Today is the third day of the third Ashes test between Australia and England as well as the third day of the first test between India and South Africa. Join us here for some live updates and general cricket ‘kak’ praat.
After Day 2:
Australia 268 all out
England 186 all out
Australia 119/3
Australia lead by 239 runs
Australia:
SR Watson, PJ Hughes, RT Ponting, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, SPD Smith, BJ Haddin, MG Johnson, RJ Harris, PM Siddle, BW Hilfenhaus
England:
AJ Strauss, AN Cook, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, PD Collingwood, IR Bell, MJ Prior, GP Swann, JM Anderson, ST Finn, CT Tremlett
India 136 all out
South Africa 366/2
SA lead by 230 runs
South Africa:
GC Smith*, AN Petersen, JH Kallis, HM Amla, AB de Villiers, AG Prince, MV Boucher†, LL Tsotsobe, PL Harris, DW Steyn, M Morkel
India:
G Gambhir, V Sehwag, R Dravid, SR Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni*†, SK Raina, I Sharma, JD Unadkat, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth

Aus merrily going along at 230/4 after 61 overs
They now lead by 311 runs
Aus bring up their 250 in the 68th over
Aus 250/4
Lead is now 331 runs
Tremlett gets his 3rd wicket, getting Smith for 36
Aus 264/5
Aus bring up the 350 lead.. This could get huge!
Aus 269/5 and we are only half way through the test now..
England to be set a target of 500..and to reach it with their numbers 4 and 5 batsmen at the crease..swing low ,sweet chariot..
Lol
Weather prediction for this game,richard?
Tremlett the man on form, getting his fourth wicket.
Haddin bowled for 7
Aus 271/6 and lead by 352
@bergshark (Comment 7) :
No rain predicted for the Ashes match..
There is thunder storms predicted for tomorrow and Monday for the local game
Perhaps only need to get 420-ish,then?
When is game starting @centurion?
Thanks richard..seems like the aussies will level the series then 🙁
@bergshark (Comment 10) :
SA chased down 414 runs two years ago, so I would think that they would want 450 plus..
@bergshark (Comment 11) :
Centurion games gets started at 10am again..
Do you think kallis will reach his first double ton by the end of the first session?
Collingwood gets Johnson!!
Caught by Bell for 1
Aus 276/7
@bergshark (Comment 15) :
Not by lunch time..
He would probably have to bat until almost drink in the second session..
He needs 98, and will probbly get that off 150 balls, which if my math is right, and they share strike, is about 50 overs into the day..
Track looking flat then?
Hussey gets his second century of the Ashes..
Aus 281/7 and lead by 362
@bergshark (Comment 18) :
Today will be the best batting day after all the sun yesterday and the sun expected today.
If we can bat through, we should try get India in to bat for the last few overs today. With moisture out and about again tomorrow, will make for good bowling conditions.
Or they bat @6 to the over(25 overs for session..must deduct time for indian bowlers to wait for ball to get back from the boundary and stands lol..150 runs ..kallis @98 and amla,extras to make-up the rest..lol)
Hussey is now the leading run scorer in the Ashes.
500 runs at an average of 125
Agree
All-time leading run scorer?
Must be the “don”
Shall I google that?lol
Finn gets his third wicket!
Harris goes for 1
Aus 284/8
Aus tail not holding up today..
@bergshark (Comment 24) :
I have no idea..
Allan border?ponting?think it is an aussie..
@bergshark (Comment 29) :
Could even be a Waugh..
@bergshark (Comment 29) :
Its Bradman with 5028 runs
The new ball is now available to England..
They have not taken it immediately
And the answer is…
With 5028 runs @89.79 average and 7 not outs…
….Donald bradman!
@bergshark (Comment 34) :
See comment 31 above..
Well done ,richard!
England have taken the new ball and Anderson is into the attack now.
@bergshark (Comment 37) :
Interesting to note that Ponting is quite some way down that list.. 7th
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 39) :
He is actually 14th if you include the English players..
