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I must say, I enjoy Test Match Special far more during overseas tours than home test matches these days. The commentary is always great, there are always some good, entertaining exchanges and between-session interviews, without having 'celebrities' cluttering up the box during play. And one of the best things about this series is not having to (try to) listen to the gaffe-prone Henry Blofeld's ball-by-ball!

Loving TMS during these winter days, its a pleasure to be able to go back and access the comentary if ive had to nip out or work and missed a days play. It has to be said, Geoff Boycott was hilarious to listen to during the South African collapse, he always adds spice to the commentary and, when he is calm, he is about as good a pundit as there is.

Im not missing Blowers either [gravybeard] it seems as though the blend is just about spot on at the moment. My dream team would have Jim Maxwell in it too, but i am sure he is busy down under at the moment.

Great to see England growing as a side, this would be a marvellous series to win and i cant help but think that Strauss and Flower power can guide us to that rarest of things, a competitive Ashes series in Australia...

It's all getting terribly exciting as we approach the business end of the series!
The Table Top Mountain view has to be one of the best on the planet, and I am envious of the fans that have made the journey and who will get to see what promises to be some top quality Test Cricket being played in its shadow.
I've just checked out the 5 day forecast and except for some showers on the first day it looks pretty good for the whole test, although if the Beeb's forcast for Tuesday is accurate, I certainly would not want to be a fast bowler on that day (39'c!!) unless I'm sat in the shed under the AC.
Does anyone have any info on how the Wicket is expected to play?

Gravybear's comment about henry is rubbish. He's great, espexially when combine with Vic Marks.
I just hope the change in team, replacing Simon Mann with CMJ, will not change the momentum of England.

well its snowing again in the vale of belvoir,aggers will be pleased to know.
wish i was at newlands instead. i was there in 96 when england lost in 3days,and the bok fans could'nt understand why the biggest cheer was for devon malcolm comming out to bat.
i could listen to vic marks and aggers banter all day,but 1/2hour of blowers is enough.

I can't wait for the action to start tomorrow. The third test is a sell-out for the first three days, Cape Town promises plenty of atmosphere.

Boycs was absolutely brilliant during that SA batting collapse and has been on top form throughout. The indispensable Vic Marks should never be "rested" from any away-from-home TMS matches.

Loving the commentary .... come on England.

Henry is one the great English commentators of all time. He should be in the C.B. more often than not! He has such a flair, grace and ease about him that make for enjoyable listening! His detractors are copiously out of line!

I predict a fierce and resilient fight-back by the South Africans to level the series!

That will make Geoff B. feel a bit ansy and queasy in his chair, pontificating!

Ahhh the old Blowers debate. Personally I find him getting more and more inaccurate and imprecise as a commentator, and whilst I could accept his eccentricities as part of the joys of TMS when he was more 'on the ball' sadly I feel he is beyond his sell by date now. Though he does come into his own during the rain breaks!!

Congrats to the Martin Jenkins family on the new arrival.

Adam mate, would have posted this on Aggers column today but there was no option to do this. Can you tell Aggers that as much as I rate him his column has become merely a second rate version of the match report. What I want to know from Aggers, particularly after day two of Cape Town is not how each batsman got out in chronological order but how he perceives the balance of power to lie, where he sees the game progressing, who holds the balance of power etc. What he has submitted has obviously been thrown together in an effort to depart from the ground. Have a word mate!!

Please add my voice to those asking for Vic Marks not to be rested. I hope he's back for the next test.

Re the Blowers debate - I agree that his commentary has become a little 'imprecise' but his voice represents cricket to so many and I am sure he should be continued to be used for rain breaks, drinks breaks, lunch breaks, tea breaks or when the run rate drops too low (or as he would say 'even the pigeons become soporific').

This match and Paul Collingwood are precisely the reason why fans are leaving (giving up on) test cricket. Its been the most boring last innings i have ever seen and Collingwood is the most boring batsman i have ever seen.

Solution: Introduce a new rule in the 4 innings- If a run rate of say 3 an over is not acheived in the last innings then the batting side will lose the game even if 10 wickets have not been lost. If the run rate is acheived, a draw is still a possible result.

This will keep interest for both teams and fans right to the end of the test. It may even keep Kallis awake in the slips!!

Very good commentary, but can we please remind Michael Vaughan that commentators and summarisers are supposed to be impartial? Ok, we all know he will be leaning towards England in the way Boycott will, naturally, but comments like 'Come on England' really don't convince the listener that he is providing a balanced view of the game.

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