30/01/2009

DLF IPL’s Second Player Auction –2009

The Indian Premier League announced a final list of 114 cricketers for the second player auction.

 

LIST OF PLAYERS FOR SECOND PLAYER AUCTION

 

 

Goa, February 6th 2009

 

 

Sr. No

Player Name

 

 

AUSTRALIA

 

 

1

Brad Haddin

2

Michael Clarke

3

Nathan Hauritz

4

Stuart Clark

5

Brad Hogg

6

Beau Casson

7

Mark Cameron

8

Peter Forrest

9

Lee Carseldine

10

Doug Bowler

11

Michael Dighton

12

Jason Krejza

13

Nathan Reardon

14

Chris Hartley

15

Shaun Tait

16

Ashley Noffke

17

Bryce McGain

18

George Bailey

19

Michael Hill

20

Travis Birt

21

Chris Swan

22

Michael Klinger

23

Ben Edmondson

24

Aiden Blizzard

25

Mark Cosgrove

26

Adam Voges

27

Shane Harwood

 

 

BANGLADESH

 

 

28

Tamim Iqbal

29

Junaid Siddique

30

Rajin Saleh

31

Mehrab Hossain Jr

32

Shakib Al Hasan

33

Mohammad Ashraful

34

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

35

Tamim Iqbal Khan.

36

Shakib Al Hasan.

37

Mohammad Junaid Siddique.

38

Ziaur Rahman

39

Mahumudullah Riyad

40

Nadif Chowdhury.

41

Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim.

42

Mohammad Raqibul Hasan.

 

 

ENGLAND

 

 

43

Ravi Bopara

44

Monty Panesar

45

Robert Key

46

James Foster

47

Tyron Henderson

48

Sajid Mahmood

49

Matt Prior

50

Ian Bell

51

Paul Collingwood

52

Owais Shah

53

Shaun Udal

54

Darren Gough

55

Ryan Sidebottom

56

Graeme Swan

57

Luke Wright

58

Kevin Peterson

59

Andrew Flintoff

60

Steve Harmison

61

James Anderson

62

Ed Joyce

63

Dominic Cork

 

 

NEW ZEALAND

 

 

64

Mark Gillespie

65

Tim Southee

66

Jesse Ryder

67

Jeetan Patel

68

Kyle Mills

69

Chris Martin

70

Jamie How

71

Peter Fulton

72

James Franklin

 

 

PAKISTAN

 

 

73

Asim Kamal

74

Yasir Hameed

75

Danish Kaneria

76

Mohd. Hafeez

77

Yasir Arafat

 

 

SOUTH AFRICA

 

 

78

Gulam Bodi

79

Rory Kleinveld

80

Charles Langeveldt

81

Ashwell Prince

82

J P Duminy

83

Martin Van Jaarsveld

84

Roelof Van der Merwe

85

Andre Nel

86

Neil Mckanzee

87

Yusuf Abdullah

88

Paul Harris

89

Johan Botha

90

Morne Van Wyk

 

 

SRI LANKA

 

 

91

Thilina Thushara

91

Nuwan Kulasekera

93

Mahela Udawatte

94

Dammika Prasad

95

Thilina Kandamby

96

Kaushalya Weereratne

97

Jehan Mubarak

98

Dilhara Lokuhettige

99

Malinga Bandara

100

Malinda Warnapura,

101

Michael vandort,

102

Prassanna Jayawardane

103

Upal Tharanga

104

Jeevantha Kulatunga

105

Kaushal Lokuarachchi

 

 

WEST INDIES

 

 

106

Sylvester Joseph

107

Darren Sammy

108

Kieron Pollard

109

Andre Fletcher

110

Kieron Powell

111

Fidel Edwards

112

Dwayne Smith

113

Kemar Roach

 

 

ZIMBABWE

 

 

114

Vusi Sibanda

  

 

 

27/01/2009

No tears for Shoaib Malik

 

           A sacking long overdue.

 

Eighteen months into his captaincy, to everyone's relief, Shoaib Malik has been dethroned.

 

He has been at the receiving end from all most all quarters from the day he accepted the Captaincy and it is wonder that he lasted so long despite internal mechanizations.

 

You can almost say the recent humiliating loss to Sri Lanka was the final straw and the PCB after a show of calling for reports sacked him and appointed Younis Khan as the Captain.

 

However, Younis Khan as is his wont has not confirmed his acceptance presumably to do some behind the scenes negotiating.

 

A Designer ‘Ball’

British, fashion designer Paul Smith has designed a cricket ball that has 100% natural cork innards wrapped with premium leather.

Obviously, a ball designed for swingers and not for 'swinging'.



Hat tip: Freshness


Cricket News Online Live.com

26/01/2009

Much fun in Pakistan

Pakistan’s timid submission to Sri Lanka has set off the usual reactions. As usual the manner in which the batsmen played or to be exact got out, has everyone speculating about match fixing. Leaving the weightier issues to the side, over the board reactions of the PCB Chairman has come as a welcome relief.

Apparently caught unaware, he has asked skipper Shoaib Malik, coach Intikhab Alam and team manager Yawar Saeed to submit a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board outlining the reasons for the humiliating series loss to Sri Lanka, within 48 hours.

Now an intrigued reader may ask what the Chairman was doing during the match. Was he busy elsewhere or was he so dispirited that he closed his eyes when the game was being lost?

Fascinatingly, the PCB Chairman has expediently forgotten to ask for a report from the Selectors who are widely acknowledged to have succumbed to the pressure from the seniors.

Keeping up his reputation for asking inanities, this blogger questions the need for a 48-hour deadline.


Technorati Tags     ,,

24/01/2009

Lack of evidence - A rogue's defense

Those familiar with the politicians in India know that even when confronted with unassailable facts they claim that there is no proof and are hence innocent. A host of sportsmen including cricketers when caught cheating has adopted this ploy.

 

For example, the whole world knows about Asif's drug problems, however, his lawyer is going to argue that since the A and B urine samples reported two different quantities of the banned drug nandrolone he is innocent. (A technicality, nevertheless it will save Asif's career).

 

Mushtaq takes a similar tack. Despite the fact that the Quayyum Report found him guilty of match fixing and associating with gamblers he claims:

 

'Wherever you go in the world you need evidence to make accusations, and when you don't have any evidence you cannot assume any wrongdoing. I am a very satisfied man. I never associated with gamblers and never want to.'

 

To show how blatant his denial consider this, the ICC has asked ECB to make sure that Mushtaq abides by the code of conduct also takes an anti-corruption course. The ICC has also reserved the right to study his mobile telephone bills.

 

I wonder if this is not clinching evidence then what else will stand up to these rogues exacting standards.

 

 

Do we need more teams?

Harsha Bogle, provoked by the frequency with which the teams are playing each other, raises the now familiar bogey of too few international teams.

Cricket needs more variety, fresher competition. It’s bad enough having such few teams, its worse when feuds emerge and some teams cannot play against others.

Although there is merit to his desire for more teams, the pathetic performances of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe makes one chary of leapfrogging teams into the elite Test playing team’s category.

One believes that the solution is in rivalries, the kind seen between India – Australia, Australia – England, Australia – South Africa, India – Pakistan and now India – Sri Lanka.

Do you believe more teams are the panacea for dull cricket?





Cricket News Online Live.com












Cricket News Online Live.com

23/01/2009

"I am not interested in India. Not interested in Indian cricket".

Guru Greg Renounces India.
Miffed at Virendra Sehwag's outburst, Greg Chappell has decided to sever all ties with Indian cricket, including the lucrative job he has with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).
The man who landed a hard slap on Greg Chappell's pouting face at the Bhubaneswar airport had the right idea and deserves a Padmashree.

22/01/2009

Global Test XI - 2014

Rob Steen indulges himself in Cricinfo by naming a Global Test Eleven for the year 2014. Unfortunately, it is hard to say why or on what basis he has compiled the squad.

 

Gautam Gambhir (India), Hashim Amla (SA), JP Duminy (SA), AB de Villiers (SA), Ross Taylor (NZ), Shakib Al-Hasan (Bangladesh), Prasanna Jayawardene (Sri Lanka), Mitchell Johnson (Australia), Dale Steyn (SA), Ishant Sharma (India) and Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka).

 

A quick look confirms that the author has a South African bias. For it is impossible to explain otherwise how four South African's and only one Australian make it into the team. His bias becomes prominent when one notices that no English man makes the cut.  

