Wizards, whether in the shape of players, administrators or other technocrats are not easy to find. Some of them are born and destined as such while others achieve top positions through dint of sheer hard work and relentless effort to enhance their basic talent. Each one is worth millions to any organisation.Letting go waste such people amounts to depriving an organisation of invaluable assets. Unfortunately PCB seems to have accepted letting go two of its wizards, Wasim Akram, slashed by the Selection Committee and Javed Miandad, walking out the door, said to be a victim of ‘palace intrigues and jealousies’.Wasim’s exclusion from the practice camp to prepare 27 probables for Asian Test Championship and the visiting New Zealand team has raised a hue and cry far and wide. Disappointment has been expressed at home and abroad about on inviting a number of ‘non-entities’ under the garb of “concentrating on young talent with an eye on 2003 World Cup”.The media is full of reports, articles and comments criticising the PCB for the shabby treatment given such a great cricketer. This also appeared in a panel discussion conducted by Radio Pakistan. Excluding Akram from the training camp and telling him to prove his form and fitness in two practice matches being held before the final selection, was considered to be ridiculous. Cricket observers attribute this Selection Committee decision as a downright insult of an outstanding cricketer of his times, who holds the world record of clinching over 400 wickets both in the tests as well as one-day internationals.The issue reflects two completely different sides of the picture. Skipper Waqar Younis who was thought to have opposed Akram’s inclusion among the probables has denied it by saying that ‘he only knew about the names of players and the omission of some top players when he arrived home from abroad’. When questioned, he even denied having called the former Pakistan Captain ‘problematic’, as some press correspondents termed it.Waqar Younis in fact came out in support of his dropped pace-partner by saying, “I never had any problems with Akram and to use the word ‘drop’ for a player of his calibre is not right. It all depends on his fitness and form…Akram can come back in the side through trial matches.”In contrast, Chief Selector Wasim Bari’s remarks on the subject carried a tinge of arrogance. He maintained that it was a unanimous decision by the selectors who picked the best possible combination from which the Pakistan side will be formed for the Asian Test Championship. Insisting on the form and fitness of the dropped players, he emphasised, ‘the players must show their worth again in the domestic first class season starting in September.’The Chief Selector’s attitude and the PCB’s endorsement of his theme ‘that upcoming fast bowlers who are working hard to earn a place in the national side should be tried in the home series which was the best opportunity for them to prove their worth’ indicate that there are no roses in the basket for Wasim Akram.Despite all his achievements he is almost back to ‘square one’. He is likely to be picked for the two matches to be played on August 17 and 20 between the Camp Trainees XI and the Rest, during which his performance will be evaluated like others. Congratulations Wasim Akram, you are being treated as a ‘youngster’ again! Then what else can be said, if a player like Chris Cairns considers you “the greatest cricketer he has ever played against”?My advice to the PCB is to not blindly follow the dictates of the selection committee but also use its own imagination to decide important issues. Let’s be clear one cannot win a tournament like the World Cup with a team comprising players having only two years international experience.While the Pakistan cricket team is set on the path of losing a great cricketer like Wasim Akram, the PCB has lost an illustrious figure in world cricket, Javed Miandad. The irony is that the people at the helm of Pakistan’s cricket do not feel sorry about losing these two invaluable diamonds. I only wish someone would realise that players of such calibre are born once in a century.Miandad has reached Bangladesh on a coaching assignment where he and former West Indies quickie Andy Roberts are to prepare the Bangladesh team for the Asian Test Championship. Though not a permanent assignment, Miandad’s act of withdrawing from all the assignments of PCB is shrouded in mystery.After recently serving as coach of the Pakistan team, he was appointed Chairman of the newly formed Management Committee that had the important mandate of looking after the affairs of domestic as well as international cricket. Not willing to carry on, he declined to hold the appointment on the pretext of ‘non-availability of time’.Surprisingly, before departure Miandad returned all the items issued to him by the PCB including the car and a mobile telephone – enough to indicate his disenchantment with the Board. His initial attachment with Bangladesh cricket is said to be of only 3 weeks duration and he could have done the task easily while holding his job in the PCB. Former Test cricketer, Iqbal Qasim who was appointed as his deputy was competent enough to carry on the job during his absence. His severing of relationship with the PCB smells of some sort of politics.Since his involvement in Pakistan’s cricket affairs, whether as a coach, member of the Advisory Council or Chairman of the Management Committee, Miandad did not really have a happy time. Troubles arose on different occasions turning him into a controversial figure. Whether it was on account of his inability to adjust himself or others’ unwillingness to accept him, only the Board would know.It was, however, a great gesture on the part of PCB Chairman to say that ‘the doors of PCB were open for him and he could resume again on his sweet will’ but somehow it is not enough. Apart from his status as a world-class cricketer and captain, Miandad is a wizard as far as knowledge of the game is concerned. A player of his calibre would be an asset for any cricket body and on any assignment. Like any other human being he may be have his idiosyncrasies but let us not forget that a king is a king who must be treated and respected as such.It is unfortunate that, the PCB is still inhabited by people who do not like the presence of those wiser or more competent than them. Thus differences still crop up, turning into conflicts and controversies.The principal officers of the Board need to involve themselves more actively and monitor closely, the working of all committees. There would be no harm in taking advice of some ‘neutral observers’ when required. It is wonderful to know that the PCB has hired the services of a psychologist. Besides looking after the players, let him also study the ‘attitude problem’ that badly ails the cricket body and find a remedy.

