This match was a great advert for Test cricket. For the first time this winter, South Africa have given a true reflection of what they can achieve against Australia. After the shock and humiliation of their three-day defeat at Johannesburg, they bounced back well, and at last put together a spirited performance. Playing at Newlands was the best tonic the team could have asked for - whether it's rugby, football or cricket, the Cape support is the best in the world, and they got right behind their team from the word go. And though the result eventually went against South Africa, they hung in there right to the end. As ever, a bit of luck here and there could have made the difference. Langer and Hayden, for instance, were a bit streaky yesterday night - and this morning Ricky Ponting gloved a sweep to Mark Boucher. Had three or four wickets gone down before the close last night, today could have been very interesting. But, as Eddie Barlow once said, you make your own luck.

All these little things even themselves out over the course of a match. The real differences between the sides were Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne. South Africa played with a lot of heart, and with the likes of Smith, Prince and Hall, they fielded a much younger side than Australia. If they can carry this form forward to Durban - and bowl a tighter line, with less over-correcting - they can compete again.

Mark Boucher has had a tough baptism as captain, and I think he has learned bloody quickly. He was under the cosh from the start, as he has not had any captaincy experience, even at provincial level, and since Cronje, he has always been vice-captain to Pollock. He had a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation when his bowlers started to lose their line and length - do I make fielding changes or do I stick to three slips and a gully? - but I was impressed at how he grew in the job.

There is a rumour that Nantie Hayward will be fit again for Durban. Australia rate him, so his return on a typically bouncy Kingsmead wicket would be a boost. But Shaun Pollock is again unlikely to be fit, and the success of Paul Adams means there will be a selection dilemma - South Africa never go into a Durban Test without four seamers. I would like to see Lance Klusener make a return, but I believe that, behind the scenes, there has been a row, and I fear his days are behind him. And Andrew Hall should be kept in the mix.

This match was also notable for a couple of moments of milestone mania. It is one of the biggest issues of coaching, getting across the need to play each ball on its merits, regardless of your score. Both McKenzie, run out for 99, and Matthew Hayden, caught chasing a wide one when four runs from his fifth century in five matches, were guilty of letting their minds wander. Ricky Ponting on the other hand, that was quite some way to bring up a century! Ken Barrington was one who would deliberately get himself to 96 so that he could reach the century in style, but Ponting had little choice, seeing as there were just three runs to win.

Bob Woolmer, South Africa's coach from 1994 to 1999, will be writing the Wisden Verdict throughout this series.

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