The first of 4 full blown 5-day Tests between the Proteas and England at SuperSport Park, Centurion on 16 December 2009 at 10:30 SA Time. This is the match thread for the game which will have some score updates from time to time.
Test Drawn:
| South Africa 1st innings | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
 |
GC Smith* | c †Prior b Broad | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1.3 my goodness me, what a stunning moment for England, and what a breakthrough. Nothing much of a delivery, swinging gently down the leg side, but Smith tries to help it down to fine leg, doesn’t get enough bat on it, and Matt Prior leaps like a rampant salmon to snaffle the first wicket of the series! 1/1 | ||||||||
|
AG Prince | c Collingwood b Swann | 45 | 155 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 47.87 |
| 34.2 wow, he’s done it again! Swann has a penchant for early breakthroughs, and that’s a cracker. Perfect length, sharp and unexpected turn, and Paul Collingwood coolly accepts his second catch of the innings! 93/3 | ||||||||
|
HM Amla | c Collingwood b Onions | 19 | 88 | 67 | 2 | 0 | 28.35 |
| 20.5 Got him this time! Onions deserved that. Full and Amla is drawn into a firm drive but edges to Collingwood. Good low catch there going to his right 51/2 | ||||||||
|
JH Kallis | c Collingwood b Anderson | 120 | 306 | 225 | 16 | 1 | 53.33 |
| 96.6 my goodness me, it’s a breakthrough! I did not see that coming. Kallis was looking utterly serene, but Anderson found a good length with a hint of extra bounce and a fraction of away movement, and Collingwood at second slip scooped another fine low catch 283/5 | ||||||||
|
AB de Villiers | c Cook b Swann | 32 | 82 | 66 | 5 | 0 | 48.48 |
| 54.3 gone this time! Thrown up and gets the inside edge from de Villiers’s defensive stroke and goes straight to Cook at short leg. Bit of turn and extra bounce, classic offspinner’s delivery. England really needed that. 159/4 | ||||||||
|
JP Duminy | c Collingwood b Swann | 56 | 218 | 150 | 6 | 1 | 37.33 |
| 108.5 Swann does it again! He has a real habit of getting a wicket early in his spell. Nicely flighted, finds a little turn and Duminy, leaning forward with a slightly open face, guides it to Collingwood at slip who makes no mistake 316/6 | ||||||||
|
MV Boucher† | c Cook b Swann | 49 | 156 | 100 | 6 | 0 | 49.00 |
| 134.1 Swann does the trick again. Regulation offspinners wicket. Pitched outside off stump, spun back sharply, caught the inside edge, and it went straight to Cook, who snaffles it gleefully. Unlucky for Boucher to fall one run short of 50 and England continue to stay just in reach of South Africa 377/8 | ||||||||
|
M Morkel | c †Prior b Onions | 13 | 53 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 27.08 |
| 121.5 he’s gone this time! Still feeling the effects of that blow, perhaps, as that was a bit of a flat-footed waft, and a thin low snick to the keeper, who gathers well 341/7 | ||||||||
|
PL Harris | b Onions | 38 | 117 | 89 | 4 | 0 | 42.69 |
| 150.5 oh, and that is out. Floated up outside off stump, Harris wafted, stood firmly in his crease, and inside edged in on to the base of the stumps. 414/9 | ||||||||
|
F de Wet | lbw b Swann | 20 | 78 | 67 | 3 | 0 | 29.85 |
| 153.2 review. Gets well back and is struck plumb in front. de Wet calls for a review, since South Africa have one in the bank, but third umpire confirms the decision. Swann has five, the third time he’s managed that in his career. 418/10 | ||||||||
| M Ntini | not out | 4 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 57.14 | |
| Extras | (b 2, lb 15, w 5) | 22 | ||||||
| Total | (all out; 153.2 overs; 640 mins) | 418 | (2.72 runs per over) | |||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |||
|
JM Anderson | 37 | 9 | 104 | 1 | 2.81 | (1w) | |
| 96.6 to Kallis, my goodness me, it’s a breakthrough! I did not see that coming. Kallis was looking utterly serene, but Anderson found a good length with a hint of extra bounce and a fraction of away movement, and Collingwood at second slip scooped another fine low catch 283/5 | ||||||||
|
SCJ Broad | 32 | 8 | 74 | 1 | 2.31 | (2w) | |