Len hutton in second place(england)
Aus 297/8 at TEA
Leading by 378 runs
Jack hobbs in second place(england)
Could lead by less than four hundred
Aus will be happy to bat out the final session..
England will want to strike early with the new ball and maybe take a few runs off the chase this afternoon..
They playing again after Tea and Aus bring up their 300..
303/8 and leading by 384 runs
Anderson gets Siddle in the second over after Tea!!
Caught Collingwood for 8
Aus 308/9
That was Anderson’s 200th test wicket
Looking at the overall Ashes history, its not surprising to see Warne being the player to take the most Ashes wickets!
Morning Richard and Bergshark.
Think Oz might need more of a lead than they have to win this test. Remember how we chased down 414 two years back at the WACA?
Do hope Oz win this one though, would make it more interesting and of course England wont take our number two spot 😎 🙂
G’morning Puma
@Puma (Comment 51) :
Morning Puma..
My dstv is not working this morning. I am so bummed that I am missing the Ashes as well as the SA v India game here..
I’m supporting them poms
Tremlett get his 5th wicket, taking Hussey!
Aus 309 all out and Eng need 391 to win..
Well played by Hussey there, but don’t think 390 will be enough for Oz. England will chase that down, plenty time enough for them to do it too. Two days and a bit.
How you keeping score then,richard?is there a ball-for-ball update on the internet somewhere?
Blue skies and perfect weather is the call from Centurion..
Play will get under way in about 10 minutes
Hope engl manage just that
@bergshark (Comment 57) :
Cricinfo has a nice ball by ball..
I prefer watching live, and thats how I generally do it..
How do I edit a post guys?
@Puma (Comment 56) :
Two days and another 30 overs still left in today is more than enough time to either get the runs, or for Aus to bowl out the English..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 53) : That happens to me too with my dstv from time to time here. Will keep you up todate with this game and ours.
@bergshark (Comment 54) : Normally would support England but they right on our tail to take our number two spot. That is if we lose to India and they beat Oz. So for that have to support Oz. But the way our game is going against India we should win this test. Then it could all change today. That is what I love about test cricket. You just never know.
Okay,thanks richard.I’m off to do some work.hopefully catch up with the latest scores in about 2hrs time.cheers puma and richard.till later.have a nice day!
This is the match where SA chased down 414 to win in Australia:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/351681.html
@Original Champion (Comment 61) :
If the little edit button is there, you can do it yourself, or you have to ask an admin on the author to edit it.
Which comment where?
Back in Centurion, the ball is only 7 overs old and could give the Indians someting to work with early this morning..
Strauss and Cook take the field in what should be a really interesting few hours in Perth..
@bergshark (Comment 64) : Cheers buddy.
Amla off to a cracking start, playing shots like he has been batting all day!
Eng off to a decent start, 14/0 after 5 overs
Cook gone 😛 Oz might just do it 😎
Australia get the first wicket!!
Cook goes for 13
Eng 23/1
SA take their lead past the 250 mark
394/2
Amla 138*
Kallis 107*
Sharma gets Amla for 140
SA 396/3
Well played Amla! Great knock!
Most definitely SA Player of the Year!
Johnson gets Strauss!!
Eng reeling at 37/2
Will Aus wrap this up within 3 days?
We have another 25 overs left..
AB bring up the 400 for SA
SA 402/3 and leading by 266 runs
SA 411/3 at Drinks
Kallis 110*
de Villiers 12*
Eng bring up their 50
Eng 51/2 after 13.5 overs
Kallis brings up the 300 lead with a four!
SA 438/3 after 100 overs, lead by 302
59 runs scored in the last 10 overs despite Amla going..
SA on the attack here.. quick runs will mean a declaration with more than 2 days to go!
Harbhajan on for India..
Will they attack him like yesterday? Will he be the bowler then Indians look to?
Streaking taking place at Perth..
As if the cricket is not interesting enough?!
AB de Villiers smacks a six to bring up the 450!
