Yeah the standard of cricket in this series so far has been very, very high. Any period where a team has been slightly off, particularly with the bat, and the opposition has capitalised immediately.There's been a a fair bit of patchy bowling in the first session of every day, but in general both teams have been top class with the ball. I think AUS have been as good as the first test (watching an entire lineup reverse swing with accuracy for 40 overs isn't something you see every day), but SA have stepped up their game, with both ball and AB.
High class stuff- one of the best displays I've seen two teams put together
AUS were good in the first game as well, but RSA were mediocre with the the ball (by their own standards, which would be very good by the standards of any other team except AUS). Good bowling notwithstanding, they were very poor with the bat until it didn't matter. That game was a massacre, and no team should be able to beat a team with as high a ceiling as SA that badly unless SA are underperforming.Yeah the standard of cricket in this series so far has been very, very high. Any period where a team has been slightly off, particularly with the bat, and the opposition has capitalised immediately.
Nah there is only one:
Mitch Marsh really coming good at the right time thoughSA have been too good with the bat this game so far.
Khawaja getting out just before stumps really hurts. With him set in the 80s/90s I would have said that the teams were roughly even given SA have to bat last. But with Khawaja gone Australia will have to fight to get the lead up past 150.
High quality cricket all round, particularly from the bowlers. Smith vs de Villiers seem like it's been the key battle and do far de Villiers is ahead in this series.
Still, 2.6 tests to go and Australia are 1-0 so we can't write anyone off yet.
Are we going to get to the end of the 4th test are lament the fact that this isn't a 5 test series?