Diary Archive

26 July, 16h00

The fact is I've been struggling with a sore ankle for around two years now. About 6 months ago our physio, Brandon Jackson, referred me to a specialist, Dr.Fief Ferreira. We decided I could get through the season with a few Cortisone injections, but we knew that this was only a temporary solution because the scans showed surgery would be needed sooner or later. I battled my way through a long season, surviving with some good medicine and lots of hard work from Brandon and our fitness trainer, Rob Walter.

I went under the knife on July 22nd, and the surgery was a success. I'll be wearing a cast on my ankle for four weeks, followed by intense physio, exercise and rehab for a month. Hopefully, I;ll be ready for the new season starting early October. I've been spending the first few days after surgery at my parents' home in Bela Bela. From previous experience, I know that the best way to recover is to climb under your mother's wing for a while, and I already feel much better. This process will take a lot of patience... at least, I’ve got used to being patient in the last few years of my cricket career.

Every cloud has a silver lining and this break gives me an opportunity to look after the launch of our first album on the 2nd of August 2010. Ampie du Preez (my singing partner) and I did all the hard work in last year's off season, and now it's a matter of making sure the message in our music comes across in the right way. For us, it's never been about making money from the music... it’s about an opportunity to make a difference in our community, by getting a good, positive and inspiring message across to the people in South Africa and whoever gets the chance to listen to our music.

I've got to take this opportunity to thank Sony Music for all the help in getting this dream on the road. Hopefully it will travel a long, long way!

Maak jou drome waar!

Stay sharp,

AB

This has been a great day for our country.

Already basking in the glory of hosting a phenomenally successful World Cup, we can now celebrate not only Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday but also Louis Oosthuizen’s amazing victory at the Open Championship in St Andrews – the guy was so calm and cool as he dominated a world class field at the home of golf.

Madiba continues to inspire our entire nation, and that’s why Ampie du Preez and myself have written a special song called ‘Madibaland’, which is included in our CD to be released by Sony at the end of this month. We’ve worked hard, and I hope everybody enjoys our music.

Stay sharp,

AB

Well, the third Test against the West Indies turned out to be an interesting match in many ways – plenty of good cricket and a few words between players on both sides. That’s not something anybody wants to see, but there’s a lot of pressure in Test cricket and a bit of passion is never a bad thing.

From our point of view, we’re pleased to have clinched the 2-0 win in the Test series, following our successes in the T20 and ODI series. We have worked hard in the Caribbean after the disappointment of the T20 World Cup, and the outstanding results indicate we are moving in the right direction.

Now, we’re all looking forward to arriving home and enjoying the last week or so of the FIFA World Cup.

Stay sharp,

AB

26 June, 20h30

Our bowlers did an amazing job on a good batting wicket. The first day of the Third Test in Barbados... we stuck to our game plans (lines and lengths) and remained patient right throughout the day, and bowled the West Indies out for 231.

Johan Botha bowled extremely well today and took four wickets, and our other spinner, Paul Harris, built serious pressure on the batters by not going for a lot of runs. All and all, well done to the bowlers.

We lost a couple of wickets late in the day, but we're still in a strong position. Now we we need to build a few partnerships tomorrow, establish a first innings lead and give our bowlers the freedom to attack in the next innings.

There's a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we're determined to come home with the series win.

Stay sharp,

AB

As a team, we were quite happy with our batting display in the first two days of the second test against the West Indies at St Kitts. Yes, the pitch is playing pretty well, but you still have to go out there and do the basics well and stick to your game plans, and 543 for six declared is a decent effort.

Well done to Jacques Kallis for scoring his 35th hundred and reaching 11000 runs in Test cricket; it's truly a great honour for someone like me to bat with him. I always learn a lot just watching him perform at the other end of the pitch. I was also very chuffed with my performance... it's a brilliant feeling to get a Test hundred, something that's been pretty rare for me this season but, nonetheless, I did it today and I'm extremely happy about that.

The West Indies have made the most of the batting conditions as well, and we know we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. We’re going to have to stick to our task, and see if there is a way we can get a positive result on this wicket.

Stay sharp,

AB

We're staying at the Marriott resort here in St. Kitts, and it really is an awesome spot. There's a lot to do and the boys have been enjoying this period leading up to the second Test, starting on the 18th. We met up with a local guy called Arthur Sharp, and he has really gone out of his way to make our stay as pleasant possible. He's taken us out to some of the best restaurants around, and we have been eating just about the freshest, tastiest seafood you can imagine.

The Test will be played at Warner Park, a beautiful little ground with a great atmosphere. We had a solid training session today, and we're ready for this Test, a match we really want to dominate.

Stay sharp,

AB

We have now arrived in St Kitts, where we will start the second Test against the West Indies on June 18th. This really is an incredibly beautiful part of the world.

Spirits are high after the first Test win, but we are working hard to improve in a few areas – we need to maintain the aggression in our performance, and we must keep doing the basics better than our opponents.

Stay sharp,

AB

Well, I said the bowlers would have to work hard in Trinidad, and they did a fantastic job to nail the victory in the First Test against the West Indies.

It was the Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel show in the first innings as the home team were dismissed for 102. Graeme Smith led the way in our second innings, setting a huge target and all our bowlers came to the party again – the West Indies were bowled out for 293 and we had won by 163 runs.

