After this display, does Big Vern really want to retire?
Govender, the SA physio who has worked closely with him to help him through his knee ailments over the years. Initially at the Lions and now with the Proteas, his selection here looks a great call.
QUOTE 1: “Cricket SA found itself in a place where instead of challenging itself to take the game forward and bettering the game, it got very defensive and insecure.” – CSA’S interim Director of Cricket Graeme Smith in an interview with Supersport. He has to work damn hard to change that attitude.
QUOTE 2: “There’s a lot happening in this game hey?” – Vernon Philander. Besides two beamers in the second last over of the day by Jofra Archer that left the SA dressing-room irate, catches being claimed that weren’t, a batting collapse and a pair of umpires not having their best games – it’s been standard Test cricket. And he bowled pretty well too.
CONDITIONS: The inconsistent bounce is only going to get worse, runs harder to come by, although these two batting lineups would struggle on a flat deck.