You asked, I deliver.

Some points:

- If I read another "Smith is set to become the next" or "Marsh is the new Kallis" story, I think I'll neck myself. Smith is a rapidly improving batsman but who hasn't got the longevity to prove anything, and the only thing that suggests he has a long term future as a captain, so far anyway, is his youth. Marsh has a crap first class record and has a lot to prove. At least give him a chance first.

- India are a lot tougher than given credit for. They've come here ready to play. They won't win the series, but you can see the makings of their next generational team.

- It boggles the mind as to how we earned, briefly, the number 1 ranking earlier this year. 8 years of sustained excellence from SA was somehow trumped by 4 months of exceptional cricket from the Aussies, and right now it is looking like it was the exception rather than the rule.