I understand how people were disappointed after the T20 World Cup, but we’ve worked hard and a 2-0 win the T20 series, a 5-0 win in the ODIs and now this emphatic victory in the First Test represents a decent comeback. Now we’re determined to maintain this form in the next two matches.

These are good times for SA sport – the Springboks looked awesome at Newlands on Saturday, Bafana Bafana are showing up well in the World Cup, and we’re getting the job done in the Caribbean.

Stay sharp,

AB

First off, congratulations to Bafana Bafana! That was a courageous performance in the opening match of the World Cup, and the 1-1 draw with Mexico must give them a decent chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages of the tournament.

Good fightback from us today! Ashwell and I started things off with a solid and very necessary partnership early on. It was hard work and conditions were really tough!! We got through the tough stages and managed to get us out of trouble. Bouchie played really well and was the rock for the tail enders to bat around. We managed to get our score to 350, which I thought was a very good effort, considering the situation we were in! Congrats boys.

Now, for the real hard work!! The pitch seemed to have flatten out quite a bit, and our bowlers will have to be tight on the basics from ball one tomorrow. We've done pretty well in the sub-continent of late, and that's the kind of conditions we're expecting for days 3,4 and 5. Our plan will be to squeeze the opposition and pick up wickets through a lot patience and pressure!!! We're gonna fight for every run out there tomorrow!

Stay sharp,

AB

Very frustrating day for all of us! Rain kept us off the field for most of the 1st day, and I must admit, it was pretty irritating at times! It's all part of the game though, and Graeme asked us to keep the focus.

We started really well, Graeme and Alviro set up a nice platform for us! But, the Windies adapted after that, and made full use of what looked like a turning wicket! Very interesting to see the ball turn that much on day 1. I personally think it's gonna be even more interesting to see the amount of turn on day 4 and 5, if the test match see a day 5, which it probably will because of all the rain around.

We unfortunately lost a few wickets towards the end of the day, but I don't think it's the end of the world. We'll just have to adjust in the morning and make sure that we adapt to the conditions!!!

I'm next in to bat, and hope to give my team the necessary stability needed right now. It's gonna be a tough day of cricket, and we're all prepared to fight it out tomorrow!

Stay sharp,

AB

A 5-0 series win in the ODI matches against the West Indies was a decent comeback after the T20 World Cup.

It’s amazing how quickly these ICC international limited overs tournaments come around, and we are definitely looking forwards not backwards. It’s a fact we have just another ten ODIs to play before the 2011 ICC World Cup takes place in Asia, and we feel as though we are moving in the right direction.

As an ODI squad, our collective goal is to win that World Cup, but we’ll take our preparations one game at a time and not get ahead of ourselves. I completely understand there will be always be doubters until we really perform at a major tournament, but we will keep working hard and our time will come.

Next on the schedule, we have three five-day Tests against the West Indies. It will be tough, but we’re hoping to maintain our form.

Of course, this is a massive week for Bafana Bafana back home, and we’re backing them all the way as they prepare for the opening match of the FIFA World Cup, against Mexico at Soccer City next Friday. The country is united behind them, and I’m sure they’ll make us proud.

Stay sharp,

AB

Well, you have to hand it to Hashim Amla. He’s in sublime form at the moment, and he thoroughly deserved another Man of the Match award as we went 2-0 up in the ODI series against the West Indies.

We’ve found some decent form, but we’re still not at our best. With the bat, David Miller looks a great prospect, but we still haven’t really cashed in properly at the death, in the last ten overs of our innings. Likewise, with the ball, we’ve been struggling to keep the runs down in the last 10 overs.

These are areas where we will be working hard in the coming days.

That said, we’re happy to be 2-0 up and we’ll be looking to clinch the series in the third ODI in Dominica.

Stay sharp,

AB

Well, the T20 series against the West Indies couldn’t have gone much better, and now we have made a winning start in the ODI series.

We’ve found some momentum, and we ‘re eager to maintain the pace and keep dominating the home side.

Antigua is starting to feel like a second home – the second ODI will be our fourth match in a row at the same ground – and we’re getting used to the condition of the pitch and the angles of the field. The crowds have been a bit disappointing... I suppose there may be a bit of a hangover after the T20 World Cup.

In any case, there’s a very positive mood in the squad at the moment. Everybody has bought into the coach’s ideas, and we’re working hard on our skills.

We want to keep this run going.

Congratulations to the Bulls and the Stormers on Saturday – should be a fantastic Super 14 final on Saturday.

Stay sharp, AB

Graeme Smith summed up the general feeling in our squad after our defeat against Pakistan on Monday.

He said we can keep offering excuses, but the plain fact is we have not performed and we must all share responsibility for the failure. Our elimination from the T20 World Cup is a massive disappointment for all of us. We have a talented and committed squad, but we did not produce the level of performance required.

It is unbelievably frustrating for all of us.

What can I say? We’ll keep working hard... and we have 10 days to prepare for our tour of the West Indies.

Stay sharp,

AB

Well, we didn't stick to our basics. That’s where we came up short against England, in our T20 World Cup Super Eights match in Barbados on Saturday.

Extras, drop catches, poor execution of our game plan and soft wickets... all added up, that meant we were outplayed. Kevin Pietersen was on top form, and dominated from the first ball. England then backed up their batting with good plans in the field and accurate bowling.

Of course, it's not all doom and gloom. We have started preparing for a huge match against Pakistan, which we must win to secure our place in the semi-finals.

Back to basics!

