ relying heavily on Williamson, with McCullum retired, Taylor out of form and B J Watling not contributing much with bat either recently.

Had the cricket on all day yesterday as I'm working from home. I missed all but the last 2 wickets, bugger. Let's see what lead the Aussies can get today

2 runs.

What's up with Alma?

Yeah, crikey hell of collapse there from the Aussies, 158 without loss to 244 all out. Sure to see a result anyway.

Elsewhere a rare away win for West Indies against Pakistan, also being a rare loss for Pakistan in UAE too.

I have no idea, but hope it is only temporary.

Yep, indeed. Good win for the Windies. It would be great to see them come back as a really good strength side.

Haha a lead's a lead I stand by my bravado

That lead has quickly disappeared.

Duminy and Elgar are dull. Too much patience. Working SA into a nice position none the less.

Eh?

Duminy got a century at a SR of just under 60 on a quick pitch against a quality bowling outfit

That's quality not dull

I soooooo want Australia to win by 2 runs now, on the very last ball of the 90th over on day 5

That's called excellent test match batting, if the Aussie bowlers get frustrated with it then one has to say, well played SA.