Australia 254/5 – play stopped by bad light

Once again we started with Ricky Ponting winning the toss and Australia batting. Once again we had some early wickets by South Africa and then an Australian fightback, as we have seen right through this summer of cricket.

South Africa could not have hoped for a better start, getting a wicket in the first over and then a second not much later to a pearler of a catch from McKenzie. At that stage we had them on the ropes. But full credit for Ponting, for as much as I really really dislike him, he is a man for the big occassions and is holding the Aussie batting lineup together. He is not faultless, he often gives chances (like on 40 when we should have had him caught. It was very unlike Smith to put him down). As a bowling team, you have to take those half chances. But what he does is disregard what is happening at the other end, plays aggressively and very quickly he can get his team out of trouble by scoring quickly and putting pressure on the opposition. If we can;t get him out we really have to shut him down and stop him scoring, because then he will try and make things happen and offer chances.

We had a bit of a stutter and then got Hussey to a good delivery. At that stage they were about 50/3 and we were in the box seat after an hour. Similiar to Perth, we needed to make it count. Similar to Perth we did not. Similiar to Perth we did not attack enough, and similar to Perth we lost the momentum.

I still feel we do not bowl the right line and length. It’s often to far outside off stump, and then we drift to far towards leg stump and get picked off, so the opposition score on both sides of the wicket. As i’ve mentioned, i’d like to see us attack the stumps more, make the batters play more and then bring in more modes of dismissal. At the end of the day you simply have to put 6 balls in the right spot and aim for the top of off stump. You can’t comofrtably drive or pull that length.

We had another brief glimmer when we got Ponting and Clarke to have them 184/5 but again we could not make it count. For Australia to end on 254/5, they will be very happy. For us to let them score 200 for the loss of 2 wickets on a first day pitch at the Wanderers, is very disappointing.

I’m sure we will come out firing tomorrow, but for me the horse has bolted. from this position, Australia are looking at 300+ which puts them in a great position. I think we are lucky there is plenty of rain about Joburg at the moment and I am certain this test will end in a draw, but then you never know…