Rains return to frustrate England
England's hopes of rescuing their one-day series in South Africa were dashed by the vagaries of Durban's weather, which closed in towards the end of South Africa's innings and stayed for good at the beginning of England's
11-Feb-2005•The Bulletin by Andrew Miller
England look to Pietersen for inspiration
From 1-0 up to 3-1 down, England's one-day campaign has taken a decided turn for the worse
10-Feb-2005•Andrew Miller
'South Africa got out of jail,' says Vaughan
"An epic!" declared Michael Vaughan, as he strode in to face the media
after the second Test at Durban had ended in a nailbiting draw
30-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
Refusing to die
The Wisden Verdict
30-Dec-2004•The Wisden Verdict by Andrew Miller at Durban
Darkness - and de Villiers - thwart England at Durban
Darkness drove the players from the field just before 4.30pm at Durban - around half-an-hour before the scheduled close - handing South Africa a lifeline after England had seemed certain to wrap up the match, and with it a 2-0 lead
30-Dec-2004•The Bulletin by Steven Lynch
'I think we were a bit lucky at the end there'
Graeme Smith admitted that fortune had smiled on South Africa in the
closing stages of the second Test at Durban, but praised the tenacity of
his team, since lesser sides might have crumbled in the face of such a
turnaround
30-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
'We're going out there to have a go,' says Steyn
It's been a pretty torrid Test baptism for Dale Steyn, South Africa's 21-year-old pace bowler, who has been forced to toil against England's batsmen on two uncompromising surfaces at Port Elizabeth and now Durban
29-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
Return of the killer instinct
The Wisden Verdict
29-Dec-2004•The Wisden Verdict by Andrew Miller at Durban
The issue that dares not speak its name
It is the issue that dares not speak its name, but is nonetheless bubbling away beneath the surface of the South African team at present
29-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
England on top after Thorpe's 16th century
A superb unbeaten hundred from Graham Thorpe put England in the driving seat as South Africa ended the fourth day needing a mountainous 357 to win at Durban
29-Dec-2004•The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
'Too soon to relax', says Trescothick
Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss cemented their names in therecord-books with an opening stand of 273, to swing a topsy-turvy matchback in England's favour on the third day at Kingsmead
28-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
'We are good enough to handle the pressure'
After a day in which England wrested back the initiative, the South Africa coach Ray Jennings addressed the media on the third day of the second Test at Durban.
28-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
Strauss and Trescothick hundreds put England ahead
Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss both strolled to centuries as England gained an 88-run lead in a remarkable turnaround on the third day at Durban
28-Dec-2004•The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
A classic in the making
"I hope it doesn't get any flatter," was Jacques Kallis's plaintive appeal
to the pitch gods last night, after his wonderful 162 had hoisted South
Africa from a position of promise to one of outright supremacy at the
close of the second day's play
28-Dec-2004•The Wisden Verdict by Andrew Miller at Durban
Sublime Kallis puts South Africa on top
A masterful century from Jacques Kallis put South Africa firmly in control of the second Test on the second day at Durban as they raced to a lead of 193 runs
27-Dec-2004•The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
Classy Kallis a cut above
Jacques Kallis went for the jugular with a succession of gorgeous cover-drives as he struck a sublime 162
© Getty Images
After their first-Test defeat at Port Elizabeth, the signs were ominous for South Africa
27-Dec-2004•The Wisden Verdict by Andrew Miller at Durban
'It's good to perform against the best', says Kallis
A magnificent 162 from Jacques Kallis lifted South Africa from a dicey 116for 6 at the midpoint of their innings, to give them control of the second Test at Kingsmead
27-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
'We're chuffed to have bowled England out for 139'
Duncan Fletcher, England's coach, was critical of his side's cavalierapproach to their innings after South Africa had bundled them out for 139on the opening day of the second Test at Kingsmead
26-Dec-2004•Andrew Miller
Smith's gamble reaps dividends
After winning the toss and putting England in, South Africa bowled them out for 139 and reached 70 for 3 in reply on the first day at Durban
26-Dec-2004•The Bulletin by Jenny Thompson
Dangerous, damaging - and far from disarray
South Africa are in so-called disarray, while England are undeniably riding as high as they ever have, but Andrew Miller witnessed a day that was never meant to happen
26-Dec-2004•The Wisden Verdict by Andrew Miller at Durban