SA 454/3
Kallis 127*
de Villiers 38*
Hilfenhaus gets Pietersen!!
Out for 3, caught by Watson
Eng 55/3
The English will be realy worried now!
Eng 58/3 after 20 overs
AB gets his 50 off only 42 balls
Good batting young man!
SA 469/3 and leading by 335 runs
FIGJAM out for 3 off 23 balls. 😀
and in our game AB goes to 50 off just 42balls. LOVELY.
Who is joining me at at least ONE of the days in the Durban test match?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 90) :
AB’s last 45 runs came off only 28 balls!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) :
I think that would be awesome KSA!
When are you here? We should go for a drink!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 93) : I arrive on Monday afternoon. Leave on the 5th og Jan. Will email you my SA number when I get home from work this afternoon.
No reason why we can’t go for drinks AND attend one day of the test match.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) :
Drinks at the cricket.. sounds like a two in one!!
Im desperately trying to arrange a group to go down!
SA 481/3 at Drinks
45 minutes of play left before lunch, and these two will want to push trhough until then..
AB brings up the 350 lead with a four
SA 488/3 and leading by 352 runs
Eng 74/3 after 25 overs
Not sure how many more overs will be bowled down under
Kallis brings up the 500
SA 500/3 and leading by 365 runs
Kallis 142*
de Villiers 70*
Johnson gets Trott and Eng have lost their 4th wicket!
Trott out caught Haddin for 31
Eng 81/4
5 minutes left of play in Australia and Eng have sent in Anderson as the night watchman!
Harris gets Collingwood with the last ball of the day!!!
Eng 81/5 at Stumps still 310 runs behind
Kallis gets his 150!!
Well played uncle!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 95) : count us in.
SA lead by 400 after yet another AB boundary.
SA 536/3 after 115 overs
Kallis 154*
de Villiers 93*
de Villiers smacks consecutive sixes to bring up his century in only 76 balls!
Well played AB!!
The fastest century by a South African in tests!!
Go Abraham!
Kallis joins the action with a six as well!
SA 556/3 now.
160 run partnership off 23.3 overs!
De Villiers has now hit 5 sixes in this innings, equal to how many Bradman hit in his entire career!
Tendulkar on now to try stem the flow of runs!
80 off the last 10 overs
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 107) : joint in 10th place for the record worldwide.
did they say how many minutes he took? Fastest ever is 70min and he shouldn’t be to far off that.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 111) :
Im not actually watching, my dstv is not working, so Im following in Cricinfo.. I will try find out what the time was..
@KSA Shark © (Comment 111) :
I think it might be longer than 70 min, he did take a while to get going in the beginning..
SA 590/3 at LUNCH
Lead of 454 runs
Kallis 183*
de Villiers 119*
Kallis has never scored a 200. 😯
High score is 189.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 115) :
This is the ideal time to go and make a big one as well!
He is so close now.. Go Kallis!
Kallis and de Villiers are tied as the most six hitters for the year on 17..
Hi richard and ksa
Hope kallis makes the two double zero today
Kallis and Tendulkar each have 6 centuries for the year, and with one test remaining, should be interesting to see who finishes top after the 2nd test..
Eng batting was dismal,I take it 🙁
@richard: you working on the arti yet on kallis’ first double ton 😉
@Crock: seems aus will tie series @1-1 🙁
Kp didn’t have a good game with the bat
@bergshark (Comment 122) :
Im not jinxing it..
Richard??!why you calling kp FIGJAM??!
SA scored 225 runs in only 36 overs in the first session.
@bergshark (Comment 126) :
Its not me dude..
FIGJAM is an acronym:
Fuck Im Good, Just Ask Me
Kallis and ab @creae yet?
Meant @the crease yet
Work again..hope kallis gets to his double with a six over sreesanth’s(bowler)head
More than six runs per over for morning session!
Such an awesome comment:
“The way SA are thrashing India, one would expect the Scoreboard to keep ticking during Lunch”
And we away in the post lunch session..
