What a great display of test cricket! After five days the game came down to the last over. As we’re all aware by now we couldn’t bowl England out twice and to be honest, if it weren’t for England throwing their wickets away after tea, they probably would have secured the draw comfortably.

Going into the test match I was concerned about our bowling attack, three pace bowlers, of which one was on debut, Paul Harris our no. 1 spin bowler and a part timer in Duminy. I suggested that Harris would need to bowl brilliantly for us to bowl England out twice, he did just that in the first innings taking 5, but couldn’t repeat it in the second innings.

A positive from a bowling perspective was the performance from Friedel de Wet on debut, he was expensive in his first spell, but brought his economy rate down as the game progressed. What a display it was after tea with this new bowler landing up with four wickets in the second innings. I’m sure that, had there been time, he would have gotten 5. A bright talent for the future.

This test was Makhaya Ntini’s 100^th, he didn’t play all that well and as previously noted probably won’t be around long enough to break Shaun Pollock’s record of 421 test wickets, but what a gesture from Graeme Smith to let Ntini bowl that last over. The man is most certainly a legend.

Let’s not forget the centuries scored by Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, without those two brilliant stands we wouldn’t have even been in the game.

Having gone down to SuperSport Park on the first and fourth days myself, been part of a good crowd turn out after a poor ODI series, getting to watch The Ndingi Express in his 100^th test, and then witnessing a Battle Royale in the last session of the fifth day, I can honestly say cricket won this test. I bet there are a few more people who noticed this game called ‘test cricket’, and a few naysayers who are eating their words about the death of test cricket.

Makhaya Ntini is set to make history in the first test against England tomorrow. Ntini will become the fifth South African to play 100 test matches, and the only black player to achieve this feat. The other members of this exclusive club are: Jacques Kallis (130), Mark Boucher (125), Shaun Pollock (108) and Gary Kirsten (101).

Ntini becomes only the sixth fast bowler in the history of test cricket to play 100 test matches. Ntini currently has 388 test wickets to his name, just 12 shy of 400. Ntini is 34 wickets away from the record of test wickets by a South African, currently held by Shaun Pollock on 421. I’m not sure Makhaya Ntini’s test career will span long enough for him to get past Polly, but you never now a batting collapse in a few innings by England might just get him there.

Congratulations Makhaya Ntini on your test century, I’m looking forward to seeing your t-shit when you take a wicket in your 100th game, I’m sure there will be a message under there like when you took your 300th test wicket.

Cricket South Africa on Friday named Ryan McLaren and Heino Kuhn as new caps in their various limited overs squads for the series against Zimbabwe and England.

McLaren, has been included in the ODI squad for the two-match MTN series against Zimbabwe as well as the first three matches of the MTN series against England and the two Standard Bank Pro20 Internationals.

This is one of three changes to the Proteas’ Standard Bank ODI squad. McLaren takes the place of Robin Peterson while two long-serving Proteas’ players, Herschelle Gibbs and Makhaya Ntini, drop out to make room for Alviro Petersen and Charl Langeveldt. Loots Bosman also makes a comeback to the Proteas’ squad for the Pro20 series.

The omission of Herschelle Gibbs means that Jacques Kallis will be used as an opening batsman in the ODI’s, according to the convenor of selectors for the South African team, Mike Procter.

Kuhn, a wicketkeeper-batsman from the Nashua Titans franchise, gets his chance in the 20 overs format of the game for the two Standard Bank Pro20 Internationals against England. I’d suggest that Kuhn has been selected as the under study to Mark Boucher as approaches his 33^rd birthday on 3 December.

The selectors have also named the two South Africa A sides to play against England. There are interesting captaincy choices in Hashim Amla and Justin Ontong while Rilee Rossouw and CJ de Villiers have both been rewarded for their outstanding performances in the Champions’ League tournament.

Proteas Suads:

Proteas’ Standard Bank ODI squad: Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Hashim Amla (Nashua Dolphins), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), Mark Boucher (Chevrolet Warriors), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors), Charl Langeveldt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Alviro Petersen (bizhub Highveld Lions), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Chevrolet Warriors), Roelof van der Merwe (Nashua Titans).

Proteas’ Standard Bank Pro20 squad: Graeme Smith (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Yusuf Abdulla (Nashua Dolphins), Loots Bosman (Nashua Dolphins), Johan Botha (Chevrolet Warriors), Mark Boucher (Chevrolet Warriors), AB de Villiers (Nashua Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Cape Cobras), Jacques Kallis (Chevrolet Warriors), Heino Kuhn (Nashua Titans), Charl Langeveldt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Diamond Eagles), Albie Morkel (Nashua Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Dale Steyn (Nashua Titans), Roelof van der Merwe (Nashua Titans).

Found in the heart of Cape Town, Newlands has oak trees covering grass embankments, a vibrant crowd which is all watched over by Table Mountain.

Newlands hosts the third and final test match in the three match Castle Test series between South Africa and Australia, Thursday 19th March. I decided to do some research and dig out some stat’s on the ground.

According to Howstat South Africa and Australia have played 10 test matches against each other at Newlands, 9 of those 10 were won by Australia. There is some history that South Africa will need to beat to ensure that this summers series end 3 a piece.

Jacques Kallis has played 15 test matches at his home ground, in those 15 matches he’s played 24 innings, scored a total of 1346 runs, at an average of 64.10, including 8 half centuries and 4 centuries, with a highest score of 149.

Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini share the title for most wickets taken at Newlands with 51. Polly has taken 5 wickets twice at an average of 19.53, far ahead of Ntini’s average at Newlands of 28.20. How would South Africa love to have the all round player Shaun Pollock playing in this test match?