2009 South Africa V Australia Test and One Day Series
 

South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Johannesburg

February 25, 2009


Match facts

February 26-March 2, 2009
Start time 10.30am (08.30GMT)


Big Picture

South Africa's tour of Australia was such a short while ago that it feels like this is the fourth Test in a six-match series. Following their 2-1 win, South Africa headed home and their players had a break of sorts, although there was some domestic cricket on the calendar. Australia faced New Zealand in a one-day contest before rushing to the airport to set off for Johannesburg. Australia enter the series hanging on by a fingernail to their No. 1 Test ranking. They avoided handing it over at the SCG last month but a South African series win this time will mean the end of the long reign of Ricky Ponting's men.

It's only three years since Australia's last Test tour of South Africa but a lot has changed in that time. Only three members of the current squad - Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey - made that trip. Where once there was Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee, there are now names like Bryce McGain, Phillip Hughes and Ben Hilfenhaus. How Australia's newer faces handle the pressure of a Test tour will be a key factor in the final results. There are no such squad issues for South Africa, who have retained the core group that won in Australia and have such a strong line-up that Ashwell Prince couldn't find a spot.

The other fascinating part of the series will be how the two teams use the umpire referrals. Neither side has played under the trial system, which will be overseen in all three Tests by Billy Bowden, Asad Rauf and the retiring Steve Bucknor.


Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)

South Africa LWWWW
Australia WLLWW



Watch out for

Dale Steyn lived up to the hype in Australia and finished as the leading wicket taker and was a major reason why South Africa won the series. On his home pitches he will again prove a handful, particularly if the prodigious swing that is expected does happen. As if he wasn't threatening enough, he has spent his time off toughening up by wrestling crocodiles.

Phillip Hughes will become Australia's youngest Test debutant since Craig McDermott in 1984 when he walks out on Thursday at the age of 20 years and 88 days. A supremely talented left-hand opening batsman, Hughes has piled up runs for New South Wales over the past 18 months but his most striking characteristic is his ability to perform on big occasions. They don't come much bigger than a tour of South Africa where the No. 1 ranking is on the line and the ability of Hughes and Simon Katich to provide strong starts will be critical to Australia's chances.


Team news

South Africa have named a 12-man squad for the first Test and there isn't much doubt about who will play. The left-arm fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been included but will almost certainly be the man to miss out as the settled group that beat Australia at home continues its push for the No. 1 spot. The spinner Paul Harris is likely to play in a team that was so good in Australia that Prince could not break back into the side having fully recovered from his broken thumb.

South Africa (likely) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Neil McKenzie, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

The rain and pitch conditions at the Wanderers have encouraged Australia to name a 12-man squad with both the specialist spinners Bryce McGain and Nathan Hauritz left out. It means an all-pace attack and the main decision now is whether to include the medium-pace allrounder Andrew McDonald or go for four out-and-out fast men in Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus. The batsman and handy offspinner Marcus North should have confirmed his Test debut thanks to his strong performance in the tour match in Potchefstroom. However, the only one of the three uncapped men in Australia's 12 who is certain of making his debut is the opener Phillip Hughes.

Australia (likely) 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Doug Bollinger, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus, 12 Andrew McDonald.


Pitch and conditions

There was some rain in the lead-up to the match, which meant that until a couple of days ago the players had not seen the pitch, which was covered by a tent-like structure that allowed the groundsmen to continue working on it. However, both teams are expecting plenty of swing, particularly on the first day, while it could be hard going for batsmen and spinners. There are further storms forecast for the first few days of the Test.


Stats and Trivia

Jacques Kallis needs 12 runs to become the first South African to reach 10,000
AB de Villiers will become the fourth South African to play 50 consecutive Tests
Australia have won the last three Tests between the two sides at the Wanderers and two of the successes were innings victories
Click here for more stats.


Quotes

"We've spoken about the moments of the last series where we were a bit deficient. The guys have learnt a lot from those moments and what we have to do better next time. We can't forget that some of these guys are playing their fourth, fifth, some of them are playing their first Test out here."
Ricky Ponting on the eve of the Test.

"I definitely won't mind seeing Australia bat and having Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel running in on the first morning."
AB de Villiers wants to bat first but thinks there would be benefits in sending Australia in.

Australia wrest back initiative on day one of first Test in Johannesburg
 

February 27, 2009

Australia fought back from 3-38 to reach 5-254 at stumps on day one of the first Test against South Africa, with Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke making half-centuries.

Debutant Marcus North was 47 not out and shared a 72-run partnership with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, unbeaten on 37.

Australia have all-rounder Andrew McDonald to come in at No.8 after leaving out New South Wales pace bowler Doug Bollinger. Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus are yet to bat.

North, 29, is one of three debutants in the side, with Hilfenhaus and 20-year-old opener Phil Hughes, who made a fourth-ball duck.

Western Australia captain North hit six fours in a composed two-hour knock, helping Australia reach a respectable position at stumps.

Bad light stopped play at 4.45pm local time in Johannesburg after 68 overs, with 22 overs remaining to be bowled in the day's play. Ground staff immediately placed covers over the centre-wicket area as rain started to fall.

Dropped at first slip on 40, skipper Ponting scored a stylish 83 including 11 fours and one six, adding 113 for the fourth wicket with Clarke, who made 68.

Ponting was bowled by a classic inswinger from Makhaya Ntini at 4-151, and Clarke fell to an extravagant off-drive 31 runs later, caught behind as Dale Steyn (3-82) claimed his third victim of the innings.

Clarke lost his wicket in the penultimate over before tea.

Ponting had won the toss with conditions at the Wanderers stadium expected to favour swing bowlers.

Australia were 3-78 at lunch after Steyn dismissed Hughes (0) and fellow NSW opener Simon Katich (3). Mike Hussey also failed, scoring 4.

Katich fell to a magnificent catch by Neil McKenzie, who dived to his right at gully and Hussey was caught at second slip off Morkel's bowling.

Australia haven't played three debutants in the same Test match since Merv Hughes, Geoff Marsh and Bruce Reid helped Allan Border's side draw the Adelaide Test against Kapil Dev's India in December, 1985.

Smith's South Africa will snatch Test cricket's top ranking from Australia if they win this three-Test series.

Australia in total control
 

28 February, 2009

A composed century on debut from Marcus North followed by a disciplined bowling display from Australia put the tourists well in command at the close of day two of the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

After Australia piled on 466, which included an unbeaten career-best 96 from Mitchell Johnson and a half-century from Brad Haddin, it put the home side under all sorts of pressure and left it reeling at 3-85 at the close.

It capped a remarkable turnaround for Ricky Ponting's side, which was at 3-38 early on the first morning, before North's century - the 18th on debut by an Australian - helped it post the fifth highest score by a team batting first at the Wanderers.

The Proteas were in immediate trouble when they began their response after tea and were 1-1 after just five balls when Johnson pitched the ball up to Graeme Smith, who sent a thick outside edge to a diving Haddin behind the stumps for a duck.

That became 2-2 three balls later after Hashim Amla edged a swinging delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus - his second in Test cricket - to Ponting at second slip, the captain taking a smart catch diving forward to send the batsman packing for one.

Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie then began the repair work and there was soon something positive for the crowd to cheer after Kallis pushed a Peter Siddle delivery into the covers to bring up his 10,000th Test run, only the eighth batsman in history to do so.

But after he took three consecutive fours off the same bowler, he went for one shot too many in his following over and squared the ball straight to Michael Hussey at gully for 27.

Opener McKenzie (35 not out) and AB de Villiers (13 not out) took the hosts through to the close, still trailing the visitors by a massive 381.

Earlier, North became the first Australian since Michael Clarke against India in 2004 to hit a century on debut.

Beginning the day alongside overnight partner Haddin with the score at 5-254, the pair took full advantage of South Africa's heavy reliance on waiting for the new ball during the first part of an extended morning session.

There were 12 overs to be bowled before it was due and the home side looked to be going through the motions as it waited for its availability.

During that time North and Haddin were under no pressure, with the former bringing up a patient 104-ball 50 when he nudged Paul Harris for two towards fine leg in the fifth over of the day, while the latter followed not long after raising his half-century off 79 deliveries.

They put on 113, before Haddin was out for 63 when he pulled the penultimate ball of the fourth over with the new ball from Makhaya Ntini to Harris at mid-on.

Five deliveries later, Dale Steyn enticed the new man, Andrew McDonald, to push at an away swinger that he only succeeded in edging to Kallis at second slip for a duck.

Western Australia captain North was unbeaten on 85 at lunch, and continued his calm knock after the break reaching the three-figure mark off 207 balls when he turned JP Duminy wide of backward point for three.

He was not yet ready to ease up though and brought up the 100 partnership with Johnson in the 117th over, before the tourists' strike bowler notched up his 50 the very next delivery when he lifted Duminy over long-on for the second six of his innings.


But just as North was looking to dig into Harris, he went dancing down the wicket and was deceived in the flight, with Boucher stumping him for 117 to end his 355-minute stay.

Siddle joined Johnson, who continued his onslaught on the South African attack going past his previous best score of 61 by climbing into one Harris over off which he took 26, including three sixes.

He moved into his 90s by hitting Steyn for three fours in an over - his brutal assault helping to bring up the 50-run stand for the ninth wicket in just 26 deliveries.

But Morne Morkel ended his hopes of a first Test century when he removed Siddle (nine), caught by Kallis at second slip, and Hilfenhaus (duck), gathered by De Villiers at third slip, in successive deliveries as Australia was all out for 466.

The pick of South Africa's bowlers was Steyn with 4-113, while Ntini picked up 2-71 and Morkel 3-117.

Australia pushes ahead
 

01 March, 2009

Mitchell Johnson An unbeaten century from AB de Villiers was South Africa's only positive on the third day of the opening Test against Australia at the Wanderers, with the tourists reaching 1-51 when bad light stopped play - an overall lead of 297.

Responding to the massive 466 set by Ricky Ponting's team in the first innings, the home side endured a mid-morning collapse, before eventually being bowled out for 220 - a 246-run deficit and still 47 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

But the visitors decided against putting their hosts back in, and by the time the bad light and heavy rain arrived, they had just crossed the half-century mark for the loss of Simon Katich, who got a fine edge off Morne Morkel to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 10.

Debutant opener Phillip Hughes, who made a duck in his first innings, was 36 not out alongside captain Ponting as they took Australia to a position of total control.

Earlier, two wickets in four deliveries of the 58th over from Mitchell Johnson helped his team take charge after he had JP Duminy (17) and Mark Boucher (0) both caught by Brad Haddin in the seventh of a nine-over spell.

Resuming on 3-85 overnight, Neil McKenzie added just one more run to his score before he was dismissed in the fourth over of the morning.

Peter Siddle was the bowler, delivering a good ball that cut back off the pitch and hit the Proteas opener just below the knee roll with umpire Steve Bucknor having no doubt in giving the batsman out leg before wicket.

McKenzie was not convinced, though, and opted to use the first of two available referrals, which proved a wrong decision as he was given out for 36.

In Siddle's next over, he fired in a short ball to Duminy that looked to have clipped something along the way to Haddin, but after Ponting decided to go upstairs, he then reversed his call after the camera required for the replay broke down.

The South Africa batsman then received another let off when Ponting put down a relatively comfortable chance at second slip when he was on 13.

But the hosts threw away any initiative that had been slowly developing when Duminy, who added four more runs after that chance, tried to guide a leg-side delivery from Johnson past Haddin, but only succeeded in gloving the ball to the wicketkeeper.

Three deliveries later the same two Australian players combined to dismiss Boucher, who feathered behind for a duck - the South Africa batsman challenging Billy Bowden's call, but his fate was confirmed by third umpire Asad Rauf.

Morkel was next to follow when he tried to pull a short delivery from Siddle and only succeeded in a tame top-edge that was snapped up by the bowler for two.

In the very next over Marcus North picked up his first Test wicket by trapping Paul Harris leg before for one as Australia turned the screw on the hosts.

Resuming after lunch, Dale Steyn and De Villiers began their attempt to again rebuild.

The South African No.5 was dropped by Haddin soon after lunch, off the bowling of Siddle, when the New South Wales gloveman dived in front of North at first slip only to spill the chance.

De Villiers had one other scare in the early nineties when Ponting decided to refer a decision by Bowden not to give him out leg before wicket off an Andrew McDonald delivery, which proved the correct call by the on-field umpire.


The two then brought up the 50 partnership in 82 balls, but three balls later, Steyn's determined effort came to an end when he gave McDonald his first wicket of the game by edging him to North for 17.

De Villiers continued his charge towards an eighth Test century in his 50th match for his country, bringing up his ton in 181 deliveries in the first over with the new ball, when he pulled a short one from Ben Hilfenhaus through mid-wicket for four.

In the next over, Johnson cleaned up Makhaya Ntini for one, leaving his partner not out on 104 as the hosts were all out for 220 - still 47 short of the follow-on, which the tourists decided not to enforce.

Johnson was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4-25 in 18.1 overs, while Siddle bagged 3-76 in 21.

Long road ahead for Proteas
 

02 March, 2009

Jacques Kallis South Africa's hopes of saving the first Test match against Australia at the Wanderers lay in the balance after day four, with the wickets of Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie in the final session leaving the tourists firmly in command.

The Proteas reached stumps at 2-178 in pursuit of an unlikely 454, but the dismissal of the captain especially, for a well-played 69 will certainly hurt them going into the final day.

After reaching tea at 57 without loss, McKenzie was first to go with the score on 76 when he edged a full delivery from Mitchell Johnson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 35.

Hashim Amla then came in and survived an early scare when he was almost run out after pushing Andrew McDonald straight to Michael Clarke at cover point, with the fielder narrowly missing the stumps as the batsman's hesitation left him well short of his crease.

But he survived and together with Smith, who brought up his half-century in 84 balls, took the score to 130, before the captain attempted to pull a short ball from Ben Hilfenhaus and only succeeded in top-edging to Johnson at mid-on.

But Amla (43) and Jacques Kallis (26) remained unbeaten at the close to help the hosts reduce the target on the final day - which will be 98 overs due to time lost over the previous three days - to 276.

