06 January, 2009

Doug Bollinger South Africa will enter the final day of the third 3 Mobile Test against Australia needing a further 314 runs to pull off an improbable win.

Set an imposing victory target of 376 from a minimum 116 overs, the Proteas are 1-62 at stumps on day four.

Stand-in skipper Neil McKenzie (25) and Hashim Amla (30) will resume the fight for a history-making last-day win – and series clean sweep – with at least 90 overs to be bowled.

Past run chases at the SCG suggest victory will elude the Proteas on a wearing wicket.

Australia's fourth innings total of 2-288 in the 2005/06 season against South Africa is the highest winning total in a Sydney Test.

The tourists' task is made more difficult by the absence of skipper Graeme Smith who is nursing a broken finger and troublesome left elbow and is highly unlikely to take any further part in proceedings.

After Australia declared its seconds innings closed at 4-257, Doug Bollinger (1-11) made the early breakthrough, picking up his first Test wicket after makeshift opener Morne Morkel (0) chipped a catch to Mitchell Johnson at mid on.

Amla survived a close call on five, edging Peter Siddle (0-16) past a late diving Brad Haddin.

Ricky Ponting closed his side's innings after Michael Clarke (41) was caught in the deep going after quick runs.

Michael Hussey remained not out on 45.

Australia resumed on day four at 0-33 with Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich at the crease.

Hayden (39) dragged Morne Morkel (2-38) on to his stumps after working hard in an attempt to build his first substantial score of the summer.

He belted seven fours in a 63-ball stay that produced just as much sweat as substance.

The 37-year-old was given a rousing send-off by the SCG crowd.

Ricky Ponting (53) almost collected a golden pair after leaving the first ball he faced only for it to catch the inside edge of his bat, narrowly missing the stumps and going down to the boundary for four.


The Australian skipper's innings then flourished as he raced to a half-century at almost a run-a-ball rate.

It came as a surprise when he played on to Morkel attempting a cut shot.

There was also plenty of surprise when Simon Katich (61) was given out lbw to Dale Steyn (1-60), with only wicket-keeper Mark Boucher seemingly interested in an appeal.

Clarke and Hussey then combined for a fourth wicket partnership of 76 that has helped place Australia in the box seat to win for the first time this series.

07 January, 2009

Australian players celebrate Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has bowled South African skipper Graeme Smith with 10 balls to spare as Australia escaped with a thrilling victory in a remarkable 3 Mobile Test at the SCG.

The courageous Smith (three), coming it at No.11 with a broken left hand and injured right elbow, and tailender Makhaya Ntini (28) held Australia up for 29 minutes and appeared likely to escape with an against the odds draw.

But Johnson – Australia's best bowler all series – struck at 5.34pm before being swamped by delirious and relieved team-mates.

Chasing an improbable 376 for victory, the Proteas were all out for 272.

The hosts won the match by 103 runs, with paceman Peter Siddle (match figures of 8-113) named man-of-the-match.

Smith (326 runs at 65.2) was named man-of-the-series.

The Proteas took the series 2-1 but Australia will remain top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankings.

In a dramatic final hour of an enthralling match, Ntini was dropped twice on 16 but held on to play the innings of his life.

Dale Steyn (28) and Ntini had earlier frustrated Australia's push for victory with a ninth-wicket partnership of 50 before Andrew McDonald (2-32) trapped Steyn lbw.

That opened the way for the courageous Smith to make his entry with 7.2 overs left.

Hayden dropped Ntini off Doug Bollinger (2-53) in the next over as Australia's chances of victory appeared to be evaporating.


But in a series containing plenty of unexpected turns, Johnson produced the final twist as the noisy last-day crowd of 9075 went into raptures.

South Africa entered the final day needing a further 314 runs to pull off an improbable win - and a series clean sweep - having progressed to 1-62 at stumps on day four.

But any hope of an unlikely victory disappeared when the tourists lost Neil McKenzie (27), Jacques Kallis (four) and Hashim Amla (59) in the opening session.

