Vaughan: 'It was truly great, a truly amazing Test match'

Myles Hodgson
Thursday 30 December 2004 20:00 EST
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The England captain Michael Vaughan praised his team after South Africa salvaged a draw thanks to bad light on the final day of the second Test.

"It was pretty dark - we certainly wouldn't want Steve Harmison bowling at us in that light. The cloud came from nowhere," Vaughan said. "To have South Africa on the rack like we did, all the team deserve a hell of a lot of credit to do that after the first day and a half.

"I'm pleased with the way we played to get back into the Test match. Full credit to the bowlers - they kept running in this heat and it's great credit to the team that they were under this much pressure. After day two people had written us off."

He added: "The umpires gave no indication they were going to offer light, they went straight off. They didn't give me the option [of playing spinners] - I would have been happy for Ashley Giles and myself to have bowled.

"The whole team can take a lot of credit, it was truly great, a truly amazing Test match. I'm sure [South Africa] are thinking they have got away with it, while we are disappointed."

The England coach, Duncan Fletcher, struck a similar note, saying: "We looked down and out that first day but we fought back magnificently. "You've got to be pleased with the huge [second-innings] total after the first day on a difficult wicket."

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, admitted his side had enjoyed good fortune to remain only 1-0 down in the series.

"There were too many English fans and not enough South Africa fans," he said after being booed before the presentation ceremony. "Overall it was a very good Test, we got a little bit lucky with the weather but we will move on to Cape Town knowing we've got to play better. We go to Cape Town with a little bit more confidence - we could have easily lost this match.

Smith's team-mate, Jacques Kallis, praised the determination of his side. "The guys showed guts there at the end. One-nil is a lot better than 2-0 and it starts again in Cape Town," he said.

"We're feeling positive: it's nice to have some young guys coming through. England are a world-class team and came from a long way behind. We know there is a tough job ahead of us," Kallis added.

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