Earlier, Kallis starred with the ball, taking three wickets and a stunning catch to help his side dismiss the tourists for 207 in their second innings.

The all-rounder claimed the wickets of Ricky Ponting (25), Michael Hussey (nought) and Marcus North (five) in a five-over burst that went for 22 - with Makhaya Ntini and Paul Harris also contributing to the cause with three and two scalps each.

Phillip Hughes, who is playing in his first match, made a rather fortunate 75, but watched as his country slipped from being 1-99 at one stage, to losing eight wickets for 75 runs by the time the extended morning session had ended.

After surviving when he gloved a Morne Morkel delivery to Mark Boucher for 21 late on Saturday - no-one, including umpire Billy Bowden, spotted the edge - the 20-year-old again received a let-off when the same thing happened on Sunday with his score on 36.

However, he rode his luck and went on to bring up his 50 in 85 balls when he punched Morkel for four through mid-off, before completing a half-century stand with Ponting as Australia looked the only side in the game.

But Kallis was then brought into the attack for the first time and his introduction proved a masterstroke move by captain Smith as he struck with the last two balls in the 27th over.

First the all-rounder tempted Ponting into pulling a shorter, slower delivery that he only succeeded in guiding straight to Amla at deep square-leg.

He followed that up with another short ball to Hussey, who could only top edge after he tried to pull the ball away and was snapped up by Ntini at square leg.

Kallis then pulled off a stunning catch two deliveries later when he took a sharp one-handed chance to his right at first slip to send Clarke on his way for a second ball duck.

Harris was the bowler this time, enticing the Australia vice-captain into a thick outside edge off a nicely flighted delivery.

First-innings centurion North survived the hat-trick delivery from Kallis, but could do nothing with the fifth ball of the over, which was pitched short but failed to rise as North expected before crashing into his off stump as the score quickly changed from 1-99 to 5-104.

Another superb catch ended Hughes' brave 123-ball stay, with AB de Villiers this time plucking a one-handed blinder with his left hand inches from the ground at leg slip after the debutant opener tried to turn the ball around the corner.

McDonald lasted just 11 deliveries before he was on his way after edging a wider Ntini delivery on the drive straight to Boucher for seven.


It could have been worse for the tourists an over later when Haddin was given out to Harris leg before wicket by umpire Bowden, but after calling for a review was deemed not out by Asad Rauf.

Ntini though did capture the eighth wicket in his very next over when his angled delivery to Johnson took a regulation edge straight to Kallis for one.

And the same bowler then had Haddin out caught by Boucher in the penultimate over before lunch for a vital 37, before Dale Steyn wrapped up the last wicket 20 minutes after the interval when he cleaned up Hilfenhaus for 16, leaving Peter Siddle unbeaten on 22.

South Africa began the massive run chase solidly with Smith and McKenzie helping it reach tea at 57 without loss.

The Proteas openers were largely untroubled in their pursuit, with the only real scare coming in the first over when Johnson struck the home captain with a seaming delivery on the pads and his opposite number Ponting decided to refer the decision after Bowden gave not out.

It proved the right call with replays clearly showing the ball making contact outside the line of the off-stump as the two batsmen continued to bat fluently to give their side real hope of at least saving the match.

Aussies wrap up victory
 

03 March, 2009

Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle claimed four and three wickets respectively as Australia wrapped up the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers with a comfortable 162-run victory just after tea on day five.

The home side had come into the final day confident of at least saving the game, but the tourists' ability to strike at regular intervals proved decisive as Graeme Smith's team were bundled out for 291 in pursuit of a record 454.

Hashim Amla (57) and Jacques Kallis (45) were the only two batsmen to put up any real resistance, and the dismissal of the Proteas' No.3 followed by that of AB de Villiers ended any hope of a draw, let alone victory.

In the end, Johnson's three wickets on the final day, coupled with good support from the rest of his attack, helped Ricky Ponting's team move 1-0 up in the three-Test series.

The hosts began the day well enough with the score at 2-178 as Amla and Kallis looked comfortable through the opening hour when they brought up the 50 partnership from the first delivery of the day.

The Proteas' No.3 then reached his half-century in 103 balls when he capitalised on a Johnson half volley and drove him through the covers for four.

But seven runs later he perished when attempting to flick Siddle through the leg side - his failure to keep the ball down proved his undoing as Phillip Hughes gathered a simple catch at short square-leg.

De Villiers was next to follow when Billy Bowden sent him on his way after being trapped leg before wicket by Andrew McDonald for three.

The batsman was not convinced though and asked for a referral, but his fate was confirmed by TV umpire Asad Rauf, who eliminated any doubt the bowl was sliding down leg side.

The new ball, which was expected to be crucial on the final day, was taken as soon as it became available and Johnson almost struck with the first delivery when Kallis was trapped low on his pads and given out leg before by Bowden.

Kallis also opted to go upstairs - this time the decision proving a correct one as Rauf decided that ball pitched outside the line and reversed the initial call by the on-field umpire.

But Kallis only lasted until Johnson's next over when he tried to drive a fuller delivery and instead succeeded in playing on for 45 as South Africa slumped to 5-247 at lunch.

After the break JP Duminy was first to go when his attempts to fend off a Siddle bouncer saw the ball float easily to Ponting at second slip for 29.


That ended a 39-run stand with Mark Boucher, who continued his resistance with Morne Morkel, but the latter threw his wicket away cheaply with an attempted pull shot off Mitchell Johnson that only flew high to Phillip Hughes at mid-on for two.

Wicketkeeper Boucher was next to follow, this time off a fine Ben Hilfenhaus delivery that cut back off the pitch and cleaned up the stumps as Australia closed in on victory, which came eight deliveries after tea.

Paul Harris was first to go, when he was caught at short-leg by Simon Katich off Siddle for eight, before Johnson bowled Dale Steyn for six to seal the win.

The Australian strike bowler, who was the pick of the bowlers in the second innings with 4-114, was named man-of-the-match for his eight-wicket haul in the game, while he also made 96 not out with the bat.

Siddle claimed 3-46 in the second innings, while Hilfenhaus picked up 2-68.

The next Test begins in Durban on Friday.

South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Durban
 

Mature South Africa look to bounce back

March 5, 2009

Match facts

March 6-10, 2009
Start time 10.00am (08.00GMT)

Big Picture

If the mutual tours constituted one big series the score would be 2-2, which highlights just how closely matched these teams are. Instead, Australia hold a 1-0 lead and with victory in Durban they can claim the series and retain the No. 1 Test ranking, which looked like disappearing across the Indian Ocean following South Africa's triumph in Australia.

The short four-day turnaround after the Wanderers Test probably favours South Africa, whose more mature attack is used to bouncing back quickly after tough five-day contests. Australia's young fast men left Johannesburg sore and exhausted but happy with their result and if they can regain their spark by Friday they will enjoy the pace and bounce at Kingsmead. The result might be unpredictable but all anybody can hope for is as tight a game as these teams have become used to putting on recently. If the contest between bat and ball is anywhere near as even as it was in Johannesburg, the fans will be in for a treat.


Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)

South Africa LLWWW
Australia WWLLW



Watch out for

Morne Morkel was criticised for his inconsistency at the Wanderers, although he did bowl a few cracking deliveries. At Kingsmead, the extra bounce should make him even more of a handful when he gets it right. The pressure will be on Morkel to lift his game; his brother Albie has been called into the squad and the two are highly competitive. The last thing Morne would want would be a Waugh-like situation where the established brother made way for the new one to make his Test debut.

Simon Katich has been Australia's top-order rock in the past 12 months and his double failure in Johannesburg was a rare slip. The inexperienced members of the batting line-up performed strongly but men like Phillip Hughes and Marcus North could yet have an up-and-down introduction to Test cricket so it will be vital for Katich to provide stability through the remainder of the series.


Team news

South Africa haven't changed their line-up at all in the four Test they have played against Australia recently and despite the loss in Johannesburg that's a trend that is likely to continue. Their 12-man squad lost Lonwabo Tsotsobe to injury and Albie Morkel was included as his replacement. But the coach Mickey Arthur is keen to back his existing pace attack on the bouncy Durban pitch and the spinner Paul Harris is also expected to retain his spot despite never having played a Test at Kingsmead.

South Africa (likely) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Neil McKenzie, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

For all their injuries and last-minute squad additions, it is likely that Australia will go in with the same 11 that triumphed at the Wanderers. Peter Siddle has a foot problem and Ben Hilfenhaus is battling a sore back and the group has two fast-bowling cover players, Brett Geeves and Steve Magoffin. However, the captain Ricky Ponting expects Siddle and Hilfenhaus to play, which would leave their only decision as whether to include either of their specialist spinners, Bryce McGain or Nathan Hauritz. The medium-pacer Andrew McDonald could be the man in danger if a slow bowler is preferred but with rain around Durban on match eve, an all-seam attack again seems likely.

Australia (likely) 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Andrew McDonald, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.


Pitch and conditions

Kingsmead always offers plenty of bounce and pace and there's no reason to expect anything different on this occasion. There was rain on the morning before the match and a chance of thunderstorms on the first day.


Stats and Trivia

Australia had recent form on their side at the Wanderers but neither side can claim the upper hand at Kingsmead, where there has been one win each and a draw in the three Tests between Australia and South Africa in the post-apartheid era
Since 2002, only two slow bowlers have collected at least three wickets in an innings at Kingsmead: Shane Warne and Anil Kumble
In Hashim Amla's eight Test innings against Australia in the past three months, he has been out in the 50s four times and is yet to capitalise on his strong starts


Quotes

"It was interesting to see what they thought were the real problem areas for them in that [Johannesburg] game. I don't want to tell you what I think they are because they'll read about them."
Ricky Ponting is keeping his cards close to his chest

"The team sat together and we were pretty open and honest with where we were and what we wanted to achieve. I think that's the manner of the group, it's come a long way in terms of maturity."
Graeme Smith isn't panicking after the Johannesburg loss

Australia in total control
 

07 March, 2009

Two wickets in the final session helped South Africa fight back after a tough opening day of the second Test in Durban for the hosts, but centuries from openers Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich still kept Australia firmly in command at 4-303 at stumps.

The Australian opening pair took the attack to the Proteas from the start, putting on 184 for the first wicket to lay a firm foundation as the home side struggled with its line and length through the opening two sessions.

But Dale Steyn and Paul Harris sniffed out two wickets after tea to give South Africa renewed hope with Michael Hussey (37 not out) and Marcus North (17 not out) forced to consolidate in the closing overs.

It proved a good ending for Graeme Smith's team, which will now sleep much better with renewed optimism of staying alive in the series and overtaking its opponent at the top of the world rankings.

Resuming after tea with the score at 2-218, the Proteas captain and his players looked to have dismissed Hussey in the third over when he was trapped in front by Morne Morkel and given out by umpire Asad Rauf.

But after eventually deciding to refer the call, he was deemed not out by Steve Bucknor after the ball pitched narrowly outside the line of leg stump forcing the initial call to be reversed.

At the other end, Katich brought up his patient century from 177 balls when he carved a wide ball from Morkel through the off side for four as Australia moved to 2-250.

But the opener added only eight more runs to his total before Steyn tempted him into a false stroke off a good length that he nicked to Smith at first slip for 108.

Three over later, Michael Clarke was cleaned up by an excellent delivery from Harris, who watched as the ball was pitched on middle stump and straightened its way past the uncertain batsman for three.

But Hussey was joined by North and the pair steadied things with an unbroken 37-run stand as Australia ended the day well placed at Kingsmead.

Earlier, Hughes' maiden century helped the tourists take full command as he and Katich raced through the morning session to leave them 0-119 at lunch.

Both sides decided to retain the same line-ups that did duty in the first Test that was won by 162 runs by the Australians - Ponting winning his fifth toss in as many games against Smith and electing to bat.

The two openers made a flying start and were especially harsh on Morkel - Hughes taking 21 runs off his second over of the morning to bring up the 50 in just the 12th over.

Morkel, already taken for two fours in the over, sent in a high no-ball bouncer in anger that flew over wicketkeeper Boucher for yet another boundary, with two more following off the final two deliveries.

The young New South Wales opener, in his second Test match, then brought up his fifty in 63 balls, including 10 fours, to help his side reach lunch in a commanding position.

After the break, he survived an early scare when Harris appealed loudly for leg before.

Umpire Rauf decided it was not out - and after Smith decided to use the first of his two referrals, Bucknor confirmed the initial decision with the batsman having a slight inside-edge to thank for his reprieve.

At the other end, Katich continued his patient knock bringing up his half-century off 100 balls when he clipped Steyn past square-leg for two, before his partner raced through to his hundred with consecutive sixes off Harris.

He did so off only 132 balls, including 17 fours and those two sixes.

Then followed two dropped catches, Hashim Amla first putting down a sharp chance from Katich on 55 at midwicket - before Hughes' outside edge was grassed low down by Jacques Kallis off Morkel.


The young opener was out in the next over though, when he chased a wide Kallis delivery only to cut it into the waiting hands of Neil McKenzie at gully.

The hosts then used up the second of their referrals unsuccessfully. Morkel thought he had heard Katich get a nick through to Mark Boucher - but 'Hot Spot' technology, available to the third umpire for the first time in this match, confirmed there was nothing to it.

The second breakthrough did arrive a few overs later when Ponting, on nine, uncharacteristically miscued a Harris delivery - and McKenzie took the catch at deep mid-off.

Harris was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, taking 2-66 in 21 overs, while Steyn and Kallis grabbed the other two wickets.

Australia firmly in control
 

08 March, 2009

Andrew McDonald claimed three wickets in the final session to ensure Australia maintained a firm grip on the second Test against South Africa in Durban with the host reaching stumps at 7-138.

Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis and Morne Morkel were all victims of the all-rounder's nagging medium pace, which followed Mitchell Johnson's earlier burst that reduced the Proteas to 2-0 in the first over of their innings.

The Australian paceman was also responsible for injuring Graeme Smith and then Kallis with two brutal deliveries that forced the pair to retire as the home side saw its morning effort - it claimed the visitors' last six wickets for a miserly 23 runs to bowl them out for 352 - thrown out the window.

