South Africa v Australia: Third Test

Day 1

 

Australia entered the game with an unprecedented number of changes to the bowling department, with Pattinson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus making way for Starc, Johnson and Hastings. A bold move from the selection panel indeed. South Africa opted for a more cautious selection, with de Villiers retaining the gloves, and Robin Petersen coming in for the much malinged Imran Tahir.

 

South Africa won the toss and batted. The curator had assured all that the pitch would have some bounce and pace; not unusual for a WACA wicket. Smith and Alviro Petersen were looking comfortable, until Watson wobbled a ball which deflected off the edge of Smith’s bat to Clarke at first slip. 1 for 38 – no major problems. Johnson came into the attack and immediately looked threatening. He unsettled the batsmen and appeared the most likely to break through. This is why the selectors love him. He can take wickets. He can spray the ball as well, but when he is good, he is very hard to play.

 

Starc was reintroduced to the attack, and produced a brace of searing, inswinging balls on a full length which removed Petersen and then Kallis before lunch. Big wickets. After lunch, the trend continued. Amla, dropped by Ed Cowan, was then run out by David Warner shortly after. AB de Villiers went hard at a full ball from Hastings and edged through to a waiting slips courdon. Johnson had new man Edgar pulling at a short ball aimed at his throat, which he gloved through to Wade. 6 for 75. South Africa reeling. Enter Faf du Plessis, inexdplicably at number 7.

 

Du Plessis played another masterful innings, chaperoning the tail towards a semi-respectable total of 224, contributing an unbeaten 78. He really is a good looking player. Calm, composed and clear-headed, when his more experienced team mates fell around him.

 

Australia’s openers were asked to endured a tricky session prior to stumps. Ed Cowan went first ball, edging Steyn to Kallis at second slip. Shane Watson entered at number 3, though departed soon after to another LBW decision. The DRS has worked for South Africa, however Watson has an uncanny knack of letting the ball hit his pad right in front of the stumps. Not good for a number 3. This raised the prospect of Ricky Ponting hbeing required to face out the remaining overs. Great cheers greeted Nathan Lyon, as he strode purposely to the wicket. He played the nightwatchman role to perfection though, blunting all South Africa could throw at him. Australia will resume tomorrow at 2 for 33, just ahead after an entertaining first day.

Hastings debuts for Australia in the Third Test

In the final of three Tests to be played at the WACA, John Hastings has made his Test debut for Australia. The forgotten man of Australian cricket, Mitchell Johnson, has also been recalled. This has ensured that Australia enter the game after making 4 changes, with Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson coming into the team, in place of Pattinson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus.

 

This represents a shift towards the modern era of Australian cricket, with first choice players rotated out of the team based on sports science and medical opinion. That the winner of this Test will be the number one ranked team in the world, indicates the faith placed in this method by the Australian hierarchy. Not sure if this could possibly have happened back in the 1970s, but then again, playing cricket for Australia was not the all round assignment that it is now.

 

Mitchell Johnson is an interesting character. The 2009 ICC player of the year, which now seems remarkable, is back in the team after a 12 month stint in the wilderness. He has a good record – 190 Test wickets in 47 matches at 30. He can handle the bat as well, notching up an unbeaten Test ton against South Africa in 2009. He can bowl the unplayable ball, however he can be maddeningly wayward as well. More than any other player in recent years, Johnson has driven the Australian cricket fan to extremes, with frustration being the end result, more often than not. However, he has another chance. A rapid opening over to Smith in this Test is testament to Johnson’s ability to unsettle the opposition.

 

The Test has much riding on it. Certainly, Australia will want to win for Ricky Ponting. However, with the number 1 ranking on the line, expect this to be a savagely contested encounter.

Ricky Ponting Retires

 

Ricky Ponting has announced that the third Test of the home series against South Africa will be his last. This may not be a great surprise, though it is a sad occasion for cricket fans around the world. Ricky Ponting has represented Australia with distinction since he made his Test debut at the WACA, late in 1995. He has played in more Test wins than any other player (100) and has scored the second highest number of Test runs, behind Sachin Tendulkar.

The man known as ‘Punter’, who might just be the most high profile owner of greyhounds on the planet, has not had a blemish free career by any stretch. He fronted the media with a black eye after getting in a fight at Kings Cross, admitting to a problem with alcohol. He has lead Australia to three series defeats against England – unthinkable in the era of his predecessors, Taylor and Waugh. In 2008, late journalist Peter Roebuck argued that Ponting should be sacked as Australian captain, after an acrimonious Test victory against India, which nearly saw India cancel their Australian tour.

