The angry Australian
Plays of the Day from the fifth day of the first Test in Brisbane
Michael Hussey celebrated his century after surviving a close lbw shout • Associated Press
Duel of the day
It started when Graeme Smith pulled out of a delivery in James Pattinson's eighth over. A bird was flying past and Smith's line of sight had been crossed. Pattinson delivered the ball - he had run too far up anyway - and was unimpressed with Smith's late withdrawal. He gave Smith an earful but the batsman wasn't interested. Smith waved Pattinson away but that only irritated him more. Pattinson had more to say the next ball and got the ball to talk too. For the rest of that over, he beat Smith and had him playing false strokes. In his next over, Pattinson induced a thick outside edge and Smith was caught at gully. Still, Pattinson was not done and he followed up with the fiercest send-off of the match, pointing to the dressing room and yelling.
It started when Graeme Smith pulled out of a delivery in James Pattinson's eighth over. A bird was flying past and Smith's line of sight had been crossed. Pattinson delivered the ball - he had run too far up anyway - and was unimpressed with Smith's late withdrawal. He gave Smith an earful but the batsman wasn't interested. Smith waved Pattinson away but that only irritated him more. Pattinson had more to say the next ball and got the ball to talk too. For the rest of that over, he beat Smith and had him playing false strokes. In his next over, Pattinson induced a thick outside edge and Smith was caught at gully. Still, Pattinson was not done and he followed up with the fiercest send-off of the match, pointing to the dressing room and yelling.
Delight of the day
While Pattinson reacted with anger at having to restart his run-up, Ben Hilfenhaus was unfussed when the same happened to him. Hashim Amla made Hilfenhaus run in an extra time when he pulled out after being distracted by a butterfly. Hilfenhaus remained expressionless as he saw Amla move away and chose to chase the butterfly instead. He followed it through the leg side and returned to his run-up clearly amused.
While Pattinson reacted with anger at having to restart his run-up, Ben Hilfenhaus was unfussed when the same happened to him. Hashim Amla made Hilfenhaus run in an extra time when he pulled out after being distracted by a butterfly. Hilfenhaus remained expressionless as he saw Amla move away and chose to chase the butterfly instead. He followed it through the leg side and returned to his run-up clearly amused.
Thin edge of the day
Michael Hussey has been one of Australia's most consistent performers over the past few years but his recent record against South Africa has been distinctly indifferent. Until this innings, Hussey had faced South Africa 23 times in Tests since he had last scored a hundred against them, stretching back to the Melbourne Test of 2005, the same match in which he was the most recent victim of Graeme Smith's bowling. So Hussey must have been nervous when he was on 99 and the South Africans appealed vociferously for lbw off the bowling of Vernon Philander. The appeal was turned down by Billy Bowden and South Africa's review showed Hussey was plumb in front. But the thinnest of inside edges showed up on Hot Spot, reprieving Hussey and allowing him to score his first Test ton against South Africa in nearly seven years.
Michael Hussey has been one of Australia's most consistent performers over the past few years but his recent record against South Africa has been distinctly indifferent. Until this innings, Hussey had faced South Africa 23 times in Tests since he had last scored a hundred against them, stretching back to the Melbourne Test of 2005, the same match in which he was the most recent victim of Graeme Smith's bowling. So Hussey must have been nervous when he was on 99 and the South Africans appealed vociferously for lbw off the bowling of Vernon Philander. The appeal was turned down by Billy Bowden and South Africa's review showed Hussey was plumb in front. But the thinnest of inside edges showed up on Hot Spot, reprieving Hussey and allowing him to score his first Test ton against South Africa in nearly seven years.
Missed milestone of the day
Michael Clarke has scored so many runs and raised his bat so many times this year that he could be forgiven for missing the occasional milestone. When he lofted Dale Steyn over mid-on and then straight back over his head for consecutive boundaries it brought up his 250, but Clarke appeared not to realise until the ground announcer mentioned the achievement. Clarke celebrated with an understated raise of his bat, and returned to his crease to keep on batting.
Michael Clarke has scored so many runs and raised his bat so many times this year that he could be forgiven for missing the occasional milestone. When he lofted Dale Steyn over mid-on and then straight back over his head for consecutive boundaries it brought up his 250, but Clarke appeared not to realise until the ground announcer mentioned the achievement. Clarke celebrated with an understated raise of his bat, and returned to his crease to keep on batting.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent. Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here