best figures out of all the west indians though? good figures in champions league?

The thing about mystery spinners is that their value falls drastically once the "mystery" goes away. In test matches where batsmen don't have to go after him I can't see him being very effective.

He's like Mendis 2.0, and will need to develop beyond the offbreak and leg break if he wants to be successful in tests.

The thing is, I'm not trying to debate you as to his merits in relation to being one of the world's best spinners of course Ajmal, Ashwin, Swann etc are better - the point is that he is the best option the WI have and they need to stick by him.

He's not Mendis 2.0, completely different bowlers. Ridiculous statement.

Id just like to herald and acknowledge our newly established pair of world class Black Cap performers

Well done Ross Taylor and Trent Boult

These guys are now undisputed top quality performers and its awesome to see

By Mendis 2.0, I mean new and improved version but they're still very similar. They're both finger spinners, who bowl off and leg breaks with subtle changes in action.

Mendis terrorized a bunch of oppositions when he first came on the scene and seemed downright unplayable. Then he played test cricket and people got used to him. Now he's faded into obscurity.

Not saying that'll happen to Narine necessarily, but he'll need to develop more variations after batsmen figure him out, which they've already started doing.

I hope he does improve and add new stuff, watching a talented spinner fox batsmen out is one of the best sights in cricket, and there is a dearth of spinners in world cricket atm.

If we lose this, I'm gonna be pretty gutted.

SA gotta be favorites now..

lol india if SA win

That's the ghost of Lance Klusener

South Africa not trying to win :/

Situation where Australia 100% goes for it in the last 2 overs

Lol that was way too close. Funnily enough the one time we had a good overrate, it almost cost us the game.

Great game game but brainless cricket at the death by SA imo. It was virtually a free roll at the end. Fairest result though I guess.

Oh it was a draw. Looking at the headlines seeing that SA had fallen 8 runs short I thought they had been bowled out - pretty disappointing that SA couldn't come up with the goods.

Going to post this with the caveat that I already hate Smith for no real reason, so I may be biased against him.

Surely when Faf gets out and Steyn heads to the crease, you tell him either to go for it and be willing to take the blame as captain, or to block it out and put the decision on yourself. If your captain isn't making decisions such as whether to chase the game or not then you have a very weak captain IMO.

Very weird end of game though.

Kallis retires after the next test against India. No dream ending against Australia but will play on in the one-dayers heading towards competing in the world cup. Probably the best modern day allrounder and awesome bat nonetheless. Tough for SA to replace.

PSA

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan on now for those who have had enough of the Christmas tv

Aussies bowling.

Hate india going with only 3 frontline bowlers for a must win game, way too defensive and if a bowler gets injured somehow we're ****ed.

Hoping Jadeja picks up a fiver or whatever to prove me wrong.

Does India hold whatever trophy is up for grabs between the two countries?

Our last test series in india and southafrica were also drawn iirc. God knows whats the score before that.

Don't think there is a specific trophy in play like the ashes.

Perth Scorchers just defended 118 in a T20 game on what looked to be a decent batting pitch

Australian squad for one-dayers - good squad like the inclusion of Pattinson and Warner's recall is definitely a must

Australia ODI squad David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vice-capt), Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.

corey anderson (nz) just blitzkrieged the record for fastest odi century: 36 balls. the kiwis plundered 283 off just 21 overs in a rain shortened match