Dream series ends on highest possible note
Roll over Allan Stanford and all the other unbelievers with a concentration span of 10 minutes
It was an extraordinary finish. Storm clouds were gathering over a scarred ground. An increasingly alarmed Australian side was desperately trying to take the last two wickets thereby securing a much-needed victory. South African tailenders were hanging on for dear life.
With Smith injured, what were the management to do? Playing specialist batsmen like Amla or Duminy up front would have disrupted the batting order and changed the team's batting rhythm, so the non-specialist Morkel, who has shown some ability against pace, was seen as the best remaining option. The gamble failed, as it turned out, but the decision was the correct one.
While the withdrawal of skipper Graeme Smith due to injury is always a negative, I think there could be a silver lining to that dark cloud. Neil McKenzie has been called up, but I am more excited by the prospect of a Hashim Amla-Herschelle Gibbs opening combination
Mathew Varghese is sub-editor (stats) at Cricinfo