 

In addition to the evident bias, the inexplicable exclusion of the Pakistani players in the team makes one conclude that this Global Test Eleven is a result of one peg too many.

 

If you were to look at the year 2014 soberly, who do you believe would be the games superstars?

 

 

 

21/01/2009

Do they have a choice?

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would not seek compensation from the BCCI for cancelling the tour scheduled from January.

 

Though PCB suffered a loss of $ 40 million, they have chosen to maintain that relationships are more important than grievance.

 

It is apparent that PCB is relying on the resumption of cricketing ties once the relationship between India and Pakistan is back to even keel.

 

As BCCI is the financial engine that appears to power the International cricket, one wonders whether they (PCB) had a choice.


20/01/2009

Mohammed Asif Quits Delhi Daredevils

Here is a man bites dog story.

The Delhi Daredevils has released Pakistan medium-pacer Mohammad Asif from the team with immediate effect. The decision came following a request by Asif, who met the Delhi Daredevils officials here.

Considering Asif’s checkered past, his separation from Delhi Daredevils was imminent. However, the manner in which the real reason has been side stepped has caught even the most hard-bitten blogger like yours truly, by surprise.

Those in the know agree this is truly a man bites dog story.

Cricket News Online Live.com

13/01/2009

Shaun Tait for Deccan Chargers?

Because of his comeback to Twenty20 cricket in Melbourne and the ball that almost cut de.Villiers into half, Shaun Tait has become one of the most sought after players by IPL franchisees.

 

During the IPL player auction set for February 5, Shaun Tait along with other players, notably Pietersen and Flintoff, will set off furious bidding among the franchisees.

 

One person has already indicated his interest. Darren Lehmann, (who by the way is a contender for England's coach job has decided to stick with the Deccan Chargers), confirmed he would bid for Tait.

 

However, Taits' mental and physical fragility may well mar the hype.

12/01/2009

ICL- Will it stand by its cricketers.

Indian Cricket LeagueImage via WikipediaMost Pakistan’s Indian Cricket League (ICL) rebels appear to have become innocent victims of the strained relations between India and Pakistan over the Mumbai terror attack.

These Pakistani players featured in the ICL (Lahore Badshahs) and won the title. Unfortunately, they may well end up waiting a long time to see the colour of the Rs.40 million due to them as winners.

According to the terms and conditions of the contracts, the Pakistani ( or any contracted player) players will have to be available for a minimum number of days in the league to get their contractual fees per annum.

Sadly, the second edition fell prey to the Mumbai blasts and was abruptly terminated. If ICL, who are within their legal rights, decides to stand by their contract, the Pakistani players stand to loose not only their prize money but also their contracted fees.

One hopes that the cricketers who are involved in the running of the ICL influence the management and help the Pakistani players get their due. This episode will reveal how ICL, which goes about projecting itself as an organization focused on the cricketers welfare, stands true to its claim.


Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

IPL – Dravid on a sticky wicket.

Reacting to some media reports the Bangalore Royal Challengers supremo Vijay Mallya made it clear that he had not yet finalised Rahul Dravid as captain of his Indian Premier League outfit.

Going by his statement, the Captain’s post is up for grabs and worse without the captains post to prop him up; Dravid may find himself warming the bench.

If Mallya’s circumspect denial is an indication of an imminent change, who do you believe will replace Dravid?

Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

11/01/2009

Smith finding women hard to get.


In a largely eulogistic article extolling Graeme Smith as Captain Biff - from zero to hero, the author slips this in:

Now, all that remains is to get that Biffness working with the ladies.

Just goes to show that beating Australia in Australia and playing through pain is insufficient; you need charm to win over women.

Image by casamelo


Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

09/01/2009

Who will coach England?

Andrew Strauss batting against Bangladesh at LordsImage via Wikipedia Now that the irreconcilable differences between Pietersen and Peter Moores culminated in both men losing their jobs, ECB has a job on their hands. Thankfully, the availability of Andrew Strauss as a replacement for Pietersen has lessened their burden to some extent.