Stay sharp,

AB

Two wins in two days has certainly boosted confidence levels within our squad.

On Wednesday, the courageous Afghanistan team bowled pretty well but they couldn’t handle the opening burst of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

Into the Super Eights, we expected a tough battle against New Zealand. The Kiwis always come up with very good game plans, and most of the time they execute them really well. They were pretty good at the Kensington Oval, but they would probably agree we just played a better game. Congrats to Albie Morkel, who thoroughly deserved the Man of the Match award with a brilliant batting performance.

I must say there has been a real calmness in our team during the last 72 hours, something I haven't felt in a long time, and it feels good, very good. We're enjoying our cricket at the moment.

After two matches in two days, the management team has decided to give us a day off. We're just going take it easy tomorrow and make sure we get our energy levels up again for the big match against England on Sunday. That’s a game we're all looking forward to!

Stay sharp,

AB

We're all very disappointed with the 14-run loss against India in our opening match of the T20 World Cup.

We felt confident going into this game and we feel we let ourselves down in a few areas. Bowling first, we allowed their batsmen back in the game after we’d made a very good start with the ball. Second, we weren't at our sharpest in the field today, and third, chasing 187 to win, we came up short with wickets in hand, which suggests we didn't pace our innings very well.

All that said, it’s not the end of the world. We had a very good, honest chat with each other after the game, and I can only see us getting better as the tournament continues, and that’s very exciting. I’m sure we’re going to prove very competitive in this World Cup.

I've got to give praise to Suresh Raina for his 101 runs from 60 balls; he's a classy player and he’s pretty tough to stop once he gets going.

We're flying back to Barbados tomorrow to prepare for our pool match against Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Stay sharp

AB

Another week, another country, another challenge... a cricketer’s life is never dull.

We are now in Barbados, preparing for what I think is going to a fantastic ICC World T20 in the Caribbean. There’s a great spirit in this Proteas squad and, after an excellent win in our warm-up match against Sri Lanka, there is a growing sense we can do really well in this tournament. It’s a beautiful part of the world – the hotels and the beaches are fantastic – and I feel that, on our day, we certainly have the players, the strategy and the form to beat any opposition.

The IPL suddenly seems a long time ago. At the Delhi Daredevils, we were disappointed to lose four of our last five matches and miss out on the semifinals, and I was particularly disappointed I didn’t get a chance to make an impact on the later stages of the tournament. The IPL reality is that the franchises recruit seven or eight international players when only four can be included in any match day XI. It’s inevitable that many decent players don’t get a game, and that’s ultimately what happened to me.

In any case, I used the time well, working hard in the gym and getting plenty of net practice, and then I enjoyed a week back home in Pretoria.

Now the Proteas are together again and we’re raring to go.

Stay sharp,

AB

The Indian Premier League 3 is going down to the wire and, at the Delhi Daredevils, we have lost a bit of momentum towards the latter part of the tournament and now find ourselves in a tricky situation. We need to win the last game against the Deccan Chargers on Sunday to make sure we qualify for the semi-finals. Otherwise it could all come down to net run rates, and we certainly don't want to find ourselves in that position. At least, we're playing at our home ground in Delhi, and we know the slow and low conditions pretty well – hopefully, we will be able to adapt to the conditions more quickly than the Chargers and that could make the difference at the end of the day.

They always say the secret in winning a big tournament is to peak at the right time... this is the perfect time for us to hit our straps going into the closing stages of the tournament. We found some form in our most recent match – a great win away from home against Chennai, where our captain lead from the front – now the rest of us must follow.

It's time for the Daredevils to shine!

Stay sharp,

AB

Every team in the IPL craves momentum... at the Delhi Daredevils, we have won four matches in succession and are enjoying all the benefits of this most precious commodity. This kind of momentum brings confidence and enthusiasm, and a collective self-belief that, this year, we can actually win this tournament.

We are now in Kolkata, preparing to play the talented Knight Riders. It will be a tough match. Every IPL match is tough, but the mathematics suggests we are going to need two wins from our last five matches to make certain of our place in the top four and our berth in the semi-finals... and we want to secure one of those wins here.

The most pleasing aspect of our recent run has been our ability to translate home advantage into points on the table. Everybody knows the pitch is relatively slow and low in Delhi, and I think our coaches have got the balance of the team absolutely spot-on. Our batsmen have consistently produced totals of around 180, and our array of accurate, wicket-to-wicket bowlers have proved adept at maintaining a disciplined line and length, effectively restraining opponents as they chase the runs.

Of course, it’s frustrating for players such as myself, Tillakaratne Dilshan and a few others because we are not currently in the starting XI and, so long as the team keeps winning, it’s unlikely that either of us are going to get a chance. However we are a squad, not a team, and we will make sure we are ready if and when required.

It is a reality of this tournament that, with only four international players allowed in any starting XI, there are going to be plenty of well-known players on the sidelines. In this position, our challenge is to remain positive and to be as supportive of the team as possible; and that’s exactly what we are doing. There are a number of talented youngsters in our squad, and we make ourselves available to assist them in any possible way, offering a word of encouragement or working with them in the nets.

Everybody in our squad is keenly aware of the fact that we have reached the semi-finals in both IPL 1 and IPL 2, and on both occasions failed to advance to the final. We are collectively resolved to push on this year, and claim the trophy and we all know exactly what we have to do... sustain that precious momentum.

Stay sharp,

AB

Every team in IPL 3 wants the same thing... momentum.

