For the second time in six months, England has salvaged the first Test of a series, by clinging to a solitary wicket.  We saw it in Wales when they held out the Aussies on the final evening.  Now they have managed an even narrower escape against South Africa.

I say even narrower, because in Cardiff, England had achieved a certain buffer by edging ahead of Australia’s total – Australia needed time for the innings change and to score the winning runs.  In this case, England was still well behind and any of the last 19 balls could have been the last ball of the match.

It was exciting stuff and a great Test match.  Both of the Tests that recently concluded were good contests.  England were mostly outplayed but had their moments.  In fact, one man had most of their moments.  Special mention goes to Graeme Swann, who took five first innings wickets and then saved the English first innings with a swashbuckling 85 from 81 balls.

On a final day when England had no chance of winning, they seemed to have shored up their position.  With 35 overs remaining, they still had seven wickets in hand.  That is when KP, looking majestic on 81, had one of those inexplicable brain explosions so typical of the man.  He ran himself out, with the non-striker not taking so much as a step from his crease.  As is so often the case, a needless run out signalled the tumble of wickets.  England lost 6-46 and it was only the redoubtable Colly saving the day with 26 not out from 99 balls.  I move his nickname be changed to “Lassie”.  Was there ever a more dependable collie?

Over in Perth, the West Indies got themselves within 36 runs of what would have been an astonishing victory.  They lost two key batsmen before the match, conceded 520 first innings runs and then failed to avoid the follow-on (which was not enforced in the end).  They then mounted  such a spirited comeback with the ball and then with the bat, that they seemed to deserve something from the series.  I think it is a great pity that the senior batsmen could not muster a few more runs at the start of the chase.

And three cheers for Chris Gayle.  He finishes the series with his reputation enhanced, which after the first Test, seemed very unlikely.  His brilliant innings in Perth, the fifth fastest hundred in Test history seemed but a cameo compared to his monument to character in Adelaide.  It reminded me of Lara in the Caribbean in 1999 and I’m not sure it was what the situation warranted.  However, with Gayle, I don’t think the giving is necessarily determined by what the situation warrants.

At any rate, welcome to Pakistan.  I think they may cause the under strength, under performing, misbehaving Aussies a few headaches.