We should see a declaration during this session
Now really hope Kallis gets his double then think we should declare. See rain is forecast for tomorrow.
Oz also in the driving seats in their test. Makes it a lot more interesting watching. Wish we could fill our crici stadiums like they do.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 135) : Richard, think once Kallis gets his double we will declare. Now that is if he does get it. Hope he does. Thought AB was brilliant out there.
200 run partnership is up..
SA 596/3
@Puma (Comment 137) :
I think once Kallis gets 200, they will both go all out attack until half way through the session and then declare.. Smith might be looking at around 500
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 135) : A few overs before afternoon tea would be ideal.
And we see a rare maiden!!
@rhineshark (Comment 140) :
I agree.. we dont want to give them something too easy now.. hehe
SA reach 600/3
Lead now is 464 runs!
And now comes Kallis´s most nervous 10 runs ever.
Edit: Nope, he´s decided to make it as quickly as possible.
Kallis on his highest score yet… 190
Cricket still? Thought we won already 😈
I have DSTV!!!!!!
Just in time to see the great get there!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 147) : Lucky you! I´m watching a semi-blurry version of Sky Sports online 🙁
@rhineshark (Comment 148) :
Its been down all morning..
HE GETS IT!!!!!!!!!
Well done Kallis!!!
Gets it in style with a 4!
Kallis 201*
de Villiers out for 129
Smith declares on 620/4 leading by 484
WELL DONE KALLIS. Really pleased he got the double. What a legend.
Now we should declare soon.
Partnership of 224 runs off only 226 balls
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 139) : Need to declare now, rain forecast for the whole of tomorrow. Hope they have the forecast wrong for the weather.
@Puma (Comment 155) :
I am not too hopeful for a lot of wickets today, but we should bank on some moisture in the air tomorrow..
Hoping to get 3 or 4 wickets today.
CLASSIC cooment on cricinfo
How long before cricinfo start posting headlines like “India trail Amla by 4 runs”
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 156) : Good we have declared, kinda forced by AB getting out but pleased we going to bowl now. Hope for a few wickets today. Even 2 would do just nice. 😛
52 overs remain in the day.
Forecast says there might be a storm later today.. lets hold thumbs!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 157) :
I saw that.. its just a shame they didn’t use Kallis:
Trailing Kallis by 65 runs..
Robin Jackman on Kallis’ 200
“It’s amazing what a new haircut can do”
😛
30% chance of rain with thunderstorms later today..
@KSA Shark © (Comment 161) :
You mean hair implants.. laser treatment for sure!
Great bowling by Steyn.. swinging the ball just that little bit!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 163) :
I think Jackman values his job to dearly to say that.
maybe we can make a banner for Dbn. 🙂
The dark clouds have come out of nowhere..
Suddenly its overcast and not looking too good.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 165) :
Haha.. good idea!!
Which of the days do you want to go?
Gambhir has gone to 3000 test runs..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 167) : I should be available for any day, just need a day or 6 advance notice. You can decide, I’m on holiday so am flexible.
2 run out opportunities missed by SA.. just missing the stumps on both occasions
home time. Back in a bit.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 169) :
Im also on holiday, so the best weather day shuld be fine.
Great batting from SA.
Chuffed for Kallis. 😎
“Bollinger opened, Johnson out, Hussey bowled over”
It’s not a cricket report, it’s Shane Warnes diary entry for his date with Liz Hurley.
😀
India 50/0
Amla just dropped a really dificult chance..
Sehwag the batsman..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 176) : Cheers Richard, Catch up tomorrow. Hope before close we can get a wicket or two.
FINALLY A BREAK THROUGH……HEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAA 🙂
Sheway gone, bowled Harris c Smith.
Hope another one falls before close… 😎
@Puma (Comment 178) : typo – Shewag
POMS got pummelled(sp)
Seen on twitter (@andymcg_cricket): talk that Ponting may be out of the series with broken finger. That strengthens Australia’s batting. It’s all going their way now
Where is every1??
