Round one of the battle between the world’s top-ranked teams could not have been more magnetic on a first day when the sides swayed between being in control and needing to catch up. At stumps in the absorbing tug-o-war South Africa and Australia were eyeballing each other, with the hosts scraping and, at times, exploding towards 9 for 341.
Peter English writes for Cricinfo that for the first 29 minutes South Africa opened with a flamethrower, burning Australia to 3 for 15 after they won the toss, but then they countered with a 149-run partnership between Simon Katich and Michael Clarke. It felt as though the brutal start had never happened and that the batting side reaching 400 was as certain as the wind picking up in the afternoon.
Looking ahead, or trying to decide which side would finish on top, was not wise. With Katich and Clarke appearing untouchable while picking up half-centuries, both departed within two runs before tea and Australia’s position was a wonky 5 for 166.
South Africa were back in front but it does not look like their preferred position. Having chased Australia since their readmission in the early 1990s, they entered this series with their best chance of success. Twice on the first day they had their opponents in tender positions before allowing them to escape to a more comfortable pose through a mix of defensive settings and an insecure outlook.
Andrew Symonds and Brad Haddin emerged for the third session determined to attack and did it so comfortably. The situation was tense but they weren’t fazed, with 93 runs coming at more than five an over. The momentum, which lapped like the edges of the Swan River, was on Australia’s bank. Then, once again, the tide changed briefly as Symonds, whose 57 from 68 balls was a blast from his pre-fishing past, miscued in a similar manner to Clarke. Both players were horrified.
For the teams it was a game of tag. Whenever one side was caught the other sprinted away. Haddin kept Australia ahead as the shadows from the light towers grew across the ground, looking a high-class batsman, especially when hitting Jacques Kallis for a straight six. His lapse came on 46 when Ntini took the second new ball and he slashed to deep point.
Like Katich’s display in the morning, Australia were desperate for the contributions of Clarke, Symonds and Haddin to secure their total. South Africa’s bid to topple the world champions, who are still trying to prove they are an all-conquering force, started in stunning style with Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini frightening the home batsmen. However, Katich wasn’t scared and despite some uncomfortable fends he out-performed his more highly-respected team-mates during a crucial 83.
Clarke was streaky at times during his 62, but his exit was costly. An over after Katich was lbw to a Morne Morkel full toss that was heading for leg stump, Clarke chose a poor time to loft the spinner Paul Harris and was caught at mid-on.
Australia needed Katich’s fight on a pitch that was not as brutal as expected, but still offered enough bounce to make the fast men smile, especially when running in to the tail-enders. Katich, who grew up in Perth before moving to New South Wales, made his first Test at his old home ground memorable, settling well after watching Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey depart by the sixth over.
He drove hard, relaxing with a push through cover off Steyn for a boundary, and then swung three fours in a row from Kallis. A sliced cut carried over the rope at third-man to bring up his half-century and he followed with a textbook shot through the gully.
While Katich hit seven mostly crisp boundaries and a six, Clarke was happier to work the ball around before lunch and then became more desperate to follow through after the break. His fifty came when he skipped down the pitch to Harris and chipped a boundary over the spinner’s head. An attempt at a repeat caused his downfall.
In a surprise move Harris delivered 21 overs on the first day, earning two wickets, while Ntini was the most successful with 3 for 66. Morkel, who ended the day with Mitchell Johnson’s lbw, took 2 for 62 and appeared the most difficult to negotiate. Steyn was better when the ball was shiny and his head-to-head with Brett Lee started well. Lee (29) popped an awkward delivery to point as Steyn collected a couple of victims.
At the toss Ponting said his senior batsmen had to stand up, but within 32 balls three of them had departed. Ntini and Steyn were nervous initially, spraying their opening deliveries, and then suddenly, with help from the edgy Australians, they were world beaters.
The career crisis of Hayden, who hit two fours off Ntini in the first over, worsened on 12 when his feet were stuck and his bat waved a catch to Graeme Smith at first slip. Next ball Ponting attempted an off drive and his push was well taken by de Villiers at third slip. Ntini was on a hat-trick, but Hussey was allowed to leave his first delivery.
Hussey received the best ball of the dismissed trio when Steyn angled one across him and the batsman was forced to play, nibbling to de Villiers who accepted a stunning catch diving forward from third slip. The pace of the action slowed, but something was always happening throughout the day. It could be a classic series.
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C’mon Proteas.
GC Smith 10 40balls
HM Amla 6 9balls
Dismissed batsmen is McKenzie c Krejza b Johnson 2 (31b)
2 runs off 32balls 😯 He must have been uncomfortable out there.