However, the replacement for Peter Moores is tricky, so much so a joke doing the rounds is Pietersen approached Shane Warne who appears to be cricket’s ‘Mr. Fix It’, to take over from Moores. (Warne has stoutly denied any such intention).Warne did not stop with denying his interest. He has in turn recommended Darren Lehmann for the job.

Unsurprisingly, Western Australia's coach Tom Moody appears to have thrown his hat in the ring. He admits to his interest in becoming England’s coach. Between the two Australians vying for the post, Moody’s chances appear stronger as David Gower, Ian Botham, David Lloyd and Jonathan Agnew have all backed his candidature.

To the ECB, more than the question of whom, identifying the right person before the West Indies tour slated to begin in a fortnight will be a hard task.

Will they appoint an interim coach or a full –time coach by then, is the question.

Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

02/01/2009

Make Cricket India's National game.

If one were to go by popularity then Cricket is the most popular game in India. If one were to go by results, the Indian cricket team has brought more laurels. If one were to go by financial might and its off-shoot power, then Indian cricket rules the roost.

Then isn't it time to make cricket India's national game?

Mansur Ali Khan Patudi thinks it is time cricket replaced hockey as India's national game and I have no intention of diagreeing with him.

Do you believe Cricket should be India's national game?

Cricket News Online Live.com

Blame the BCCI.

Sri Lanka CricketImage via WikipediaImage via WikipediaAs anticipated, the confusion over Sri Lanka’s tour to Pakistan is being attributed to the BCCI.

To recap, Sri Lanka readily agreed to replace India and tour Pakistan. Then internal bickering between Ranatunga who headed the Interim Committee and the Sri Lankan Sports Minister came to the fore and resulted in the formers ouster. After a period of indecision, Sri Lanka confirmed the tour of Pakistan only to ask for some modifications later.

Instead of playing three Tests and five one-dayer, Sri Lanka now wants to play just two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 game a change that can be easily incorporated. Along with this modification, SLC also requested PCB to postpone the tour to mid February.

This postponement has set off allegations of BCCI’s interference, in part because if Pakistan accommodates Sri Lanka’s request, then it will put its scheduled tour in jeopardy. Pakistan believes this as an attempt by Sri Lanka to scuttle its tour at the behest of the BCCI.

In its rush to blame the BCCI the Pakistani newspaper ‘Jang’ appears to have conveniently forgotten that firstly, the Interim committee that agreed to the tour has been accused of many things namely not consulting with the Sri Lankan government and the players. The second issues gains prominence as Sri Lankan press reported that Jayawardene had met with the Sri Lankan Sports Minister to express the player’s safety concern over the tour.

Secondly, left to itself, the BCCI would have gone ahead with India’s tour to Pakistan and the decision to severe ties was a political decision.

Instead of blaming others, despite its protestations to the contrary, the PCB and its cahoots should realize that Pakistan is unsafe and teams would prefer to keep away.


Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

01/01/2009

Buchanan calls for a major overhaul.

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS - APRIL 28:  Ricky Pontin...Image by Getty Images via DaylifeIf anyone knew the Australian team intimately, then it has to be its former coach John Buchanan.

However, when asked to identify what caused Australia’s fall from grace, he had only this to say:

“There are broader issues there. They've been overlooked for a long period of time and now we're starting to see the outcomes of those. It's systemic and that's been the case for some period of time but while things were going well people chose to ignore them,”

Buchanan’s opaque answer casts serious doubts on Australia’s ability to regain its pomp. His rather neither here nor there answer makes one wonder whether it was contractual obligations or hopes of another stint as the coach of Australia that stopped him from being more forthcoming.

All said and done it appears that the Australian team is set to slide further before it stabilises.

Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

Azhar strikes back.

Last time...Image by rodc via Flickr
This blogger has consistently held the view that Azharuddin is the only cricketer to have been victimised because of the corruption scandal that hit cricket in the late nineties.
When transgressions of players like Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and even Salim Malik were indulged, Azharuddin, mainly due to BCCI’s trigger happiness has been handed a life-ban.
Leaving Azharuddin’s ban aside, it is good to hear that Mohammad Ashaduddin, son of Mohammad Azharuddin, has been selected for the trials camp of Kolkata Knight Riders.
It is also interesting to hear that Azharuddin’s younger son Mohammad Aiyazuddin is widely tipped to emulate his father.
Can we call this happy event ‘the return of Azharuddin’?
Cricket News Online Live

Enhanced by Zemanta

31/12/2008

Is it the sign of the times?

crossroad,australian cricket Image by sandman

All these years’ Australian cricket teams were largely immune to umpiring errors. Even if they were prey to a couple,the Australians imperiously shrugged it off and continued their winning ways. Notably their opponents bore the brunt of them.