From a Delhi Daredevils point of view, we seem to have regained this precious quality. Following our win in Bangalore, we managed to overcome the Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi on Monday, giving us a record after seven matches in this tournament of two wins, then three defeats and now two more wins.

Rajasthan Royals are the next visitors to our home ground on Friday, and we will be working hard to sustain our form. We understand the fundamentals of 20-20 cricket – we need to bat with confidence and conviction, we need to field with energy and intensity and we need to bowl with discipline and control.

I didn’t get a place in the starting XI against Kolkata because we felt it was necessary to bring in an all rounder, who could support our attack with that kind of accurate medium pace that can be so difficult to get away on a slow and low pitch. It’s not ideal for me because, like any professional sportsman, I want to play every match, but the rules of this competition only allow four overseas players in the XI at any given time and, naturally, I am prepared to accept what is best for the team.

That’s not to say life is any quieter for a squad player. I’m usually asked to do some fielding and, within the hurly burly of IPL cricket, there is always water or kit to be carried. At the Daredevils, we recognise that while teams may win matches, it will be a united squad that wins the trophy. We’re eager to back each other.

The routine is punishing for the players, as we shuttle between hotel and training, hotel and match, hotel and training, hotel and match... and that is only when we are playing at home. The rest of the time, we are travelling the length and breadth of this extraordinary country, enjoying the full IPL experience.

It’s tight at the top the IPL as we move into the second round of pool matches, and I fully expect the marquee players to step forward and produce the performances on the big occasions, the performances that will make the difference between a narrow victory and a narrow defeat.

So it’s foot down on the accelerator and forget about the brakes... here we go, hurtling towards the conclusion of IPL 3.

Stay sharp,

AB

Almost halfway through the group phase of IPL 3, the competition is becoming intense.

Any team can beat anybody on any given day, and almost every team still harbours realistic hopes of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the semi-finals. This is what makes the tournament so special. This is why IPL 3 seems even better than IPL 1 or IPL 2. This is why so many people around the world are watching.

From a Delhi Daredevils point of view, there is a very strong conviction among the players that we have turned the corner. After winning our first two matches, the disappointment of losing the next three has been erased by the victory over the pace-setting Bangalore Royal Chargers. Our next challenge is to sustain our improved form when we play the Kolkata Knight Riders in Delhi on Monday – as much as anything, it will be good to give our home supporters something to shout about.

I have seen it written that we have probably the strongest batting line-up in the competition and possibly the weakest bowling attack. I don’t agree with the second half of that assessment.

Our batting is strong – headed by Viru Sehwag, there is no doubt about that although we certainly recognise the need to be consistent as a group. Such is the quality of the IPL, we know that, on a decent wicket, you really want to be scoring something around 180 in your 20 overs. That’s about the par score.

The Delhi bowling attack is underrated. 20-20 cricket is always going to be a tough environment for bowlers but, against BRC, I thought our guys produced a really strong and disciplined performance. The key is to maintain your line and length, and to keep your cool – even if the odd delivery does disappear.

Everybody respects KKR. Chris Gayle is one of those world class layers who can win any match on his own, and Saurav Ganguly is a cricketing legend. We know we will have to be at our very best to secure another victory, and that is exactly what we intend to be.

Stay sharp,

AB

Guru Swami-G is an impressive guy, with an interesting view on life. He’s even on twitter: @guruswamig

Well, after watching us suffer three successive defeats in IPL 3, the powers that be at the Delhi Daredevils obviously reckoned we could do with some positive outside influences, and they arranged for us to meet Swami-G. I have to say he was absolutely outstanding, and he certainly gave us all plenty of energy.

We carried that into our performance against the pace-setting Bangalore Royal Chargers and, hopefully, we turned our campaign around.

Batting first, David Warner led from the front, we managed to maintain the intensity through the middle overs and Kedar Jadhav provided the fireworks at the end of our innings that took us to a competitive total of 183 for four from our 20 overs. We then produced a much improved bowling performance and frustrated the in-form BRC batsmen.

However, in 20-20 cricket, anything can happen and even when the required run rate rose to around 12 runs per over you couldn’t say the home team were completely out of contention. In this form of the game, a few boundaries and a couple of sixes can very quickly turn a game on its head.

That was exactly what Bangalore batsman Praveen Kumar was trying to do in the closing overs when he aimed to strike the ball over the long-on boundary. That’s where I have been fielding in the closing overs, and, when Praveen hit the ball, my first thought was that it was going well over my head.

Everything happened in an instant, but I found myself leaping up to my right, stretching out my right hand and... mercifully, the catch stuck.

Victory was eventually secured by 16 runs, and we were all delighted to get back to winning ways.

Momentum is everything in this tournament and, hopefully, we now have the big Mo back on our side.

Our next match is against Kolkata in Delhi next Monday – needless to say, we’ll be leaving nothing on the table.

Stay sharp,

AB

All the world’s most successful companies focus all their efforts on improving their performance year after year, constantly raising the bar and setting new standards. You often hear the CEO of a major organisation saying ‘if you’re standing still, then you can be sure you’re actually going backwards’.

The same principle applies to sport. The same principle applies to the IPL... and that’s why I am so pleased to report that, from my perspective, IPL 3 is bigger, brighter and bolder than either of the first two tournaments. They were both successful events but, in so many ways, IPL 3 really has raised the bar.