In the end JP Duminy was left to carry South African hopes with his unbeaten 73 helping it reduce the deficit to 214 - still 15 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

Resuming after tea with the score at 4-62, Duminy reached his half-century from 88 balls when played Peter Siddle through the gully region for four, before McDonald snared Harris with a good delivery that jagged back to bowl the batsman for four.

Two balls later he dismissed Kallis, who returned to bat after x-rays revealed no serious damage to his jaw, which was hit by a Johnson delivery.

The South African all-rounder chipped a tame delivery on leg stump straight to Ricky Ponting at short mid-wicket for 22.

McDonald then cleaned up Morkel for a duck as the home side slumped to 7-106, before Dale Steyn (eight not out) and Duminy took the hosts to the close without further damage.

Before the tea break, Johnson was the star as his double strike at the start of the South African response left it 2-0 after just five balls.

The paceman removed Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla for ducks, before dishing out injuries to Smith and Kallis - the former more serious as his broken little finger on his right hand ruling him out for the next Test.

McKenzie was first out when he found a short delivery outside off stump too hard to resist and got a fine edge to Brad Haddin, with Amla next to follow courtesy of a fine inswinging delivery that trapped him leg before wicket.

In Johnson's next over, Smith was hit plush on the right hand as he tried to fend off a short delivery on the leg side and was forced to retire hurt for two.

AB de Villiers was next to go when Ben Hilfenhaus managed to get a good length delivery to cut back sharply, trapping the batsman lbw for three as the hosts slumped to 3-6.

But Duminy and Kallis then consolidated, bringing up the 50-run stand in just under 18 overs, before the South African all-rounder was knocked down with a bloody chin after being struck by Johnson.

He had to go off for 22 leaving the home side in a desperate position, which only got worse when tea was called after Boucher was cleaned up by the same bowler when he was yorked for one.

During the morning, a much-improved bowling performance from South Africa helped it fight back to dismiss Australia for 352.

Only 48 runs were scored at the cost of four wickets in a morning that was cut short by rain, with the visitors' only plus point coming courtesy of Michael Hussey's half century.


Play started 30 minutes late due to a wet outfield, but Australia, resuming on 4-303 made a steady start with Hussey reaching his 14th half-century off 137 balls.

But he was ruffled by Steyn in the 11th over of the day - the paceman knocking him on the head with a brutal bouncer that was followed by two similar deliveries as the pair exchanged words.

And the very next over Morkel took full advantage when he bowled the Western Australian for 50.

North was next to go for 38, caught by Steyn at square leg, before Ntini had Haddin (five) and Johnson (nought) out in the same over - the former caught by Amla at midwicket, with the latter trapped plumb in front for a first ball duck as tourists went into lunch clearly shaken by a rejuvenated South Africa.

And it took only four deliveries after lunch for the tail to be wrapped up.

Steyn had Siddle caught behind by Boucher with his second ball without scoring, before Hilfenhaus also went for nought when he edged the same bowler straight to Smith at first slip.

Steyn was the pick of the bowlers with 3-83 in 25.4 overs, while there were two wickets each for Ntini, Kallis and Harris.

Hughes punishes Proteas
 

09 March, 2009

Phillip Hughes hit his second century of the match to help Australia into an almost unassailable position in the second Test against South Africa as it reached the end of day three at 3-292, an overall lead of 506.

The 20-year-old, who was unbeaten on 136 when stumps were drawn in Durban, became the youngest player to achieve the feat and received good support from Ricky Ponting after the captain chipped in with a well played 81.

Michael Clark was the other unbeaten batsman on 14, with the only other Australian wickets to fall on the day being Simon Katich (30) and Michael Hussey (19) as the hosts were outplayed and outclassed.

Peter Siddle had earlier claimed the final two wickets without the Proteas adding to their overnight total of 7-138, leaving them 214 runs behind on the first innings totals.

Siddle followed on the good work done by Mitchell Johnson and Andrew McDonald on day two - when the pair claimed three wickets each - by removing the last two batsmen within three deliveries of the start.

The Victoria paceman struck with just the second delivery when he tempted Dale Steyn to chase a wide delivery that took the toe end of the bat through to Brad Haddin for eight.

His dismissal was followed by that of Makhaya Ntini with the very next delivery when Siddle's angled ball trapped him in front for a duck, leaving JP Duminy unbeaten on 73 and having not faced a ball on day three.

Graeme Smith was the other man not out on two, but the captain was unable to bat after he retired hurt with a broken finger in his right hand.

The hosts were also left 15 runs short of avoiding the follow-on, but Ponting opted not to reinsert them.

Instead, the tourists came out on a mission with Katich and Hughes raising the half-century stand in just 66 balls, before the former tried to angle a Jacques Kallis delivery down to third man, but was excellently snapped up by Paul Harris at gully leaving Australia at 1-91 at lunch.

Resuming after the break, Hughes brought up his third consecutive Test 50, followed by Ponting.


The Australian captain then reached another milestone when he lifted Steyn over midwicket for four - overtaking Steve Waugh's 10,927 career runs to become the fourth-highest run scorer in the game - before his side dominated its host and edged closer towards a series win.

Resuming after tea at 1-203, Ponting and Hughes quickly raised their 150-run stand, before Morne Morkel's introduction saw him remove the touring skipper with just his third delivery.

A short ball from the South African paceman saw the batsman's efforts to pull him to the square leg boundary fly straight to Neil McKenzie, who took a good catch diving forward in the deep to end the partnership for 164.

Hughes then raised his hundred by cutting the same bowler over the slips to surpass George Headley for West Indies against England in 1930 as the youngest man to score a century in both innings of a Test.

That moment of celebration was followed by the next wicket - Duminy was the bowler, getting the ball to turn sharply into Hussey and the ball took the edge on its way to Kallis low down at first slip.

However, vice-captain Clark and Hughes then took the Australians to the close without any further trouble.

Proteas pair frustrate Aussies
 

10 March, 2009

An unbroken 164-run partnership between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers kept South Africa's slim hopes of saving the second Test against Australia alive after it reached stumps on day four at 2-244.

The home side, which is chasing an improbable 546 to win, lost openers Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla before tea, with an inspired Peter Siddle doing the damage, but the intact third-wicket stand saw no damage done in the final session and left it with realistic hopes of keeping the series alive.

There is also still an outside chance of the host winning the game with the target having now been reduced to 302 but there is no doubt Kallis, not out on 84, and De Villiers (68) will have their initial thoughts on batting the team to safety.

The Proteas began the chase confidently enough, reaching lunch at 35 without loss after visiting captain Ricky Ponting had declared Australia's second innings at 5-331.

There was only one scare early on, which came when umpire Billy Bowden sent McKenzie on his way after giving him out leg before wicket off a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery.

However, after asking for the decision to be referred, the call was reversed by Steve Bucknor as the ball looked to be going over the stumps.

After the break, McKenzie and Amla, who was shifted one place up the order following captain Graeme Smith's broken finger, began steadily, raising the 50 partnership in the 19th over, before the former was out for 31.

A good ball from Siddle bowled just on the line of off stump nipped back and left the opener uncertain as he edged behind to Brad Haddin, ending a 63-run stand.

And off the next delivery, Kallis was enticed into playing at an out swinger that was edged to Marcus North, who reacted late and failed to hang on at first slip.

But Siddle was rewarded for his fine spell of bowling when Amla lost his concentration and chased a wide seaming delivery that was snapped up by Ponting at second slip for 43.

But De Villiers and Kallis held firm and brought up the 50 stand off only 71 balls to leave their team 2-145 at tea.

And they continued to build on that momentum, going through the final session without losing any further wickets.

The century stand was brought up in the 59th over, before Kallis reached his 50 when he squeezed Mitchell Johnson through the covers for two.


That was followed by De Villiers' half-century from 106 balls as the pair looked relatively comfortable against a tiring Australian attack and took their partnership through to the close.

Earlier, the host was set the daunting chase after Ponting's declaration came just under eight overs into the day.

However, it did not stop Phillip Hughes from crossing the 150 mark as he continued to pile on the misery for the Proteas, before eventually being dismissed by Makhaya Ntini for 160.

Resuming on 3-292, and with Hughes unbeaten on 136, the opener added another 38 runs in his partnership with Michael Clarke.

The New South Wales batsman had already been dropped on 142 by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher but Morne Morkel fared better at third man after Ntini's delivery had looped up from a top edge.

Hughes' replacement, North, failed to trouble the scorers and his dismissal for a duck, which saw De Villiers pluck the ball out of the air at second slip, was quickly followed by Australia's declaration.

Clarke was unbeaten on 23 when the innings was ended, leaving South Africa with a huge task to level the series after the 162-run loss in Johannesburg.

Siddle: New ball crucial
 

10 March, 2009

Paceman Peter Siddle, Australia's only wicket-taker on day four, expects the new ball to be crucial as the visitors seek seven more wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series against South Africa.

The Victorian captured the wickets of openers Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla before an unbroken 164-run partnership between Jacques Kallis (84) and AB de Villiers (68) saw South Africa reach 2-244 at stumps, still requiring a further 302 runs to win.

"There was not a lot of sideways movement, it's been pretty flat. Every now and then you get the odd one to bounce or keep low," Siddle said.

"Hopefully, with the new ball tomorrow morning, we can get it to swing around a little bit if we take it straight away and then see how it goes. We'll be looking to certainly get a few quick blows."

Despite the tourists looking flat towards the end of a hot day in Durban, the paceman insists the Australians will be ready to fire on Tuesday.

"The general spirit hasn't been too bad. We spent 80 overs in the field and only got a couple of wickets," he added.

"But no, we'll be ready to go again tomorrow morning and show a bit of a buzz in the first hour and hopefully grab another couple of quick ones there and see how we go for the rest of the day."

Amla, one of Siddle's victims on day four, agreed the new ball would be a concern for South Africa's batsmen on a wearing pitch.

But he remained confident South Africa could save the second Test despite needing to bat through the final three sessions with only seven wickets remaining.

The Proteas face a tough final day on an unpredictable Durban pitch as they attempt to chase down an unlikely 546.

"Yes, the new ball is due in the morning and it's also a deteriorating wicket and day five but, as I said, we'll have to try and dig deep in the first session or two and then take things from there," Amla said.

"If Jacques and AB can get us through the new ball safely, and if we lose no more than one wicket before lunch, then we will have a good chance of batting out the day."


"The target's a big one and we're not really looking at that with too much in mind. We're pretty much looking at it hour by hour, trying to play the game as it comes and obviously reassess how far we go by what happens tomorrow."

Amla, who was thrust up the order to open the batting in South Africa's second innings after captain Graeme Smith broke a finger, got the chase off to a good start by sharing a 63-run stand with Neil McKenzie.

And he revealed there is plenty of faith in the dressing room the series can still be kept alive with the final Test to come in Cape Town.

He continued: "Without a doubt (there is belief the game can be saved)."

"I think, over the last good few months now, we've done this before and everyone in the team believes it is possible."

"It will depend a lot on how we start off tomorrow in the first session. I think that will go a long way in determining where we stand in the game."

Australia takes series
 

11 March, 2009

Australia claimed the three wickets they needed in the final hour before tea to win the second Test match against South Africa by 175 runs and seal an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The host came into the final day in Durban with hopes of gaining a draw but lost the key wicket of Jacques Kallis (93) early in the first session and never looked like saving the game thereafter.

Only Mark Boucher put up any resistance for the hosts with a gritty 107-ball 25.

The tourists skittled the Proteas for 370 for nine - Graeme Smith not coming out to bat due to a broken finger - with Simon Katich claiming three wickets to help his side retain their world number one ranking with the final Test in Cape Town still to come.

Resuming the final day on 244 for two, Kallis was soon dropped for the second time in the innings, this time by Michael Clarke after also being let off the hook by Marcus North when on nought yesterday.

This time the missed chance was not so costly, however, as Kallis fell in the next over when he tried to fend off a Mitchell Johnson delivery but found captain Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Kallis' demise just seven short of a ton broke a fighting 187-run partnership with AB de Villiers, and with it seemed to signal the end of the hosts' resistance.

De Villiers followed a short time later for 84 when he received an almost unplayable delivery from Peter Siddle that he deflected to Brad Haddin behind the stumps.

The Australian wicketkeeper then dropped JP Duminy off the same bowler when the ball slipped through his gloves with the batsman on six.

But Haddin made amends when a Ben Hilfenhaus bouncer gave Duminy no chance of getting his gloves out of the way and he edged behind for 17.

With lunch on the horizon, Ponting threw the ball to Katich who struck with his second delivery when a thick edge from Paul Harris (5) was snapped up by Siddle running back from mid-on.

Boucher and Morne Morkel dug in after lunch, the pair batting for over an hour before the former tried to turn North onto the leg side only to send a leading edge back to the bowler.


Morkel followed a short time later when he edged onto his pads and Haddin managed to trap the ball between his legs to send the batsman back to the pavilion for 24.

Dale Steyn was last man to fall when he attempted to swing Katich across the line and was stumped by Haddin.

Katich was the pick of the Australia bowlers with three for 45, while Siddle also claimed three at the cost of 61 runs.

Morkel, McKenzie axed by Proteas
 

11 March, 2009

Neil McKenzie South Africa's selectors have dropped Neil McKenzie and Morne Morkel for the third Test against Australia in Cape Town as they look for a way forward following the series loss on Tuesday.

Vice-captain Ashwell Prince has been recalled and will captain the side as well as open in the absence of Graeme Smith, who broke a finger in his right hand during the second Test in Durban, while there are also call-ups for uncapped pair Imraan Khan and Wayne Parnell.

Convenor of selectors Mike Proctor said: "Ashwell is delighted to be back in the side and to assume the captaincy in Graeme's place.

"Ashwell will take over the captaincy from Graeme and will also fill his position of opening batsman.

"We felt that it was best just to make one change than to change the top order, which would have involved moving several players around."

McKenzie and Morkel have both been well below par against the Australians in the first two matches at home and were also relatively ineffective on the recent tour Down Under, where the former averaged only 24.20 with the bat while the latter managed 42.66 with the ball.