| 1.3 to Smith, my goodness me, what a stunning moment for England, and what a breakthrough. Nothing much of a delivery, swinging gently down the leg side, but Smith tries to help it down to fine leg, doesn’t get enough bat on it, and Matt Prior leaps like a rampant salmon to snaffle the first wicket of the series! 1/1 | ||||||||
|
G Onions | 30 | 5 | 86 | 3 | 2.86 | (2w) | |
| 20.5 to Amla, Got him this time! Onions deserved that. Full and Amla is drawn into a firm drive but edges to Collingwood. Good low catch there going to his right 51/2121.5 to Morkel, he’s gone this time! Still feeling the effects of that blow, perhaps, as that was a bit of a flat-footed waft, and a thin low snick to the keeper, who gathers well 341/7150.5 to Harris, oh, and that is out. Floated up outside off stump, Harris wafted, stood firmly in his crease, and inside edged in on to the base of the stumps. 414/9 | ||||||||
|
GP Swann | 45.2 | 10 | 110 | 5 | 2.42 | ||
| 34.2 to Prince, wow, he’s done it again! Swann has a penchant for early breakthroughs, and that’s a cracker. Perfect length, sharp and unexpected turn, and Paul Collingwood coolly accepts his second catch of the innings! 93/354.3 to de Villiers, gone this time! Thrown up and gets the inside edge from de Villiers’s defensive stroke and goes straight to Cook at short leg. Bit of turn and extra bounce, classic offspinner’s delivery. England really needed that. 159/4108.5 to Duminy, Swann does it again! He has a real habit of getting a wicket early in his spell. Nicely flighted, finds a little turn and Duminy, leaning forward with a slightly open face, guides it to Collingwood at slip who makes no mistake 316/6134.1 to Boucher, Swann does the trick again. Regulation offspinners wicket. Pitched outside off stump, spun back sharply, caught the inside edge, and it went straight to Cook, who snaffles it gleefully. Unlucky for Boucher to fall one run short of 50 and England continue to stay just in reach of South Africa 377/8153.2 to de Wet, review. Gets well back and is struck plumb in front. de Wet calls for a review, since South Africa have one in the bank, but third umpire confirms the decision. Swann has five, the third time he’s managed that in his career. 418/10 | ||||||||
| PD Collingwood | 7 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 2.57 | |||
| IJL Trott | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4.50 | |||
| England 1st innings | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|
AJ Strauss* | b Ntini | 46 | 138 | 87 | 6 | 0 | 52.87 |
| 28.6 got him! Excellent length again, and this time it keeps low once more. Strauss was in position but the ball skimmed through at shin height, and demolished the off stump! 98/2 | ||||||||
|
AN Cook | c †Boucher b de Wet | 15 | 26 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 88.23 |
| 5.4 there it is! Friedel de Wet has his maiden Test wicket, as Cook pushes at an off-stump delivery, and feathers the thinnest of edges through to Boucher 25/1 | ||||||||
|
IJL Trott | b Harris | 28 | 170 | 117 | 3 | 0 | 23.93 |
| 41.5 oh dear. Trott runs down at Harris and swipes wildly, beaten on the inside edge, looking for turn that wasn’t there. 119/3 | ||||||||
|
KP Pietersen | b Morkel | 40 | 113 | 79 | 3 | 1 | 50.63 |
| 54.5 that’s the breakthrough, and it’s a huge scalp! Back on that probing length from Morkel, and just a hint of nip off the seam. Pietersen couldn’t resist any longer, climbed into an expansive drive, and inside-edged onto his off stump! 168/4 | ||||||||
|
PD Collingwood | c Kallis b Harris | 50 | 133 | 88 | 5 | 1 | 56.81 |
| 71.6 lovely bowling defeats Collingwood! Flighted, it gripped and actually spun, enough to get the outside edge of Collingwood’s defensive shot and it went low to Kallis who makes no mistake 221/7 | ||||||||
|
IR Bell | b Harris | 5 | 23 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 31.25 |
| 59.5 oh my goodness me, that is hideous! Shades of Adam Hollioake in 1997 as Bell shoulders arms to a straight delivery, and has all three stumps demolished! 189/5 | ||||||||
|
MJ Prior† | c de Wet b Harris | 4 | 44 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 11.76 |