New Zealand goes into the One-Day International matches with Pakistan, starting on September 19, still holding their World Cup seeding position in their own hands.Final seedings will be made on October 1, which follows the New Zealand-Pakistan and Zimbabwe-South Africa series.Going into the series New Zealand is in Group B of the 2003 World Cup, seeded behind South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, and ahead of Bangladesh, Kenya and Canada.The Group A make-up is: Australia, Pakistan, India, England, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Namibia.The formula for New Zealand is quite simple.If they win 3-0, their seeding improves to sixth, ahead of the West Indies, and they would both remain in the same group.If New Zealand lost 0-3 their seeding drops to eight on the full international list and they would change groups with England.A 2-1 series win, either way, would not be sufficient to change the mathematical calculations.In the Zimbabwe-South Africa series, the only change that could occur is if South Africa lost 0-3. That would see them drop from top seed to be replaced by Sri Lanka. They would both remain in the same group.A summary table of results since the 1999 World Cup are:

P W L T NR %1 Australia 52 40 10 1 1 78.4%2 South Africa 56 36 18 1 1 65.5%3 Sri Lanka 60 37 21 1 1 62.7%4 Pakistan 65 37 27 1 0 56.9%5 India 71 34 36 0 1 48.6%6 West Indies 60 24 34 0 2 41.4%7 New Zealand 53 20 31 0 2 39.2%8 England 30 11 18 0 1 37.9%9 Zimbabwe 63 17 45 0 1 27.4%10 Bangladesh 9 0 9 0 0 0.0%11 Kenya 7 0 7 0 0 0.0%

Robert Croft cracked a maiden one-day century as Glamorgan showed their Norwich Union League Division Two champions credentials by beating Middlesex by 41 runs at Cardiff.The England off spinner’s sparkling 100 came off 105 balls with a six and 10 fours out of Glamorgan’s challenging total of 272-4.And it was Croft who chipped in with two wickets as Middlesex could only manage 231-8 in their 45 overs.As well as Glamorgan receiving the Division Two trophy it was supposed to be the day that the county also said goodbye to the retiring Steve Watkin after 16 seasons at Sophia Gardens.But although Watkin led the Glamorgan players on to the pitch at the start of the Middlesex reply and got a standing ovation before he bowled the final over of the match, Croft rather stole his thunder.Without Angus Fraser in their attack Middlesex failed to contain the Division Two title winners. The mainstay of Glamorgan’s innings was a partnership of 189 in 29 overs between Croft and Steve James, who perished seven short of three figures.Croft had scored 92 against Essex in a day-night clash last month and was determined to score a 100 although he was put down in the deep on 74 by Ed Joyce.But he had to wait until the final over of the innings to seal his 100 and then celebrated by hitting Paul Weekes for two straight sixes.Apart from the presentation of the trophy at the end of the game the match was largely irrelevant, as Glamorgan had been confirmed champions last weekend when Worcestershire lost to Durham.