Khan, the opening batsman for the Dolphins, is almost certain to make his debut after an impressive season for his province and scoring a century for a President's XI against Ricky Ponting's team in a tour match.

Proctor continued: "Imraan Khan fully deserves his chance. He scored his third century of the season in the Supersport Series at the weekend - the only player to do so - and is the only batsman to have scored more than 600 runs with an average just above the 60 mark."

Warriors paceman Parnell, who played for the Proteas during the one-day leg of their tour to Australia, is likely to fight for the final spot in the team with all-rounder Albie Morkel.

"We are following the same route with Wayne Parnell as we did with Lonwabo Tsotsobe," added Proctor. "They have both benefited enormously from being part of the national squad.

"We feel that the best thing for Morne Morkel at the moment is to go back to the Titans and play a few rounds of domestic cricket. He remains very much part of our plans going forward."

Meanwhile, the selectors have also named a 15-man squad for the two Twenty20 internationals against Australia, with two uncapped players included in fast bowler Yusuf Abdulla and all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe.

The rest of the team has a familiar look with Jacques Kallis and Makhaya Ntini being rested.


Procter concluded: "We have rewarded players who have done well in the Standard Bank Pro20 domestic competition and they will all get a game in one of the matches at least.

"We have recognised that Pro20 is a different form of the game from ODIs, being a very fast game. Our record has not been particularly good of late in this format and this is our last chance to identify players before the ICC World T20.

"It is not just a question of seeing how they do in matches but also to give the management team the chance to assess all aspects of their respective games."

South Africa team for the third Test: Ashwell Prince (captain), Imraan Khan, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Albie Morkel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell.

South Africa Twenty20 squad: Johan Botha (captain), Yusuf Abdulla, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Johann Louw, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.

South Africa v Australia, 3rd Test, Cape Town
 

Australia have more to gain in dead rubber

March 18, 2009

Match facts

March 19-23, 2009
Start time 10.30am (08.30GMT)

Big Picture

The series is decided and the Cape Town Test has become a dead rubber but for several individuals there is still plenty to play for. The Australians in particular will be keen to keep up their strong form ahead of their next Test appointment. The Ashes begin in July and with the likelihood that established players such as Stuart Clark, Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds will be available for selection, the newer faces in the squad will be desperate to push their cases for spots on the tour. Men like Ben Hilfenhaus and Marcus North have all but booked their places for the England trip and a strong performance in Cape Town would cap off their auditions.

As far as team momentum is concerned, this game has far less importance than the equivalent dead rubber in Sydney in January. Australia fought back from their 2-0 series deficit to win that game and the impetus helped them begin strongly in South Africa, while their opponents faded away. But this time the South Africans have no Test cricket on the agenda for nine months - their home series against England begins in December.

It's therefore hard to know what the likes of Ashwell Prince and Imraan Khan can take out of this game in isolation. The two men have been included as the openers for this game in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith and the axed Neil McKenzie. Prince and Khan could be competing for one opening position when Smith returns but with so long before the England series, they have no choice but to treat this as a one-off match.


Form guide (last five Tests, most recent first)

South Africa LLLWW
Australia WWWLL



Watch out for

Ashwell Prince has been asked to open and it's not a job that he is used to. A trial run for the Warriors on the weekend worked well - he made a handy 254 against an attack boasting both Morkel brothers. Prince will also be keen to prove a point to the selectors, who left him out at the start of this series despite his standing as the team's vice-captain, after he missed all three Tests in Australia due to a cracked thumb.

Mitchell Johnson is the leading wicket taker for the series and most significantly his repertoire now boasts the inswinger to right-handers. It has made him a serious threat in the swinging South African conditions and if the Newlands pitch has a hint of green on the first morning he could be a handful. South Africa's new openers will be warily eyeing off Smith's hands after Johnson broke one in Sydney and the other in Durban.


Team news

There has been nothing but team news for South Africa over the past week. After the Durban loss, McKenzie and Morne Morkel were dropped and with Smith injured, it meant three changes to a side that hadn't altered at all since the start of the tour of Australia. Prince and Khan will form a new and experimental opening partnership, while Albie Morkel is set to make his debut at the expense of his brother.

South Africa (likely) 1 Imraan Khan, 2 Ashwell Prince, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis (capt), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

Australia's only decision is whether to use the same XI that won the first two Tests or include the legspinner Bryce McGain. The Newlands pitch is expected to offer some turn and McGain, the only uncapped member of the original squad, will be strongly considered for his Test debut just a week short of his 37th birthday. If he does play it will likely be as a replacement for his Victoria team-mate Andrew McDonald, who has been solid in the first two Tests without categorically imposing himself on them.

Australia (possible) 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Bryce McGain, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.


Pitch and conditions

Less than 24 hours before the game, the Newlands pitch was sporting significant patches of grass, although there were sizeable bare spots at either end. It will be given a shave before the match and should become the best batting surface of the series. The forecast for the first few days is for perfectly sunny conditions and temperatures of around 25C.


Stats and Trivia

Australia's Test record at Newlands rivals their record anywhere in the world. They have won nine of their ten Tests at the venue, losing for the only time in 1969-70
Australia are the only team to have beaten South Africa in Newlands Tests in the post-Apartheid era
Ricky Ponting needs 52 runs to reach 11,000 in Tests, a mark that only Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Allan Border have achieved
This will be the last Test appearance for the umpire Steve Bucknor, who will quit the game having stood in a record 128 Tests


Quotes

"There's a lot of upsides in Bryce playing in this game but with this group of players we've got together and the work that they've done over the past few weeks it is going to be difficult to break the side up."
Ricky Ponting

"We've got to take note of what they did in the third Test match in Sydney. They turned it around and we've got to do the same here."
Jacques Kallis, South Africa's acting captain

Steyn, Harris stymy Australia
 

20 March, 2009

Dale Steyn An impressive bowling display from South Africa put the host firmly in command against Australia at stumps on day one of the third Test in Cape Town.

Dale Steyn and Paul Harris starred with the ball, claiming seven wickets between them as the tourists were dismissed for 209.

The new-look opening pair of Imraan Khan (15) and Ashwell Prince (37) then helped the Proteas reach 57 without loss at the close.

Simon Katich and Brad Haddin were the only two batsmen to shine for Australia with 55 and 42 respectively, but the South Africans struck at regular intervals to leave their visitors in a poor position in the third and final match of a series Ricky Ponting's men lead 2-0.

The Australia skipper won his sixth successive toss against the South Africans this morning and opted to bat first, and will have been thoroughly disappointed with the way the day panned out at Newlands.

Makhaya Ntini had a loud shout for lbw against Katich in the eighth over, but it was turned down by umpire Asad Rauf. The home team referred the decision but to no avail as the tourists rode their luck through the first part of the morning.

Paceman Ntini again had reason to feel aggrieved against the same batsman in the 14th over when Katich was dropped on nine by debutant Khan at backward point.

Katich survived a further scare midway through the 22nd over when the other debutant Albie Morkel thought he had him caught behind by Mark Boucher, but umpire Rauf was not moved and the South Africans this time opted not to go for the review.

Phillip Hughes was then dropped on 33 by JP Duminy at short cover off Harris but his reprieve lasted only two balls before the slow left-armer snared his man lbw.

The following over the Proteas picked up the prize scalp of Ponting, who was on the receiving end of a fine outswinger from Morkel and edged behind to Boucher without troubling the scorers.

The tourists went into lunch at 2-66, but the home side did not have too long to wait to claim the third wicket.

It came in Steyn's second over when Michael Hussey (20), who had just reached the 3000-run mark in Test cricket, received a ball that kicked back off the pitch.

He played it into the ground and it bounced back, clipping the bails.

The South African strike bowler came back with the first ball of his next over to clean up the new man Michael Clarke for a third-ball duck to leave the tourists reeling at 4-81.

Haddin and Katich dug in though, with the latter bringing up a patient 138-ball fifty when he played Ntini through mid-off for a single.

Just as Australia looked to be heading into tea with four wickets down, Harris claimed a fifth when he tempted Katich into an attempted sweep, but the batsman only succeeded in lifting the ball to Khan on the leg side.

Resuming after the break at 5-158, Harris struck an immediate blow when he trapped Haddin in front.


The wicketkeeper was not convinced, asking for umpire Steve Bucknor's decision to be reviewed, but TV official Billy Bowden confirmed his fate.

Mitchell Johnson and Andrew McDonald then dug in, frustrating the hosts for more than 12 overs, before the latter walked across and feathered an outside edge off Ntini to Jacques Kallis at first slip for 13.

After that, the tourists completely fell away with Peter Siddle next to go two balls later when he too nicked behind off the same bowler, this time the catch snapped up at second slip by AB de Villiers for a duck.

Steyn then tempted a stubborn Johnson to chase after a shorter delivery which was claimed by Prince running in from long-on for 35.

Debutant Bryce McGain was last man out when he became Steyn's fourth victim, edging to De Villiers at third slip for two.

Proteas in control
 

21 March, 2009

Centuries from Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince helped South Africa reach stumps on day two of the third Test against Australia in a position of total command at 3-404.

The tourists managed three wickets on a one-sided second day in Cape Town as the home side made rapid progress against their below-par opponents, who were dismissed for just 209 on day one.

Makeshift opener Prince was undoubtedly the star with his 150, while captain Kallis was also instrumental reaching the close unbeaten on 102.

With him was AB de Villiers on 39 not out, with the pair seeing their side through to the close 195 runs ahead and with seven first-innings wickets still in hand.

Trailing Australia 2-0 in the series, the Proteas made a poor start to the day when Peter Siddle claimed the early wicket of debutant Imraan Khan for 20.

A full-length delivery saw the batsman trying to turn the ball onto the leg side, but he succeeded only in scooping the ball back to the paceman, who took a low one-handed catch to his right.

Two balls later he almost got rid of Prince with another full ball that looked out leg before wicket.

However, umpire Steve Bucknor decided it was not out and his call was justified by Billy Bowden upstairs after Ricky Ponting opted to refer the decision.

The home side continued to steadily build with Hashim Amla and Prince moving past the 50 partnership off 106 deliveries as South Africa went into lunch strongly placed at 1-148.

The second session started terribly for the Proteas as their number three threw away his wicket for 46 in the third over.

Mitchell Johnson was the bowler, enticing Amla to chase a wide delivery outside the off stump that was edged behind to Brad Haddin to end a 97-run stand.

Kallis was then given a real scare just after coming in when a short ball from Ben Hilfenhaus rapped him on the helmet, reviving memories of the second Test in Durban when the all-rounder was forced to retire hurt after being knocked on the chin by Johnson.

However, he survived and offered good support to Prince, who brought up his 11th Test century in the 56th over of the innings.

There were no nervous 90s for the Warriors batsman as he raced from 89 to 100 in just four deliveries, bringing up his ton when he charged down the track against Bryce McGain and lofted him to the long-off boundary.

Kallis then raised the 50 partnership when he lifted the expensive leg-spinner down to the mid-wicket boundary for six as South Africa reached tea at 2-256.


It was not too long after the break that the 100 stand was raised - it came in the 73rd over off 164 deliveries.

That was followed by Kallis reaching his 50 in the same over when he crashed Hilfenhaus through mid-on for four.

Prince then reached the 150 mark, but was out immediately after courtesy of a referral and an extremely long delay.

The batsman played at a Hilfenhaus delivery down the leg side and was initially given not out by umpire Bucknor.

But Ponting asked the question and even though there was no conclusive evidence that Prince had gloved to Haddin, TV official Bowden eventually decided to send the left-hander on his way after a near six-hour stay at the crease.

That also ended a 160-run partnership, but De Villiers continued his support role for Kallis with the pair climbing into the bowling to bring up another half-century in 10 overs.

And with just under four overs remaining in the day, Kallis ended an 11-month drought without a hundred with a scampered single off Siddle.

It was another controversial moment with umpire Rauf initially signalling leg-bye, before concurring with Bowden upstairs and then reversing his call as Kallis celebrated a 31st Test century.

Proteas have upper hand
 

22 March, 2009

Paul Harris and Dale Steyn claimed two prized wickets after tea on day three of the third Test to help South Africa edge closer to victory against Australia in Cape Town.

The pair dismissed Phillip Hughes (32) and Ricky Ponting (12) to leave the tourists 2-102 at stumps at Newlands, still trailing the hosts by 340 runs with two days to play.

AB de Villiers was the star performer earlier in the day, notching his ninth Test century, while debutant Albie Morkel also contributed with a brisk 58 as the Proteas piled on a massive 651 all out in response to the visitors' first-innings 209.

It was their highest ever total against Australia beating the previous best 9-622 declared set in Durban 39 years ago and came as South Africa looked to salvage some pride having lost the opening two Tests in the three-match series.

And it continued to build on its first-innings bowling performance with Harris dismissing nemesis Hughes, who had already scored 383 runs in his previous five efforts against it, in the 14th over.

The left-arm spinner floated in a wide delivery that the New South Wales batsman could not resist and only ended up edging to Jacques Kallis at first slip concluding a 57-run opening stand.

Ponting was in next and never looked settled against an inspired Steyn.

The South Africa strike bowler looked to have had his man early in the 21st over when the Australia captain was squared up and seemingly caught by Harris at gully.

Ponting stood his ground though, and was eventually deemed not out by third umpire Billy Bowden after replays showed the ball had bounced millimetres short.

But that joy was short-lived, as Steyn enticed him to chase an away swinger with the final ball of the over that was easily gathered by Mark Boucher leaving Simon Katich (44) and Michael Hussey (13) unbeaten at the close.

The Australians did have some joy at the start of the day when two wickets from Mitchell Johnson and another from Ben Hilfenhaus helped them reduce the home side to 6-508 at lunch.

Kallis, who was not out on 102, perished without adding to his overnight score, while JP Duminy and Boucher also fell cheaply.

The stand-in captain was first to go in just the third over of the day courtesy of an error of judgment, which saw him attempt to pull Hilfenhaus onto the leg side.

But he succeeded only in lifting the ball straight up into the air, handing a simple return catch to the bowler.

Duminy was next to follow for seven, when he dragged a wide delivery onto his stumps whilst attempting a pull off Johnson, before Boucher chased a full angled ball from the same bowler and edged to Ponting at slip for 12.

