South Africa Have Started the Hide 'n' Seek Game

This is something that the world has been seeing since the beginning of the 4 match test series between South Africa and England. And gone are the people who would have bet on South Africa no matter what the scorecard has to say. Despite the South Africans being able to dislodge the bails for 10 times on the first day of their fourth test against England, their past performance can never ever speak for them. C'mon, when Pakistan couldn't draw a win or even a draw from the Aussies in the second test at Sydney, how can one imagine the Proteas to snatch one from England when England have deceived Australia in Ashes 2009!

Anyway, Ashes is a different issue altogether. It is really difficult to guess as to where on earth did the South Africans go wrong in the third test against England that they had to settle with a draw when a win was thought to be always on the cards for the Proteas. Initial appreciation most of the times for the South African team has turned to be a nightmare. And, even a win in this test may not guarantee the South Africans the satisfaction that they would have relished from their heart. But, a win in this would mean a lot if not complete.

Coming to the first day of the ongoing Johannesburg, it was not sure whether the English batsmen were trying to finish off a one day match that was heading its climax in the first innings or were the English batsmen facing a free hit that is bowled after a no ball in a Limited Overs International match where the chances of batsman getting is highly freak or have the English batsmen decided to gift the South Africans the due in their last match which England should have lost actually? Was this the reason behind the England captain winning the toss and electing to bat first!

Usually, in test cricket, the pitch is found to deteriorate as days pass by, making life difficult for the batsmen. But, in the recent in both the ongoing tournaments namely Pakistan vs Australia and South Africa vs England, runs are found to be coming in the latter parts of the test match than in the initial stages. After being 39-4 at one stage, English batsmen were thought to have made a comeback after the highest partnership of 76 runs between Collingwood and Ian Bell fir the fifth wicket. But, a score of 180 all out on day 1 raises slight doubts over England's dominance over Ashes. Oh! yes, England was hosting the Ashes in 2009 isn't it?