If the India England test series exceeded expectations, there is another series that has lived up to its billing. This is cricket at its best and one cricket fans would pay to watch.
The final forty minutes of the second day’s play at the WACA in Perth changed the game completely as Mitchell Johnson pegged back South Africa who looked in control to take their game strongly into the third day.
Seven wickets for the day, five in the span of twenty deliveries and conceding just two runs, Mitchell Johnson singlehandedly turned the match on its head.
South Africa who looked to have consolidated well at three down for 234 on the back of a 124 run partnership between Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers found themselves reeling at eight down for 243 when play drew to a close.
South Africa, who began bowling well on the morning of the first day’s play, found themselves facing an annoying final two wicket partnerships that cost them 73 runs and Australia better placed at 375.
When it came to South Africa’s turn to bat, Mitchell Johnson managed to strike at the heart of the South African batting in two defining bursts. In no time, he removed Neil McKenzie thereby breaking the opening partnerships that often set up matches for South Africa. Graeme Smith bore on with the troublesome elbow with a few painkillers, but little did he know he would need one at the end of the day for the huge migraine that had hit the South African dressing room.
Despite the early loss of McKenzie, Smith combined well with Hashim Amla as the duo not only laid the foundation but also, edged towards their best scores on Australian soil. But it is a situation not unlikely that when a wicket falls, another follows. Amla was fooled into playing against the spin to off spinner Jason Krezja and also immediately was followed back to the pavilion by Graeme Smith who played down the wrong line only to have Johnson find the gap to destroy his stumps.
That made it two South African batsmen who looked well set and on the verge of half centuries. But the rebuilding had to begin again at three for 110. It happened, not surprisingly from AB but more so, from Jacques Kallis who have been the cynosure of all eyes over his slump in 2008. That he stood his ground meant South Africa looked rock solid at the crease.
In fact, so solid that Australia did not see wickets falling overnight and South Africa looking to close the day with a hundred runs or thereabout in deficit and seven wickets in hand, two batsmen well placed in the sixties and looking to capitalize on their starts.
Then began the mayhem. Johnson swung the ball and had AB falling for it as well as Kallis in quick succession. Running in fast, and getting the ball right in the corridor of uncertainty, Johnson was virtually unplayable. In the procession that followed back to the pavilion, South Africa cut a sorry figure, one that went from sturdy to a situation of looking like lame ducks. Such was the steam with which Johnson was effecting the dismissals, the men that followed the specialist batsmen stood little chance.
Jason Krezja may not have picked enough wickets to justify his selection, but his presence as an off spinner was just as invaluable as his safe hands that came into contention on three occasions. For all of the debate on Brad Haddin not being Adam Gilchrist, Haddin took a couple of spectacular diving catches that ensured good bowling would be richly rewarded.
By the time Johnson cleaned up for the day, he had seven wickets in the kitty, hungry for more, while South Africa went from standing their ground to now looking to save their skins, if the morning allows. The dynamics of the game completely changed as Johnson gave Ricky Ponting and his men the decisive edge on a day when it appeared the stakes would be evenly shared. Back to you, South Africa.
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