However, Ricky Ponting never stopped fighting for Australia. He was exceptionally gifted, however he was hard as nails. Like Allan Border and Steve Waugh before him, Ponting was an Australian captain that put a very high price on his wicket. He turned games for Australia, with the bat and in the field. His batting record in Test matches throughout the early 2000s was exceptional, and only in the past couple of years has his form waned.

I was a young kid in Launceston when Ricky Ponting first played for Tasmania. I remember the hype around this budding superstar, who it seemed was destined for great things. I remember listening to his first Test innings, where was cruelly denied a ton on debut, when umpire Khizar Hayat ruled that an inswinging Chaminda Vaas delivery that struck Ponting high on the pads, was going to hit the stumps. Replays showed the ball would have cleared the stumps with ease.

A mate of mine who played cricket for Mowbray with Ponting once bowled to Ponting at training. My mate was the fastest bowler I ever faced, and even though he would have been 6 years younger than Ponting, he decided to bounce him. Ponting simply caught the ball with his left hand, in front of his eyes, and told the young firebrand to never bowl there again.

Ricky Ponting is widely regarded as a great of Australian cricket, and deservedly so. He is Australia’s best batsman since Bradman. He is a champion, and the game will be poorer without him in the middle.

 

South Africa v Australia: Second Test, Day 5

The day started with Australia needing 6 wickets to win the match, while South Africa needed to survive 540 balls to force an unlikely draw. In the visitors favor, was the fact that Australia’s form bowler, James Pattinson, was out of the attack with injury. This left the workload to Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Lyon, with support from Michael Clarke. There was the feeling that Australia may not have enough prongs to its attack to take the required wickets. The pitch was flat, the South Africans had shown the previous afternoon that they had put the cue in the rack, and would offer no chances that the Australians didn’t richly deserve.

 

This made for an absorbing day of cricket. AB de Villiers and du Plessis blunted the Australian attack in the first session, though this was not without drama. Twice, du Plessis was given out by Billy Bowden. Michael Clarke was the bowler on both occasions, and both times, the du Plessis successfully appealed LBW decisions that initially went against him. Shortly after the resumption, the tireless Peter Siddle crashed through the de Villiers defence with a searing delivery. De Villiers recorded the second lowest strike rate for a player scoring over 30 runs, scoring at a laborious 15 runs per hundred balls. The title holder, however, remains Chris Tavare. Of course.

 

The limping Kallis strode out, knowing that the Australians would throw the kitchen sink salvaged from the recently demolished Bradman stand at him. His was a stoic innings, underlining his sheer class. When Kallis and du Plessis went to tea with their wickets intact, the game appeared destined for a draw. Again, drama engulfed the game, as Wade, standing up to the stumps, drop an by du Plessis from the bowling of Hilfenhaus. This proved to be as costly as they come, as du Plessis went on to notch up a stirring debut hundred shortly after.

 

When Kallis was removed by a bouncing Nathan Lyon delivery, a flicker of hope was reignited amongst the Australians. Enter Peter Siddle. The fighting, big shouldered man from country Victoria summoned strength from somewhere and produced a run of searching overs, which first removed Steyn, then Kleinveldt with fast, swinging deliveries. It was a dramatic spell. The big man was on his knees, but he was still giving absolutely everything. Isn’t this why Test cricket is so engaging and rewarding?

 

In the end, Morne Morkel played out the final over from Peter Siddle, and the game was drawn. Du Plessis remained unbeaten on 110, in a stunning display of concentration. Siddle was slumped on the ground after his efforts, though he really has reinforced his title as the leader of Australia’s attack. Durable, hard working and fiery; Siddle is an absolute beauty in an age when Australia’s band of talented quicks are struggling to stay on the park.

 

The series heads to Perth, with the number 1 Test ranking on the line. Australia will feel as though they have had the better of the first two Tests, yet have not landed a knockout blow, while South Africa will know that if their bowlers can fire on the fast Perth wicket, they might just pull off a series win.

 

 

South Africa v Australia: Second Test, Day Three

The day was marked by rapidly changing fortunes with the bat, as quick flurries of wickets derailed both batting line ups. South Africa started the day with two wickets down and 217 runs on the board. This quickly turned to 7 for 250-odd, as the momentum swung sharply in Australia’s direction. Ben Hilfenhaus looked dangerous again, while Nathan Lyon was extracting significant bounce from the wicket and causing some concerns for the batsmen.