| 69.6 oh dear oh dear. Prior goes for an expansive sweep, and Harris finds some extra bounce, it catches the top edge and loops down to de Wet, the only man deep on the leg side, at fine leg. England in all sorts of trouble here and Harris has been the destroyer. 211/6 | ||||||||
|
SCJ Broad | lbw b Duminy | 17 | 34 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 78.5 oh close lbw appeal. Good length ball beat the bat and rapped Broad on the pads. Finally they ask for a review and it looks very close on replay, and he’s given. 242/8 | ||||||||
|
GP Swann | c Smith b Harris | 85 | 139 | 81 | 10 | 2 | 104.93 |
| 103.6 Ah, it’s all over now. Swann attempts a big sweep but picks out deep square leg to give Harris a well-deserved fifth wicket. Swann shakes Harris’s hand, in a gesture of finger-spinning solidarity. 356/10 | ||||||||
|
JM Anderson | c Morkel b Ntini | 29 | 104 | 78 | 4 | 1 | 37.17 |
| 102.1 well, what’s happened here? Anderson miscued an attempted forcing shot off the back foot, and it’s looped to cover. For some reason there is a referral, but the ball carried easily to a diving Morkel. Anderson can go and rest his hand now, but that has been a remarkable partnership. 348/9 | ||||||||
| G Onions | not out | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 | |
| Extras | (b 8, lb 8, w 5, nb 12) | 33 | ||||||
| Total | (all out; 104 overs; 472 mins) | 356 | (3.42 runs per over) | |||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |||
|
M Ntini | 23 | 4 | 78 | 2 | 3.39 | ||
| 28.6 to Strauss, got him! Excellent length again, and this time it keeps low once more. Strauss was in position but the ball skimmed through at shin height, and demolished the off stump! 98/2102.1 to Anderson, well, what’s happened here? Anderson miscued an attempted forcing shot off the back foot, and it’s looped to cover. For some reason there is a referral, but the ball carried easily to a diving Morkel. Anderson can go and rest his hand now, but that has been a remarkable partnership. 348/9 | ||||||||
|
F de Wet | 20 | 3 | 72 | 1 | 3.60 | (6nb, 1w) | |
| 5.4 to Cook, there it is! Friedel de Wet has his maiden Test wicket, as Cook pushes at an off-stump delivery, and feathers the thinnest of edges through to Boucher 25/1 | ||||||||
|
M Morkel | 21 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 2.85 | (6nb) | |
| 54.5 to Pietersen, that’s the breakthrough, and it’s a huge scalp! Back on that probing length from Morkel, and just a hint of nip off the seam. Pietersen couldn’t resist any longer, climbed into an expansive drive, and inside-edged onto his off stump! 168/4 | ||||||||
|
PL Harris | 37 | 10 | 123 | 5 | 3.32 | ||
| 41.5 to Trott, oh dear. Trott runs down at Harris and swipes wildly, beaten on the inside edge, looking for turn that wasn’t there. 119/359.5 to Bell, oh my goodness me, that is hideous! Shades of Adam Hollioake in 1997 as Bell shoulders arms to a straight delivery, and has all three stumps demolished! 189/569.6 to Prior, oh dear oh dear. Prior goes for an expansive sweep, and Harris finds some extra bounce, it catches the top edge and loops down to de Wet, the only man deep on the leg side, at fine leg. England in all sorts of trouble here and Harris has been the destroyer. 211/671.6 to Collingwood, lovely bowling defeats Collingwood! Flighted, it gripped and actually spun, enough to get the outside edge of Collingwood’s defensive shot and it went low to Kallis who makes no mistake 221/7103.6 to Swann, Ah, it’s all over now. Swann attempts a big sweep but picks out deep square leg to give Harris a well-deserved fifth wicket. Swann shakes Harris’s hand, in a gesture of finger-spinning solidarity. 356/10 | ||||||||
|
JP Duminy | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 2.33 | ||
| 78.5 to Broad, oh close lbw appeal. Good length ball beat the bat and rapped Broad on the pads. Finally they ask for a review and it looks very close on replay, and he’s given. 242/8 | ||||||||
| South Africa 2nd innings | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|
