Cape of good hope

They are the number one team in the world test rankings. They have bowlers who skittle opponents down with a regularity of an experienced chef. They have batsmen who can grind and strike bowlers down in equal measure. They have a captain who speaks less and does more. They have a coach who has an eye for detail and makes the whole much larger than the sum of individual parts. Is there anything that can topple the Proteas from their exalted perch. Not much that strikes the mind. If their was any doubt about bench strength, the coming of a second wave in Kleinveldt and Abbott has quelled that effectively. The batting is in good hands with Amla, De Villiers being the best in the business and Kallis going as strong as ever. The Saffas have corrected a major blip by dominating at home against the Kiwis and Pakistan. They were struggling at home while conquering territory every where else. With a summer of two white washes, they now tread the path of all time great sides. The final frontier though remains surmounting the treacherous subcontinent terrain. They need to win in India, Srilanka and the UAE to be counted in the same league as the erstwhile West Indians and Aussies. They will get the first chance later this year in the sands of the middle east but will have to wait till 2015 to try and finish what has begun as an extra ordianry journey. A year and a half is a long time in most competitive endeavors and the challenge would be to maintain the focus and personnel while a host of T20 bashes intervene.

MSD got his first double in international cricket and the innings was one to remember. Counterattack is the way Dhoni plies his trade the best and his knock conjured up memories of yore. He has the capability to strike a lot more significant blows like these but is subdued most times these days. I guess the crown of captaincy and wicket keeping rests heavy on his shoulders. It may be worthwhile getting Kohli in the saddle and let Dhoni do what he does best. The Aussies have suffered a set back first up but so did the English. There are three more tests to go and one is sure to see a different approach to countering dust bowls and spinners from them. Theirs is a side in transition and this is a high stepping stone. Will they be able to bring a spring to their steps in leapfrogging it?