Nice day off ahead.

[Gob]

Load up on guns, bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's overboard and self-assured
Oh, no, I know a dirty word

Hello, Hello, Hello, How Low (x3)
Hello, Hello, Hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yeah

Hey... Yay

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group (tribe) has always been
And always will until the end

Hello, Hello, Hello, How Low (x3)
Hello, Hello, Hello
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yeah

Hey... Yay

(Guitar solo)

And I forget just why I taste
Oh, yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hello, Hello, Hello, How Low (x3)
Hello, Hello, Hello

With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us

A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido

Yeah a denial

[Gob]

The second test is fantastic!

WHAT WENT DOWN: Plenty. South Africa began the day in a solid position at 2-217 but squandered it through the loss of five wickets before lunch. But just as Australia aimed to press home its advantage, the Proteas were saved by a brave Jacques Kallis, who battled through a painful hamstring injury to score 58, and Faf du Plessis, who posted a fine 78 on debut. Their stand of 93 for the eighth wicket saved their side from suffering a rout, but Australia still held a commanding lead of 162 when it began its second innings. That had stretched to 239 when David Warner had hit full flight, but Rory Kleinveldt grabbed three wickets to slow the home side, and another two more before stumps gave the visitors an outside chance of posting what would be a remarkable win. Australia ended day three at 5-111 in its second innings, a lead of 273.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS: Australia will start the fourth day with its two in-form batsmen, Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey, at the crease, with a very handy lead and with Matthew Wade and the tail to come. Any advantage over 330 would be particularly tough to chase down for South Africa on a pitch that is playing the odd trick. But James Pattinson’s side injury means he is unlikely to bowl again. That said, Kallis will not be seen until at least No.7 in the South African order given he has spent so much time off the ground. Time doesn’t appear to be the factor it was earlier this game, as six sessions and good weather await. The winner will go 1-0 up with the third Test starting next Thursday. Clarke’s side deserves to start the fourth day as favourite, but all results are on the table.

THE BIG PICTURE: It’s been a brilliant Test match so far and is a reminder how intriguing the traditional format can be, even in high-scoring games. There have been plenty of runs, but the bowlers have dominated in bursts, so there’s no reason why another decisive spell or two could decide the outcome. Great match aside, it’s been brutal and may come at a cost to both sides. Kallis appears in serious doubt to play in the third Test in Perth, and the same applies to Pattinson. Rob Quiney’s pair means he can book himself a return flight home, while Ponting’s latest failure keeps the pressure on. Shane Watson and Mitchell Starc appear set to be recalled, but the likes of Philip Hughes and Usman Khawaja could have their hopes up.

[The Hen]

It's my day off today.

The cricket will be on.

I reckon it is as good a day as any to walk the dogs, clean the house, wash the clothes, do the ironing, plan the weeks menu, do the shopping, watch the Hatch play basketball, cook dinner and fall asleep in front of some program I had been waiting to watch ....

Just a normal Sunday for me then.

[Gob]

Nice!

[The Hen]

Just don't poke me when I am quietly snoring through what we taped.

[Gob]

Bites tongue, bites tongue, bites tongue.....

[Gob]

Australia has set South Africa an Adelaide Oval record target of 430 runs to win after declaring midway through day four of the second cricket Test.

James Pattinson (29no) and Ben Hilfenhaus (18no) provided a late flurry to boost Australia’s second innings score to 8-267dec, leaving South Africa needing to survive four and a half sessions on a deteriorating wicket.

South Africa must break a 110-year record for the highest successful chase at the ground to win the match.

However the Proteas will be encouraged by the strength of their line-up and the fact big fourth innings totals aren’t unheard of in Adelaide.

South Africa is the No.1 team in Test cricket and with Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis on deck, they’re a batting side capable of pulling off something extraordinary or at least sticking around for a draw.

A series loss to Australia would likely lose them their No.1 ranking, so this looms as a mighty test of their mettle.

Dale Steyn (2-50) had Michael Clarke (38) lbw in the first session and Morne Morkel (3-50 and eight for the match) ploughed through Mike Hussey (54) just minutes before lunch and dismissed Matt Wade (18) shortly after.Australia added 156 after resuming day for at 5-111.