Lunch
GC Smith 12runs 44 balls
HM Amla 6runs 16 balls
off to spin.
Go proteas!!!!!!!!!
Some good news??? 🙄
‘There’s an injury concern for Australia, Michael Clarke has gone to hospital for a precautionary x-ray on his right thumb after he dived to stop an edge from Neil McKenzie in the first session. Shane Watson is on the field and has taken Clarke’s spot at third slip.’
SA 82/1 after 26 overs
Smith 35*
Amla 36*
Come on Boys!!! 😎
KSA…can you post a picture on this blog for me?
And the 100 comes up for SA. 😎
@wpw (Comment 4) : There’s also an injury concern for Biff. 🙁 Physio was on earlier. Elbow again.
@wpw (Comment 7) : I’ve been up both mornings at 4.30. 😎
1st 50 came in 129 balls, 2nd in 45! 😮
@klempie (Comment 9) : nooit bru!
I need all the sleep I can get. Our son is 6 months old now and just loves waking his mother at 4 in the morning…
What does ‘pajama drill’ mean btw??? ❓ 🙄
@wpw (Comment 11) : You’re approaching this the wrong way. You should be up at 4.15 and watching the cricket with the nipper in the cot next to you. Your wife will love you to bits. Kill three birds with one stone.
Amla gone for 47. Krejza beats the bat and cleans bowls him. 106/2…2/106 if you’re a criminal.
Mr Cricket taking guard. Come on Jacques! A century now!
Good morning…
Smith and Amla did well to up the pace there…just disappointed that Amla missed the 50 – I hope he’ll go all the way to 100 in his next innings.
Perfect time for Biff and Jacques to show what they are made of…these guys can win it or lose it for us. All the best!
Kallis needs to score some runs!!! 👿
Shit! Smith dragged one on! 48.
Now Smith is OUT! 👿 👿
Two new batsmen at the crease. 🙄
This is exactly why we wont beat the Aussies in their own backyard!!!
We need to hit Krejza out of the attack.
@klempie (Comment 17) : @wpw (Comment 18) : 👿
AB just carts Krejza to Castle Corner for 6. Sorry, XXXX Corner. Or is it Fosters Corner?
@klempie (Comment 22) : 😛
Tea. 151/3. Not sure what to make of that. The most appropriate word would probably be ‘uneasy’. Worried about our tail.
@klempie (Comment 6) : Klempie.
Yes i can. provided it is suitable.
mail it to me or send me the webpage where it is and i’ll put it up
Kallis on 28
De Villiers on 16
Resumes after tea
AB De Villiers gets 2 fours. 😎
Love the way he has his website URL on his bat. abdevilliers.com
Things have certainly changed from the days when gary kirsten was fined for wearing a bandana in the SA flag colours under his helmet.
KSA…sent.
@klempie (Comment 24) :
151/3 is ok – 200/3 would be better though… 🙂
Our tail is a bit longer than theirs but I’m hoping we won’t need to rely on the bowlers to the job job with the bat anyway.
It’s important that we keep forming stubborn partnerships and not allow them to take wickets in succession.
Gotta love test cricket! 😎
South Africa 172/3
Moving along nicely….for now…
@klempie (Comment 28) :
received.
Do you only want the video screen posted or the whole screen?
It will have to be made smaller if it is the whole screen and you won’t be able to read anything
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 30) :
I would be more than happy if we could emulate the Aus performance for the 3rd wicket.
Aus Fall of wickets
1-14 (Hayden, 2.4 ov),
2-14 (Ponting, 2.5 ov),
3-15 (Hussey, 5.2 ov),
4-164 (Katich, 50.5 ov),
5-166 (Clarke, 51.5 ov),
6-259 (Symonds, 69.5 ov),
7-298 (Haddin, 80.4 ov),
8-303 (Lee, 81.5 ov),
9-341 (Johnson, 88.6 ov),
10-375 (Siddle, 98.5 ov)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) : The whole screen. I measured it in pixels and it should fit the width othe comment blocks.
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 30) : You had to…
@klempie (Comment 33) :
okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Klempie’s screen shot?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : ❓
@klempie (Comment 38) :
Seems you forgot about the avatar space. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : There it is!
How awesome is that?? I’m streaming the cricket to everyone’s machine on the network. Going to be fantastic for S14 Fridays.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : But your avatar is off the side anyway. 😉
@klempie (Comment 34) :
I was resisting saying anything incase I jinxed them, but now that BS has already jinxed them………
We ARE going along nicely.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : Ugh! 🙄
With how many overs left in the day do the boys start protecting their wickets?