Dipak Patel and his Central Districts selectors, Basil Netten and Barry Roberts, know they are in for a tough season.Not because they don’t have enough players, on the contrary, they have more than they know what to do with.Last season’s bowling woes which ripped through New Zealand cricket last year like blight through a 19th Century Irish potato patch, hit CD harder than most.Losing Michael Mason and Lance Hamilton, almost from the outset of the season, threatened to rob CD of two of its most potent bowlers.Instead, CD found its resources were deeper than imagined and produced Brent Hefford and Andrew Schwass to provide a superb back-up for Ewen Thompson.Now all five are lining up at the starting post and the cull is going to make for some disappointments. Mason is nearly back at full speed after recovering from his broken ankle while Hamilton is about a week away with his leg injury.Patel talked about that to CricInfo while watching Canterbury’s rain throw CD’s Cricket Academy camp at Lincoln University into turmoil.Instead of four days early season cricket, such as their Otago counterparts enjoyed last week, the CD players have been honing up on their card skills.”It is a very difficult situation for the bowlers. But we made it plain and clear at the end of last season that they had done very well.”But we told them that when they came back this year they should be under no illusions – they would all have to fight for their places,” Patel said.”It’s hard, but it is healthy. They are all playing for a spot.”Patel was delighted with the way the CD bowlers responded to the potential crisis last year and admitted that Hefford had made a big impression.”The great thing about it was that he took his Shell Cup form into the Shell Trophy. And at the end of the season he made an impression in Perth on very flat wickets when he was playing against quality players.”Jeff Thomson and Dean Jones had a lengthy chat with me at the end of the tournament and they couldn’t believe he wasn’t playing for New Zealand,” he said.The signs that have been seen so far, and the players did get some net time on Sunday before the bad weather set in, suggest that Hefford is set to go again and there should be none of the traditional second season blues for him.”I predict that he will be just as successful as he was last year,” Patel said.While CD looked to have strength in most areas, the real test would come when it was seen how hard hit the side was from the absence of players with the CLEAR Black Caps.The loss of Craig Spearman, through unavailability, as a quality player with experience and as a player who had captained the side would be tough.But, Patel said, Jamie How had taken the challenge on at the end of the season in Perth and has had the benefit of a year at the Cricket Academy.One acquisition the side has had is Richard Scragg, a young player to Lord’s three years ago. He has been playing grade cricket in Perth for two years under former Australian coach Geoff Marsh.”Geoff spoke very highly of him and the very creditable results he had achieved in Perth grade cricket. He’s a very solid, opening batsman,” he said.Greg Todd, another who impressed at the end of the season, especially in games for the New Zealand Under-19 team, has suffered a stress fracture of his shin and is out of action for six weeks. However, as another Academy graduate he has made bigger strides and will be pushing for selection.Patel said the pressure would be on the batsmen in the side, including the likes of David Kelly who, after the double century he scored last summer, was well capable of building on that with more consistency this year.Having achieved such good results in winning the Shell Cup last year the side would be in the new position of facing a different sort of pressure as defenders of the title and that would be a challenge.”We talked about that at our camp and the lads are keen to show that it was not just a one-off. We are an up and coming province and we want to prove that,” Patel said.However, Patel said the four-day State Championship was the title he would most like to have.”From a personal point of view it is the truest test of a cricketer and a cricket team. It is a true test of what type of player you are,” he said.While there is disappointment over the way the weather has treated them at Lincoln, the Central Districts players return to their respective regions knowing there are a lot of district games to be played and a couple of trial matches to be held in Wanganui before the season is underway.Central Districts will be away to Auckland when the State Championship starts on November 26.

The prospects for England’s tour to India in November are not as bleak as a number of scare stories appearing in the press over the weekend might portray. There is a meeting between the selected players and the ECB at Lord’s tomorrow (Tuesday) but it is not a crisis meeting. The purpose is to allow an exchange of information and to enable the players and their representatives to hear the very latest on the security situation from the British High Commissioner in New Delhi, Sir Rob Young.A number of players have expressed concerns about the safety of the touring party, especially in light of advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that reads: “We are advising all British interests in India to take precautions against possible terrorist retaliation. All British nationals are strongly advised to keep a low profile, maintain a high level of vigilance, avoid situations where there might be tension and stay in touch with fast moving events.” The fact that the same advice is offered to such notorious trouble spots as New Zealand and Switzerland does put that statement in to perspective!To make a better evaluation of the situation, chief executive of the ECB, Tim Lamb, and director of corporate affairs, John Read, went to the FCO on Friday where officials made it very clear that they saw no reason why the tour should not proceed. They received some specific advice about the situation in India at the present time as it will affect the English cricket team. That was supportive.Looking ahead to the briefing with the players, John Read