Come on the Protea's Oz 24 for 2

Keep kicking Oz arse boys

204 for 4.

Not exactly what I would call 'Kicking arse"  

The Aussie challenge to us coming out of the Ashes was whether we could man up to Mitchell Johnson. The Poms created this monster. By choosing to not bat it almost looks like we are ducking the challenge. This was a time to get in there and try to make a statement. Batting last we look very suspect and the series probably hinges on Amla rediscovering his form.

Must admit I was pretty annoyed @ 4/80 odd.. went to bed about 4/120 and woke up to the news Smith and Marsh batted on... never any doubt... :/

Anyway new ball on bouncy deck saffa bowlers looked dangerous - I actually like the look of McLaren I think hes got good potential...

Reality is though Mitch is going to love that wicket particularly if he gets a crack at the Safffas late arvo.... 

We'll see if Aussies can bat for majority of the day now and put in a good first innings total...

From what I've seen I think saffas bowling better than poms - but still not @ Aussie level...

Cant wait for Mitch to come on and try his hand @ bouncy saffa pitches...

 Just aussie bowlers are better. afraid to say...

haaha this is great cricket...

 BTW how good is Mitch...!!?!?!?!

Look @ Peterson backing away from him - had mates who faced him as a junior and said scariest bowler ever cause of his action you just don't know where the ball is going.

 OUCH!!!!!

That's gotta hurt poor old amla...

 Harris is solid bowler - poms ranked him best aussie till Mitch hit the scene...

Amla DRS... too high maybe?

 GONE...

Siddle is line length all day too - Im telling you the aussie bowlers are the best now - I think this is now beyond doubt...

Saffex

I am getting sick of the refrain - the dismissal of Smith and Peterson without virtually any runs being scored.    In this case Faf had to come in as a virtual opener and he was also not up to it.    It is easy for top bowlers to dismiss Smith - and even more so to dismiss Peterson 

A change in the opening batter situation is essential - we cannot go on with patently out of form players opening the batting.

By the way I see that the squads for the ODI and T20 series are to be announced before Monday - but it is clear - there is a very small chance of Kallis being in the squad - but the chances of Smith is minus-zero.

Lets hope that Hudson realizes there is a real need for change in our shorter version teams.   Hudson said that there are two certainties - Quinton De Kock and David Miller and that the squad announcement is delayed to sort out "administrative" issues - probably with the franchises concerned.

Lets hope the squad is determined/based on quality performances - nothing else. 

From what Ive seen to date in this test where the 2x premiere bowling attacks going head to head this is my analysis:

1. Phillnader severely overrated... he is average at best - does he take wickets against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh or something?? Totally overrated... Id say on par if not below Siddle - Siddle can get up to the high 140s too you realise...

2. Steyn is still a top notch bowler but Mitch is better by 5-10kph...

3. Morkel / Harris both excellent bowlers

On the balance I still think the aussie bowlers have the edge... no point debating the spin bowlers... Lyon is leagues ahead...

 Never fear guys. We have Faf , Dummy and company still to bat a second time.

This is only day 2 of the test and Faf will stay at the wicket in the follow on and draw the test for SA.

An absolute disaster for SA cricket.

Lets face it, it is harder to gain selection to represent SA with the young talented players as long as you have some of these average guys entrenched in the team.

Start the change now get rid of plodders and select on merit.

 lol just woke up to the reports of Johnson destroying the saffa bats... just like he did to the Poms...

Saffex - I can assure you my cricket knowledge is not ignorant based on what I see and have seen over the past summer v the poms the Aussies are clearly the dominant bowling attack in the worl - a simple bit of cricket logic Ill share is this too -

WHOEVER you face in the nets makes the bats in the team... IE Aussies face mitch all day long so anyone slower is easy pickings..

Furthermore... if you want to look @ fastest ball may not be that much in it - but have a look @ the consistent speed @ which Mitch bowls... high 140s just about every ball and he hasn't even had a morning 1st day pitch to bowl on....!!!

I think the saffas have just rose to the top during a very average few years of competition on the test scene... I rank this Aussie team quite highly but nothing compared to the early 2000s... mind you they are building nicly and the depth of aussie bowlers coming through the system is quite reassuring...

Cummins - young lad is a 150kph bowler too...

@Sas - Mitch has just got the instinct - BTW he use to be very fragile mentally until he did a week's hard core SAS training with Aussie Victoria Cross SAS recipient - his mental approach now is very solid... perhaps we could send the wallabies to see him too....  

 I'll agree to disagree - Mitch may look unorthodox but his action is what gives him his edge... it is unpredictable but he is really quite an accurate bowler these days - Look at his rise up the world rankings and he now is approaching the elite levels of legendary bowlers in from Australia...

My prediction is that he will continue to dominate Smith and the ripple effect will roll through the whole top order... Aussies did this to Cook this summer and its clear that Graeme Smith struggles with Mitch.... a reality that the aussies will only continue to exploit...

The other thing regarding Mitch is the skiddish way the bowl comes on - Morkel obviously a lot taller will get the height and bounce but Mitch.... words just don't do him justice....