I like what the commentators were saying. If these two are there at the start in the morning then they will be in great shape after 6 overs to face the new ball.
200 UP
Mr Cricket pulls the spinner for 6 to bring up the 200. Takes him to 47. Come on Jacques!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 44) : I think there’s about 14 left in the day. Play finishes at 12 our time.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) :
Good thing I jinxed them all the way to 200…
250/3 would be better…
ABdV gets 50 off 86.
I see no comments on post 36. Jealous guys?
@klempie (Comment 49) :
Why should i be jealous when I don’t work on Fridays and can watch the match on a 42″ flatscreen at home. 😀 😎 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : OK fine. But if it was Thursday you’d be jealous…
@klempie (Comment 51) :
😆
You keep picking the wrong days. My weekends are Thursday – Friday.
Now the Saturday morning matches would really make me jealous 🙁
50 up for Mr Cricket!
Go Jacques! Maiden double hundred!
this silly game still on? Have we choked yet?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 52) : OK Saturday then.
@robdylan (Comment 54) :
for another hour and 4 days.
And then it starts all over again. 😛
@klempie (Comment 55) :
Damn!! Now I AM jealous. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 54) : What are you doing in here?
@klempie (Comment 58) :
he seems to be trying to undo our jinxes with that comment of his. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) :
I’m jealous – can’t stream anything in this place… 👿
Hope we bat all day tomorrow. 😎
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 60) : YES!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 59) : He needs to leave this place. 😉
I need a leak. But I’m afraid if I get up we’ll lose a wicket. 😯 Wait! A Nestea bottle… 😕
@klempie (Comment 62) :
😆 😆
@klempie (Comment 64) : 😯 😯 😀
0nly 8 overs left.
Knyp boetie! Knyp!
AB 👿
@klempie (Comment 64) :
I blame YOU!!!
F%^K
AB De villiers caught behind
Damnit. AB nicks one. 63.
Disaster. 👿
@McLovin (Comment 61) :
There is the Jinx comment. 😛
Robs fault
Duminy in for his Test Debut
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 68) : HEY! YOU called 250/3. We’re at 234. Not far off….
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) : I should’ve posted a joke instead.
Duminy survives a good LBW appeal 😳
@McLovin (Comment 76) :
@PJLD (Comment 73) : I agree. Nice avatar.
AARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!
So JP Duminy is in next???
Hope he does well cos he was BORN to play test cricket!!!
JP’s dad sent my wife a text yesterday to inform her of his son’s debut… she worked for him about 2 years ago. 🙄
@wpw (Comment 80) : You better bloody be right. I’d be feeling far more comfortable if Prince was there.
JP gets off the mark with a nicely glanced 4.
ha ha!
what’s the score?
Kallis OUT!!!!
What was that earlier about losing wickets in groups. 😥
That’s it. Game over. Kallis gone.
@robdylan (Comment 83) : JINX!!! 👿
Kallis edge…gone…
@robdylan (Comment 84) :
237/5
7.5 hours to go.
237/5
@klempie (Comment 82) :
You musta blinked. It got stopped on the boundary. 🙂
@klempie (Comment 81) :
I know dude. Did you hear Prince is out of the 2nd test as well??? 👿 👿
Just when you think things are looking up, then we go and lose two wickets.
Time for Duminy to enter the test stage with a bang. 😀
Boucher and Duminy need to steady the ship NOW!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 85) :
Hey…only the first innings…the boys should just get as close as they can to that 375.
Boucher and Duminy – come on!!!
@McLovin (Comment 89) : ❓
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) : This is gonna be fun
@KSA Shark © (Comment 96) : Until I can go home. 😳
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 95) : We can’t concede a deficit. If we do we will lose.
@PJLD (Comment 97) : I like that stripey outfit in your avatar. 😈
@McLovin (Comment 98) :
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kallis out for 63. Nice one… NOT!!! 😥 😥
Duminy gone. Very strange shot.
JP gone…we’ll be bowling tomorrow morning…
Duminy OUT! 🙁
Duminy gone. Rob get the hell off this thread!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 103) :
NO Shot, came off the shoulder IMO and not the glove. 👿
All going tits up very quickly. 👿
Morkel coming with the torch…will he survive 3 overs?
Morkel in Now.
Let’s hope they missspelt his name and it is actually Moerkel
@KSA Shark © (Comment 110) : Or worse. Moerkol. hehe
Use the technology IT IS THERE!!!!!!!!!!
