The South African bowlers could not quite replicate their first morning day’s efforts. The result was a later order partnership overnight that took Australia beyond the danger mark.
The morning’s burst threatened to derail Australia. But Dale Steyn and company found themselves struggling with match fitness as the day wore on and allowed Australia back into the game. Also missing in action for the most part of the first day’s play was a useful swing bowler, Jacques Kallis, who was hampered with a back injury.
Brad Haddin found a rather handy partner in Marcus North who settled in quite nicely to the task on hand in the company of vice captain Michael Clarke earlier yesterday. They pushed on their unbeaten seventy-two run partnership from yesterday evening to mark another century partnership for Australia after the one between skipper Ricky Ponting and Clarke to help Australia edge to the 300 mark.
From 5 for 182 to 295, not only did the Australians fight back through this final batting specialist pair but also, showed how rusty and weary the South African bowlers had grown in the short gap of six weeks since their tour to Australia concluded. Unable to cope with the demands, South Africa went off their pace and length a bit and allowed debutant North to not only get set but also, grow confident in the role.
When quick wickets fell in the morning in the form of Haddin for sixty-three and Andrew MacDonald felt to an outswinger from Dale Steyn for naught, South Africa once again looked back in the game as Australia found themselves seven down for 296. But Marcus North, unbeaten on eighty-five to surpass Ponting’s eighty-three yesterday, progressed along with Mitchell Johnson to take Australia to 351 for seven at lunch on the second day at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. South Africa have their job cut out, despite the fantastic start to the very first session of the Test.
Day1 Tea Time: Aus Breathe Easier but Lose Key Wickets
T1 Lunch Time: Aus Blood Three Debutants; Smith Drops Ponting
RSA- Aus:Captains Brace for Use of Referral System
SA- Aus Preview: South Africa Leave Prince Out, Call Tsotsobe
SA – Aus Preview: Australia Land With New Faces, Arduous Dreams
SA- Aus: Look Back on the Australian Summer
The World’s Best Cricket Team?
Ponting: Too Many Captains in South African Team
Aus Crowd Reaction: Better to SA This Year than India Last Year
Smith Confesses Amidst Adulation
Kallis Joins the Eight Man 10000 Club; Finds Ponting’s Backing
Desmond Tutu Showers Blessings of Praise for South Africa’s Cricket Heroics
Ponting– Confident of Regaining Lost Glory; Wants to Emulate Federer, Armstrong
ODI 5 Fulltime: Debutant Tsotsobe Scripts South African Fairy Tale Win
Symonds Will Not Be Going to South Africa
How Proteas self-belief earned success Down Under
SA Will Stage Comeback in ODI’s
How Smith and Warne shaped the Test success
Smith Seeks Patience for One day Results
Can’t Keep This Man Out of the Action!
An old tale of committee captaincy looms
Mickey Arthur unveils new Protea ODI plans
Smith Holds of Surgery for Clash against Australia
A Smith-less Proteas in ODI challenge Down Under
KP: Problems with all Non- SA Coaches Now?
Arthur: Playing It Safe, Smith May Be Chained!
Should SA Have Halted the Game?
IPL Auctions: The Predictable Four ‘Big Fish’
Double Tragic Tales: Smith’s Broken Bones Shift Advantage; Lee Out As Well
Looking at the World’s New No.1 ODI Team
Morkel powerplays pinch-hitting revives the Zulu image
Connect Obama to Cricket and USA Will Be the One in Power
Morne’s Racial Abuse Deftly Handed; SA All Praises
Think India Should Be Number One; SA says, Think Again!
Thought, Not Technique Behind South Africa’s Success?
EXCLUSIVE: Pics from the South Africa Stables!
Chesterfield Special: Tough Road to Triumph for Proteas
