Feisty Battles Keep Australia on Their Toes

Just when people said Test cricket was dying a slow death, two riveting Test matches have livened up interests considerably. For all of Ricky Ponting’s claims that his team would have no trouble in India or that the South African pacers are still fawns, he has been caught on the wrong foot. And it was certainly not all pretty for Australia.

steyn being kissed by ab EB4Kd 17022

Ponting simply refused to pander to the notions that Australia would be edged by India in India in recent months. Even as the hype around the series down under has been building more about the young South African quicks who have improved by leaps and bounds, less than twenty-four hours ago, Ponting claimed South Africa were the ones who had to prove themselves in Australia and that his team was not the one under pressure.

sa jubilant pWXYJ 17022

How the tables changed! Three quick wickets in the morning of the first Test at the WACA, Perth shut to notion that South Africa were coming as novices. If anything, Makhaya Ntini led the way for the young Dale Steyn to then pick it from there and even giving Morne Morkel an incentive or two.

Australia had their backs to the wall at three down for fifteen, and South Africa not even needing to scream themselves hoarse of nearly proving themselves right. While it was an accepted notion that there would be a fair bit of assistance for the fast bowlers at the WACA, especially in the morning session, to be able to exploit is still an art.

While pressure was raised considerably on Matthew Hayden who is battling wretched form, his wicket then was still sizeable in that he could have used the opportunity of playing in home conditions to bat himself back into form.

South Africa was plain ecstatic as they plucked out two more wickets in the form of the prized in form batsmen, skipper Ricky Ponting, and Mike Hussey who has been prolific especially on the tour to India. Those were key blows and South Africa had Australia having to do something they have to be often forced to do even in the last decade – bat themselves into the game again.

katich 3oWyG 17022

Credit must then go to the grit of Simon Katich and the tenacity of Michael Clarke for reshaping the Australia’s graph with a 149 run partnership for the fourth wicket which not only prevented further insanity in the dressing room but also, let some steam out for the South Africans to further derail them.

But yet again when Australia got going, they seemed to undo their own work. Clarke followed Katich and it has to be said that while Clarke’s sixty-two was just as invaluable as Katich’s eighty-three, the duo once again left the gate open when they departed minutes before tea to find Australia once again precarious at five for 166.

Yet again it was another partnership building effort that bailed out the Australians. Brad Haddin combined well with Andrew Symonds in another keen partnership when runs came a little more freely and the momentum more even than skewed. South Africa though who were unhappy with the ball for much of the day were looking to strike it rich when the mandatory ball change came around.

Paul Harris showed his variation every time the ball was handed to him and apart from the rush of blood that saw Clarke perish to the guileful Harris, another wicket was added to the kitty, this time of Symonds who looked good on his half century. Haddin was done in by Ntini who picked up his third wicket for the day.

But while Australia were hoping they could somehow surpass the 350 mark, Brett Lee perished as the eighth wicket of the innings and it looked like South Africa would end up getting Australia all out on day one. But a niggling partnership developed yet again, this time between number ten Mitchell Johnson and Jason Krezja. Even though South Africa did eventually get Johsnon out to a plumb lbw decision for Morkel, it meant Australia had added on a precious few runs.

At 341 for nine, Australia looked in much better shape than one imagined when they were reeling at 3/15. An innings total of 350 by Australia is not beyond South Africa. But their batsmen would have to apply themselves better than their Australian counterparts.

For the moment though, the game is enticingly poised and it is only day one of the series yet!

World Ranklings: Can South Africa-Australia Out beat India-England?

White Lightning Against Australia…Again?

Graeme Pollock Believes SA Can Prevail over Ailing Australia

Gambhir Deserves It; What About Watson and Katich?

Now Warring Coaches?

Ponting Plays Down Watson-Symond Dilemma; Coach Disagrees

Shake Ups in the World Order

Now Warring Coaches?

Two Coach Race in Horses for Courses Tale?

Ponting Regrets Coming to India; Warns CA and SA

Watson Moans Lack of Consistent Run