A thoroughly disappointing result for the Proteas and South Africa. Whilst I hate losing, to lose to the Aussies is the worst thing possible! The biggest disappointment is the fact we were comprehensively outplayed in our own backyard. I was praying for rain…but it just didn’t come to the party!

This is not the first time we have suffered at the hands of the Aussies at the Wanderers. In 2002 we got beaten by an innings and a gizillion runs. And we have lost the first test at the Wanderers in our 2 previous home series against India and the West Indies. To go for 3-5 weeks without any cricket for some of our players has come back to look like the most idiotic planning. There is a lesson to be learnt here for we were clearly underdone.

After losing the toss and seeing Australia batting on a bowler friendly first day’s wicket, I was quite pleased and expected us to bowl the Aussies out for around 200, 250 max. To see them 50 for 3 was pleasing and we were right on top. The problem is we weren’t bowling well. We weren’t making them play the new ball often enough, we bowled too short and the consistency was non-existent. Graeme Smith dropping a straight forward chance to get rid of Ponting is simply inexcusable at this level, and could have been what cost us the game.

The way Katich, Hussey, Ponting and Clarke were out should have provided the lesson to pitch the ball up! But alas we are infatuated with the short ball. How often do we get Ponting out with a short ball? Use it as an element of surprise certainly, but don’t try and bounce him out! And don’t give him anything to pull!

It was interesting to hear Ponting say we lost the game on the 1st day, because I also thought we lost it there. to only get 2 more wickets in seaming/swinging conditions for the addition of 200 runs effectively made it hard for Australia to lose from there, unless we scored really big in the first innings. We did have a chance on the second day to come back strongly and possibly get them out for 350 which would have made it a lot more even, but once again we struggled to clean up their tail.

It’s a problem we have had for many years now, cleaning up the tail. Even Bangladesh did well against us. I’m not sure why. I can only suggest we play the wrong tactics. As i’ve always maintained, doesn’t matter who the batsmen is, bowl line and length and aim for the top of off stump. You give yourself maximum ways to get the batter out, and it is very hard to hit those deliveries for 4.

Australia scoring 450 meant we were then trying to save the game. Being bowled out for … realistically meant we needed a miracle to save the game as we gave them too much of a lead, and too much time to set a big target. All credit to Kallis for bowling well and allowing us to bowl the Aussies out for a respectable total (although once again the last wicket frustrated us).

A target of 456 was always too much barring a miracle and a long length of time to simply save the game. But we should have done better than that. Regardless of whether we were going for the win or saving the game, we simply batted poorly. Not enough conviction, and not enough skill. Our run rate for our two innngs was around 2.5-2.8. Australia were around 3.5-3.8.

All of the Aussies bar Hussey stood up to be counted. They all had a greater desire and passion to win the test match. They have now won their last 2 matches against us, and I have to say, other than the 4th innings in Perth, and Duminy and Steyn’s partnership in Melbourne; have probably outplayed us most of the summer. We simply won the 2 moments that really counted.

I am still not sure we have the balance of the side right. Morne Morkel is way to inconsistent, and concerningly, never going to get you more than 2-3 wickets an innings. He is certainly not going to bowl a side out like Johnson and Siddle have been doing. And I think those 2 are very average bowlers. The fact we are letting them dominate us is not on. Ntini is not the bowler he used to be either, although he will always give 100%.

As I have mentioned previously we should have played Tsotsobe for Morkel, but now he is injured. Do we bring in Albie Morkel for Morne and strengthen the batting? I would because Albie is not as quick a bowler, but he’ll bowl straighter and I think be more successful. I’d also get rid of Boucher. Let De Villiers keep wicket and bring back Prince. We have to start scoring 400 plus, consistently. They won’t do it, because they are too conservative, but I hope we can bounce back in Durban because the pressure is on us…