After the break, the hosts came out on a mission blasting 97 runs in the first hour, when they were especially harsh on Bryce McGain and Andrew McDonald.

De Villiers reached his century off 149 balls when he scrambled two runs off the leg-spinner, before Morkel reached his 50 in just 59 balls shortly after when he tapped the same bowler for a single.

The pair then cut loose, and after Morkel slammed Peter Siddle for consecutive boundaries, his partner took four sixes in four balls from the 140th over bowled by McDonald.

However, the medium-pacer struck back and clean bowled the debutant to end his entertaining 71-ball stay.


But De Villiers continued his assault lifting McDonald for yet another four over the mid-on region to raise his 150 in style.

Spinner Katich was then introduced and he struck immediately by claiming the prized scalp of De Villiers, whose attempt to lift him over the mid-wicket fence ended with McDonald taking a straightforward catch and sending the batsman on his way for 163 in just 196 deliveries.

The score was then 637 and South Africa lost another wicket on the same total when Katich drew an edge from Steyn through to Michael Clarke at first slip for a fourth-ball duck.

Captain Ponting then put down a tough chance from Harris off Johnson at second slip, before the same bowler managed to induce another edge that was this time snapped up by wicketkeeper Haddin for 27 as South Africa ended with its third highest score ever in Test cricket.

Johnson ended as the pick of the visiting bowlers grabbing 4-148, while there were also two wickets each for Hilfenhaus and Katich.

Aussies not giving up yet
 

22 March, 2009

Australian paceman Peter Siddle is still optimistic his side can hold on for a draw in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

The tourists ended the third day on 2-102, still needing 340 to make South Africa bat again after AB de Villiers (163), Ashwell Prince (150) and Jacques Kallis (102) guided the hosts to a commanding position.

But Siddle believes there are still plenty of positives for his side to take out of the match providing they stay patient.

"It was a long day for all of us. We had to stay out there for 150 overs and all three quicks bowled 35 overs so it was a tough time," Siddle said.

"Mitch (Mitchell Johnson) ended up with four wickets and Kat (Simon Katich) got a couple at the end, so that was good, but it was a tough day."

"The pitch is still holding up and the boys stuck at it out there tonight in fading light."

"If we can bat for a bit of time, be patient and work through it, we can see how it goes by the end of tomorrow."

De Villiers was the star for South Africa on day three, with the youngster guiding his team to a mammoth 442-run lead on the first innings with a flawless century.

The 25-year-old said it was a tough battle all day against the Australian bowlers and was ecstatic with his contribution.

"It was a truly special day for me," he said. "Obviously scoring a hundred here at a special ground, Newlands, and in front of this unbelievable crowd was just really amazing."


"It was tough today, there was a little bit of bounce and I thought Peter Siddle bowled very well."

"I had to grind my way through with a lot of singles, a lot of leaving, but the scoring did get a bit easier towards the end."

"Only when I got up to my hundred did I start scoring more freely. I'm pretty chuffed."

The right-hander is now banking on Paul Harris to help grind out a consolation win after they lost the opening two games in the three-match series.

"Two wickets down, eight to go, hopefully we'll get them tomorrow," he said.

"Obviously Paul (Harris) is going to be our key wicket-taking option. Hopefully, he'll come through and deliver."

"But if he doesn't I'll back our seamers to come through. It will take a whole lot of hard work tomorrow, but I truly believe we have the bowling attack with the ability to do so."

Harris stars as Proteas win
 

23 March, 2009

A maiden career century from Mitchell Johnson was little consolation for Australia as Paul Harris grabbed six wickets to help South Africa wrap up the third Test by an innings and 20 runs in Cape Town.

The tourists, who won the opening two matches of the three-Test series, were all out for 422 on the fourth afternoon at Newlands to lose by an innings for the first time in exactly 11 years.

Harris, the slow left-armer, was the Proteas' star man in notching his best-Test haul of six for 127, but the day undoubtedly belonged to Johnson after he slammed an unbeaten 123 in just 103 balls to help his side go down fighting.

He was given superb support from Andrew McDonald, who made 68 to share a 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket, as the visitors tried their best to make the home side bat again.

But the dismissal of the Victorian all-rounder spelt the beginning of the end, which came when Harris sent Ben Hilfenhaus on his way to hand the Australians a first innings defeat since they lost to India at Calcutta in 1998.

The day began with Ricky Ponting's men playing a game of patience, which saw them score a mere 40 runs in the morning session.

They had to wait until the sixth over of the day for their first run, which came courtesy of a fine cover drive by Michael Hussey off Makhaya Ntini for four.

Simon Katich had a real let-off in claiming his first run - Dale Steyn sent in a full delivery outside off stump that was chased after by the left-hander with the ball flying straight to Harris, who failed to hold on to a simple chance at gully.

The New South Wales batsman then brought up his half-century by walking across his stumps and swatting Albie Morkel down to the fine leg boundary for four.

But he was out for 54 not long after, playing a wide and tossed up delivery off Harris straight to JP Duminy at mid-off to end a 159-ball stay.

There was still time for another scare for the tourists, which came in the final over before lunch when Michael Clarke was given out caught behind by umpire Steve Bucknor - who was standing in his last-ever Test match.

Mark Boucher took a simple catch, but the batsman referred the decision on the grounds that he failed to get an edge on the Jacques Kallis delivery and replays revealed he was correct.

Australia headed into lunch at 142 for three.

Resuming after the break, Hussey's determined innings of 39 soon came to an end when he was surprised by a Steyn ball that kicked up off the pitch and succeeded only in finding Duminy at gully.

Brad Haddin came in with a little more intent and was handed a lifeline when he was put down in a Harris over by close fielder AB de Villiers in what was a tough chance that took the bat and pad along the way.

However, the bowler had his revenge in his next over when he tempted the Australian wicketkeeper to come down the track and attempt to lift him for four.

The ball only ended up being chipped into the air and Duminy ran back from mid-on to take a fine diving catch with Haddin gone for 18.

And Steyn then removed the last of the recognised batsmen, when he sent in a full length ball that Clarke tried to play through the covers, but the ball was played on to his stumps for 47 as the visitors reached tea at 231 for six.

But any hopes by the home side had of immediately wrapping up the Australia tail were thrown out the window by McDonald and Johnson's free-flowing stand.

The pair scored 116 runs in the first hour after tea, including raising the 50 partnership in just over nine overs.

McDonald brought up his first half-century off 56 balls when he drove Kallis for a single, which was followed by Johnson bludgeoning Morkel square of the wicket for four to raise his fourth Test fifty and third against South Africa that came from 51 balls.

The hundred partnership came from 91 balls, before Harris finally managed to put the brakes on when he claimed two wickets in two balls.

The first was that of McDonald, who was caught by the close in fielder De Villiers.

However, he was not convinced and went upstairs, with TV umpire Billy Bowden confirming his fate.

The very next ball, Harris forced Peter Siddle to try and defend and he too succumbed to the same man at silly point as the hosts sensed victory.

But Johnson, who made 96 not out in the first Test at the Wanderers, kept them waiting and brought up his maiden first-class hundred by pulling Steyn for a massive six over mid-wicket reaching his ton in just 86 balls.


In the next over though, he ran out new man Bryce McGain for a duck while attempting to retain the strike - substitute Sybrand Engelbrecht the fielder.

And with the light quickly fading, Hilfenhaus was last man out when he edged Harris to Ashwell Prince at first slip for 12 leaving South Africa to cherish a consolation victory.

Harris was the pick of the bowlers with his six wickets, while Steyn claimed three for 96.

South Africa v Australia, 1st Twenty20, Johannesburg
 

Eyes turn to Twenty20 prize

March 26, 2009

Match facts

March 27, 2009
Start time 18.00 (16.00 GMT)

Big Picture

After another action-packed Test series, the South Africans and Australians pull on their coloured clothes for the start of the limited-overs component of the heavyweight battle. The first of two Twenty20s starts in Johannesburg on Friday and is followed by the second in Centurion on Sunday.

The focus is starting to turn towards the Twenty20 World Cup in June and this is South Africa's last hit-out before the tournament. Australia have another engagement with Pakistan next month before heading towards England. In the two Twenty20s between the teams in Australia in January, the hosts won in Melbourne and Brisbane.


Form guide (last five Twenty20s, most recent first)

South Africa LLWLL
Australia WWWLW



Watch out for

AB de Villiers seemed to be warming up for the Twenty20 when he took Bryce McGain apart and launched Andrew McDonald for four sixes in a row during the third Test in Cape Town. The hitting was so strong it is rarely seen in the shortest form of the game, but it's what all the batsmen will be aiming for over the weekend. de Villiers enters the match fresh from his 163.

David Warner might have been in the international lights for only a couple of months, but he's not frightened by what awaits in Johannesburg. He has promised to take it to Dale Steyn and his mates, hoping for a reprise of the fireworks which led to his 89 from 43 balls in his maiden bat in Melbourne. Whether it's a skirmish or a lasting duel, the contest will be entertaining.


Team news

The hosts have a 15-man squad and plan to give everyone a game over the next three days, including unfamiliar faces such as Yusuf Abdulla, Johann Louw and Roelof van der Merwe. Johan Botha leads the side in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith, who is due to return for the opening of the five-game ODI series in Durban on Friday.

South Africa Johan Botha (capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Johann Louw, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.

David Warner and Shane Harwood have been flown in specifically for the Twenty20 games, so expect them to figure, and there should also be chances for the fast bowlers Ben Laughlin and Brett Geeves. Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus have headed home, leaving Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken as the attack leaders.

Australia Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Laughlin, Marcus North, Cameron White, David Warner, Shane Harwood.


Pitch and conditions

Rain was a bit of a problem during the opening Test of the series, but the forecast is for a clear night on Friday. In the past the pitch has hosted world record scores and produced good conditions for fast bowlers.


Stats and Trivia

South Africa have a 6-2 winning record in Twenty20 matches at the Wanderers
Mitchell Johnson, who scored his first Test century in Cape Town, has the highest batting strike-rate of the Australian squad with 200 (he's only batted three times) while Cameron White's 188.33 has come over 113 runs. JP Duminy is the best for South Africa with 146.87 in eight games
Morne Morkel is second on South Africa's wicket list with 13, two behind Shaun Pollock, while Nathan Bracken leads Australia with 18


Quotes

"It's about time we started looking ahead to the Twenty20 World Cup as well and started to try to pencil in what we think is going to be our best team for that.''
Ricky Ponting

"Our record has not been particularly good of late in this format and this is our last chance to identify players before the ICC World T20."
Mike Procter, South Africa's selection convenor

South Africa clinch thrilling victory
 

South Africa v Australia, 1st T20I, Johannesburg

March 27, 2009

South Africa 168 for 6 (Morkel 37, Boucher 36*, Hussey 2-21, Geeves 2-35) beat Australia 166 for 7 (Hussey 88*, Warner 38, Peterson 3-30, Parnell 2-29) by four wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

A bludgeoning late innings fightback from Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel steered South Africa from the brink of oblivion to a stunning four-wicket victory over Australia in the first Twenty20 international in Johannesburg. The hosts appeared to be in dire straits after losing five early wickets, but Boucher and Morkel belted 36 runs from Australia's 16th and 17th overs - including 21 from James Hopes' final six deliveries - to turn the match on its head.

Ricky Ponting called upon the rookie duo Shane Harwood and Brett Geeves - with one match of Twenty20 international experience between them - to bowl out the final two overs, and neither could wrest back the momentum for the tourists. Harwood, hammered by Herschelle Gibbs in his first over, conceded 14 runs from the penultimate over of the innings, and Boucher closed out the match in emphatic fashion by smacking Geeves for consecutive boundaries to seal victory with four balls to spare.

The last time he played the Australians in a limited overs contest at 'The Bullring', Gibbs plundered 175 runs as South Africa reeled in a world-record 434 with eight-wickets down and two balls to spare. In the process, Gibbs effectively ended the international career of Mick Lewis, who conceded a record 0 for 113, and the South African batsman attempted to repeat the dose against Lewis' Victorian teammate, Harwood, on Friday by taking 17 from his first over.

Gibbs, though, could not replicate his heroics of three years ago, and fell to a mistimed drive from Geeves' first delivery in Twenty20 international cricket. South Africa's top-order soon followed him back to the pavilion and Australia, riding high on the back of David Hussey's brilliant all-round effort, seized the ascendancy.

But, as was the case at the Wanderers in 2006, Boucher loomed as a potent late-innings threat. After Morkel fell to Mitchell Johnson for 37 (from 19 deliveries), Boucher comfortably negotiated the final overs to finish with an unbeaten 36 from 22 deliveries and steer his side to a victorious 168 for 6.

The result did little justice to the brilliant solo-performance of Hussey. His sparkling 88 not out off 44 deliveries held together Australia's otherwise indifferent innings, and his dismissals of Hashim Amla and Vaughn van Jaarsveld undoubtedly brightened the day of his Australian and Kolkata paymasters.

Sent into bat by Johan Botha on a bouncy Johannesburg wicket, Australia's opening combination of Michael Clarke and David Warner were effectively muzzled by South Africa's new-ball pairing of Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell. The pressure eventually told on Clarke, bowled attempting to lift the scoring rate by Parnell, and Ricky Ponting followed nine balls later also attempting to blast Australia into the match.

Warner went some way towards booking his ticket for the World Twenty20 with an innings of 38 off 29 balls, highlighted by a sequence in which he hammered Albie Morkel for a six and two boundaries in an over. But just when the Delhi-contracted opener appeared set to take control of the innings, he fell to a sharp return catch by Peterson and triggered a calamitous few minutes for the Australians.

Michael Hussey was run-out from the very next ball, and Brad Haddin caught in the deep three deliveries later. Neither batsman troubled the scorers, and left the Australian innings in strife at 71 for 5 after ten overs - a position from which they never fully recovered, despite the junior Hussey's late innings pyrotechnics.

