South Africa hasn’t won a home Test series since the Bangladesh tour in 2008, this trend continued against India. We have not been able to affect a series win at home against Australia, England and now India in the past three years.

The result wasn’t what we were all hoping, the cricket that has been played on this Indian tour can only be described as classic and history making. Here are some statistics and my highlights from the tour:

I have to start with Jacques Kallis, he scored the most runs in the Test series, 498, with the highest average, 166.00 and top scored with 201* in the first Test at SuperSport Park Centurion. That is total domination, then factor in that he only got out three times, and one of his dismissals as a freak run out as the ball was hit back to Sharma and it ricocheted onto the stumps at the non-strikers end. Add to that he scored a second innings century, injured, when his team desperately needed him and you start to under stand why he is considered to be a playing ledged of the game. CricInfo’s S Rajesh’s column ‘Jacques Kallis, take a bow’, sums up his career to date beautifully: http://mzan.si/bpGC

The first day of the Test series saw an inspiring display of seam bowling, and I was privileged to have been there. The start to first day was preceded by some heavy rain in the Centurion area, the Hennops River burst its banks, and the Centurion lake hotel was flooded.

Much had been written about the Indian batsmen’s inability to deal with the pace and bounce of the South African wickets, this was vindicated as Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn ripped through the Indian batting line up, leaving the Indians on 136/9. I’ll remember that afternoon for a long time.

My third highlight is the 75 ball century scored by AB de Villiers. It was the quickest Test century by a South African and the 10^th fastest in all Tests. de Villiers put on 129 runs from just 112 balls to take the game away from India. CricInfo’s statistics on the fastest Test centuries.

A major highlight from this series was the continued improvement of Lonwabo Tsotsobe. The first Test in Centurion was his first home Test, he previously made his debut in the West Indies.

Tsotsobe, a left arm quick, took some heat in the first innings going at 5.55 per over, and was not able to take a wicket while the Indian batting line-up was collapsing. Tsotsobe affectionately known as Lopsy improved his performance in the second inning, conceding runs at 4.08 and managing to take his first wicket on home soil.

Tsotsobe continued to improve in the second Test in Durban; he brought down his economy rate further to 3.63, and took the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Pujara. In the second innings he again improved his economy rate to 3.30 and took the wickets of Sehwag, Dravid and captain MS Dhoni.

Speculation grew that Tsotsobe would be dropped for the third Test at Newlands, but the selectors showed their faith and again Tsotsobe continued his improvement. He was even more economical in both innings and was very unlucky to walk away with only one wicket when he could easily have bagged four or five if the rub of the green had gone his way.

Every Test series develops its own character, and after the run-in between Graeme Smith and Sreesanth during the second Test in Durban the heat was on. The climax of the Sreesanth vs South Africa banter came to a head on day three of the Newlands Test when a spectator chirped Sreesanth after he kicked the boundary rope in frustration. Sreesanth then had a word with the umpire and brought the game to a stand still for ten minutes, the Newlands faithful poured on the pressure with all 25 000 spectators clapping in unison while Sreesanth threw his toys out the cot.

Overall the Test series was great to watch, here’s hoping the One Day International series delivers the same intrigue and excitement.

Jacques Kallis has been playing international cricket for 15 years, in those 15 years he’s scored 11 650 Test runs, 54 half-centuries, 38 centuries and 1 double-century. Kallis managed to break the hoodoo of the illusive double-century in the first Castle Larger Test against India at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Kallis’ previous best was 189* against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2001, Kallis had failed to reach 200 on ten previous occasions, either getting out or being stranded between 150 and 199. It’s only fitting that Jacques Kallis achieved his Test double-century against India, who are currently ranked as the number 1 Test team in the world.

Many people have criticized Kallis saying that that he bats for his average or puts the value of his wicket above that of the team, to those critics I suggest you read Dan Nicholl’s article where he asks the question, “Kallis the greatest ever?” where he notes ; “It was circumstance that demanded a conservative approach, and it produced a batsman whose wicket quickly became one of cricket’s most prized”

Kallis’ double-century has moved him into third place on the ICC Test batsmen rankings, add to that he’s ranked as the 22^nd best Test bowler, the top Test all-rounder, ranked as the 9^th best ODI batsmen in the world, and is only 31 Test wickets short of 300 and you get the picture that this man is one of, if not the finest all round players to have ever played the game.

South Africa will soon head to the West Indies for a tour that will include three test matches. This will give Hashim Amla the opportunity to polish off an impressive season with his chance of over taking India’s Virender Sehwag to hopefully move to number 1 in the Reliance Mobile ICC test rankings.

Hashim Amla is currently 21 points behind Sehwag, in the Test rankings, fellow South Africans in the top ten include Jacques Kallis at 8 and Graeme Smith at 9. Jacques Kallis also holds the number 1 position for All-rounders.

