A most disappointing day - Clarke
The one-sided day has left Australia with little chance of levelling the series in the next two days
Brydon Coverdale at the MCG
28-Dec-2008
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Last Sunday Australia were shocked by South Africa chasing down 414
and exactly a week later they have again been humbled by the team that
is challenging for the No. 1 ranking. Australia entered the day
wanting three quick wickets to give their batsmen a healthy lead to
build on; the openers did not take guard until ten minutes before
stumps.
"Definitely one of our most disappointing days for a long time in Test
cricket," the vice-captain Michael Clarke said. "Obviously turning up
this morning I think we had a 196-run lead and now we're 60 behind, so
a very disappointing day. It's another example of how fast things can
change in Test cricket."
JP Duminy was brilliant in compiling 166 while batting mostly with the
last three lower-order men and the final three partnerships were worth
275. But Australia contributed to their problems by fielding
poorly and Dale Steyn went on to finish with 76 having given three
opportunities.
Ricky Ponting put down a simple chance at second slip when Steyn had
32 and Nathan Hauritz grassed an opportunity off his own bowling with
Steyn on 57. In between, Steyn skied one to mid-on where Michael
Hussey's sunglasses failed to live up to their job; he completely lost
the ball in the sun and it landed two metres away.
There were also problems with the attack after Brett Lee failed to
take the field due to a foot injury. The three specialists - Mitchell
Johnson, Peter Siddle and Hauritz - needed part-time backup and Clarke
and Michael Hussey provided the bulk of the assistance while onlookers
wondered why Simon Katich was not handed the ball.
"I actually asked Simon at some stage late in the day if he was okay
to bowl," Clarke said. "He said he hadn't been bowling in the nets
because his shoulder was a little bit sore. But in saying that I think
if he had have been asked to bowl I think he would have done that."
Andrew Symonds entered the game carrying a knee injury that meant he
was unable to bowl his medium-pacers but it appeared his offspin was
also out of the question until he was given a chance in the 125th over
of the innings. Alex Kountouris, the team physio, said Symonds could
have bowled spin at any stage.
"He's a little bit restricted in what he can do but he can bowl his
offspinners and bat comfortably and he says he feels reasonably
comfortable running," Kountouris said. "We'll reassess him at the end
of the game. He's not in a lot of pain, no. I think he's a bit
hesitant because he got quite sore in the last game but he's
reasonably good compared to where he was last game."
The one-sided day has left Australia with little chance of levelling
the series in the next two days. However, South Africa have repeatedly
shown in Perth and Melbourne that the state of a game can rapidly
change and Clarke wants Australia to take heart from that on the
fourth day.
"We've got a big day tomorrow," Clarke said. "We're going to have to
come out and bat really well and then we'll wait and see what happens.
I still believe if we bat well tomorrow we can get ourselves into a
position to win this Test match."
Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo