Landing The Knockout Punch

For the first two Test matches in the current series, Australia predominantly held the upper hand. They walked away from Brisbane with a moral victory. They will have been very disappointed not to win in Adelaide. They arrived in Perth and after two days appear destined for defeat.

 

The failure to land a decisive blow in Adelaide will have unsettled the team. Michael Clarke will know that 20 South African wickets are required, if they are to win. After having the hosts 4 for 47, with 4 sessions still to play, the team will have just about ordered Micky Arthur to put the drinks in the esky and start arranging the chairs in the rooms for the post-match singalong. Not winning that game will have been experienced as a loss. They played out of their skins for the most part, and still couldn’t win.

 

This series is reminiscent of the 1992/1993 series between Australia and the West Indies. To put it bluntly, Australia should have won that series. The Windies hung on in Brisbane to force a draw, at 8 for 133 in the fourth innings. Australia won in Melbourne when Warne announced himself as a matchwinner. Rain forced a draw in Sydney. The teams met in Adelaide. In a low scoring affair, Australia needed just 180-odd to win the game and the series. For Allan Border, this match meant everything, after years of being pulverised by West Indian teams. In  one of the great finishes to a Test match, Craig McDermott edged a ball through to the keeper, after a valiant stand with Tim May, which saw the pair add 42 for the final wicket. Of course, Australia lost by one run.

 

The team was devastated. They had lost, from an entirely winnable position. They went to Perth immediately afterwards and were absolutely destroyed by Curtly Ambrose, who ran through the demoralised Australians with a spell of 7 for 1 off 29 balls. The two series are so similar. The champions against the challengers. The challengers threw some good combinations, but could not land that knockout punch. The Australian team will learn from this, and will take this experience to England in 2013.

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.