In the bowling department we still have Dale Steyn ranked as the number 1 Test bowler. Morne Morkel has entered the top 10 Test bowlers in 8^th position. Makahya Ntini is still in 9^th place, he’s sure to drop down the rankings soon as the fast bowler comes to the twilight of his magnificent career.

The Proteas team are still ranked 2^nd behind India and ahead of Australia, the Aussie’s are only one point behind so we’ll pretty much need to win everything to remain in second, and if we win the series we should go to number 1.

I’ve watched almost every game that has been played in the ICC World Twenty20 and have noticed a few things.

Don’t break the flow of the game

The IPL can learn from this competition, the introduction of the ‘strategic break’ in IPL 2 was absolutely ridiculous. The break did exactly that “break” the flow of the game; the commentators started talking about the effects of the eleventh over in the IPL.

In this ICC World Twenty20 there have been no breaks, the game has flowed and the scores have been much higher, which the cricket fans love.

There is still place for an elegant cover drive in Twenty20 cricket

My second observation that I’d like to discuss is that batsmen can still play a cover drive in Twenty20 cricket. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis in particular have played good cricket strokes in this ICC World Twenty20, and it’s worked.  Jacques is currently the leading run scorer in the competition with 147 runs in four innings with a strike rate of 129.85.

It hasn’t been often that you’ve seen Jacques play a shot in anger over the past few weeks. And when he has played the big shot it’s been with control. The same can be said about AB de Villiers, this man is pure class and he’s managed to bring that class and batting elegance from test cricket into the Twenty20.

The players who have struggled have been the guys trying to smash the ball out the park from ball one, Albie Morkel, Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher.

Taking the pace off the ball

Having the ability to take the pace off the ball without being hit out the park, is possibly the greatest asset any team can have. Seven of the ten most economical bowlers in the competition are spin bowlers.

If you have a decent pace attack that can be backed up by your spinners then you’re going to do very well in Twenty20 cricket. Look at the South African team, we have great opening bowlers in Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell, as soon as they come off we have Johan Botha and Roelof van der Merwe to build the pressure on the batsmen which then allows for the part timers to take wicket as the batsmen now need to up the run rate.

My last observation: if you have Wayne Parnell in your team, you are going to win the ICC World Twenty20

Statistic were taken from CricInfo, as of Monday June 15 @ 15H50

In the previous MTN ODI at SuperSport Park the bowling from Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell lead to the demise of the Australians. At Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town it was the batting of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers that put the game beyond the reach of Ricky Ponting’s men. After finally winning a toss in the home series, Graeme Smith elected to bat first, knowing well that chasing a total at Newlands is an almost impossible task. The opening pair of Smith and Gibbs was ineffective; they gave way for Kaills and de Villiers to take control.

It must be said that the bowling from Mitchell Johnson built the pressure on the openers, Johnson finished with figures of 10 overs, 2 maidens, 32 runs taking 4 of the 6 wickets that fell in the Proteas innings.

Kaills and de Villiers both went to half centuries as they built their partnership, taking South Africa from 50/2 to 164/3. This partnership was the foundation that allowed the rest of the batsmen room to play shots. Duminy, Morkel and Boucher all scored at more than a run a ball. In the final over of the innings Roelof van der Merwe came to the wicket, with four balls remaining everyone was suggesting he take a single and let Boucher do the rest, but Roelof had other plans. He flashed at the first one, swung wildly at the second, and then knocked a massive six to square leg. This man has passion; he wears his inexperience on his sleeve. I can’t wait to see this young player mature into a regular in the Proteas side. South Africa posted 289/6 after their 50 overs.

With the knowledge that the highest successful run chase at Newlands was 229, the South Africans were confident. The spectacular bowling carried over from the previous game, with Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell restricting the run rate. On the back of the good work the pace bowlers had done, the new spin bowling partnership of Botha and van der Merwe came into play. Roelof van der Merwe, taking 3 wickets for just 37 runs from his 10 overs, was the pick of the bowling attack.

Australia batted well in the end to score 264/7, something the Proteas should keep an eye on. Looking forward to the fourth MTN ODI in Port Elizabeth on Monday the Proteas will be confident, both their bowling attack and middle order batting attack have performed well. It’s time for our openers to perform, leading 2-1; I’ll back them to win the series.

Well Ricky Pointing said it, I didn’t agree but after watching those last few over in the field on Friday night, I have to agree now, the South African team have a very different dynamic under the leadership of Graeme Smith. The different dynamic is confusion. Smith had the field placements changing every ball towards the end of the innings, at one point he swapped the entire off side and onside fieldsmen around.

The last few overs of the Australian innings lost the game for South Africa, the additional 40 or so runs that were conceded put massive pressure on the South African batsmen, which they couldn’t handle. Australian’s total of 287 was the second highest total posted at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead in Durban, which puts our bowling and fielding effort into perspective.

In the process of losing the first MTN ODI on Friday evening, South Africa also gave up the  number 1 spot in limited overs cricket to Australia. Which is a particularly painful experience.

