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England selectors vindicated according to England selector Geoff Millar. Fortune favours the brave!

A major difference between the Windies test in the '60's and the Sri Lanka test in 2005 is the absence of a rest day in the latter which obviously affects the ability of fast bowlers to bowl long spells and makes Flintoff's effort even more impressive.

Keep an eye on cricinfo, I'm sure one of their resident statos is working on it even as I type. *************************************** Interesting to read the Test Stats for the series so far. Collingwood, Bell & Cook atop England's batting averages. I suppose the big question is whether or not England persist with their current selection strategy - it's only just worked in 2/3 of the Tests.

I'm giving up this predictorating lark!

With a four man attack there were obviously going to be days England took a bit of a pasting in the field, the question is whether England's batsmen can dig themselves out of a hole again like the First Test - FWIW I think Smith got the timing of that declaration just about right - two goes with the first new ball and then an hour (16 overs) with the second one. This time around I expect SA to declare when the lead reaches 450 (sometime in the second session) and with a stronger attack (Steyn for Ntini and Kallis fitter) I'd back them to bowl England out.

Pressure on Prior, Broad & Swann to keep England in the game. 16 wickets already, only the weather will prevent one side winning here. ************************** England 229/7 - New ball available with 6 overs left (weather permitting) today. ************************** Stumps Day 2 - England 241/7 (82.0 ov) Can SA run through Enland's tail in a reverse of what happened this morning or will England close in on and maybe pass SA's total - who knows? Certainly not me!

Batted first on a green pitch - brave decision with one makehift opener in Watson and the other, Hughes, on a comeback. Interesting article in cricinfo which shows that Ponting has batted first the last 23 times he has won the toss - since Edgbaston in 2005! ************************************* Was it just me or were SA a bit more cagey against Swann at the start of his spell?

Well that was an absolute thrashing - the last two Tests show how far England have come since the start of the year when they lost to a much weaker West Indies team in the Caribbean. They've certainly taken their chances in the series' since then. Graeme Swann's golden arm has taken him to No. 3 in the World Rankings. Credit to Bell who delivered a great Innings (at last), the question is can he repeat this performance? As for SA - they've got a lot to prove (and improve on) if they're going to come back in this series. **************************************** Not even in hindsight but SA dropping Prior in the last over of Day 3 was a Massive Play!

Second new ball - England 266/3 (77 behind). With SA's attack weak (Kallis/Steyn not looking fully fit & Ntini past his best) it's a great chance for England to grab the initiative in this Test Match. ******************** 297/4 - Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit's Bell Time! ******************** 359/4 - Great little Innings from Bell (39n.o. so far), in fact it's all going England's way. Would expect Prior, Broad & Swann to have the licence to give it a bit of welly to-morrow morning!

Idiot!

Tea SA 151/2 (54ov) 54 overs at Tea and that's despite Swann, Trott & Pietersen bowling 21 of them - could be a long final session!

Short article from cricinfo about Headingley specialist Derek Pringle and his passion for vinyl records.

Curses - missed a great day's cricket due to the intervention of ReaLife! Test cricket at it's best - two batsmen making it look easy then suddenly a wicket falls and it all changes............. Don't reckon there's much between the two sides - should be a cracking series!

Stumps England 11/1 England require a further 353 runs, SA 9 more wickets.

Surprised me too! South Africa 418 & 301/7d England 356 England to chase 364 in 6 overs + a day.

Tea - Day 4 South Africa 418 & 182/5 (61.0 ov) England 356 South Africa lead by 244 runs with 5 wickets remaining Definitely SA's session 102 runs at 3.5/over with only one wicket falling. Looks like a fairly hefty 4th Innings total for England to chase.

I hear what you're saying but England bat down to Swann at No.9 and Ntini, De Wet, Morkel & Harris aren't the most fearsome attack - I'd fancy them to get 250 but maybe not 300. Edit - interesting to see SA upping the tempo post lunch 37 in 9 overs.

Day 4 - Stumps Australia 520/7d & 150 West Indies 312 & 308/9 (91.0 ov) West Indies require another 51 runs with 1 wicket remaining I know it's not gonna happen but I'd love it, love it....................... *********************************** Lunch - Day 4 South Africa 418 & 80/4 (32.0 ov) England 356 South Africa lead by 142 runs with 6 wickets remaining Good session for England, they must be slight favourites now......................

Stumps - Day 3 South Africa 418 & 9/1 (4.0 ov) England 356 South Africa lead by 71 runs with 9 wickets remaining FFS - You turn off for a bit a lunchtime and when you come back it's a different game. Once again it's the lower order that've kept England in it after the batsmen underperformed and the spinner who bagged most of the wickets! I see Broad didn't get the new ball in SA's Second Innings. I suppose the big question is how the various niggles England's seam bowlers are carrying are - after 45.2 overs in the First Innings it could be another long stint for Swann. Unless the weather intervenes I can't see this being a draw although I don't think you would predict the eventual winner with any confidence at this stage.

Lunch - Day 3 South Africa 418 England 143/3 (50.0 ov) England trail by 275 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings Attritional cricket - England will have to bat well into Day 4 to match SA's total. Wonder what sort of lunch Ian Bell is having.

South Africa 418 (153.2 ov) 5 wickets for Swann in 45.2 overs - whodathunkit? ******************************* Stumps - Day 2 England 88/1 (23.0 ov) England trail by 330 runs with 9 wickets remaining in the 1st innings Good fightback by England, they'll have to bat all tomorrow to match SA's total.

Tea - Day 2 South Africa 401/8 (147.0 ov) Can't really see the point in SA continuing to bat now the 400 is up given the rate they're scoring at - unless it's to grind the English bowlers down.

Lunch - Day 2 South Africa 330/6 (119.0 ov) Good session for England, they got the wickets they wanted and then stifled Boucher & Morkel. Looks like being a decent total for SA, especially at Centurion Park where there's only ever been one First Innings score above 400 in a Test Match.

Start of Day 2 and SA negotiate the first over safely - any chance of England coming back in this Test depend on getting a couple of early wickets while their bowlers are still fresh and there's shine left on the ball - unless, of course, one of their batsmen can emulate Chris Gayle and hit a 70-ball century. ********************************** Kallis out for 120 - SA 283/5. Well that changes things.