AG Prince | b Anderson | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 0.6 gone! Fullish on off stump, shaping back at Prince, and it catches the inside edge on to off stump. Great start for England 2/1 | ||||||||
|
GC Smith* | b Onions | 12 | 53 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 33.33 |
| 11.2 that is a severely important wicket for England, and once again, it’s that low bounce that does the trick. Onions uses the over-the-wicket line to drag Smith forward, but the ball doesn’t get up, and burrows into his middle-and-off stumps via a thin inside-edge! 34/3 | ||||||||
|
PL Harris | b Anderson | 11 | 26 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 64.70 |
| 6.5 got him! Not sure how because that was angling safely down the leg side, but his leg stump has been knocked back. In fact, it’s clipped the underside of his thighpad, and deflected improbably back into his wicket. 20/2 | ||||||||
|
HM Amla | b Anderson | 100 | 315 | 213 | 10 | 0 | 46.94 |
| 81.5 there’s the shooter! And that will not please Andrew Strauss in the slightest, given that he – in all likelihood – will have to bat before the day is done. There’s no way to combat that, as the off stump is demolished at bootlace height. The hard new ball hits a crack, skids through, and a fine innings is over 266/7 | ||||||||
|
JH Kallis | c Cook b Broad | 4 | 45 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 |
| 21.3 big moment in this game! Broad digs one in, Kallis rocks back and tries to break the shackles with an expansive pull shot, but it comes off the top edge and flies down to Alastair Cook at deep square-leg, who takes a well judged catch. 46/4 | ||||||||
|
AB de Villiers | c Bell b Broad | 64 | 136 | 101 | 6 | 1 | 63.36 |
| 55.4 and that’s gone! Broad was probing away, trying to contrive something, and a fullish delivery stops on the wicket a touch, and de Villiers drives a fraction in the air, where Bell takes an excellent diving catch at short extra cover. 165/5 | ||||||||
|
JP Duminy | lbw b Anderson | 11 | 33 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 40.74 |
| 63.5 big appeal, given out, and it’s gone to review. Swinging back a fraction into Duminy and strikes him in front, it looks very close. Replays show it clipping the top of the stumps. Duminy thought he could have inside-edged it, but there is no clear evidence to suggest he did. Third umpire rules in favour of England, and Duminy has gone. 191/6 | ||||||||
| MV Boucher† | not out | 63 | 96 | 73 | 9 | 1 | 86.30 | |
| M Morkel | not out | 22 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 169.23 | |
| Extras | (lb 10, w 4) | 14 | ||||||
| Total | (7 wickets dec; 85.5 overs; 368 mins) | 301 | (3.50 runs per over) | |||||
| Did not bat M Ntini, F de Wet |
| Fall of wickets1-2 (Prince, 0.6 ov), 2-20 (Harris, 6.5 ov), 3-34 (Smith, 11.2 ov), 4-46 (Kallis, 21.3 ov), 5-165 (de Villiers, 55.4 ov), 6-191 (Duminy, 63.5 ov), 7-266 (Amla, 81.5 ov) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |||
|
JM Anderson | 20.5 | 1 | 73 | 4 | 3.50 | ||
| 0.6 to Prince, gone! Fullish on off stump, shaping back at Prince, and it catches the inside edge on to off stump. Great start for England 2/16.5 to Harris, got him! Not sure how because that was angling safely down the leg side, but his leg stump has been knocked back. In fact, it’s clipped the underside of his thighpad, and deflected improbably back into his wicket. 20/263.5 to Duminy, big appeal, given out, and it’s gone to review. Swinging back a fraction into Duminy and strikes him in front, it looks very close. Replays show it clipping the top of the stumps. Duminy thought he could have inside-edged it, but there is no clear evidence to suggest he did. Third umpire rules in favour of England, and Duminy has gone. 191/681.5 to Amla, there’s the shooter! And that will not please Andrew Strauss in the slightest, given that he – in all likelihood – will have to bat before the day is done. There’s no way to combat that, as the off stump is demolished at bootlace height. The hard new ball hits a crack, skids through, and a fine innings is over 266/7 | ||||||||
|
G Onions | 16 | 3 | 50 | 1 | 3.12 | ||