Adding to their legend a theory made the rounds that as Australia were truly dominant; the umpires sub consciously favoured them. If one were to take what happened in the first two tests of the present series, then those days of enjoying the benefits of umpiring errors are over.

Consider this, Mathew Hayden was given caught and bowled at Perth, when the ball clearly bounced of his pads. Mike Hussey was also erroneously given out caught to a ball that bounced off his helmet during the second test. Both these decisions stymied not only the batsmen but also Australia’s quest for a win.

Impartial observers like this blogger believe that these umpiring errors indicate that Australia’s dominant ways are over and it is time to bring out the bubbly.

 

Cricket News Online Live

Can we call Cheteshwar Pujara as India’s Mr. Cricket?

If one were to consider the following statistics the title of India’s Mr. Cricket is apt.

Last year he hit 807 runs, with 3 hundreds in just 8 Ranji Trophy games. This season his form is ominous. He slammed 2 triple hundreds in the Col CK Nayadu Trophy and at present is cruising at 867 runs with 4 hundreds in eight games.

Indeed, he is India’s Mr. Cricket. This is the right time to throw him into the big league and learn whether he can swim.

Cricket News Online Live

Who will be the first?

Under a new anti-doping code announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), cricketers may be tested even when they are playing in non ICC competitions.

In fact, the ICC has made it incumbent on cricketers to be available for testing at any time of the day.

Reports indicate that all full ICC members and the top six associates have agreed to be WADA-compliant by July 1.

This development brings up an interesting question, which cricketer will gain the dubious distinction of being the first victim?

Cricket News Online Live.

30/12/2008

The death knell was rung at Sydney.

Death Knell,Australian Cricket, The capitulation by Australia started in the Sydney Test. Until then the Australian cricketers were supremely confident that they are unbeatable and hence believed whatever they did was correct.

However, the boorishness displayed by them during Sydney Test drew the ire of the cricket aficionados around the world. It was clear then that the Australian team was so insular that they failed to hear the silence that celebrated their whoops of joy.

The death knell was rung when their own compatriots spewed vitriol over their behaviour. To their dismay, they were taken to task for what until then they were lauded for, i.e., their hard-nosed professionalism. Australia as a nation berated their behaviour.

A disappointed Ponting and gang were asked to look in the mirror and what they saw shattered their confidence. What they thought was righteous behaviour revealed itself as arrogance, what they thought was gamesmanship revealed itself as cheating, what they thought was their own good clean fun (sledging) showed itself as uncouth behaviour.

Being intelligent men, they disliked what the mirror showed them. Diffidence replaced their confidence, when others raised their voices; they lost their tongue, when others made bold and looked them in their eye they blinked. From then on, it has been a tale of a team that lost its way.

So Sydney was where it all started and the Indians the first to strike the blow. The South Africans have only grounded the rubble.

Image by Axle

Cricket News Online Live

 

29/12/2008

Will the South African’s choke?

Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Melbourne
The South African’s are on the verge of making history. Their cricket team is poised to nail the series, an achievement that has eluded them in the last four series.

Needing another 153 runs to win, the South Africans are indeed favorites to win this test match and thus win a series in Australia for the first time since the dismantling of the apartheid.

However, the South Africans last won a Test series against Australia in 1969-70. Since then they have won just four of 24 Tests against Australia before this series.

Can South Africa overcome the burden of history and rid themselves of the tag of chokers by winning this match?

Image by DigitalLyte

Cricket News Online Live.com

The Vaughan fixation

gutted :(Image by gin soak via FlickrImage by gin soak via Flickr
It is a make or break day for Michael Vaughan.

The English selectors will select the squad for the West Indies tour starting on February 4 today. If we are to go by the reports emanating out of England, the West Indies tour is a trial run for the Ashes tour. A tour meant to put the English cricketers through their paces, fine tune their form and iron out the wrinkles.

