Even as typing on this post began, Henry and Benjamin are possibly warming up to walk into the Kingsmead to face their foes once more. This time, the bar has been set higher by Ricky Ponting and his wards for the last day, after predictably shunning a follow-on opportunity.

The Australians' collective egos had been hurt over the past year or so. But the 'legos' of a successful unit seem to be building up yet again. Ricky Ponting had suddenly seemed a lot more relaxed in that last Sydney Test and it has translated into three successive victories for his team against their victors from the two preceding encounters. What's more his own batting has also blossomed in the process. This had been telegraphed by ... well, The Telegraph ... back in Jan 09:

Ponting says bring it on. "It's a big career challenge to turn this round. It is not going to happen overnight either. But I was really proud of the way the guys performed against South Africa even though we went down 2-1 in the Tests. The public is so used to seeing us win. It must seem all doom and gloom. But there have been enough positives for me to remain upbeat about what we are doing and where we are going."

Contrary to this, the South African leader has not been allowed to relax at all since that match. Not even a pinky, in fact not ANY pinky, was spared. In the case of the South Africans their bodies have been hurt and their team doesn't seem to function like one body. In that same period, Graeme Smith's batting has suffered, partly due to black and blue pinkies.

The contrast could not be any starker than the opening bowling and batting departments of the two teams either. Australia has found a brand new opener who followed a seemingly disastrous duck on debut with centuries in both innings of the latest Test. South Africa's veteran now-good-now-not-not-now-not-good opener Neil McKenzie is  facing some demons again in what is already a comeback from a similar stretch he went through a few years ago. Even according to his own captain he will find it hard-pressed to come back into the side:

"It is disappointing for Neil," Smith said. "It is going to be difficult for him to come back at this stage of his career and reclaim his position.

Imran Khan will have to take on the mantle and try and do a Hughes in the last Test of the series. Morne will give way to a rare lefty quick for Soutn Africa in the form of Wayne Parnell. Another not-so-common feature of his when it comes to the South African cricket team is that he is still a teenager.

While these captains navigate the changing tides, there is still only one team that is still riding the waves of success atop everyone else. In fact, South Africa have a new skipper for their next conquest, Ashwell Prince.

By the time typing on this post has ended, all the hyping has been deflated and post-end celebrations have begun in the Australian dressing room.