| 11.2 to Smith, that is a severely important wicket for England, and once again, it’s that low bounce that does the trick. Onions uses the over-the-wicket line to drag Smith forward, but the ball doesn’t get up, and burrows into his middle-and-off stumps via a thin inside-edge! 34/3 | ||||||||
|
SCJ Broad | 16 | 5 | 58 | 2 | 3.62 | (2w) | |
| 21.3 to Kallis, big moment in this game! Broad digs one in, Kallis rocks back and tries to break the shackles with an expansive pull shot, but it comes off the top edge and flies down to Alastair Cook at deep square-leg, who takes a well judged catch. 46/455.4 to de Villiers, and that’s gone! Broad was probing away, trying to contrive something, and a fullish delivery stops on the wicket a touch, and de Villiers drives a fraction in the air, where Bell takes an excellent diving catch at short extra cover. 165/5 | ||||||||
| GP Swann | 27 | 3 | 91 | 0 | 3.37 | |||
| PD Collingwood | 6 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 3.16 | |||
| England 2nd innings (target: 364 runs) | R | M | B | 4s | 6s | SR | ||
|
AJ Strauss* | c †Boucher b Morkel | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| 1.2 got him! Huge wicket for South Africa and a massive moment in this Test. Morkel from around the wicket, lands one just back of a length, and it leaves Strauss slightly, catching a faint edge on the way through an ecstatic Boucher. 5/1 | ||||||||
|
AN Cook | c Smith b Harris | 12 | 78 | 56 | 1 | 0 | 21.42 |
| 18.2 there’s the breakthrough! Cook tries to get outside off and work the ball to leg, but there’s a bit of turn to take the glove, lob off the pad flap, and into the stretching right hand of Graeme Smith at leg slip! 27/3 | ||||||||
|
JM Anderson | c †Boucher b de Wet | 10 | 28 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 43.47 |
| 8.1 de Wet strikes! A short ball, outside leg stump, seemingly innocuous. But it climbs into the glove as Anderson attempts a leg-glance, and Boucher claims a simple strangle! 16/2 | ||||||||
|
IJL Trott | c de Villiers b de Wet | 69 | 316 | 212 | 7 | 0 | 32.54 |
| 81.4 stunner! Great catch from AB de Villiers, a shortish ball leapt off a length and flew off the shoulder of Trott’s bat to third slip, where de Villiers dived back and to his left, to claim a brilliant one-handed catch. 205/5 | ||||||||
|
KP Pietersen | run out (de Wet) | 81 | 191 | 143 | 11 | 0 | 56.64 |
| 61.5 from de Wet, that is an extraordinary misjudgment from Pietersen! A tap into the covers, a head-down sprint to the other end, and Trott just stands there in bemusement. He never took so much as a step out of his crease! 172/4 | ||||||||
| PD Collingwood | not out | 26 | 159 | 99 | 6 | 0 | 26.26 | |
|
IR Bell | c †Boucher b de Wet | 2 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| 85.2 Bell has gone! South Africa still in with a chance. Bell just needed to bat out the overs but has a just hung his bat outside off stump and it’s found the edge on the way through to a diving Boucher. 10.4 overs left, game on! 207/6 | ||||||||
|
MJ Prior† | c †Boucher b de Wet | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 87.5 great bowling and South Africa are right in this! On off stump and it climbed at Prior who just followed the ball a tad, and it found the edge, where Boucher took the catch. 208/7 | ||||||||
|
SCJ Broad | c †Boucher b Harris | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 88.4 flighted, caught the edge outside off stump, and clearly gone. 209/8 | ||||||||
|
GP Swann | lbw b Morkel | 2 | 22 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 13.33 |
| 92.5 replays show it was crashing into leg stump and Swann has gone. Vital strike and huge disappointment for Swann, who has done so much for England in this Test. 218/9 | ||||||||
| G Onions | not out | 1 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8.33 | |
| Extras | (b 10, lb 3, nb 11) | 24 | ||||||
| Total | (9 wickets; 96 overs; 432 mins) | 228 | (2.37 runs per over) | |||||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |||
| M Ntini | 18 | 7 | 41 | 0 | 2.27 | (1nb) | ||
|
M Morkel | 18 | 3 | 46 | 2 | 2.55 | (7nb) | |