AB de Villiers (56), JP Duminy (16) and Mark Boucher (four) fell after lunch and it appeared the home side was coasting to a comfortable victory.

Steyn, Ntini and Smith had other ideas, ensuring a tremendous series finished on an appropriately dramatic note.

Teams start afresh after tough Tests
January 10, 2009

Match facts
South Africa want Herschelle Gibbs in their plans for the next few years and this will be his first outing since completing an alcohol rehabilitation programme

Sunday, January 11
Start time 7.35pm (08:35 GMT)


The Big Picture

Can anything really live up to the Test series we've just witnessed between these two teams? Probably not. But the world's two top-ranked limited-overs sides going head to head in a Twenty20 match in front of a likely crowd of more than 75,000 at the MCG should be a terrific spectacle in any case. Australia will be desperate for some strong performances to ease the pressure after losing their first home Test series in 16 years. South Africa have declared that they are treating this portion of their trip as a separate tour. Both teams are taking the opportunity to trial some fresh talent.


Twenty20 form guide

Australia - LWWLL


South Africa - WWLWL



Team news

Australia have rested Brad Haddin due to his heavy workload in the past month and Luke Ronchi will take up the position behind the stumps. Ronchi was excellent with both bat and gloves in the West Indies this year but his domestic batting form has been down this summer and a lower-order position is likely. Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson have also been given time off. Australia's major decision is which bowlers to include. They will be keen to get some overs into Shaun Tait, while Nathan Hauritz might miss out on the spin position due to Cameron White's batting ability.

Australia (possible) 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 David Warner, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 James Hopes, 8 Luke Ronchi (wk), 9 Ryan Harris/Ben Hilfenhaus, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Shaun Tait.

South Africa have named their starting line-up and there is no Hashim Amla, Neil McKenzie or Morne Morkel. Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Vaughn van Jaarsveld are set to make their international debuts, while all eyes will also be on Herschelle Gibbs in his return to the national side.

South Africa 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Jacques Kallis, 3 AB de Villiers, 4 JP Duminy, 5 Vaughn van Jaarsveld, 6 Mark Boucher (wk), 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Johan Botha (capt), 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Makhaya Ntini, 11 Lonwabo Tsostobe.


Watch out for ...

David Warner was the bolter in Australia's squad. At 22 and having not yet made his first-class debut, Warner was picked on the strength of a couple of brilliant limited-overs performances for New South Wales. He made a state record unbeaten 165 in from 112 balls against Tasmania and followed it a week later with 97 from 54 balls - narrowly missing the fastest one-day hundred in Australian domestic history - against the same opponents in Hobart. He will be especially fascinating to watch if he uses the double-sided bat he has trialled this season; it allows him to play the reverse-sweep without changing his grip.

Herschelle Gibbs turns 35 next month but South Africa view him as an important part of their campaign for the 2011 World Cup. Those plans were derailed slightly in November when Gibbs was demoted from the national setup after breaking a team curfew. A month-long alcohol rehabilitation programme was the result and this will be Gibbs' first appearance since the incident. The coach Mickey Arthur has told Gibbs he expects him to lead from the front as the senior man in the top order; it will be interesting to see how he responds.


Pitch & conditions

The MCG's drop-in pitches have not been easy to score on in recent years. The surfaces are often two-paced and in limited-overs formats bowlers have had more reason to cheer than usual.


Stats and trivia

The teams have met in two Twenty20 internationals for one win each.
The MCG has hosted only one Twenty20 international and the 74 made by India last year was the lowest innings total ever recorded by a Test-playing nation in the format.
Australia have never been beaten in a Twenty20 match at home
This is only the second Twenty20 match South Africa have played outside their own country


Quotes

"We're expecting a huge backlash from them in this series and they have to start as favourites. There's no doubt about that."
South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur

"It's just about, I guess, starting the series well and that starts here with the Twenty20. The big thing is we've got some young blokes who add something different."
Australia's fast bowler Nathan Bracken