told CricInfo: ” This meeting is all about reassuring the players that the decision to proceed with the tour has been based on a lot of thought, discussion and research about the situation in India and the very decisive advice from the High Commission in Delhi. We are getting direct advice from the people on the ground who really know what the situation is.”Sir Rob Young, the High Commissioner in Delhi, has agreed to interrupt a very hectic programme to go to Lord’s to address the players personally and allay any fears they might have. Read added: “Hopefully, at the end of the meeting, the players will be more assured about the situation in India and, as far as the Foreign Office is concerned, why they are giving advice that the tour should go ahead.”While the ECB admits that it is unable to force anybody to get on the plane if they do not want to go, they are hopeful that by providing hard evidence from an authoritative source, individuals will make up their own minds that it is safe to go.Read added: “We cannot ever say there are no risks associated with going to India or anywhere else for that matter because no tour is absolutely risk-free. But we are trying to put the situation into perspective so they can have an informed and balanced understanding of the situation that prevails in India at the moment.”He stressed “Players’ safety and the safety of the whole touring party remains paramount. There is no way we would send a team into an area where there are serious security concerns.”Read refused to get drawn into comment on an admittedly hypothetical situation whereby individuals decided against going. Chelsea Football Club recently left the decision about travelling to Israel for a European tie to individuals and six senior players opted out. All he would say is “We want to send our strongest possible team to India. We have announced our party and we hope that every single one of those players will go.”Duncan Fletcher, the England coach who only left the country to visit South Africa last week, has returned to London for the meeting. Also there will be cricket manager Phil Neale, John Carr, the director of cricket operations, along with chairman of the ECB, Lord MacLaurin, and Tim Lamb. As well as all the players, Richard Bevan from the Professional Cricketers’ Association has been invited, as had David Graveney in his dual role as chief executive of the PCA and chairman of selectors. With Sir Rob Young will be the senior official responsible for South-East Asia at the FCO, Kevin Brind.

England carried out the first net session of their tour of India today watched by armed guards. It follows the most high-profile security ever to greet anEngland team abroad.Extensive discussions about security have been held between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Indian authorities. The 16-man squad, who arrived at Mumbai early yesterday morning, relaxed before a fitness work-out in the hotel pool.There was intensive security at Mumbai International Airport, as a ring of plain clothes police surrounded the England squad on arrival.The ECB have have also engaged personal minders Matthew Kilbride and Douglas Dick. Kilbride arrived in India last weekend, while Dick flew with the team from Heathrow. The two men will stay with the squad to maintain safety.The ECB’s cricket operations manager, John Carr said: “Discreet security will be around the tour party the whole time. If the players want to go out of the hotel they will have to inform the security staff where they want to go.”Security arrangements will be reassessed, I am sure, on an ongoing basis tomake sure security is going well. And our own security advisors are well-placed to liaise with the Indian authorities.”The players would be able to go out to places but they would be discreetlyaccompanied. We would much rather be in a situation were we are receiving word from the players that we are over the top in terms of security rather than saying security is not tight.”However there are some social events laid on for the squad, who attend a dinner put on by the British High Commission tonight.Meanwhile Nasser Hussain, who was born in Madras and moved to England when he was five, talked more about the cricket to the Indian media today.”Relations between England and India have always been good and they will remain good until we get onto that pitch in three weeks’ time,” said Hussain, who has visited the country of his birth just twice.”It’s obviously very special for me but the main reason it is special isbecause I am captaining England.”We are all desperate to be here. I spoke to Steve Waugh in the dressing rooms at The Oval in the summer and he said we would enjoy it.”I have fond memories, I love the culture, the people and the way they playtheir cricket.””The sooner we learn about Indian cricket the better for our team,” he said.”They have some world-class spinners but we have seen Anil Kumble over quite a few seasons and we played him pretty well the last time India were in England.”Our coach (Duncan Fletcher) has been to see them in South Africa recently.”We know that is a different proposition as they will get more bounce and spin here and the only place to learn how to play them is out in the middle.”There is nothing like experiencing it first-hand and that first Test will bethe ideal opportunity.”Whether we are experienced or not it was always going to be difficult. We went to Zimbabwe for the one-dayers with a young side and won 5-0, although we know this is a lot tougher.”These guys that are coming into the side give us old ones a bit of energy and their attitude is fantastic. I shall be handing out some new caps and I willbe pleased to do so.”In a funny sort of way that might be an advantage to us — we are all on thesame level, no-one has got the game sussed and there are no differences betweenanyone.”We came and learned how to play on the subcontinent in Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year and we are here to learn some more.”The rewards here will be much greater – everyone loses to Australia apart from India when they are at home.”No-one comes to India and wins but there is no point mentioning that in thedressing room.”