There are three factors:

1. The contest is closer and more unpredictable... it really is true that, on any given day, any of the eight teams can beat anybody...look at the Kings XI Punjab and the Rajasthan Royals... they may have won only one of their first four matches, but they certainly have more than enough quality in their squads to win any match;

2. The competition is packed with more top quality players... you really feel that when you’re fielding... against almost any team, you get a wicket and out comes another big gun batsman, you get another wicket and out comes another big gun, and another big gun...the depth in talent is really extraordinary.

3. The atmosphere at the grounds is better than ever... a combination of the flags and the fireworks, the presentation of the teams and the sheer exuberance and knowledge of cricket supporters throughout India create an almost perfect environment for cricketers... the vibe is consistently fantastic.

Having said all this, as a committed Delhi Daredevil, IPL 3 could be going a little better! We opened with two wins, but three consecutive defeats have left us with not much room for error in the rest of the tournament. We worked our way into a decent position against the Deccan Chargers on Sunday, but we could not close out the win. There’s no need for panic – and we certainly have the players to get back into the winning groove – but we know we must work hard to improve in all areas of the game.

We play the Royal Challengers in Bangalore on Thursday; that’ll be another tough match but I’m confident we can turn our campaign around.

As soon as the Daredevils start winning again... then IPL 3 really will feel like the perfect sporting event!

Stay sharp,

AB

It would be easy for us to say we have lost our last two IPL matches because we have met two of the most destructive batsmen in the world in peak form. Sachin Tendulkar produced a master class in our match against the Mumbai Indians, and we lost. Then Mathew Hayden crashed 93 in 43 balls, and we lost to the Chennai Super Kings.

That’s the nature of 20/20 cricket, some people might say.

But that’s not the nature of the Delhi Daredevils. We respect our opponents, and we certainly respect every team in the Indian Premier League because they are all full of top quality cricketers, but we are primarily focused on our own performance, and we know we have let our standards drop in the past two matches.

Viru Sehwag gave us a great start against Chennai on Friday, but we didn’t back him up in the second half of the innings and, finishing on a decent total of 185, we were probably 15 or 20 runs short of where we ideally wanted to be. We need more consistency down the order, and we know we can produce.

Matty Hayden led the run chase from the front, but we probably did not put the ball in the right places as often as we could have done, and I’m sure we can produce a much more effective and clinical bowling and fielding performance. In the end, the Super Kings reached their target with an over to spare.

We have a strong team and we will work hard to put our campaign back on track as soon as possible. There is a great spirit within the squad, and we’ll turn this around.

The fight back starts against at Cuttack on Sunday, with a match against the defending champions, the Deccan Chargers. The challenge doesn’t get much bigger than that, and Adam Gilchrist and company have won two of their first three matches, but we’ll be fighting harder than ever to get back to winning ways.

Stay sharp,

AB

We came down to earth with a bump in Delhi on Wednesday evening.

Two away wins had put us in good heart, but a 98-run to the Mumbai Indians on our home ground is just about as emphatic as it gets in this form of the game. The simple fact is we were outplayed in all aspects of the game. That can happen in 20-over cricket. We’ll recover.

The Little Master was in fantastic form. Sachin Tendulkar has been one of the outstanding batsmen in the world for many seasons now, and his innings of 63 from 32 balls was a true master class in the art of batsmanship. He strikes the ball so beautifully, it’s a marvel to watch.

Mind you, at the Daredevils, we have a few class batsmen of our own and, although 219 to win was always going to be –as they say – ‘a big ask’, we would back ourselves to chase any target. However, losing Gautie Gambhir to a pulled hamstring early in the match was not ideal and, on this occasion, none of our strike batsmen were able to play the kind of kingpin innings we needed. I was feeling in decent nick, but chopped a ball from Dwayne Bravo onto my stumps. The Mumbai bowlers varied their pace effectively, and were tough to get away.

So we move on to game four – another home match against the Chennai on Friday.

The Super Kings are a strong team and, having followed an opening defeat to the Deccan Chargers with an impressive win over Kolkata at Eden Gardens, MS Dhoni and his team will approach the game with some confidence. MS crashed 66 runs from 33 balls and, as usual, he will prove a dangerous opponent.

Overall, I think the first week of the third Indian Premier League has been brilliant. The quality of cricket has been outstanding, and the innovative and imaginative presentation of the teams , the matches and the venues ensures every game provides a fantastic three hours of top class sporting entertainment. From a player’s point of view, the atmosphere in the grounds has been better than ever, and you get this sense that everybody is having a really good time.

We have a good time when we win, and we want to bounce back strongly against Chennai on Friday.

Stay sharp,

AB 16 March 2010, 10h00

Two wins in our opening two matches is obviously an encouraging start for the Delhi Daredevils in the new IPL season, but we know there is a long way to go.

Our performance against the Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad on Monday evening was really clinical, and that is precisely what you have to be in this competition. Any team can beat anybody on their day, and there is usually very little room for error. More than anything, we want to maintain high levels of intensity and consistency.

The bowlers performed extremely well in restricting the Royals to a manageable total. Dirk Nannes has become one of the most respected pace bowlers in the competition, and Amit Mishra is world class spinner in any form of the game. The other guys fronted up really well, and we never let the home team get away from us.

Chasing 142 to win, our openers started really well, and that effectively took the pressure off the rest of us. Gautam Gambhir and Viru Sehwag are obviously India’s opening pair, and the started as they so often do with a flurry of magnificent strokeplay that quickly takes the game away from the opposition.