 

Enter Jacques Kallis, who shuffled out to the wicket with his damaged hamstring. Batting at 9, Kallis managed to stick around, supporting Faf du Plessis in his debut Test innings. The pair stemmed the flow of wickets and pushed the South African innings towards respectability. Nevertheless, when South Africa were finally dismissed for 388, they were still 162 runs in arrears and seemingly destined for defeat.

 

Edward Cowan and Davidward Warner strode out to bat in the afternoon sun, which was now beating down on the Adelaide Oval with some force. What a time to be batting, late on day three against a tired attack in hot conditions. The pair initially made the job look easy, rattling along at 5 runs an over. Cowan mistimed a push towards the legside from Tahir which popped up to mid wicket. Tahir celebrated quite extensively, after his effort of 0 for 159 off 21 overs in the first innings. Unfortunately for Tahir, the third umpire was brought into play and ruled that the delivery was indeed a no ball.

 

Not long after, Warner popped a catch up to cover and left with the score on 77. The manner of dismissal suggested that the wicket was becoming two-paced. Quiney entered, knowing that he needed runs. He edged the second delivery he faced through to de Villiers, and resignedly left the Adelaide Oval to raucous cheers. The cheers were for Ponting, who was entering as a batsmen for perhaps the final time. Ponting looked nervous, and his vastly expressive method of leaving seemed to demonstrate this. Cowan was bowled by a ball from Kleinveldt that snaked in off the wicket, before Ponting himself played on to a rapid delivery from Dale Steyn. This brought nightwatchman Peter Siddle to the crease, who managed to last for a few overs before edging Morne Morkel through to de Villiers.

 

The day ended with Australia on 5 for 111, 273 runs in front. Australia should win, particularly as the pitch appeared to be starting to play some tricks.

South Africa v Australia: Day 2

After the Michael Clarke run fest of day one, where he became the first player ever to score 4 double hundreds in one calendar year, it could have been assumed that Australia would bat for two sessions, make 900, then try to bowl South Africa out twice.

 

It didn’t quite pan out that way. Clarke went early, adding 6 more to his overnight score to be dismissed for 230. His form since he has assumed the captaincy has been nothing short of remarkable. South Africa, largely thanks to the work of Morne Morkel, then ran through the remainder of the Australian batting lineup, save for a few lusty blows from James Pattinson.

 

Australia all out for 550. Still well in front, however they may have hoped for slightly more than this, given their overnight position of 5 for 482. There were suspicions that this pitch was favouring the batsmen. These suspicions were realised when South Africa started piling on the runs.

 

Things didn’t quite go to plan for the home side. Referrals were turned down, the much vaunted band of quicks didn’t tae a wicket. It was left to the part time slows from little David Warner, who somehow removed Amla. Petersen was run out by Hussey, and Smith racked up a century, leaving the tourists 2 down for 217 at the end of play.

Second Test: Australia v South Africa

Today marks the first Test at the Australian Football League’s Adelaide Oval. For international viewers, you may notice that the ground previously known as the Adelaide Oval is in a state of demolition. Essentially, this is because the Australian Football League (they administer a sport called ‘Australian Rules Football’, which is played in one nation of 20,000,000 people and think that they run Australia) wanted to play their game there. Funny thing is, that they no longer wanted to play at the ground called ‘Football Park’, which had previously been the home of the Adelaide Crows and Port Power. If you are not from Australia, you will never have heard of these teams.

 

As a result, the Adelaide Oval is being demolished and rebuilt as a first class sporting arena.

 

The problem is, that the Adelaide Oval ranked as one of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the world. The ground was unique. It really was beautiful. As a South Australian, I first saw a day of Test cricket at this ground. I first saw a day of Sheffield Shield cricket at this ground. The atmosphere was serene. You could go there to relax on the grassy banks, and just become immersed in the action. Now it will be plastic seats and towering stands to block out the view of the Adelaide hills and St Peters Cathedral. This is so sad. I will go to the Adelaide Oval again, but it just wont be the same.

 

The arena will hold 50,000 people in a town of 1 million. The two football teams couldn’t fill their own 50,000 seat arena at West Lakes. Port Power could barely get 20,000 along to their games. Why Adelaide needs another 50,000 seat arena is anybody’s guess. The Australian Football League wanted it, so they got it. They need to get some perspective. They are a big organisation within Australia, but Australia is a small country in a big world. Cricket is global, Australian Rules Football is not.
Anyway. The cricket starts today and it will be great. Shane Watson is not playing, but who really cares. I have never heard so much speculation about the possible availability of a guy who averages in the mid 30s and bowls medium pace. Look for the match to go the full 5 days.