Western Australia’s last batsman Brad Williams struck a six with two balls to spare to give the Warriors a stunning win over South Australia in their limited overs day-night cricket match at Adelaide Oval tonight.Chasing SA’s 7-235 from 50 overs, the Warriors passed the target, reaching 237 from 49.4 overs with just one wicket in hand.Williams came in with four runs required to win off the final four balls – with left-arm spinner Brad Young bowling – and failed to score off the first ball he faced.But he struck a massive six which easily cleared the mid-wicket boundary off the next ball to give WA the victory, which had looked highly unlikely at several stages throughout their innings.Openers Chris Rogers (39 from 53 balls) and Ryan Campbell (20 from 22 balls) got the Warriors off to a flying start to be 0-39 eight overs into the innings.They were particularly severe on SA debutant Matthew King, whose opening four over spell cost 32 runs, including 15 from his fourth over.But Mark Harrity replaced him and picked up the wicket of Campbell in his second over and then dismissed Rogers in his fourth over, on his way to 2-40 from 10 overs, while young paceman Paul Rofe conceded just 23 from his 10 overs at the other end.The required run-rate was up to almost six per over 28 overs into the innings and, when SA captain Darren Lehmann had WA counterpart Simon Katich stumped inthe 35th over, the Warriors were in deep trouble.The required rate was up to eight per over with 11 overs remaining with SA looking headed for victory.But Stuart Karppinen smashed 22 from 22 balls to keep WA in the match, with 12 coming from the 40th over the innings bowled by Mike Smith.Wickets fell steadily as the run-chase continued, but it did not slow the Warriors, with Smith conceding 16 runs in the 45th over.With three overs to go WA needed just 17 runs with three wickets in hand.Young trapped Marcus North (17 off 16 balls) lbw in the 48th over while conceding just four runs to make it 13 needed from two overs with two wickets remaining.Smith conceded seven runs in the 49th over to Brad Hogg and Matthew Nicholson, meaning just six runs were needed in Young’s last over.A wide on the first ball meant WA needed five off six balls, but Hogg was run out off the next ball, leaving Nicholson and Williams to score five runs from five balls.Nicholson scored a single, and Williams blocked the next ball straight back to Young, building the tension, before striking the killer blow with the next ball.Young finished with 4-55.Greg Blewett was named man of the match for his top score of 73 from 101 balls in SA’s innings.

After the sulphorous fireworks and live bands at the LG Abans one-day finalon Wednesday night, the first day of Zimbabwe’s only practice game seemedtranquil and sleepy, which appeared to help the tourists, as they restoredsome confidence with a decent batting display against a youthful Sri LankanBoard XI at the P.Saravanamuttu Oval on Friday.Watched by a handful of ground staff and three old ponies munchingcontentedly on adjacent grassy bank, Zimbabwe weathered a clammy first hour,which had the makings of disaster as the ball darted around markedly, toscore 319 for six. It wasn’t a we-are-coming-to-get-you-Sri Lanka display,but they showed they are capable of making life difficult for the hosts whenthe Test series starts next week.The last thing Zimbabwe needed before the first Test was another battingcollapse and, when Hamilton Masakadza prodded at a leg-cutter from theimpressive Dinusha Fernando to be caught behind for 10, one did wonderwhether another meek display was on the cards.But opener Trevor Gripper and number three Stuart Carlisle, who has beenremoved from the captaincy after the return of Brian Murphy, battedstaunchly throughout the rest of the morning. By the afternoon session thesun had burnt off the early morning menace in the wicket and the pair added186 for the second wicket.Gripper – somewhat unfortunately referred to as T.G. Ritter in the officialtour programme – was hardly stylish but was organised and efficient, goingonto score a chanceless 101, his third first class century, before retiringhurt at tea with a sore knee.His partner, Carlisle, also deserved a century for an adhesive four-houreffort, but he fell narrowly short, as he cracked a short ball from abustling Ravi Pushpakumara straight to point having scored 98.After the retirement of Gripper, the middle order wobbled, with only AndyFlower showing any prolonged resistance. The prolific left-hander studiouslybatted himself back into good form after a disappointing one-day series andfinished the day unbeaten on 51.With three top order batsmen spending valuable time in the middle, themanagement would have been satisfied even though they had failed tocapitalise fully on a solid foundation, as five wickets fell in an extendedevening session.Grant Flower had waited patiently in the dressing room for three and a halfhours for his turn to bat, only to edge a catch into the slips for two.Gavin Rennie, the latest player to be drafted into the squad, scored 19before he was caught at short leg trying to sweep, before Craig Wishart (6)was stumped whilst trying to two-step down the wicket and Douglas Marillier(6) played onto his stumps when the second new ball was taken.Earlier in the day, the Zimbabwe had decided to rest opening bowlers TravisFriend and Heath Streak, both of who are anyway in good form with the ball,as they packed their side with batsmen.

