Yoss

Seven down, twelve overs left. Edit: sorry, eleven left.

230/5 at tea, terrific session from Bell and Collingwood. 36 overs they've been togther, 33 left to survive with Prior, Broad and Swann (and Onions) still to come. Bookies now have the draw as odds-on favourite, but I can't help thinking that's slightly premature. Reckon there'll be some nervous moments still to come.

Three down overnight then. If memory serves there were four down overnight in the famous Atherton Test in Jo'burg. So still some hope but not much.

Both openers go shortly after bringing up a hundred partnership. 112/2 after 40 overs.

Meanwhile SA have declared on 447/7 setting England a nominal 466 to win with over a day and a half to go. Half an hour past tea England are 77/0 in the 25th over. I know surviving for the draw is the most I can hope for, and even that's unlikely, but ....

It's not like Dan to lead us astray, first time I can think of it having happened.

Australia 127 & 381 beat Pakistan 333 & 139 by 36 runs

I had a strong feeling this was going to happen, too much to ask that batting line-up to fail again, there are too many good players there. I'd imagine SA will bat beyond lunch tomorrow, but they'll want to be declaring well before tea. With so much time left it's not necessarily negative to bat the other side out the game first, it allows you to set much more attacking fields for one thing. Edit: And no, I can't see England getting away with this one either.

And I'd like it to be confirmed every time there isn't going to be any severe weather on a Saturday afternoon.

165/1 at tea, 183 ahead. We're in trouble.

Going to be a long hot day in the field this. Unless we bowl somewhat better than we did on the first day we're going to find ourselves up against it.

Very much SA's advantage, we've had slightly the better batting conditions in the first innings and not made use of it, and will have to bat last on a low-scoring pitch. Even if we can scrape up to the same total we'd still be second favourites. I'd really want a first innings lead and that's not looking likely. Still all to play for but I've not got a good feeling about this one at all.

Good job I wasn't holding my breath, mind.

He's never scored a hundred against Australia. This could be a big moment for him though, yeah.

Interesting post, but I don't see any particular reason why the same methods won't transfer to a higher level. At Raith he's working with very little, but he's got ordinary players to play above themselves, either by coaching or (I suspect more importantly) by getting them to believe in him and in the club - several players have made comments to this effect in interviews in ways that I think they clearly believed, it wasn't just platitudes or being nice to the gaffer. And you can see the results of it on the pitch anyway. At Dundee United he'd obviously be working with a higher class of player, but it'll still be very limited resources within the new context, it's still going to be all about getting the best out of what he's got. And I'd appoint McGlynn above some big-name Charlie every time when it comes to that.

I'd be delighted with Maitland (in fact we should make an approach anyway, in case his circumsatnces have changed), and happy enough with Moore but that's not going to happen unless the chairman there has had a serious change of heart. Jimmy Calderwood is a thoroughly unpleasant man, I wouldn't want him any more than he'd want to come.

Insofar as McGlynn is a candiddate, of course it's not because of what he's achieved in the game thus far, I don't think anyone is claiming otherwise; it's because of his qualities as a manager. By the same token, if we are having to find a new man ourselves, I hope it'll be on that basis. That McGlynn has achieved some moderate success with us on the pitch is at this stage only the tip of the iceberg to what he's done off it, the man management, the attention to detail and the sheer hard work that has turned the club right round and if he leaves us it'll be in the healthiest situation we have been for a good number of years. So I'd be looking for the same sort of manager to continue the work. Previous success or failure is of course relevant but not the be all and end all (there's a lot of luck involved in management after all, especially in the short term); so I wouldn't be too bothered about Smith's previous sackings *if* the board think he's the right person for the job, and similarly Lennon's current good run at Cowden doesn't overcome such doubts as I have about him - though I liked him as a player and I be delighted for him to prove me wrong. It's very difficult to tell, really. At least I've got a bit more confidence in the current board's ability to make that judgement than I've had in some previous ones.

279/6 at close, Kallis unbeaten on 108. Clearly SA's day given the conditions. Though if the pitch flattens out and England bat well they've every chance yet.

SA 127/5, Swann has just taken two in two jsut when SA looked like they might be building a partnership.

Aus bowled out for 127 by Pakistan on the first day of their second Test.

Slightly delayed start for rain in Cape Town but we've just had the toss and we're ready to go. Both teams as expected, England uncanged while SA bring de Wet back in for Ntini. Damp and cloudy today, expected to be clearer for the rest of the match. England have won the toss and will bowl. (Smith says he'd have bowled first too.)

I'd be happy with continuity, so Paul Smith. Don't know a lot about Brown but he sounds like a decent candidate too. I'd have my doubts about Lennon (even if he wanted the job, which I don't take for granted).

Time saving, but not so absorbing. You can get some good games but ultimately no one really care about them that much and I've already forgotten them by the following day. The Tests is where it's at. Third Test tomorrow then. Presumably same team, as long as Collingwood's finger is passed fit. South Africa will surely replace Ntini this time, and I'm expecting them to come back strong.

Outstanding performance, won by an innings and 98. Aus won comfortably overnight too.

76/6, bad light and presumably close of play.