IND v SA: South Africa broken like a stump in thumping series defeat

Indian skipper Virat Kohli celebrates the win during day five of the 4th Paytm Freedom Trophy Series Test match between India and South Africa held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.
Photo by Ron Gaunt / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

An utterly enthralling yet inevitable 337-run defeat for South Africa at the hands of the India unfolded at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Monday, giving the hosts a 3-0 series win and the Proteas a serious dignity dent.

Cricket: 1st test, Australia v South Africa: Johnson’s 12 wicket haul stuns already shocked Proteas

Mitchell Johnson celebrates his second five wicket haul (Getty Images)

Confidence was never in doubt in the Australian camp as they began the first test at Centurion February 12^th.  On the other side of the coin, South Africa held the mantle of the top-ranked test team.

Inside of four days of test cricket, one team stumbled but recovered in spectacular and dominating fashion.  The other, so enamoured by what they saw from the visitors, fell and did so with little grace.

Cricket: 2012 World XIII (Tests, T20’s, OD’s)

James Anderson, 2010 (photo mine)

Well, it is that time of year again.  The time where obsessed cricket fanatics (such as myself) sit down, ponder for hours, and then finally write some sort of scribble about the top players for the year.

This is a first for me, and I’ve decided to pick 13 players worldwide who will make up my inaugural World XIII.  They are in no particular order.

When some of you read this, you might ask ‘where’s Brendon McCullum, or perhaps Hashim Amla?’  Yes, I did consider them, but in my mind didn’t make the cut for 2012.  Their years were both excellent and helped lead their teams to some great victories, but in my mind they were beaten by others for consistency and other similar factors.  Add to the fact that picking just thirteen players is extremely difficult.

Amla was ahead of McCullum in breaking into the squad however.

Cricket: Australia v South Africa: Second Test Preview

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke at Adelaide (ESPN Cricinfo)

(At the time of writing, the squad is unconfirmed)

Adelaide Oval will see a very fierce battle begin on Thursday, as the Aussies take on South Africa in the second test.

With the first match at the Gabba ending in a draw, Michael Clarke will be looking to put the South Africans back in their box.  Having had the entirety of Day 2 of the first test washed out, making the chance of an outright result small, both teams will be looking to stamp their mark on the series.

Cricket: Australian summer preview: South Africa and Sri Lanka

The Australian cricket international summer series of tests, one-dayers and Twenty20 matches is hammering on our doors once again, and this time the Aussies will be facing South Africa and Sri Lanka.

While the Proteas and Australia are ahead of Sri Lanka in the ICC World ratings, neither team will be pushovers.  Sri Lanka proved that they can take it to the end, collapsing in the ICC World Twenty20 against the West Indies in the final.  South Africa boast the likes of Jacques Kallis, AB De Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.

With the first test set to begin on November 9th, here’s a look at what the Aussie crowds can expect from what looks to be a top-notch summer: