Australia defeat South Africa in 2nd Test to go up 1-nil
As predicted, it took Australia just over a session to wrap up the 2nd Test and go up 1-nil in the Australia-South Africa series (does the series have a trophy or a title or something?). In spite of South African coach Mickey Arthur accusing Australia of excess appealing (or 'histrionics' as he put it), Shane Warne continued to apply mental disintegration against the umpires and it even netted him a wicket as umpire Rauf gave Ashwell Prince out incorrectly for a bat pad decision. Despite the bad decision, I'm sure Warnie will still be calling Prince 'Daryll' in the 3rd Test. I was also surprised Ntini came out to bat - the result of the match wasn't in doubt and getting him fit asap would be the #1 priority for the team. Still, he is a tough nut. Interestingly, Ntini was recently voted South Africa's most popular sportsperson and the ICC ranks him the #4 Test bowler in the world. It's a cruel blow to South Africa that he's injured his knee just before the 3rd Test.
Overall, it was a good, hard Test although South Africa fell away at the end. The result was still in doubt till the last session of day 4. Andrew Symonds must be very happy - after a Day 1 golden duck, he was all but dropped from the team. Everyone in the media (with the exception of Peter Roebuck who resisted a big 'I told you so' on ABC radio) was baying for his blood - I was leading the cry. Instead, he's booked a spot in Sydney and most likely the South Africa tour with two productive bowling spells and a handful of sixes in the 2nd innings. It remains to be seen if he can achieve any consistency and it will be interesting to see what the selectors do when Shane Watson and Shaun Tait are available (I still say drop him!)
Afterwards, one would say Australia dominated both Tests but we shouldn't get too carried away. The results would be completely different if South Africa had held all their chances - it's not stretching it to say the series could have been 2-nil to South Africa. Australia won this test by 184 runs - their dropped chances in the 1st innings cost the Proteas 195 runs. Nevertheless, kudos to our boys for taking advantage of South African mistakes. One frustrating thing about the Ashes (one among many frustrating things) was our inability to take advantage of dropped chances. In fact, the only innings of substance after a reprieve was Michael Clarke at Lords - the only Test we won. South Africa don't have as penetrating a bowling attack as England and need to take all the chances they can. It's hard to see them coming back in Sydney - I predict a series result of 2-nil but only just.
| Posted by JC on Thu 29 Dec |  11 comments |
Good gutsy win in the end wasn't it? Important too because we won't have it all our own way in Sydney, and then comes the reverse leg in South Africa; and we reckon our crowds are parochial!
Greetings Mike from South Africa. Please feel free to "vent your spleen" if you get too much Aussie bias here mate.
Am about to move interstate so will be in transit during the 3rd Test. Here's hoping for another tough and exciting contest.
Posted by Dan Darwin on 2005-12-30 02:27:29
Greetings Mike from South Africa. Please feel free to "vent your spleen" if you get too much Aussie bias here mate.
Am about to move interstate so will be in transit during the 3rd Test. Here's hoping for another tough and exciting contest.
Posted by Dan Darwin on 2005-12-30 02:27:29
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