Test cricket feast

I thought today may have been a day to remember for Younis Khan, the Pakistan captain started the day on 306 not out and must have been reminded a hundred times that Lara’s 400 was in sight. It was not to be but I am sure he will still remember his record breaking innings of 313. It must have been quite a batting wicket though, the same test provided innings of 240 (Jayawardene), 231 (Samaraweera) and 158* for Kamran Akmal. Mendis and Muralitharan had combined figures of 2-329. Ouch.

It is a big day tomorrow for Test cricket with two Tests starting. First up is the start of the home series for South Africa who are entertaining Australia. South Africa has traditionally been thrashed by Australia on home turf. The first match is at the Wanderers, the scene of some real thumpings of late - quite often by an innings. All that is, of course, in the past and a resurgent South Africa has just beaten the Aussies on their home turf, and fancies doing the job again. It will be a close series but I wouldn’t be surprised if Australia is defeated again – especially as they don’t seem to have brought any bowlers... Their bowling attack will be on the lines of Johnson, Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus -- maybe with a non-spinner thrown in. The same attack that struggled against New Zealand in ODIs. I hope their batsmen remember how to bat...

The second match is the (now) fourth Test at Barbados where West Indies play England. It is a big match this for both sides. England must win to have a chance of taking the series and salvaging some Test championship points. If West Indies win they will have won the series and you could have got long odds on that happening before the series began. England are without Flintoff and the bye making machine Prior (he let through 38 byes in the last Test). Ambrose gets the gloves and Bopara should get the other spot after making 124* after flying-in as a replacement ... or will they pick the useless Bell and make everyone shout at the TV (I know where my money is).