South Africa v Australia, 2nd Twenty20, Centurion
 

South Africa chase more spoils

March 28, 2009

Match facts

March 29, 2009
Start time 18.00 (16.00 GMT)

Big Picture

South Africa's surge from the third Test continued with an opening victory in the Twenty20 in Johannesburg on Friday and Johan Botha seeks further momentum at Centurion on Sunday. The match, the first Twenty20 international at the stadium, is the last cobweb wiper before the one-day series starts on Friday and both sides want to enter it on a mini-high.

Whether it was ring-rust from the five-day break or a general failure to make the transition from the Tests, the Australians were largely underwhelming at the Wanderers. If not for the all-round efforts of David Hussey, the tourists might well have expected a hiding, rather than the tense four-wicket loss.

Australia's batting looked suspect, with Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin unable to make a significant impact on the scoring rate and eventually gifting their wickets away. The decision to bowl Shane Harwood and Brett Geeves - with one Twenty20 international between them - in the final two overs appeared more curious with each boundary, as South Africa sealed victory with four balls to spare.

South Africa can look towards the Twenty20 World Cup with increasing confidence. Wayne Parnell formed a successful new-ball pairing with Dale Steyn, and the spin of Botha and Robin Peterson muzzled Australia's batsmen for extended periods. The hosts' top order stuttered in the run chase, but Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher - part of a deep South African batting line-up - ensured Australia's total always remained within reach. The teams have been so evenly matched in 2008-09 that it wouldn't get boring if they were allowed to battle for the rest of the year.


Form guide (last five Twenty20s, most recent first)

South Africa WLLWL
Australia LWWWL



Watch out for

Any time Albie Morkel walks into an Australian bowler's line of vision they must shudder. This year he has swept games and quick runs regularly from his green and gold opponents. Ponting has spoken about finding ways to shut him down, but it is as tough as it was to keep Lance Klusener, another heavy-hitting left-hander, quiet in the 1990s.

David Hussey is finishing his season in fine form after some difficulties on the international scene back in Australia. He ended the local campaign with Victoria with a century in their Sheffield Shield final victory and started his South Africa tour with a punishing 88 off 44 balls, including six sixes, and a Man-of-the-Match award. "I think I averaged about 15 before Friday night's innings," he told AAP, "so I really needed to do something."


Team news

South Africa carry a large squad and they started the series wanting to give all 15 players a game. The only certainties appear to be Botha and the wicketkeeper Boucher, but Morkel has become invaluable and will be keen to keep up his hot streak.

South Africa squad Johan Botha (capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Johann Louw, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.

Harwood was punished in the opening game but he will get another go before flying home with David Warner, the other Twenty20 specialist in the squad. Nathan Bracken will appear in his first match of the tour.

Australia squad Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Brad Haddin (wk), Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Laughlin, Marcus North, Cameron White, David Warner, Shane Harwood.


Pitch and conditions

A fine day is forecast for Sunday with some cloud patches in the evening. The previous international at the ground was South Africa's innings and 48-run win over Bangladesh in November, when the visitors were dismissed for 250 and 131.


Stats and Trivia

Morkel has 231 runs from 168 balls in his one Test, four ODIs and three Twenty20s against Australia over the past three months
Harwood's 0 for 48 from four overs equalled the second-worst figures by an Australian, a mark also held by Glenn McGrath. Jason Gillespie is on top with 0 for 49
Australia have lost only two Twenty20s in a row once, when they were beaten by India in 2007
South Africa can level their Twenty20 head-to-head with Australia at 3-3 if they win on Sunday


Quotes

"It's about giving a few other guys some exposure. We've got a bigger picture with the Twenty20 World Cup not that far away.''
Ricky Ponting

"If we can win [at Centurion], it will definitely give us momentum for the one-dayers."
Johan Botha

Proteas hold off Aussies
 

30 March, 2009

AB de Villiers and Robin Peterson Johan Botha led his team from the front to guide South Africa to a 17-run victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 international in Pretoria.

The Proteas captain took 2-16 runs and was given good support from debutants Yusuf Abdullah (1-16) and Roelof van der Merwe (1-30), while Johann Louw (2-36) also chipped in as the visitors were limited to 8-139.

Van der Merwe also made a useful contribution with the bat, slamming 48 from only 30 deliveries as the hosts posted 5-156.

In response, the tourists raced to 37 from only four and a half overs before they were pegged back by Albie Morkel, who managed to outfox David Warner walking down the wicket and yorked him for 20.

One run later, Abdullah sent a slanting delivery across Ricky Ponting, tempting him to drive, but he only managed to edge behind to Mark Boucher.

Botha brought himself on and, after going for only two in his first over, came back and bowled Michael Clarke going for a powerful sweep with the first ball of his second for 27, before hesitation between new man Callum Ferguson and David Hussey led to the former being run out.

Needing 92 from 54 balls, Hussey briefly threatened to emulate his 88 from 44 balls at the Wanderers on Friday before he was eventually out for 27.

The score was 101 at the time and only five more runs were added before the fall of the next wicket - Cameron White slogging a Botha delivery straight to JP Duminy on the boundary for 23.

Louw then came in to bowl the final over with Australia needing 27 to win and he struck with his second ball - James Hopes miscuing a slower ball to Morkel at mid-wicket for 18.

Nathan Bracken (nought) then top-edged his fifth ball, leaving Brad Haddin unbeaten on 16 and Australia 17 runs short of victory.

Earlier, Titans all-rounder Van der Merwe's innings proved the highlight in front of his home crowd at Supersport Park, thumping four sixes and two fours in his 30-ball innings to help the South Africans post a decent total after they were kept in check by the Australian bowlers.

Shane Harwood (2-21) and Hopes (1-26) were largely responsible for that after Ponting had earlier won the toss and decided to bowl.

Gibbs and Robin Peterson, who was promoted to open the batting, made a decent start, taking the score to 22 before the former was out for 20.


Seven balls later, another debutant in Ben Laughlin struck in his first over of international cricket when De Villiers went hard at a wide delivery but only managed to pick out White at short cover for a duck.

Peterson and Duminy began to build nicely thereafter with a 47-run partnership before Peterson gave himself too much room on the leg side and was bowled by Hopes for 34.

Duminy then walked across his stumps looking to paddle-sweep but completely missed the ball and was bowled by Harwood for 23.

Morkel (14 not out) and Boucher (nine not out) tried their best to up the tempo but were restricted by the Australians.

South Africa v Australia, 1st ODI, Durban
 

Returning Smith boosts South Africa

April 2, 2009

Match facts

April 3, 2009
Start time 2.30pm (12.30GMT)


Big Picture

It seems that every time these teams go head to head there's a No. 1 ranking up for grabs. Nothing has changed. South Africa took the top ODI spot thanks to their 4-1 victory in Australia in January but to retain their new status they need to stop Australia winning this five-game series. They will feel quietly confident with their star batsmen Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis set to return from injuries that kept them out of the two Twenty20 matches, which South Africa won in any case.

This series is the finale in what has been a fascinating summer between these two sides, who by the end will feel as if they know each other intimately after six Tests, 10 ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals in the past four months. The hosts have no more cricket on the agenda until the World Twenty20 in England in June, so this will be the last opportunity for a few players to put their names forward for that tournament. Australia will head straight from South Africa to the United Arab Emirates for a limited-overs series against Pakistan.


Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)

South Africa WWWLW
Australia NWWLL



Watch out for

Graeme Smith hasn't been part of the South African side for any of the Twenty20s or one-day internationals against Australia up until now. A broken left hand kept him out of the matches in Australia and an almost identical fracture in his right hand stopped him playing the third Test and two Twenty20s in South Africa. After his side conceded the Tests at home Smith will be desperate to finish the summer on a high.

Mitchell Johnson was responsible for both of the breaks to Smith's hands and he will be keen to take the new ball and have a few more cracks at the South African captain before leaving the country. Australia's star in the Test series, Johnson has much to offer with bat and ball in the shorter format as well.


Team news

Smith and Kallis, who has been out with a groin injury, should both be available to bolster the South African top order after missing the Twenty20s, while Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini have also been added. Yusuf Abdulla, Robin Peterson, Justin Ontong and Johann Louw were the Twenty20 squad members overlooked for the first two ODIs.

South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Roelof van der Merwe, Mark Boucher (wk), Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell.

For Australia, Shane Harwood and David Warner have both headed home after the Twenty20s while Marcus North and Ben Laughlin will be aiming to make their ODI debuts at some point through the series. It is strange that there was no place for Phillip Hughes in the limited-overs squad after his brilliant and aggressive arrival on the Test scene and instead Australia will likely rely on makeshift openers Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin.

Australia squad Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Marcus North, James Hopes, Cameron White, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Geeves, Nathan Bracken, Ben Laughlin.


Pitch and conditions

Kingsmead is famous for its pace and bounce and in the day-night conditions the so-called "green mamba" influence of the tides is said to help the bowlers. The forecast for Friday is warm and cloudy.


Stats and Trivia

Should Australia win the series they will regain the No. 1 ODI ranking from South Africa
Australia have beaten South Africa four times in ODIs in Durban; South Africa have triumphed over Australia twice


Quotes

"It's always good to get the opportunity to bowl with the new ball to an opening batsman such as Graeme Smith who is such a great player."
Mitchell Johnson

"Friday, for us, is huge. We want to go one-nil up, and hopefully take momentum from that. So, yes, nice to win the Pro20s, but it's a different beast."
Mickey Arthur

South Africa rest Jacques Kallis for the opening ODI against Australia
 

April 02, 2009

South Africa have decided to rest star all-rounder Jacques Kallis from the opening one-day international against Australia.

The 33-year-old pace bowler and No.4 batsman is likely to make his return from a groin-muscle injury in Sunday's second ODI match at Centurion.

"Jacques hasn't come through quite for Friday so he's going to be missing out," captain Graeme Smith said.

"Roelof (van der Merwe) is going to be missing out and Vaughan Van Jaarsveld and Wayne Parnell."

The selection leaves off-spinner Johan Botha to bat at No.8 followed by fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini.

Smith, who like Kallis missed South Africa's two Twenty20 International wins against Australia last week because of injury, has returned to the side after overcoming a fractured little finger.

"There's myself Herschelle (Gibbs) and Hashim (Amla) in the top three, Botha's at eight," Smith said.

"We bat deep enough. You always want your top order to take as much responsibility as possible.

"All three of us up front have had our success so it would be nice if we can really make it count here at Kingsmead.

"We're excited to go."

Australia have won the past three World Cups but Proteas coach Mickey Arthur can barely contain his excitement about how his squad is progressing in their push for a title campaign in 2011 on the sub-continent.

No.1-ranked South Africa host Australia for a five-match ODI series starting on Friday in Durban and Arthur says it's going to be ``huge''.

"We've prioritised what we want to get out of this series. So for us it's almost like the re-start of something," Arthur says.

"Friday for us is huge. You want to go one-nil up and hopefully you can then take momentum from the game on Friday."

Arthur said the Proteas would be using the series to experiment with combinations ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

"We are continually trying to have a look at what is going to be best for us," said Arthur, who mentored South Africa at the 2007 World Cup where they lost their semi-final to Australia.

"We've alluded to World Cups, there's a lot for them to play for.

"We've got a really good mix here.
"Time will tell, without wanting to get too excited.

"But I'm very happy and I think we're dead on track."

Australia smashes South Africa
 

04 April, 2009

Nathan Hauritz Nathan Hauritz claimed four wickets to help Australia post a record 141-run victory over South Africa in the first one-day international in Durban on Saturday morning.

Chasing 287 for victory, the Proteas were all out for 145 in just 33.1 overs as they suffered their worst defeat against Australia in the 50-over game.

Hauritz claimed the key wicket of Graeme Smith for 52 and looked dangerous throughout as the home side was bundled out for the paltry total after the visitors compiled 7-286, which was built around Michael Hussey's unbeaten 83.

Brad Haddin (53) also notched a half-century for the Australians, who recovered from being 4-115 just after the 20th over to post the third-highest total ever in an ODI at Kingsmead.

Like Makhaya Ntini did for the home side, Nathan Bracken struck early for the visitors when he tempted Hashim Amla to play at a wide ball that was tickled behind to Haddin for seven.

It was a bonus wicket for Australia which only appealed half-heartedly, but Amla walked off to leave his side at 1-17.

His opening partner Smith then survived a massive appeal for leg before wicket off Mitchell Johnson (2-24) that looked plumb, before helping his side fight back in a half-century stand with Herschelle Gibbs.

The South Africa No.3 was out not long after though when he was caught superbly by a diving Michael Clarke at point off James Hopes (2-24) for 33.

In the next over, AB de Villiers (two) was sent on his way, trapped lbw by Johnson, albeit through a poor decision from umpire Asoka de Silva after the ball took the bat before hitting the pad.

Smith then reached his fifty in 51 balls when he tapped Hopes for a single, before a double strike from Hauritz (4-29) saw the hosts slump from 3-110 to 5-112.

First the off-break bowler outfoxed the South African skipper with a flighted delivery that was played straight back to the bowler.

Mark Boucher then tried to sweep Hauritz but top-edged to Haddin without troubling the scorers.

Hopes and Johnson then combined to remove JP Duminy for 25 with a short ball from the former pulled via a mis-hit straight to the latter at mid-on.

And Johnson then sent in one of the deliveries of the day to get rid of Johan Botha - the ball was banged in and kicked off the pitch leaving the batsman no option but to try and fend off as it grazed the gloves and lobbed straight to Hussey at gully for eight.

Hauritz then claimed the key wicket of the dangerous Albie Morkel, stumped by Haddin for 14, before Dale Steyn (one) became Ben Laughlin's first ODI victim when he played an early shot and was caught by Hussey at short cover.

Morne Morkel (two) was the last man out caught in the deep by Laughlin off Hauritz with Ntini left not out on two.

Earlier, Michael Hussey was the star after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat.

The scenario looked totally different at the start, after Ntini (1-67) put the tourists on the back foot when he sent in an angled delivery that Clarke tried to fend off and only succeeded in edging straight to Duminy at second slip for one.

Haddin and Ponting then dug in raising a half-century stand in just over 10 overs, before the skipper went for one shot too many and was done for by the Morkel brothers - Morne (2-61) the bowler this time and Albie taking a good catch paddling back from mid-on as the Australia No.3 failed to clear him and was on his way for 37.

