'Yes, it's Australia and not Austria'

"No Test cricket on the weekend for the Capetonians, they will have to head for the beach!"
Former South African fast bowler Shaun Pollock must be itching to have a bowl at Newlands. But he's stuck tweeting about it

"It's amazing that I completed my batting and fielding in two days and it rained. That must be some sort of record."
South Africa's opening batsman Jacques Rudolph gets an unforgettable welcome back to Test cricket after five years

"I went to bed having watched the first session with South Africa 1 for 49 at lunch. When my phone buzzed it said Australia 7 for 21… By the time I got to the TV to check it all out for myself I just saw Shaun Marsh become [Vernon] Philander's fifth wicket and all of a sudden they were 21 for nine. I was trying to work out what had happened because for a moment I thought I'd missed a whole day of my life. "
A blow-by-blow account of Mark Taylor's disturbed night

"And it looks like I've slept through another amazing day of cricket... 47. Good try, we still own the record. Oh... that's not a good one. "
Iain O'Brien, the New Zealand fast bowler, manages to make fun of the Aussies while being self-deprecatory

"I feel sorry for the groundsman because of course questions will be asked. Yet people are not being peppered [on the body] and the bounce is not a special problem [from a consistency point of view]."
Could there be an ICC enquiry into the Newlands pitch? Former South Africa bowler Craig Matthews makes an early argument on behalf of the curator, Evan Flint

"Australia Test Team are 9 wickets for 21 runs. Yes, it's Australia and not Austria v Sth Africa."
Bryce McGain, former Australia legspinner, would like to make sure there are no misunderstandings

"Batsmen aren't exposed to quality fast bowling a lot, so their game is not equipped mentally as well as technically to cope with good fast bowling when they see it."
Mark Waugh, the former Australia batsman, thinks it's an experience thing

"The talked-about two-match Test series has just turned into one and half."
Tom Moody the former Australia bowler, gives another reason why Test series should be longer

"No pitch in the world is a 21 for 9 pitch."
Commentator Harsha Bhogle concurs

"... given the freakish course of this exciting Test match, the Western Province Cricket Association has decided to allow the loyal cricket supporters ... to use tickets for Saturday and Sunday today, or alternatively for the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras versus Nashua Titans 50 over One-Day Cup match next Friday 18 November."
Other cricket boards could learn a thing or two from the benevolent Western Province Cricket Association

"HOLY MOLY... Is the wicket that bad?"
Kevin Pietersen is shocked