Replay shows it was shoulder. 👿
@McLovin (Comment 100) : Ag thanks man
@klempie (Comment 111) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 107) :
According to “the radio” you are right…
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 115) :
According to Kepler and Pummy as well. 😎
SA 240/6
👿
Morkel OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/241
Morkel gone. What a balls up.
Morkel – —->>>>>>>>>>
…and that’s how the cookie crumbles… 😥
I’m going to eat…
@klempie (Comment 119) : ‘scuse the French.
Guess I can go take that leak now.
Johnson takes his 7th
8/241 🙁
@klempie (Comment 123) : This is enough to make me wet myself. 👿
…feel sorry for the Saffas in Perth…
We’ll be ALL OUT @ stumps…and over and a half left…
Harris to make a 100.
Harris gone.
Maybe I should just shut up. 👿
Bouch needs to slog now.
Deficit of over 100 is way too much…
Even if we start with 3 quick wickets we’ll still be going nowhere slowly…
Aah same script as always.
Fall of wickets for SA 👿
1-16 (McKenzie, 7.6 ov),
2-106 (Amla, 31.1 ov),
3-110 (Smith, 32.3 ov),
4-234 (de Villiers, 70.4 ov),
5-237 (Kallis, 72.4 ov), 👿
6-238 (Duminy, 74.1 ov), 👿
7-241 (Morkel, 76.3 ov), 👿
8-241 (Harris, 76.6 ov) 👿
@McLovin (Comment 127) :
@klempie (Comment 128) :
At least you jinxed him AFTER he was out.
Stumps Day 2
243/8
@KSA Shark © (Comment 133) : So we lost 5 for 7. What a f**king joke!
ha ha! We’re getting stuffed
@klempie (Comment 122) : fixed it for you klempie. 😉
From the cricinfo site:
6.55 pm: Ten overs ago, South Africa were cruising on 234 for 3 with de Villiers and Kallis batting with ease. They were picking off the singles, hitting the bad balls for four, and gradually reducing the distance to Australia’s total of 375. Then Ricky Ponting threw the ball to Johnson and everything changed.
So far in this match, every time a team has looked like taking the upper hand, the other would fight back. Batsmen played confidently to reach half-centuries but then gave it away. Johnson’s spell of 5-2-5-5 (7 for 42 overall) has given Australia a definite upper hand for the first time in the match. They lead by 132 runs and South Africa have only two wickets in hand.
@klempie (Comment 136) : That’s just terrible…
@wpw (Comment 138) : Yeah – can’t believe we were cruising at 234/3 😥 😥 😥
I’m sorry but the SA media and in particular SA cricket team needs to shut the hell up about their chances whenever we play the Aussies.
How about focusing on playing cricket (and getting a ‘mind coach’ ala Jake White) and maybe just maybe we might win a series against the Aussies.
If there’s one team i hate losing against it is them… 👿
@wpw (Comment 141) : Mind coach? I think we need a batting coach…
Ag, we’ll come back tomorrow and knock ’em over for 180… 🙄
…after Steyn and Ntini get 25 each + a fifty from Boucher …
@wpw (Comment 141) : wpw. I believe we’re good enough on paper to beat them. Just a typical South African brain fart for 5 overs. Unfortunately, those 5 overs have probably won the series for Aus.
@wpw (Comment 141) :
Great summary – just shut up and play.
Sadly, I expected this all along, and I don’t see any changes in the future until we get more professional.
@klempie (Comment 145) : I agree.
You should have a look at our combined batting average AGAINST AUSTRALIA since readmission in 1992.
We average something like 31.00 runs per innings compared to their 55.00 per innings.
😯
@Big Fish (Comment 146) :
A compliment from Big Fish. Oh my Gawd!!! 😯
@wpw (Comment 147) : The whole tone of the series has deflated now. I’m not bothered waking up early tomorrow.
I say
I don’t like cricket oh no
I love it
I don’t like cricket no no
I love it
@McLovin (Comment 150) : Wow. You really are a true supporter! 😛
@wpw (Comment 148) :
@klempie (Comment 151) : I draw the line at waking up before the sun’s up though. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 153) :
What sun bru? You live in England!!! 😉
@wpw (Comment 154) : Yes. That would impmly he only gets up for 4 weeks of the year. Maybe it’s like a hibernation thing. 😕
@wpw (Comment 154) : True. 😛
@wpw (Comment 154) :
Hehehehehhehehe
@klempie (Comment 149) : You don’t want to see Steyn’s cover drive …and Makhaya’s reverse slog sweep…???
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 158) :
Personaly I’d rather see Steyn slot it from his own 10m line. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 159) : 🙄