Then came the first of two bizarre run-outs within the space of eight deliveries.

In the 21st over, Haddin dug out an Albie Morkel yorker towards de Villiers at backward point and took a step forward, inviting David Hussey to come charging down from the non-striker's end only to be easily run out for 18.

The Australian wicketkeeper then brought up his half-century from only 55 balls, before being himself run out.

This time new man Michael Hussey steered Botha down to Albie Morkel at third man for a single and was not interested in a second run, which did not faze his partner, who found himself way short to leave the visitors at 4-115.

Callum Ferguson then joined Hussey, putting on 50 in 71 balls, before Steyn (2-45) struck off the first delivery with the changed ball in the 35th over to end the partnership.


All-rounder Ferguson (25) was the one to go, slashing a wide delivery straight to Botha at third man.

Another half-century stand followed between Hussey and Hopes, with the former also raising his fifty from 61 balls as the tourists entered the last five overs taking their powerplay at 5-233.

But they were dealt two early blows, first losing Hopes (38), who was out caught by Steyn at short fine leg after walking across his stumps and trying to flick Morne Morkel over the fielder.

Johnson followed an over later when he swung at a widish Steyn delivery and feathered behind to Boucher for one.

But Hauritz (20 not out) offered Michael Hussey good support as they helped Australia set what proved to be a match-winning total.

South Africa v Australia, 2nd ODI, Centurion
 

Battle for No. 1 takes another twist

April 4, 2009


Match facts

April 5, 2009
Start time 10am (08.00GMT)


Big Picture

Australia are back on top of the world in both Tests and ODIs during their trip to South Africa, but the teams are so tightly matched that the one-day honour will return to the hosts if they win the five-match series. The visitors, who lost the two Twenty20s, switched on in the opening contest for a 141-run victory in Durban and they will walk out at Centurion seeking more success.


South Africa were out-played throughout game one and have some serious work to do on their batting to manage a swift turnaround. They lasted only 33.1 overs in making 145 as Nathan Hauritz, the occasionally-employed offspinner, did most of the damage. Australia were relieved at the strong showing from Michael Hussey, who was unbeaten on 83, and will chase a repeat performance from their bowlers.


Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)

South Africa LWWWL
Australia WNWWL



Watch out for

South Africa are desperate - and hopeful - Jacques Kallis will be back after a groin problem ruled him out of the opening encounter. The home side was caught short on Friday, with Mark Boucher at No. 6, and will benefit if Kallis' all-round skills are on show. "He does help a lot with your balance," Graeme Smith told AAP. "In Australia we played an extra batter and he allows you to do that. You can look for 20 overs between him and Albie Morkel and JP Duminy. To have him back obviously would be nice.''

It's not often Nathan Hauritz is on the warning list, but after his 4 for 29 on Friday he will come in for extra attention. The Durban ODI was his first match of the tour, but he hadn't spent the time topping up his suntan or chasing big game sightings. "All the early-morning training sessions that he has done and all the work that he has done with the bowling coaches on his bowling has paid dividends," Ricky Ponting said.


Team news

Expect some reshuffling if Kallis makes it back, with Boucher dropping a place and one of the bowlers missing out. Morne Morkel looks vulnerable unless Dale Steyn or Makhaya Ntini are due for a rest.

South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher (wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Makhaya Ntini.

Australia will give thought to keeping an unchanged line-up after such a convincing display on Friday. However, they may consider bringing in Brett Geeves for Ben Laughlin, who gave up 28 runs in five overs on his ODI debut.

Australia squad Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Marcus North, James Hopes, Cameron White, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Geeves, Nathan Bracken, Ben Laughlin.


Stats and Trivia

Australia will keep the No. 1 ranking with a 3-2 victory while South Africa can take it back if they secure the series
If Australia win 4-1 the hosts will slip to third on the table behind India


Quotes

"It was nice just to get a good start and hopefully on Sunday I can make it count more."
Graeme Smith after returning from a broken hand with a half-century

"We've played well but we have to turn things around and make sure we do everything probably even better on Sunday, because you'd expect South Africa to bounce back. There's some room for improvement in our set-up as well."
Ricky Ponting

Proteas level series
 

05 April, 2009

Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn shared eight wickets to set South Africa on its way to a seven-wicket win over Australia in the second one-day international in Pretoria.

Chasing 132 for victory after the tourists had totalled 131 all out, Graeme Smith (40) led the South African charge as it eased to victory with more than 23 overs to spare.

It was all set up by career-best figures from Parnell (4-26) and Steyn (4-27), who had reduced the Australians to 5-19 before returning at the death to finish off Ricky Ponting's side in 40.2 overs.

It was Australia's third lowest total ever batting first in ODI cricket, having twice before scored 101.

Steyn began the carnage when he tempted Brad Haddin (one) to chase a wide ball in the first over that was played onto his stumps by the wicketkeeper.

After a maiden in his first over, Parnell sent in a seaming delivery to Ponting (eight), whose attempted drive took the outside edge and was snapped up by a diving Mark Boucher.

The paceman then fired an inswinger into the right-handed Michael Clarke, trapping him plumb leg before wicket for five, before a poor shot from David Hussey (one) led to his departure - the tourists' No.4 slashing at the ball outside off-stump and nicking behind to Boucher.

Parnell's late movement then saw Michael Hussey (three) caught on the crease lbw as the Australians slumped at 5-19 in just the eighth over.

James Hopes looked like he settled in quickly, striking two fours early in his innings, but he went for a shot too many attempting to cut Jacques Kallis (1-11) through point and edged to Johan Botha at first slip.

It could have been even worse for the visitors when new man Mitchell Johnson was dropped an over later by Albie Morkel - the all-rounder spurning a tough return chance diving forward.

Johnson recovered though and along with Callum Ferguson raised the half-century stand in 75 balls, before taking the score past 100 in 29th over.

But the partnership ended on 63 when Botha surprised Johnson with a turning delivery that trapped him lbw for 30.

Ferguson brought up his half-century in 82 balls, giving his side a rare moment to cheer, but then fell on the same score.

This time Steyn doing the trick with the South Australian trying to fend a bouncer that took a leading edge and AB de Villiers flew in from point to take a good diving catch inches off the ground.

Parnell then came back into the attack and claimed the wicket of Nathan Bracken (five), caught by JP Duminy running back from cover, before Nathan Hauritz was last man out when he edged Steyn straight to Boucher for 10.


The home side made a poor start to its response, losing Herschelle Gibbs (two), who was caught by Hauritz at cover while driving Johnson (2-47).

Smith and Kallis steadied the ship though, bringing up the half-century partnership in the 11th over, before their stand was ended at 69.

It was the captain who went, chipping a slower ball from Ben Laughlin straight to Clarke at mid-on.

Kallis followed five overs later for 31 when he got a faint nick off Johnson to Haddin, but Duminy (11) and De Villiers (36) helped South Africa square the series 1-1.

South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Cape Town
 

South Africa aim to break mirror image

April 9, 2009

Match facts

April 9, 2009
Start time 2.30pm (12.30GMT)


Big Picture

Two one-sided contests in the first two matches, one to Australia and one to South Africa, means it's impossible to predict what will happen from game to game. With each alternating result the No. 1 ODI ranking has switched hands and it's starting to look like a booby prize that neither side wants to hold on to. But the individual matches mean little in terms of the ranking - whichever team wins the series finishes on top.

The most notable feature of the results has been the way the series in South Africa has mirrored the contest in Australia. On both tours the visitors won the first two Tests before losing the third; on both tours the hosts triumphed in the two Twenty20 internationals; and on both tours the visiting team won the opening ODI and then lost the second. If the trend continues, Australia are destined to round out their trip with three more ODI wins just as Johan Botha's men did in Australia in January.


Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)

South Africa WLWWW
Australia LWNWW



Watch out for

The biggest surprise out of the Centurion match was how dangerous Wayne Parnell can be with the new ball. His early swing and accuracy was the key reason Australia's top order collapsed and he was named the Man of the Match in his second one-day international. As a left-armer he adds variety to an already dangerous South African attack and he has the potential to be a useful allrounder, although his batting is yet to be seen at international level.

Another fresh face in this series is Callum Ferguson, who is only six matches into his ODI career but already is building a reputation as Australia's middle-order stabiliser. He was the only one of the specialist batsmen to shine in Centurion, where his 50 saved Australia from an even more embarrassing result, and he performed a similar steadying role against New Zealand at the Gabba. The mature, level-headed approach is a positive sign as Australia go through some enforced restructuring of their batting line-up.


Team news

Given his powerful record in Cape Town, Makhaya Ntini will come into the calculations for South Africa but it's hard to see where he can fit into a side whose attack was so dominant in the previous game. The South Africans also sprung a surprise in Centurion by dropping Hashim Amla despite his recent strong one-day form. But again, it's difficult to justify changes to a team that has just won a match with nearly half its overs remaining.

South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher (wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Makhaya Ntini.

Australia were considering changes to the side that went down by seven wickets in Centurion, although they were waiting until seeing the Newlands pitch on the morning of the game before making a decision. The bowlers didn't disgrace themselves in the second match - they barely had a chance to - so Brett Geeves could struggle to force his way in. But after such a dismal batting display Marcus North and Cameron White will be mentioned as potential middle-order replacements.

Australia squad Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Marcus North, James Hopes, Cameron White, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Geeves, Nathan Bracken, Ben Laughlin.


Stats and Trivia

On Australia's last tour of South Africa in 2005-06 they were routed for 93 in the ODI at Newlands, where Makhaya Ntini took 6 for 22
Ricky Ponting didn't play that match and only three of Australia's current touring party took part: Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Nathan Bracken
Ntini, who may or may not play, has featured in 10 ODIs at Newlands and has a remarkable record of 27 wickets at 10.14 at the venue


Quotes

"It's been a hard three or four months against Australia and it's been really competitive. Hopefully, starting tomorrow, we can turn things around and change the hoodoo."
Graeme Smith wants the mirror image of results from the Australian series to end

"There are not many of us who have that memory. I won't mention that game around the squad before tomorrow."
Ricky Ponting on the last time Australia played an ODI in Cape Town, when they lost by 196 runs

Proteas one win away
 

10 April, 2009

Johan Botha Half-centuries from Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers proved decisive as South Africa eased to a 25-run victory over Australia in the third one-day international in Cape Town on Friday morning.

Kallis and De Villiers shared a 114-run partnership for the third wicket to rescue the home side from early trouble to post 6-289.

The tourists struggled in their chase, with Callum Ferguson (63) and James Hopes (63 not out) only briefly threatening as outstanding fielding and Roelof van der Merwe's 3-37 restricted the visitors to 7-264.

They made a solid enough start in their response, reaching 30 before the first wicket fell - Brad Haddin run out via a direct hit from JP Duminy fielding at cover.

Ricky Ponting was then dropped twice in successive balls by Mark Boucher and Kallis, although the first chance to the South African wicketkeeper seemed to have been taken on the bounce.

Ponting had another close shave when he survived a run-out chance after running halfway down the track, only to be saved by a poor throw from Albie Morkel at mid-wicket.

But he finally perished for 20, caught and bowled after being outfoxed by a flighted delivery from spinner Johan Botha.

Van der Merwe was introduced into the attack and he struck a double blow in his third over, bowling Michael Clarke (35) and trapping Michael Hussey (one) leg before wicket, despite the batsman getting a big inside edge.

Duminy too was an instant hit when he was brought on to bowl, claiming the wicket of David Hussey (20) with his second ball, caught at long-on by Dale Steyn as Australia fell to 5-114.

But Ferguson brought up his fifty in 59 balls and shared a 97-run partnership with Hopes before he was dismissed when caught by de Villiers running back from cover off the bowling of van der Merwe.

Another brilliant piece of fielding by Duminy in the deep saw Mitchell Johnson (nine) run out as Australia fell well short of its target.

Earlier, after winning his first toss of the series and electing to bat, Graeme Smith was sent on his way in the seventh over when he walked down the track to Johnson (4-34) and edged a seaming delivery behind to Haddin.


Herschelle Gibbs was next to go when he holed out to a good catch by Hopes at deep mid-wicket off Nathan Bracken.

But in company with de Villiers, Kallis reached his fifty from 69 balls. And Kallis soon followed him to a half-century, at a marginally quicker tempo.

Brett Geeves grabbed a fortuitous breakthrough when Kallis (70) slammed a short and wide delivery straight to Hopes.

Johnson then removed de Villiers for 80 with a slower delivery that took a leading edge and was snapped up by Nathan Hauritz at mid-off.

After Duminy had smashed Johnson straight to Michael Hussey at cover, Boucher and Morkel plundered late runs.

Clark shocked at Australia call-up
 

April 11, 2009

So unprepared was Stuart Clark for selection on Australia's limited overs tour of South Africa, he did not have a passport when the call came. "I've just spent the day organising another one," he said. "My original passport is still at the British consulate."

Clark had been preparing to fly to England this week for a county stint with Kent, for whom he was to debut on April 21 in a County Championship match against Northamptonshire. But those plans were scuppered with a surprise phone call from Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's operations manager, on Friday night, instructing him to pack his bags for South Africa and, afterwards, the UAE.

"I almost fell off my chair when I got the call," Clark told Cricinfo. "I hadn't planned on it happening at all. I had just assumed my one-day international career was in the past, and while I was disappointed by that, I was just concentrating on the other forms of the game. This really came out of the blue, and I'm very excited about it. It's a real chance for me to get back into the one-day team on a more regular basis."

Clark's call-up came after Brett Geeves fractured his left foot during Australia's 25-run defeat to South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday. He will arrive in South Africa on Sunday, and is likely to make his return to one-day international cricket in the fifth and final match at the Wanderers next Friday.

Clark has not represented Australia at limited-overs level since September last year, and appeared to have slipped well back in the pecking order. But injuries to key fast bowling personnel has presented him with an opportunity to add to his 36-game resume, and gain valuable exposure to international cricket in his comeback from elbow surgery.

Clark expected that comeback would be made through the county ranks; a move that prompted outrage among many within English cricket, given the likelihood of him playing a senior role in this year's Ashes series. The veteran paceman is still amenable to the idea of playing with Kent after Australia's one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE, but his original deal was due to end on May 31 so the new time frame would leave him with just a handful of matches.

