South Africa v WI, 2nd Test, Cape Town, 2-6 Jan

AB GAAAAAWWWWWWWNNNN!!!!!!!!

Caught by Sammy off Bravo

57-1

That should halt the charge for South Africa now. Hopefully a few more wickets before the end of the day and I hear rain is due tomorrow, which should mean a draw if the Windies can keep their bowling tight.

...

It's a disgrace to see Cap'n Sniff take the game away from the Windies like this.

Amla GAAAAAWWWWWWWNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

Amazing juggling one-handed catch by Gayle. He juggled with one hand!!!!

Unfortunately all too late.

WI have really bowled poorly this innings.

Captain Fantastic GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

Another fantastic catch from Gayle, divin,g one-handed with his bad hand

Brilliant batting from South Africa, I take my hat off to them.

Rawl Lewis took 2 wickets but he simply does not look up to test standard. I'm proud of the guys as they made it competitive in spite of injuries that made life very difficult for them.

The next test is going to be difficult though, no Gayle or Edwards. That is going to be an extremely weak side:

Parchment
Ganga
Chanderpaul
Samuels
Morton
Bravo
Ramdin
Sammy
Powell
Taylor
Collins

Sarwan and Ryan Hinds are at home scoring runs in the Carib Cup and yet we have to watch the likes of Morton flat footedly wafting at balls outside off.

Interesting quote from Gayle on the BBC website - inviting Sarwan to "get his shoes on" and get over to SA.

I can't see any reason he can't or shouldn't join the team in SA.

He's clearly fit enough to be playing, so why isn't he there?

He kept on recovering from injury only to come back and get another one, so after his latest problem (broken ankle) they decided he should play the Carib Cup and score some runs, prove his fitness etc.

So far he has played one innings and scored 63.

So get him in. At 60% he should be better a bat than Ganga/Morton and a better bowler than Lewis.

Sarwan is currently playing a match against Trinidad that ends on the 7th. The third test match begins on the 10th. It does not leave much time for him to get to South Africa and be get acclimatized especially with the time difference. Interestingly, enough Lara is playing in the match and is currently on a century not out. Weird that both Sarwan and Lara is playing regional cricket while the WI play a test series.

WIFAN, as a fan of West Indian cricket can YOU tell me why Chanderpaul doesn't bat at 3 or 4? I acknowledge his resilience and 'stickability' makes him the perfect partner for the 'tail', but with the tail starting at 2 surely he would be better served batting up the order?

The criticism of Chanderpaul during this test match has left me open mouthed in disbelief. The poor bugger has been slaughtered for having faith in the tail and taking a single off the first or second ball of an over, while his captain, injured or not, is forgiven for getting out to a rash shot after already taking 12 off an over with the Windies in the ascendency and every chance of setting SA a formidable total.

During the last WC I was 'dissed' for suggesting Chanderpaul was little more than a nurdler, and rightly so. The bloke's a class act, and following on from his exploits in England last summer, imho, he's now challenging Ponting for the title of best batsman in the world.

The simple answer as to why he doesn't bat at 3/4 is that he is more comfortable batting at 5/6 and always has been in the past. I think he averages in the 30's at number 3. When we had Sarwan and Lara occupying 3/4 it wasn't a problem, but now there is a glaring need for him to bat at 3.

He is being robbed of centuries too many times when batting at 5.

WIFAN wrote:The simple answer as to why he doesn't bat at 3/4 is that he is more comfortable batting at 5/6 and always has been in the past. I think he averages in the 30's at number 3. When we had Sarwan and Lara occupying 3/4 it wasn't a problem, but now there is a glaring need for him to bat at 3.

He is being robbed of centuries too many times when batting at 5.

And doesn't appear to have much of a clue about batting with the tail either.

If Sarwan comes back at 3, and Samuels starts to consistently fulfil his potential at 4, then the Windies batting wont look too bad. They just need someone to partner Gayle at the top of the order. Maybe they'll have to throw Adrian Barath in at the deep end sooner rather than later? Bravo is out of form with the bat but I think he has the potential to make a lot of runs. Ramdin is pretty handy with the bat and should be persisted with.

XI for the next Game...

Windies

D Smith
Ganga
Chanderpaul
Samuels
Parchment
Bravo*
Browne+
Sammy
Powell
Taylor
Collins

SAF

De Villiers
Smith*
Gibbs
Kallis
Amla
Prince
Boucher+
Pollock
Zondeki
Harris
Ntini

Word is that Gayle is probably going to play the next test with his finger strapped up. Shiv was a worry as his wife gave birth to his second child, but there were no complications so he is staying for the final test. He will probably miss the ODI's though.

Edwards is almost certainly out unfortunately.

Red wrote:

The way SA is going it will become a minnow sooner rather than later.

Got this wrong didn't you.

Cap'n Sniffy still going strong.