Australia v South Africa: Day 5

The first Test between Australia and South Africa ended in a relatively tame draw, though not before Australia claimed some important wickets in the South African second innings. How much can be read into that is unclear at this stage, though Pattinson and company bowled with great fire and showed that the South African batting line up is penetrable.

 

Prior to this Michael Clarke made batting look rather easy. Possibly too easy, as Test cricket is meant to be hard and while Clarke is at the crease it appears as though I could stroll out and peel off a quick hundred. Hussey did his best to compound South African misery with a masterful hundred. Of the three 37 year olds in this match, two made tons. This clearly demonstrates that AB was shafted before his time was up. Well, maybe not. But I still have an axe to grind with Simmo.

 

Simmo’s leering mug aside, Australia set South Africa a chase of 116 to avoid an innings defeat. Not insurmountable, by any stretch. However, Australia landed some body blows. Smith failed to get above 22 in the Test, and Pattinson gave him a big old fashioned send off.

 

The series now heads to Adelaide, where all the stands have been pulled down because the head of the Australian Football League said they should be pulled down. The atmosphere will be different, however there will be a lot of tradies onsite, so if you need any concreting done at your place, then get down there.

Australia v South Africa: Day 4

One could be excused for thinking that the Gabba had been relocated to the Brisbane Motorway, as the usually green and viper-esque Brisbane wicket resembled a flat stretch of bitumen with white lines painted down the middle. However, this is not to detract from the efforts of Michael Clarke and Ed Cowan.

 

100 runs is a supreme effort, whether in the backyard at a mates place, or when you commence your innings in a Test match against the world’s best bowling attack against a new ball at 3 for 40 when everyone thinks that you will probably nudge the next ball to Jacques Kallis at second slip and Usman Khawaja will replace you in the second Test and you will return to Blundstone Arena to play in near freezing temperatures in mid January, only to open on a green seamer against a second rate shield attack to be dismissed in the first over and then slide further down the pecking order until your chances of a recall are as slim as those of Greg Matthews, who probably still thinks he is the best spinner outside the Australian roster. Well, that is what Ed Cowan was up against. A batting average of 29 from 7 Tests and few first class runs in the past months, his cards were marked in pencil as the selectors waited for a younger, more stylish opener to emerge. But, he made a fantastic hundred, displayed his Test credentials and showed that he can defend, attack and most importantly, choose the right ball to hit.

 

Michael Clarke has made three double hundreds in a calendar year, three double hundreds as Australian captain. The only other player to do this averaged 99.94 in Test cricket.

 

South Africa will be slightly disheartened by all this. They will have been confident of at least taking a first innings lead at 3 for 40. Now they are fully aware that there is some mettle to this batting line up, however they will still be fully aware that if they can get the wicket of Clarke cheaply in the next two Tests, they will be right in the hunt. Australia lead by 30 odd going into the last day. The game will end in a draw. Australia will set a target, however good sides don’t lose 10 wickets within two sessions on a wicket like this and South Africa is a very good side.

 

 

Day 3: Australia v South Africa

This day started with Kallis and Amla batting, continued for some time with Kallis and Amla batting. Then continued with Kallis batting with Rudolph. In short, South Africa did a lot of batting. Then, after appearing to tire of this, the South African innings went down in a flurry of wickets, sixes and Ben Hilfenhaus bouncers. Pattinson took the bowling honours with 3 wickets, while Kallis and Amla again proved that they are amongst the top few batsmen in the game with classy hundreds. The Australian innings started very shakily. Warner edged a delivery from Steyn that pitched outside off stump and moved fractionally towards the slip courdon.

 

Quiney came in for his debut Test innings and immediately went on the offensive, nearly pulling Steyn to the square leg boundary with the first delivery he faced in Test cricket. He then edged a ball through slips for four with his next ball faced. Six runs, two deliveries, one well executed stroke and one slice of luck. Quite a start. Unfortunately, Quiney’s luck ran out when he pulled Morkel in the air and picked out Steyn at fine leg. Unlucky, though if you hit the ball in the air…Ponting came to the crease with the side in trouble. Ponting walked into a defensive prod and subsequently exited with his side in greater trouble, after he edged a Morkley delivery to Kallis.

 

Clarke and Cowan, under pressure at 3 for 40, played with aggression and positivity. They executed a number of well chosen strokes on their way to an unbroken stand at the close of play. Cowan on 49, Clarke 34. Cowan’s game plan was simple. Defend the good, full ball; hit the bad, short ball. Simple, though very well executed. South African remain on top though, and early wickets on day 4 would put them under extreme pressure.