Taking the positives from this match ... (< Mick voice)

1. Poms were by no means steamrolled, as some feared/hoped.

2. England took five more wickets for only 40-odd more runs. The better of the match.

3. Bell - creditable, gutsy performance under pressure. Psychologically a barrier crossed.

4. Kev - up for it.

5. Broad - still growing, nicely.

6.. Jimmy - decent and persistent performance on a generally unhelpful pitch.

That's about it.

5. His batting's coming along, but his bowling still looks powder puff to me.

Cookie's bowling has come on nicely. Could be the next Sobers.

7. I'm positively going back to the nets to get some more "straight bat to an inswinger" practice in.

Positives for SA

- Top 3 getting tons
- Bowlers got a good rest after the first 2 days of hard work
- English bowlers must be as tired as the flying donkeys* in Faisalabad.
- Momentum is with SA!

Flying donkey

Glad both SA and ENG took some positive positives from the match because some other teams in the world are having to deal with some real negative positives.

8. It's a great springboard for next year's Ashes series, because Australia always struggle against mediocre bowling on flat tracks.

9. it is terrific the Shermanator is just about guaranteed a place in the Pomgolian ashes team

No really, cummon there lads, be serious for once. ...