| 1.2 to Strauss, got him! Huge wicket for South Africa and a massive moment in this Test. Morkel from around the wicket, lands one just back of a length, and it leaves Strauss slightly, catching a faint edge on the way through an ecstatic Boucher. 5/192.5 to Swann, replays show it was crashing into leg stump and Swann has gone. Vital strike and huge disappointment for Swann, who has done so much for England in this Test. 218/9 | ||||||||
|
PL Harris | 26 | 11 | 51 | 2 | 1.96 | ||
| 18.2 to Cook, there’s the breakthrough! Cook tries to get outside off and work the ball to leg, but there’s a bit of turn to take the glove, lob off the pad flap, and into the stretching right hand of Graeme Smith at leg slip! 27/388.4 to Broad, flighted, caught the edge outside off stump, and clearly gone. 209/8 | ||||||||
|
F de Wet | 23 | 8 | 55 | 4 | 2.39 | (3nb) | |
| 8.1 to Anderson, de Wet strikes! A short ball, outside leg stump, seemingly innocuous. But it climbs into the glove as Anderson attempts a leg-glance, and Boucher claims a simple strangle! 16/281.4 to Trott, stunner! Great catch from AB de Villiers, a shortish ball leapt off a length and flew off the shoulder of Trott’s bat to third slip, where de Villiers dived back and to his left, to claim a brilliant one-handed catch. 205/585.2 to Bell, Bell has gone! South Africa still in with a chance. Bell just needed to bat out the overs but has a just hung his bat outside off stump and it’s found the edge on the way through to a diving Boucher. 10.4 overs left, game on! 207/687.5 to Prior, great bowling and South Africa are right in this! On off stump and it climbed at Prior who just followed the ball a tad, and it found the edge, where Boucher took the catch. 208/7 | ||||||||
| JP Duminy | 8 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 2.12 | |||
| JH Kallis | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1.66 | |||
| Match details |
| Toss England, who chose to field Series 4-match series level 0-0 |
| Test debut F de Wet (South Africa) Player of the match GP Swann (England) |
| Umpires Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and SJ Davis (Australia) TV umpire AM Saheba (India) Match referee RS Mahanama (Sri Lanka) Reserve umpire BG Jerling |
| Close of play 16 Dec day 1 – South Africa 1st innings 262/4 (JH Kallis 112*, JP Duminy 38*, 90 ov) 17 Dec day 2 – England 1st innings 88/1 (AJ Strauss 44*, IJL Trott 18*, 23 ov) 18 Dec day 3 – South Africa 2nd innings 9/1 (GC Smith 6*, PL Harris 2*, 4 ov) 19 Dec day 4 – England 2nd innings 11/1 (AN Cook 4*, JM Anderson 6*, 6 ov) 20 Dec day 5 – England 2nd innings 228/9 (96 ov) – end of match |
Puma. Yeah, its cold here. Last couple of days been ok, -16 now. Last week it was -29.
Daisy Blom, When I left Holland end of 1994. I a ALMOST, ALMOST went to Canada instead of back to SA to live.
Just pleased I came back home. SA has been very good for me. Not sure if I would have done as well in Canada had I gone. Was going to start my own business there. Well decided to come home instead.
Hope you enjoying it there. Is a nice country but very cold.
I miss the sunny Christmasses!
Hi GBS – Will you be finnished by close of play tomorrow?
Mrs.Handbrieke GBS will probably have ‘plans’ for you…….Hope her recovery after the operation is still going ok?
Say Hi to Bonsai.
Now what do we have to vote for in the first R-T Awards? I bet the Springboks are waiting with baited breath to hear who has been nominated for what!
Daisy Blom, -29!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW THAT IS FREEZING. 😆
Actually at the moment it is too hot for me here but have ducted aircon so am fine. Like the winter weather more here. OUR winter not your winter up there 😆
Puma. Glad you made the right decision. Wheather is not Canada’s strong point. Nice here though, friendly people, low cost of living, secure… MAJOR PLUS IS THE PEACE OF MIND.
Hi Daai Daisy, Canada….and I thought we had it cold here!! Actually it is snowing in South England and I think we will get some tomorrow!! You probably have to shovel your way out of the front door each morning!! 😆
How long have you been in Canada?