Auckland got the maximum points they were looking for in State League matches against Canterbury over the weekend.Auckland recorded two victories, after starting a week later than the four southern teams in the competition.Yesterday, Canterbury batted first at North Harbour Stadium after winning the toss and when rain stopped play 25 overs into the innings, Canterbury were 86/3. When play resumed, Canterbury had three overs for a slog fest in the reduced overs match and Canterbury ended up with 111/5.Paula Flannery scored 34 and Nicole Payne 29 for Canterbury while Debbie Ramsay took two for 15 from her six overs for Auckland.Auckland made a rusty start and had eight wickets down when the winning runs were scored. Rebecca Rolls hit 22 while Haidee Tiffen took three for 26 for Canterbury, but Auckland got home with an over to spare.Today, the story was completely different.Auckland won the toss and batted first and were all out for 195 in the 50th over. Helen Watson and Emily Drumm each hit 39 for Auckland while Canterbury bowler Beth McNeill continued the outstanding contribution she has made for her side by taking six for 31.Canterbury in reply struggled with the bat and were dismissed for 96 in the 43rd over. The 99-run losing margin was a record loss by Canterbury. Wickets were shared around among the Auckland bowlers but Ramsay was again the best with her two for 22.In the Northern Districts game against Otago at WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton, Otago were batting first and were 101 for three after 29.1 overs when rain forced an abandonment in play.Elizabeth Scurr scored 28 while Pauline te Beest was 42 not out.However, on the second day Northern Districts managed to provide yet another surprise in the competition by beating Otago by two wickets.Otago batted first and were all out in the 45th over for 132. Natalie Bannerman was easily the pick of the Otago batsmen with 47 runs while Sarah Helmore scored 26 and Rachel Pullar 24. Louise Milliken took three for 14 from her 10 overs while cleaning out the top order and Nicola Browne took three for 16 from four overs.Janice Fraser held the ND top-order together with 35 runs but when she was out, ND were still not halfway there. Jenny Stafford scored 20 and Milliken 19 to help ND home with 2.4 overs to spare.

I saw Jonty Rhodes at the practice session the day before the first VB Series final and both of us thanked one another for helping each other get to the final.We both commented how bizarre the situation was, and really how ridiculous the fact that SA went into a game happy to lose to Aussie.The powers that be need to rethink that one for sure and with a reported $1.5 million loss of revenue because of Aussie not making the finals then it has turned out to be a costly experiment.Our lead-up to the game was boosted by Martin Crowe coming over to help with our preparation. Flem [captain Stephen Fleming] really values Martin’s input and with our recent record against SA it was felt some expert thinking and planning may well help us.Before our team meeting on the eve of the first final we went to a private screening of A Beautiful Mind, Russell Crowe’s new movie.We were very well looked after and had a great surprise when at the end of the movie Russell came in and we were able to talk about all sorts of Hollywood goings on and what his upcoming movies were.It was a real highlight of the tour and a privilege to talk to a man currently at the top of his profession and who no doubt will be there for some time yet.After four games chasing targets it was great to see Flem win the toss and for us to go up front and get runs on the board then to put pressure on the SA’s.After a couple of wickets were lost Flem and Macca [Craig McMillan] put together a great foundation for us to launch from. Unfortunately, some ill-disciplined shots from our normally sound middle-order meant that we finished at least 30 runs too short.We said that 220 would be competitive and at half-time we knew early wickets could give us a chance as we had defended 200 in our first game agaist Aussie. At 50/2 we were still in it and we had a confident appeal turned down against Boeta Dippenaar.He went on to play very well but, once again, it was the momentum that was lost if we had have got that decision in our favour.I was cited after the game for my actions after the appeal being turned down. I am not allowed to comment on the hearing but I am glad to say that commonsense prevailed and my thanks goes to Dippenaar who was also at the hearing and revealed that he thought nothing of the situation.Jacques Kallis continued his good form and combined with Dippenaar to bat us out of the game and both played well but with the low score we were never really able to build any pressure.So to Sydney and the weather here looks like it may play a part.The wicket will be sporty and will mean that no matter what the target is the team batting second will have to play well. The quick turnaround in this next game will mean we have to stay up mentally and make sure we force this series into the third final on Sunday.