Graeme Smith will have to show some composure, the senior members of the team also need to stand up and be counted. I haven’t heard what the team will be for the second ODI, I’m sure Jacques Kallis will return if he’s fit.

The South African public have supported the Protea’s team with pride over the last four months of cricket against the Australians, it’s time for the Protea’s to give back, give us an ODI series victory boys, you can do it.

The South African batsmen have shown what they can do when they decide to come out and play cricket. In the South African innings of 651 there were three centurions in one innings, Ashwell Prince 150, Jacques Kallis 102 and AB de Villiers 163.

Ashwell Prince was promoted to opening batsman; He came out to bat in the last hour of the first day and played like a man on a serious mission scoring 37 runs from 36 balls in the last hour of playon day one. Returning to the crease on day two Prince scored his 11th test century from 152 balls. Ashwell Prince was eventually out having scored 150 off 249 balls with 19 fours and two sixes.

Stand-in captain Jacques Kallis scored his 31st test century, Kallis had to put up with some fearsome bowling from the Australian pace attack at the start of his innings.

AB de Villiers, having scored a century in the first Castel Test Match repeated his heroics in Cape Town top scoring in the South African innings with an impressive 163. De Villiers, began day three on 39, he got stuck into the Australian bowling attack as he earned his ninth test century, and his third against Australia, off 149 balls with ten fours and one six.

De Villiers then needed just 32 balls as he raced to 150 off 181 balls with 11 fours and seven sixes before he was eventually caught by Andrew McDonald off the bowling of Katich.

Not to be forgotten was the half century scored by Albie Morkel on debut from 59 balls, shared a fantastic seventh-wicket partnership of 124 off 120 balls with De Villiers before Morkel got out.

This brutal batting attack left one seriously wounded Australian bowler Bryce McGain. McGain is a leg spinner who made his debut in this Castle test match. McGain got hammered by all the South African batsmen ending his first bowling effort in test cricket with the following bowling figures:

18 overs, 149 runs, 0 wickets at an average of 8.27 per over

South Africa is in a dominant position at the close of play on the first day of the third and final Castle Test match at Sahara Park Newlands, Cape Town. Ricky Ponting won toss and elected to bat first, perhaps not the best decision. A poor start in the field saw South Africa drop two catches, while the Australians moved on to 58/0. Imraan Kahn dropped a sitter and JP Duminy dropped Hughes off Paul Harris. Harris stepped up and took the wicket of Hughes two balls later to open the wicket taking.

One run later and Ricky Ponting was walking back to the Pavilion with a duck next to his name. The highest scorer for Australia was Katich who was out for 55 off 160 balls.

Jacques Kallis captained the team well and had the Australians all out for 209, an hour before the end of the day. Enter Imraan Kahn and Ashwell Prince, the expectation to score was high after scoring a big century and a double century respectively. Prince led the partnership scoring freely to take play to a close with South Africa on 57/0. Prince had scored 37 runs from 36 balls in a powerful batting display.

South Africa are 157 runs behind, if Prince picks up where he left off the Australians are going to be in trouble by lunch on day two.

All the rumors of unhappiness in the team have been put to rest by an inspiring batting performance, now we need to keep or heads and add 300 runs on day two to setup a powerful first innings lead.

Bowling performances from South Africa:

Steyn: 16 overs, 56 runs, 4 wickets
Ntini: 17 overs, 38 runs, 2 wickets
Kallis: 10 overs, 31 runs, 0 wickets
A Morkel: 12 overs, 44 runs, 1 wicket
Harris: 17 overs, 34 runs, 3 wickets

Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday that it had decided to stand Ashwell Prince down as captain to allow him to concentrate on his new position of opening batsman.

Jacques Kallis will now captain the team on a one-off basis in next week’s third Castle Test against Australia at Sahara Park Newlands.

Kallis also captained the Proteas in the final Test of the previous Australian tour to South Africa when Graeme Smith was injured.

Source: Cricket Tweets

The Australians set South African a massive 545 for victory in the second Castle Test match.

With Smith sitting in the changing room Neil McKenzie and Amla opened the batting, they did well to see off the new ball but they both got out just as they were settling in. We have to ask if that will be the last time we’ll see Neil McKenzie play for South Africa, he’s scored one half century in his last 17 innings.

Enter Jacques Kallis, dropped first ball by North at slip off Siddle. Could that be the mistake that South Africa needed to get out of jail? Kallis went on to score 84 from 161 deliveries and in doing so went past Graeme Pollock as South Africa’s highest run-scorer in Tests against Australia.

AB de Villiers played well for his 68 from 166 deliveries to see South Africa end the day on 244-2, the best batting position that South Africa has found themselves in this series. There is still a mountain to climb, we’ll know by lunch what the result is going to be, the new ball has done the work every time that it’s come into play and I’m sure tomorrow will be no different.

The pride in South African cricket has been saved, now for the series