MINUS 29, JEEPERS !!!!!!!
Hello Carol, Think the cricket will be a draw. Rain for Sat and Sun. Then you never know with the weather.
Very, very hot up there at the moment. Your boys must have really had the worst of it bowling for almost two days in that heat.
We will get it tomorrow. 35 with full sun. It is a killer to bowl and field in that heat.
Puma. LOL! February is our coldest month, drops to -45 or lower. Filled my car up yesterday, my hands nearly froze off!
D.Daisy – Are Canadians still a bit coy about farting jokes?
Carol. Bit colder than England I suppose? Speaking of England, the Big Ben sure looks beautiful tonight, don’t you think? 🙂
216 – Daisy Blom, Canada is a lovely place. Good medical and you get looked after well there. I looked into everything before deciding to go there. I waited for so long for my working permit to come that I decided to come home instead. I got my working permit 2 weeks before I left Holland. Then still thought should I go back to SA or take a chance in Canada. Well I came home and was the best thing I ever done. Done very well for myself coming home. SA has been good for me.
Carol @ 221…
No idea!
Puma – Talk about extremes, Bowling countless overs in the unrelenting sun would be very daunting to a Pommie!! Bet they are covered in sun bloc!
A draw would be ok to start off with as you guys are the favourites!
Dai Daisy – Bwahahhaahahah ok I get it!!
Puma @ 223… Yeah, medical is also a huge plus. My little boy was born here, he has 100% free medical. In the town where I live, we have 6 SA doctors! Scary!
Carol…Eheh! (Typical Canadian saying) Means yes, ok, you’re right, really, etc. 🙂
220 – Daisy Blom, -45 DAMN never in my life do I want to experience that cold……..hehe. That is serious stuff.
Ja, I know what you mean living in Canada you have peace of mind. Crime is bad here but I knew it before I came back.
I live in a very safe place. So feel fine here.
Still thinking of buying a apartment in Spain next year. Want to spend 6 months in Europe and 6 months here in Umhlanga.
DDB (Easier than Daai Daisy Blom)- Know someone who was working in the big hospital in Toronto. He was in a lift with a woman who farted loudly, she looked at him, went a bit red and said “You dirty pig”…..
We retold the story to a bunch of Canadians, we thought it was hilarious, they were not amused!! Later were told Canadians really do not do “wind”!! Heheheheh
227 – Blom, My mates in the States all their Dr’s are South Africans. Yip, That is scary. For now my Neurosurgeon the best there is in this country is still here. Thank goodness. May need a back op next year. Also the very top knee surgeon is still here. They are in Joburg though.
Believe the medical in Spain is top class too. Something I have looked at.
228 – DDB – Is there a picture of you in a hat with corks on it in existence btw?
Puma. You live in Umhlanga? I would love to retire there one day. I used to go to Ballito every year, my favorite place on earth!
225 – Carol, It will be a draw if the rain comes on Sat and Sun. Tomorrow will be our turn to bowl in that heat. Not nice. Makes the body very tired. Could see your bowlers really tried by the time they got us all out.
Going to be even hotter up in Pretoria tomorrow. Cricket should be played in our winter……hahaha. So hot to play it in our summer.
Carl @ 230… O, ok. Sense of humor here is way different that what I’m used too.
Puma, all the Brits are coming back so there will be some cheap appartments and probably some free hospital beds!!
Have you decided where in Spain looks good for you?
Mountains, city or sea?
Carol @ 232… No, lol. But I do have a Canadian t-shirt that explains what makes us Canadian. Very funny!
233 – Daisy Blom, Yes I live in Umhlanga but also Joburg. Have a home in both places. Go back and forward all year. Spend at the moment about 7 months in Umhlanga and 5 months in Joburg. From next year want to sell my Joburg home and buy a apartment in Spain. Will never sell my home in Umhlanga though. Love it here.
Ballito is great. Very, very nice place. Some great shopping centres going up all over the show there too. They have their own private hospital there too now.
Lovely beaches there.
Have to go! Cheers Puma, Carol.
236 – Carol, I am looking at the golf resorts. I live in one here in Umhlanga so want live in something kinda similar.
Agents have sent me some nice places to look at on the net.
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