3rd test newlands cape town, page-126

Cape Town - A spectacular setting for a gripping finale to a hard-fought Test and see-sawing Test series.

Fantastic bowling effort by Johnson throughout with the help led by Ryan Harris. I didn't think he was going to play this Test given his deteriorating fitness, but it's just as well that he did because he was the difference in the end - Johnson couldn't have done it all on his own.

South Africa's batsmen four through ten also have to get a notable mention. When SA's top three batsmen folded like a pack of cards in just 27 deliveries we saw Amla face 109 deliveries, de Villiers face 228, Abbott 89, du Plessis 109, Duminy 99, Philander 105 and Steyn 44.

The first six batsmen on that list each faced more deliveries in the second innings trying to save the Test than Graeme Smith faced in the entire series.

A fantastic rearguard action by South Africa considering the captain offered no resistance whatsoever and Petersen and Elgar also went cheaply.

South Africa did everything I wanted them to - give the Aussies a run for their money - something England never did. They managed to win the second Test and made Australia work as hard as you could ever work to win a Test today, so full marks to them.

Final mention goes to Warner and Johnson who have more than proven themselves. I doubted them following the Ashes series, but now that they've well and truly walked the walk and talked the talk I no longer do. Johnson with 22 wickets at 17.36 and Warner with 543 runs at 90.5 with three tons were the two notable standouts for Australia this series just as they were in the previous series against England.