Viru is a phenomenon. You just have to marvel at the way he walks to the crease and hits the ball so cleanly to all corners of the ground – and the point is he is as likely to perform like this in the fourth innings of a Test match as he is in a 20/20 match. In terms of pure entertainment, I don’t think there are many better spectacles in world sport than Virender Sehwag in full flow – and I can tell you from personal experience it looks a whole lot better when you’re his partner at the crease than it does when you are in the field!

Gautie and Viru did most of the work, and left the rest of us to finish the job. I would have liked to have been there at the end, but maybe it’s not a bad thing to leave the special knocks for when they are needed most.

There’s a great spirit in this Daredevils team – we really enjoy each other’s company – and, with two wins on the road under our belts, we’re looking forward to our first home match, against the Mumbai Indians in Delhi on Wednesday. It will be tough... we know that. We’ll be firing again... we know that too.

Stay sharp,

AB

The third season of Indian Premier League cricket has arrived, and this tournament continues to grow in stature and excitement. Everything is in place – the world’s top cricketers, 14 teams, 60 matches, the most passionate cricket fans in the world and all the familiar razzamatazz. I think it’s going to be great.

In the inaugural season, everything was new. In the second season, the show moved to a South African stage. Now, the IPL is back home in India and ready to provide even more excitement and drama than before. Any team can beat any team on any given day. Anything really can happen. Expect the unexpected!

At the Delhi Daredevils, we are ready to mount another strong challenge. Our batting line-up looks strong and I’m sure the arrival of my fellow South African, Wayne Parnell, will strengthen our bowling attack. We certainly have the ability to finish in the top four for the third season in a row, but this time we’ll be looking to win the semi-final.

Eric Simons has also arrived in the Daredevils camp, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience from his years as the SA national coach and more recently as India’s bowling coach. Working as assistant to our head coach Greg Shipperd, Eric will focus his efforts on bringing the best out of a large squad over the next six weeks.

Much has been written about the playing conditions at our home ground, the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi, ever since an ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the stadium was abandoned last December, resulting in a one-year ban by the ICC. We played a practice match there this week, and the team batting first scored 200 with the team batting second not too far behind. The ground staff have been leaving some moisture on the wicket, so the surface is holding together. The pitch is certainly improving.

We start our schedule away from home, with a tough opening match against the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. They may have some fitness concerns over Brett Lee and Yuvraj Singh, but any team with Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene is going to be tough opponent, and we know we will have to be at our best to start with that precious first win.

There’s a long and exciting road stretching ahead of us but, much like the IPL itself, I sense the Daredevils are going to get better and better.

Stay sharp,

AB

It has been good to spend a few days at home, and I really enjoyed joining the Titans for the Pro20 semi-final against the Lions at the weekend. Unfortunately, we were generally outplayed on the night. We struggled with the ball in hand up front, and never really recovered.

On a positive note, I was extremely impressed by our young opening batsmen, Blake Snijman – if he continues his current rate progress, it won’t be long before he makes his international debut.

I’m heading back to India this week, raring to go with the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL.

It’s all go.

Stay sharp,

AB

It was good to finish our Indian tour on a positive note, with an emphatic win in the third ODI, although any sense of satisfaction was naturally dulled by the knowledge that we had already lost the three-match series.

We managed to produce exactly what the coach wanted: a clinical and efficient all-round performance... batting first, scoring quickly, putting India under pressure, and then bowling with accuracy and discipline. As a squad, we have learned a lot over the past few weeks and I’m sure we have become a stronger team.

On a personal level, I was pleased to score another century, but I want to become more consistent and I’ll keep working on that.

It will be good to get home for a week or so and play some Pro20 cricket for the Titans, before returning to the sub-continent for the Indian Premier League. It’s all go.

Thanks for your support.

Stay sharp,

AB

It was another great day of cricket, and another disappointing outcome for us.

The second ODI against India in Gwalior was obviously dominated by Sachin Tendulkar, who became the first player to score a double century in an ODI. When a player of his class comes off on the day, it sometimes feels as though there’s not much the opposition can do about. Maybe we could have bowled better, but he really is a master.

It would have been good to have batted first, because the wicket did get a bit slower, but we were challenged to chase 400 and we came up some way short. I was pleased to score a few runs, but it’s the team result that matters and we were all disappointed to lose the match, and the series.

Now we have only pride to win in third ODI, but this young side will come out fighting.

Thanks for your support.

Stay sharp,

AB

Nobody will be complaining about the entertainment value of the first ODI against India – almost 600 runs on the day and a nail-biting finish is great value in anybody’s money – but we want to win, and the single-run defeat leaves us determined to produce a more accurate and clinical performance in the two remaining matches.

We made some basic errors with bat and ball in Jaipur, which may be expected from what is a young ODI side, but they’re not accepted. So we’ll get our preparations right and look to produce a more cohesive performance in Gwalior on Wednesday.

Stay sharp,

AB

It was, of course, frustrating to come so close to saving the second Test and securing a series win in India. We were just a few overs away from achieving something that most pundits had reckoned was impossible when we started our second innings, but it was not to be.

Earlier this summer, England twice denied us a Test win in similar circumstances, and it seemed as if the wheel was turning, but we came up fractionally short.

That said, full credit goes the Indians. After losing the first Test, they bounced back to their best in Kolkata and will feel they deserved to draw the series.

