Kissing your sister never felt so good ...

Morné du Plessis once memorably described a draw in a Currie Cup final as being like ‘kissing your sister’. Well if that applies to the SA cricket team they must be having some very strange feelings in their collective boxes. Having been completely and utterly outplayed for 3 straight days they produced a magnificent performance to bat out 2 days and earn a draw at Lords.

Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Hasim Amla where the architects in chief of the draw, but we shouldn't forget Aswell Prince and AB De Villiers contributions in the first innings while all around them capitulated they stood tall and left South Africa with an outside chance of a draw without them the game would have been lost after day 3.

Worry signs for SA where the lack of penetration of the SA attack Ntini, Steyn and Kallis picking up 1 wicket between them for a cost of over 300 runs, for a bowling attack compared to the legendary West Indians of the 1980's that return simply isn't good enough.

The good news is that the Proteas will head to Headingly with a extra spring in their step and the England bowlers will no doubt be out on their feet after bowling for almost 3 straight days, the wear and tear on Sidebottom and Anderson could be telling on an England side who will no doubt be lifted by the return of Flintoff. So Friday will see the start of what promises to be an intriguing five days in Leeds.