"I'm not quite sure what will happen with Kent," Clark said. "I was prepared to fly there in the next week. I would still like to play there, but I have to be realistic. They might be looking for someone to play for the whole season. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it after I get back from Dubai."

Paul Millman, the Kent chief executive, admitted that the county would have to start making new plans. "We will be looking at our options over the weekend," he told Cricinfo. "Obviously we are delighted for Stuart and this is something you have to prepare for when you sign big players. We will let Stuart settle in South Africa and then be in contact."

South Africa v Australia, 4th ODI, Port Elizabeth
 

Australia aim to force series decider


April 12, 2009

Match facts

April 13, 2009
Start time 10.00am (08.00GMT)


Big Picture

Two more matches and a long and fascinating summer that has been played out between South Africa and Australia will be at an end. One more victory and South Africa will finish on a high. They took a 2-1 lead in Cape Town and can wrap up the ODI series with a win in Port Elizabeth. However, after such an evenly-fought few months it might be fitting to be locked at 2-2 heading to the final match at the Wanderers, where the two sides rewrote the limited-overs record books with the 438 match three years ago.

But first things first: Australia must win the day game in Port Elizabeth to keep alive their hopes of a series win and of regaining the No. 1 ODI ranking that began a couple of weeks ago in South African hands and has alternated through the series. After Australia's batsmen failed in Centurion and their bowlers struggled to do a containing job at Newlands, they need to find a satisfying balance in Port Elizabeth. Specifically, they need to find a fast bowler who can adequately support Mitchell Johnson and their top order must not again leave all the work up to the young No. 6 Callum Ferguson.


Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)

South Africa WWLWW
Australia LLWNW



Watch out for

AB de Villiers has been a thorn in Australia's side right through the summer, since the first Test in Perth, and nothing has changed in the shorter format. South Africa's leading scorer so far this series, de Villiers made a composed 80 in the victory in Cape Town. In the one-day arena he has been aiming for a consolidation period of about 20 balls before cutting loose and he is keen to make the most of his strong form while it lasts.

It is rare that Nathan Bracken has two poor one-day internationals in a row but three in succession is almost unheard of. And yet that is the case for the man who has slipped down to fifth on the ICC ODI bowling rankings. His series consists of two wickets at 58.50 with an economy rate of 5.85. Bracken's experience and craftiness make it hard to believe his lean run will continue and with Johnson already in form, one dangerous spell from Bracken could be enough for Australia to turn their series around.


Team news

Most teams prefer not to change a winning side and South Africa's strong victories in the previous two games could mean the same XI is used in Port Elizabeth. Roelof van der Merwe certainly justified his position with three wickets in Cape Town and the pace attack looks strong despite spin doing all the damage at Newlands. Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Morne Morkel missed out in Cape Town and they should again prepare for a day of spectating on Monday.

South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher (wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Makhaya Ntini.

Australia have added the Victorian Shane Harwood to their squad for this match, calling him over from the Rajasthan Royals' camp and he may edge out Ben Laughlin in the starting line-up. Harwood, 35, played Australia's two Twenty20 internationals late last month in South Africa before being sent home. Brett Lee and Stuart Clark will both be in South Africa when the match is played but neither will come into contention. Lee is training there with his IPL side and doesn't officially join the ODI squad until the series in the UAE, while Clark will have only just arrived. Clark will meet the squad in Johannesburg ahead of Friday's fifth and final one-day international.

Australia squad Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Marcus North, James Hopes, Cameron White, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken, Shane Harwood, Ben Laughlin.


Stats and Trivia

South Africa have been Bracken's most difficult major opponent and in 16 ODIs against them he has managed 17 wickets at 38.88
Five South African bowlers have an economy rate of less than 4.50 this series; for Australia only Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz are under that mark
Australia have played eight one-day internationals at Port Elizabeth and have won seven of them


Quotes

"We have the home crowd behind us and we have a bit of momentum going for us, so we would like to finish the series off here in Port Elizabeth."
AB de Villiers doesn't want the Johannesburg ODI to become a series decider

"We need other guys to have an impact through the innings. We need to be able to bowl a lot of dot balls and keep the batsman on strike for long periods of time."
Ricky Ponting believes Australia cannot rely solely on Mitchell Johnson as their impact bowler

Gibbs sets up series win
 

14 April, 2009

A fine century from Herschelle Gibbs led South Africa to a comfortable 61-run victory over Australia in the fourth one-day international in Port Elizabeth and an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

Dale Steyn was the star with the ball, claiming 4-44, and was given good support by the spinners as the visitors were dismissed for 256 in pursuit of 318.

Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting all made half-centuries, but it was not enough as they fell well short.

The Australians began their chase promisingly with a 129-run opening partnership in just over 20 overs, before the introduction of spin changed the game.

Johan Botha (1-48) was first to strike, ending Haddin's 61-ball 78 when he had the wicketkeeper caught at long-on by Wayne Parnell.

Roelof van der Merwe (3-46) then claimed a triple blow by removing Clarke (50), Callum Ferguson (three) and Michael Hussey (two) to leave the visitors limping at 4-151.

David Hussey and Ponting tried to rescue the situation, putting on 37 before the former also perished, this time caught and bowled by Steyn for 20.

The Australian skipper decided to take the batting powerplay in the 41st over and his decision initially looked like a good one as he plundered Steyn for four boundaries, whilst also raising his half-century in 66 balls.

But he went for one shot too many off the final delivery and was caught by Albie Morkel at mid-wicket for 53.

With Ponting went Australia's last chance of winning and only Mitchell Johnson and James Hopes (31) briefly threatened before South Africa dismissed its opponents in 45.5 overs.

Earlier, Gibbs made 110 and together with AB de Villiers (84) helped the Proteas tear into the visitors' bowling after Ponting had won the toss and elected to field first.

The home team started out slowly, putting on 46 before Graeme Smith (20) was out in the 11th over, chasing a wide ball from Hopes and sending a thick edge behind to Haddin.

Debutant Shane Harwood (2-57) followed that up by accounting for Jacques Kallis, caught at third man by Ferguson for 17, to leave the Proteas at 2-87.

But that was as good as it got for the tourists with Gibbs and De Villiers piling on the misery in a 136-run stand.


The pair reached their half-centuries in 62 and 51 balls respectively, followed by a run-a-ball hundred partnership.

The flamboyant opener brought up his 21st one-day ton in 106 deliveries as South Africa raced past 200 in the 36th over.

Ferguson then dropped De Villiers off Nathan Hauritz diving forward at long-on, but Gibbs perished not long afterwards when Clarke took a simple catch off Nathan Bracken at long-on, ending his 116-ball stay.

Johnson (2-59) removed Morkel (four) and De Villiers in quick succession, but the Australians did not help their chances by twice putting down JP Duminy in the deep.

The South Africa middle-order batsman was eventually out with the final delivery of the innings for 40, but he had already forged a 65-run partnership in just 44 balls with Mark Boucher (29 not out) to help the hosts end on 6-317.

South Africa v Australia, 5th ODI, Johannesburg
 

Long, tough summer draws to a close

April 16, 2009

Match facts

April 17, 2009
Start time 2.30pm (12.30GMT)


Big Picture

South Africa and Australia have faced off in six Tests, four Twenty20 internationals and nine ODIs over the past four months. The end is in sight. However, the final match is a dead rubber after South Africa wrapped up the series in Port Elizabeth and the best Australia can hope for is a victory that would give them some momentum heading to the UAE to take on Pakistan. South Africa have a 7-2 advantage in the nine ODIs this year and have deservedly retained the No. 1 one-day ranking. Australia have slipped so far that they now sit third behind India, although victory in Johannesburg would bump them back up to second.

The Wanderers will bring back incredible memories for both teams and anyone who watched the previous ODI between the sides at the venue. It was March 2006. It was the decider for a series locked 2-2. Australia posted 434 for 4 - the first time any team had passed 400 in a one-day international. Their new record stood for only a few hours as South Africa defied all expectations to chase down the total and finished with 438 for 9 when Mark Boucher slammed a boundary off Brett Lee to win with a ball to spare. It's too much to ask for a repeat, or anything close to it, but a tight, hard-fought match would be an appropriate way to end this long and competitive summer.


Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)

South Africa WWWLW
Australia LLLWN



Watch out for

On his day, Herschelle Gibbs is the most dangerous batsman in South Africa's side. He had one such day three years ago, when his 175 from 111 balls made their total of 438 a possibility. He had another triumph on Monday, when he scored his 21st ODI century to set up another South African series victory in Port Elizabeth. The combination of an in-form Gibbs and a match at the Wanderers should sound alarm bells for Australia.

Australia's leading run scorer during the series has been Brad Haddin, who has looked more comfortable in the opening role than his partner Michael Clarke. A powerful top-order striker, Haddin has made two half-centuries during the series and with Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh both waiting for their opportunities to arrive in the UAE from next week, he will be keen to put one last stamp on the opening position before it once again becomes a wrestle for the job.


Team news

South Africa have decided to rest Johan Botha after his bowling action was reported by the umpires in the previous game and he is likely to head to Perth in the coming days to undergo testing. Wayne Parnell has also been left out after struggling in the past two matches to recapture the brilliant form he displayed in collecting 4 for 25 in Centurion. But the attack won't be significantly weakened with Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel named as the replacements.

South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Roelof van der Merwe, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

Australia could have used the dead rubber to throw an opportunity to their unused members of the squad but Marcus North and Cameron White will remain drinks-waiters at the Wanderers. Neither man is in the touring party for the Pakistan series, which starts next week. Ben Laughlin is in that group and for the Johannesburg match has replaced Shane Harwood, who has resumed training with the Rajasthan Royals after his brief flirt with ODI cricket. "We feel with Ben Laughlin being in our squad for Dubai as well as Stuart Clark, this would be a good opportunity for Ben to have another good solid hit-out," Ricky Ponting said. "Stuart has been here for a few days and he has got a bit of bowling under his belt. But we have decided to go with Ben ahead of him for this game."

Australia 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 Michael Clarke, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 David Hussey, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 James Hopes, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Laughlin.


Stats and Trivia

Between the two sides, ten men who played in the 438 match will take the field on Friday - four from Australia and six from South Africa
The two highest scorers from each team in that game - Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Ponting and Michael Hussey - will all be part of the rematch
It's often assumed that Mick Lewis had the worst economy rate in that match as his ten overs cost 113 but in fact the honour belongs to Jacques Kallis, who bowled six overs for 70 - or 11.66 runs per over
Gibbs needs 44 runs to become the second South African after Kallis to reach the 8000 figure in ODIs


Quotes

"If we can make it 8-2 over the summer it's pretty much a clear-cut victory"
Graeme Smith points out that while the Tests went 3-3, South Africa have had a clear advantage in the ODIs

"I don't see that there's a great need to make a lot of changes right now. What this last game becomes all about for us is having some pride in our individual performances and our team performance."
Ricky Ponting

Aussies finish on a high
 

18 April, 2009

Michael Clarke Australia has gained some respectability with a 47-run victory over South Africa in Johannesburg in the fifth one-day international but still lost the series 3-2.

The hosts were set 304 to win after Brad Haddin and Michael Clarke helped Australia to a strong position and despite 82 from Herschelle Gibbs the Proteas crumbled in the latter half of their innings, collapsing from 4-213 to 256 all out with Mitchell Johnson taking 3-58 for the tourists.

Australia struck an important blow before skipper Graeme Smith (20 runs off 15 balls) could get fully into his stride.

The left-hander waved at a wide Nathan Bracken delivery in the eighth over and got a healthy edge which Haddin did well to hold on to high to his left.

That brought veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis to the crease and he immediately set about his task in combination with Gibbs.

The pair were untroubled as they easily kept pace with the required rate in a 104-run stand that was brought to an end by a dubious lbw decision against Gibbs.

The 35-year-old attempted to sweep Nathan Hauritz while on 82 and while the ball rapped his front pad, he had made a stride down the wicket which could have offered some doubt about the decision.

Kallis followed for 64 off 69 balls, caught by Haddin off Bracken, and there was little in the way of resistance from the lower order with only AB de Villiers (15) managing double figures outside the top four batsmen.

Earlier, Smith won the toss and inserted the Australians who were looking to earn back some respectability having already conceded the series 3-1.

The tourists had not won since the opening match, but were soon on the front foot through Haddin (64 off 66) and Clarke (66 off 60) who made full use of the early powerplays to clear the in-field with regularity in their opening 127-run stand.

Both fell in quick succession but skipper Ricky Ponting (40 off 45) and rookie Callum Ferguson (41 off 33) picked up the slack to have the Australians at one point 2-191 after 31 overs and dreaming of a total in excess of 350.

But when both fell - to soft dismissals - all momentum the Australians built was soon lost.

Ponting's dismissal, caught at mid-on as he went in search of back-to-back sixes off the part-time spin of JP Duminy, prompted a collapse of 4-23 in a four-over spell that left Australia on 7-246 and with more than 10 overs still to bat.

Instead of putting their foot on the gas the tourists were restricted to just trying to bat out their overs - a feat they achieved thanks to an unbeaten 57-run partnership between Michael Hussey (49) and Hauritz (24).

Duminy finished with figures of 3-48, while fellow spinner Roelof van der Merwe chipped in with 2-44 as the slow bowlers again restricted Australia, but its bowling attack ensured they kept the series deficit to just one.

Australia skipper Ponting said: "It's a great way for us to finish the tour."

"I'm disappointed with way we've played in the series as a group, but a few of the younger guys have had some impact on the game tonight and hopefully they can take that into the series against Pakistan."

De Villiers was named man of the series after hitting 240 runs in the five-match series and said: "I've had an awesome season but I have to say thanks to my team-mates for playing great cricket."

"I'm pretty relaxed and confident and enjoying my cricket at the moment."

Proteas skipper Smith added: "It's been a terrific summer for South African cricket, both teams deserve a lot of credit for the way the series has been played."

"It's been an interesting summer for me. There have been a lot of highs and some injuries thrown in there but I've battled through."