The bigger picture is that this was Test cricket at its best, a fantastic advertisement for the game - two teams battling right down to the wire. We fought hard all day, and Hashim Amla's innings was fantastic. He has had a phenomenal series.

Next up, the ODI series - we'll be raring to go.

Thanks for your support.

Stay sharp,

AB

The challenge is now very simple, and the prize is significant.

Here in Kolkata, with seven second innings wickets standing, we must bat through the fifth day to salvage the draw and secure the series win in India.

We batted well on a fourth day cut short by bad light and rain, but we know there is plenty more to do.

We have the players to do the job, and we’ll be giving everything to make you proud.

Stay sharp,

AB

Kolkata is proving as tough as Nagpur was ideal.

The change in fortunes between the first Test and the second Test has been dramatic. Of course, we’re disappointed with the way the second Test has unfolded. Our batting collapse in the first innings put us on the back foot, and we have been punished by two massive partnerships, through Sehwag/ Tendulkar and Laxman/ Dhoni.

Now we simply have to bat for the best part of two days to secure the series win. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.

One thing is for certain – we’ll be fighting every inch of the way.

Stay sharp,

AB

Day two of the second Test at Eden Gardens was a tough day at the office, but we stuck to the task and earned some reward in the last 30 minutes.

In a way, we took the punishment for our batting collapse after tea on the first day. Our first innings total was below par, and that gave the Indians an opportunity to get a strong grip on the match. Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar batted beautifully, and at one stage it looked as if they would maximise the advantage.

I had a hard day behind the stumps, not least when Paul Harris was bowling over the wicket at leg stump, and I was annoyed to miss a stumping chance. It’s a while since I last kept wicket in a major match, but I’m enjoying the challenge and growing in confidence with every minute that passes.

The bowlers were tested as well, particularly when Sehwag and Gambir started as if they were playing in a 20-20 international. It was hard to stop the boundaries, but our guys eventually gained the upper hand, kept plugging away and they fully deserved the flurry of wickets towards the end of the day.

We need to run through the Indian tail quickly now, restrict their lead to the minimum and then bat well. We can do it. We’re still very much in this match.

Stay sharp,

AB

By tea on the first day of the second Test in Kolkata, we were sitting pretty at 228 for two.

We wanted to continue our good form from the first Test, and Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen did exactly that... it was awesome to watch them put together a second-wicket stand of 217, and it was fantastic to see Alviro score a century on his Test debut. The dressing room was really buzzing.

Then India bounced back. They’re a top class side, and you must give them credit for what the way they played in the last session of the day, taking seven wickets for just 38 runs. Zaheer Khan bowled with pace and aggression, and Harbhajan Singh caused us problems. The noisy Eden Gardens crowd got behind their side and, in a matter of a few frenetic overs, the Test match was turned on its head. I was disappointed to be run out for 12 – it might have been a sharp piece of fielding by Zaheer, but he should not have had the chance.

When bad light stopped play, we had staggered to stumps at 266 for nine, and now we’re in a bit of trouble.

Now it’s our turn to fight back. We had a really positive team meeting after the day’s play, and we’ll come out fighting tomorrow – that means scrapping for some extra runs, and then running in hard at the Indian batsmen. There is definitely some bounce in this pitch, and I’m backing our bowlers to do the job.

Stay sharp,

AB

Nagpur is history. Now we’re focussed on the second Test in Kolkata, starting on Sunday.

Finishing the first Test within four days was ideal, not least because it gave our bowlers with an extra day’s rest between the Tests. They gave everything in Nagpur, and their bodies take time to recover before they must start all over again at Eden Gardens.

After a travelling day, we spent some time in the gym and ran through an excellent training session on Friday. On the back of two emphatic Test victories in a row, there is real sense of momentum and confidence within the squad at the moment and we’re obviously looking to sustain this form and secure what would be an outstanding series win over India in India. They’re a strong team – everyone knows that – and they will come back with a big performance, so it should be another outstanding contest.

With my commitment to the IPL, I’m getting to know this country quite well, and I must say I’m really enjoying the energy of the place. Kolkata is one of the great cities in the world. There’s a real buzz around the place, setting it apart from other cities in India. It’s a fantastic place to play cricket.

Stay sharp,

AB

An ideal Test match performance.

Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla were the heroes of our victory over India inside four days at Nagpur, but this was in every sense a magnificent performance by the entire squad. Our preparations for this tour were eventful to say the least, but everybody pulled together and produced a top class performance.

In simple terms, we batted well for two days and we bowled well for two days, and that was sufficient to beat one of the strongest teams in the world.

On a relatively flat pitch, the bowlers were fantastic: Dale Steyn produced pace and reverse swing, Morne Morkel found bounce just back of a length and Paul Harris produce a superbly controlled and patient spell of bowling. With few exceptions, the Indians didn’t get themselves out – they were bowled out.

Of course, the job is not done yet.

It’s only half-time in this series, and now we must win the second Test in Kolkata and return home officially ranked as the No.1 Test team in the world.

Thanks for your support.

Stay sharp,

AB

Ideal first day, ideal second day... and an ideal third day.

I predicted the bowlers would dig in and work their way through the Indian batting order, but these guys really excelled themselves. It’s still a pretty flat wicket in Nagpur, but every single one of them ran in, put the ball in the right place, gave very little away and did a fantastic job for their country.

