Thursday, January 07, 2010

Stick it to the Saffers

Yet another cracking end to a test match against the South Africans, with England clinging on the "win the draw" as it was humerously stated on the BBC text commentary earlier.

I'm sure there are those out there who aren't in the least bit interested in cricket, but that's your loss. To have a 5 day match that goes down to the final ball, with the chance of either side winning is fantastic.

To see England tough it out when everyone thought they'd roll over was great, but to to see the exasperation of the South Africans for the second time in three matches fail to prise out Englands no 11, Graham "The President" Onions in the final overs was even better.

South Africa probably think they played the better cricket in both those matches, but the whole point of test cricket isn't just about biffing the ball to all parts (apart from in Twenty20 perhaps), but about a tactical, strategic game full of twists and turns, and yes, sometimes the need to fight a rearguard action against all the odds, and where a draw really does sometimes feel like a win.

Now, instead of the series being level at 1-1 with SA tails up, England go to Johannesburg next week for the final rubber of the series knowing they can't lose the series, and the Saffers knowing they've failed to win two matches out of the last three they should have done with ease.

Great game, great result.

Thanks to BBC Sport website for piccie

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