7-18 December 2011 
Start of the Sri Lanka test series and final of the One day Cup

The summer started off with a great test match series between South Africa and Australia. The two team played wonderful entertaining cricket and the series could have gone either way. Sadly this is not what we will be seeing for the rest of the South African summer.

South Africa dominated the first test against Sri Lanka and one could be forgiven for thinking that the opponents are not up to test match level. South Africa romped home inside of 3 days to beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 81 runs. I will be very surprised if the Sri Lankans show any resistance in the last 2 test matches.

The Sri Lankans have not managed to win a test match after the retirement of Mutiah Muralitharan. It is hard to think that they will be capable of taking 20 wickets in order to win a test match. Sri Lanka’s best chance of showing any resistance will be for senior batter like Kumar Sangakkara en Mahela Jayawardena to make huge scores, but even then one gets the feeling that it will only be a matter of time before South Africa wins the test.

From a South African point of view nothing less that 3-0 series win will do justice to the South African team. We really sit with a world class team that can beat any team in any conditions and I for one cannot wait for the England tour next winter. This will be a show case of the best of the best.

The likes of Jacques Rudolph have shown huge promise, but the time has come that the promise is turned into world class performances. We all know that Jacques has all the attributes to become world class batsman at international level. I for one believe that the magic innings that will transform his international career is just around the corner. 

Vernon Philander‘s phenomenal start to test cricket can only be described as history in the making. He has become only the 3rd player in the history of test match cricket to take four 5 wicket hauls in his first 6 test match innings. What a performance! May his form long continue? 

The Cape Cobras become the winners of the CSA One Day Cup by beating the Warriors at Newlands in Cape Town. Coach Richard Pybus has transformed the Cobras. The Cobras have always been a very talented team, but one that has not done their talent justice. Under Richard Pybus this has certainly changed. Winning 2 out of 3 trophies last season and the One day Cup so far this season speaks volumes of his commitment to excellence. The Cape Cobras is the team to beat!