Dale Steyn’s spell after tea was magnificent, epic... his grandchildren will hear about it. To take seven wickets in a place like this was a phenomenal effort. That’s why he is ranked as the number one bowler in the world, and that’s why I reckon he will be ranked as the number one bowler in the world for years to come.

It was a different kind of day for me. Mark Boucher was suffering from spasms in his back, so he went off and I took over behind the stumps. I haven’t kept wicket at all for a year or so, and I haven’t worn the gloves much in practice, but it was really enjoyable. It doesn’t get much tougher than keeping to Paul Harris bowling over the wicket into the rough, but I got by. Mark will have some physio tonight and, hopefully, he’ll be OK to take his place tomorrow. If not, I’ll be happy to stand in again.

We need a good start tomorrow. There’s still eight wickets to take, and they won’t come easy.

Stay sharp,

AB

The first day went well for us, and the second day couldn’t have gone much better.

Declaring our first innings at 558 for six has put us in a strong position in the first Test against India at Nagpur, although there are still 20 Indian wickets to take.

We needed to keep dominating with the bat, and two immense innings – 173 from Jacques Kallis and an unbeaten 253 from Hashim Amla – were ideal. Hash carried on where he left off on Saturday, and he must take great credit for getting us into this position. Personally I felt in good nick when I was batting, and I was disappointed to be caught in the off-side for 53 – it was important to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but it was a softish dismissal.

The wicket is still playing pretty well, but it should start misbehaving towards the end of the third day, and I’m backing our bowlers to step up and dig into what, on the face of it, looks like a reasonably inexperienced Indian batting order. There’s plenty of hard work ahead of us in this Test, but the spirit is great and we’re up for it.

Stay sharp,

AB

In any Test series, every team wants a strong performance on the first day of the first Test, and that’s exactly what we produced against India in Nagpur. It was doubly important for us, just to ensure everybody settles down and builds confidence after what has been an eventful couple of weeks for the squad.

The coach and the captain could not have made themselves more clear at our pre-match meeting – they wanted a fast start and, although we lost a couple of early wickets, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla produced a magnificent third wicket partnership, reaching 291 for two at the end of the first day.

Batting in India is so often about getting yourself in, and just keeping going, and going, and going. Jacques and Hashim have done that brilliantly.

There’s plenty of work to do – most teams can have a good day, it’s the great teams that drive home the advantage and nail down the win. This is an extremely talented Indian team, and we need another dominant day with the bat to put them under real pressure in this two-Test series. We definitely don’t want to leave the door half-open because they know these conditions very well and they have often worked their way back into matches, especially when the pitch turns on the first day.

It will be a great contest.

Stay sharp,

AB

The first Test against India starts in Nagpur on Saturday, and our preparations have been focused on dealing with what we expect to be a turning wicket.

We didn't have a great practice session this morning because the nets were a bit damp after some early morning rain, so most of the batsmen just had a few throwdowns and concentrated on our gameplans for the Indian spinners. We all spent some time at the crease in our warm-up match this week, and we feel in decent nick.

Friday's practice will be very light, and we'll be preparing mentally more than anything else. There is a good spirit in the team, and we're raring to go.

Cricketers have traditionally rated India as one of the toughest places to tour, but I find more to enjoy in this vast country every time I come here. There is an energy and a buzz that is really infectious, and it's a fantastic place to play cricket.

Roll on Saturday.

Stay sharp,

AB

We have arrived safely in Nagpur, right in the heart of India, and we’ve set clear goals for the next month or so.

There are a few new faces in the group – that’s the nature of professional sport – and we started the tour with an excellent squad meeting. There is positive energy everywhere, and our focus is set very firmly on raising the bar in every area of the game and playing strong, solid, disciplined and skilful cricket.

India are a talented team, and everyone knows they are formidable on home soil, but we’re relishing the challenge and can’t wait to get stuck into the action.

Stay sharp,

AB

By general consent, Mickey Arthur proved himself to the most successful Proteas coach since readmission in 1991.

His resignation this week may have surprised many people, but his record with the team speaks for itself. Mickey built excellent relationships with the players for one simple reason – he always showed full confidence in our abilities.

It’s extremely sad that he won’t be joining us on the tour to India, but our loss will be his family’s gain; at least, his wife and three daughters will see a bit more of him now.

That said, I’m sure it won’t be long before he finds another high-profile job in cricket, and I’m sure he’ll be successful.

Stay sharp,

AB

Kentucky Fried Chicken are getting into SA cricket in a big way, and I spent the early part of this week shooting a commercial for them in Cape Town.

We didn’t get much done on the first day because of the rain and wind, but Wayne Parnell, JP Duminy and I went for that dinner to prepare for the next day’s filming. We were joined by Mark Boucher and Roelof van der Merwe, and we all had a really enjoyable time working with a fantastic crew.

I don’t want to give away any trade secrets, but the scene is set in a karaoke bar and one of the guys loses a bet and has to perform. If it’s half as fun to watch as it was to shoot, I’m sure the ad will be a big success for KFC.

Everybody made their way home that night, and we’ll get together again next week to finish the work we were supposed to do on the first day.

Now I’m back with the Titans, preparing for our MTN40 semi-final against the Dolphins at Centurion on Sunday.

Stay sharp,

AB

Zimbabwe, England in South Africa 2009/10
ICC Champions Trophy 2009/10
Off-season 2009
ICC World Twenty20 2009 in England
Indian Premier League 2009
Australia in South Africa 2008/09
Tour to Australia 2008/09