One-person keen to do all that is Michael Vaughan. Though he has not done much during South Africa’s tour and nothing much since, Vaughan is relying on the selectors to go by his past record for a place in the squad. Luckily, for him England’s coach Moores and Pietersen have all been making encouraging noises regarding his return.

Ian Bells rather indifferent form and the reluctance of the English management to give Owais Shah another opportunity may also work in his favour. Above all this Vaughan’s purple patch against the Australian’s may well see him reinstated.

The very fact that Vaughan features as a probable for the West Indies tour is indication that England’s fixation over Michael Vaughan continues unabated.

UPDATE: VAUGHAN MISSES OUT.

England plays 3 Tests, 5 one-dayers and 1 Twenty20 match during the West Indies part of the tour. 


England squads and itinerary for West Indies tour

Cricket News Online Live.com


Enhanced by Zemanta

Why should India be disappointed?

Sri Lanka CricketImage via WikipediaIndia unhappy with Sri Lanka's cricket tour to Pakistan: Reports

This is ‘motivated’ reporting:

Independent Sunday Times quoting SLC sources said that the decision by the Ranatunga administration to undertake the tour "had irked the Indian authorities" and the matter had been discussed "at the highest levels in Colombo".

"These sources said that SLC also received clear signals that Indian authorities were unhappy with the move to tour Pakistan when they were having political problems with that country. They said they treated the Sri Lankan move as a snub on the Indians mainly as a fallout from the Indian Premier League (IPL) issue," the daily said.

The report said that the Sri Lankan sports authorities were forced to go to the foreign ministry to get clearance for the national team's tour to Pakistan next month "following a nose-dive in Indo-Pak relations in recent weeks".


There is no earthly reason for India to object to the Sri Lankan cricket team touring Pakistan. Granted that the BCCI and Ranatunga who held the Chairman of the SLC’s interim committee until recently failed to see eye to eye on various issues, by no stretch of imagination can it be portrayed as the reason. It is also to be noted that Ranatunga and his committee has been disbanded and the Sri Lanka’s sports minister decided to tour Pakistan after getting the Sri Lankan President’s approval.

Undeniably, the very reason that the President’s approval was sought indicates that the tour was a political time bomb. However, it is unlikely the President of Sri Lanka would take any decision that could mar Sri Lanka’s relationship with India.

This attempt to portray India and its cricket board BCCI as over bearing entities should be roundly condemned.

Cricket News Online Live.com
Enhanced by Zemanta

28/12/2008

Aussies let slip the advantage.

Australia v South Africa Day 3, 2nd Test

If yesterday, one was wondering whether South Africa could salvage a draw, today one is back to wondering who will be the winner. For after having the South Africans down on their knees the Australian’s let slip the advantage.

The third day’s play can be described as a day when everything went wrong for the Australians. The day started with the dismaying news of Brett Lee’s non-participation due to a sore foot.

From then on, to put it mildly, it was the horrors.  They dropped catches, gave away a 5 run over throw and to add insult to injury Haddin let a ball through his legs only to see it hit the helmet placed behind him.

In the meanwhile a180 run record partnership between the diminutive Duminy and Steyn not only helped overhaul the Australian total but also gave South Africa a decent lead of 65 runs.

Now the Test is wide open. The result surely hinges on how well the Australians bat and bowl.

Can South Africa salvage a draw?

Australia v South Africa. 2nd Test, 2nd Day

Replying to Australia's first innings score of 394, South Africa are 198/ 7 on day two. With 3 days play still remaining and 196 runs lead to be overcome, South Africa is certainly heading for defeat.

If the 3rd play follows the same pattern as the 2nd day’s, then undoubtedly Australia will skittle out South Africa before lunch. It will leave the South African’s vulnerable on two fronts. One they will obviously give Australia a handsome lead and two leave the Australians with enough time to run up a huge second innings score. This will provide the Australians sufficient opportunity to put the match out of their grasp.

However, considering the frailties of the present Australian team, one cannot rule out the S.Africans. Coming as they are into the 2nd Test match on the back of a record run chase, they are certainly high on self-belief. They also know that they can easily turn around this match by demolishing the Australian 2nd innings.

All the same, the question is can the South Africans salvage a draw.

Cricket News Online Live.com