Latest score from centurion 290/6
291/6
193 is the deficit
Morkel wide..292/6
Morkel bowling,dhoni/tendulkar. Batsmen
293/6 another morkel wide
[email protected] not out
294/6 tendulkar40*
Tendulkar has 49 test hundreds
Dhoni scores a four off steyn’s bowling
Deficit now 186..make that 182..tendulkar boundary ..302/6
13 runs of that morkel over
311/6
312/6..dhoni facing steyn
Dhoni scores 2..314/6
Kallis bowling from hennops river end in place of morkel
One run off the first ball..deficit is 169
317/6
Deficit 167
Deficit 163.. Tendulkar on 51 off 98 balls with 8 fours..including the four off steyn to get to his fifty
@bergshark (Comment 198) : Howzit bergshark,
Although we still have a day and a bit to get them out, not going to think we have this won yet while Tendulkar and Dhoni are still there India are always in with a chance to draw this.
Tendulkar not scored a triple ton yet
@bergshark (Comment 202) : Tendulkar is pure class.
@bergshark (Comment 204) : Probably the best batsman ever. Dhoni batting brilliant right now too. We have to get one of them out. One goes we could wrap it up. But they both are well in now.
India trail by 134 runs. Runs are coming easy for them now.
Phew!! our lead is being eaten up fast here, we need to tighten the screws from here.
Testing…. 41145
India 448/6
SA lead by 36
🙄 🙄
Dhoni out! 90 from 106.
The Lions and Sharks have both upped the
ante as the tug-of-war for the services of
iconic Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira
drags on into the festive season.
Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin
de Klerk last week told rugby365.com that
Mtawarira is on the cash-flush Lions’ wish-
list , but there is no formal offer yet.
Now GLRU CEO Manie Reyneke has taken it a
step further by saying the prop’s move to
Johannesburg is almost a fete accompli.
“I’m confident he [Mtawarira] will also be
running out for us next year,” Reyneke said
on the GLRU’s official website.
That statement has gone down like a lead
balloon with officials in Durban, who are
adamant that Mtawarira has signed a new
three-year contract and can’t move to
Johannesburg.
“He signed a three-year contract with us a
few months ago,” Sharks coach John
Plumtree told the Mercury newspaper.
“Why would he do that if he was unhappy?
“I suspect that there are outside influences
at play here,” Plumtree added.
Reports suggested that Mtawarira has
denied that his contract with the Sharks is
binding.
However, Plumtree remains firmly of the
opinion that it is.
Mtawarira was scheduled to return from
London at the weekend and a meeting with
the Sharks early next week is likely to shed
some light on his status.
The Sharks are in the midst of a two-week
break, before they resume pre-season
training on January 3.
The Lions’ recruitment drive – which has
already netted players like Rory Kockott
(from the Sharks), Sevens Springbok Lionel
Mapoe (Cheetahs), Bok hooker Bandise Maku
(Bulls), scrumhalf Michael Bondesio
(Leopards), prop Pat Cilliers (Sharks) and
flank Michael Rhodes (Sharks) – could also
land big fish like Frans Steyn and Butch
James.
Their desire to get a core of seasoned
players to go with the exciting youngsters
that did so well in the Currie Cup is
apparently based on the recipe for Super
Rugby success used by Super 14-winning
coach Heyneke Meyer.
Meyer’s well-documented blueprint for
Super Rugby success involves having 10
international players; depth in every
position where the replacement is good
enough to start a match; experienced
leaders of whom five have captained a side
at Super Rugby level; five players with 50
Currie Cup and Super Rugby caps to their
credit; along with continuity in team
selection.
Although the Lions are still some way off
this ideal situation, the side of 2011 will be
much more experienced if they manage to
secure players of the calibre of James, Steyn
and Mtawarira.
@Puma:sorry for leaving so abruptly earlier,had work to be completed by today(monday)..
@Megatron: ??!!