Pattinson may have batted but Ricky Ponting confirmed before play that the injured pace weapon is highly unlikely to bowl - a further boost to the Proteas’ hopes - after suffering a side strain on Saturday.

Pattinson is in big doubt to play the third Test in Perth.

‘‘He was in a fair bit of pain when he left the field (on Saturday). I went down to talk to him after the first over he bowled and he could barely breathe so he was in a fair bit of trouble. We’ll keep our fingers crossed,’’ Ponting told Channel Nine.

The Adelaide pitch is difficult to bat on and the Proteas will again be nursing hamstrung allrounder Kallis.

The highest successful fourth-innings chase at Adelaide Oval was 6-315 by Australia against England back in 1901-02.

However, India scored 445 and lost in 1978.

And England posted unsuccessful fourth innings totals of 370 in 1921 and 363 in 1925.

No team has made more than 340 runs to force a fourth innings draw at Adelaide.

On their most recent tour to Australia in 2008-09, South Africa showed great poise to score 414 in a second innings chase to win in Perth.

In the Sydney third Test that year they came within a few balls of saving a match in impossible circumstances on the fifth day.

South African spinner Imran Tahir has finished with the worst bowling figures in Test match history - 0-260 from 37 overs


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/aus ... z2DCoVbjK8

[Gob]

Meanwhile, in other news;

Kevin Pietersen smashed a brilliant 186 and Monty Panesar took five wickets to leave England on the verge of victory over India in the second Test.

Second Test, Mumbai, day three:

India 327 & 117-7 v England 413

Pietersen took the hosts apart as he and Alastair Cook (122) hit England's record-equalling 22nd Test hundreds.

The tourists were dismissed for 413 in Mumbai, a first-innings lead of 86.

Panesar then tore through the India batting and, with Graeme Swann claiming two wickets, the hosts slumped to 117-7 at the close, only 31 ahead.

[Gob]

Meanwhile, in other news;

Kevin Pietersen smashed a brilliant 186 and Monty Panesar took five wickets to leave England on the verge of victory over India in the second Test.

Second Test, Mumbai, day three:

India 327 & 117-7 v England 413

Pietersen took the hosts apart as he and Alastair Cook (122) hit England's record-equalling 22nd Test hundreds.

The tourists were dismissed for 413 in Mumbai, a first-innings lead of 86.

Panesar then tore through the India batting and, with Graeme Swann claiming two wickets, the hosts slumped to 117-7 at the close, only 31 ahead.

[dales]

Th 49'ers beat the Saints today.

[The Hen]

My house was clean yesterday.

Today is yet another day closer to when it is clean once more.

[Gob]

Fucking SA played it out for a draw!!! But what a match, pure attrition on both sides.

SCORE: Australia 550 and 8(dec)-267 drew with South Africa 388 and 8-248.

MAN OF THE MOMENT: Faf du Plessis. Gallantry of the highest order on Test debut, South Africa’s hero scored 110 not out to defy Australia. He made 78 in the first dig, too.

KEY MOMENT: Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade drops du Plessis from Ben Hilfenhaus’ bowling before tea, when the stoic South African was on 94. More than two hours later, du Plessis was still there.

STAT OF THE DAY: 0-0. The only stat that now matters for both nations, following two drawn Tests.

SUMMARY: Australia made all the running but couldn’t find the finishing post. The hosts lose James Pattinson and the Proteas lose Jacques Kallis, both injured, for cricket’s heavyweight championship of the world starting in Perth on Friday.

[MajGenl.Meade]

We missed du Plessis in the first match so badly. And Wade missed him in the second one! Really Australia had done all the hard work and maybe deserved better but. . . that's the way it goes. Good job that SA batters didn't all copy AB in his new defensive style (results lbw and goodbye off-bail).

Great Sunday: Spurs 3 West Ham 1. Browns beat the Steelers. Now SA pulls off the Houdini over a day and a half.

[Gob]

Faf did a true knight in shining armour job for SA, all the more remarkable for him being on début, the Aussie kid on début got a couple of ducks in comparison. Kallis played the whole match with a torn hamstring, due to the no subs rule, which is fucking stupid.