The fourth day began in bizarre fashion when the match referee, Naushad Ali, summoned Andy Flower's wicketkeepinggloves for closer inspection. The webbing, apparently, looked a little on the generous side to Naushad, who is notoriously suspicious.

Not content with his naked-eye verdict, or measurement for that matter, Naushad produced a camera from his official bag and proceeded to take a couple of snaps for later investigation. Flower was eventually allowed to take the field following a finger-wagging and instruction to "tighten" the webbing between forefinger and gloves.

Slow days of Test cricket can often be absorbing; occasionally they are merely intriguing. Mildly interesting is tolerable. Thoroughly boring is not. The sudden, unexpected inspection of Flower's gloves, after he had worn them for 139 overs in the first Test while South Africa scored 600 for 3, easily won the prize for most interesting event of the day.

It was not always that way as Herschelle Gibbs opened proceedings with a pair of reverberating cover drives that screamed into the boundary boards. His timing was crisper than fresh lettuce and he powered his way from his overnight 15 to an eighth Test 50 in just 51 balls.

Gibbs's most telling contribution was to render legspinner Paul Strang useless after thundering his second delivery straight back to him and bruising his bowling hand so badly that he required an X-ray. When Strang returned to the attack, he could not grip the ball and was devoid of confidence. It contributed significantly to the torpor of the day.

Gibbs's decision to walk on 74 after nicking Ray Price was a second highlight of a stupefying day. Gary Kirsten, too, must be commended for charging Price and attempting to hit over the top. He is neither a charger nor a hitter by nature but felt an obligation to try and do something.

Jacques Kallis's obsession with his career average (now almost 45) ensured there would be absolutely nothing to enthuse about for the final two sessions and his oblique influence finally extended to the normally adventurous Neil McKenzie who huddled into the same shell and joined the blocking club. Not pretty, not fun and certainly no advertisement.

Andy Flower's innocent gloves, however, are believed to have expressed relief at being allowed to take part. The catch and the stumping were the least they deserved.

Neil Manthorp is a director of the South African sports news agency MWP Media Sport.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd