WACA bounce is unforgettable
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
ESPNcricinfo Ltd
It’s impossible to go to Perth for a Test without bounce being a big issue. Even standing near the nets still worries the former Australia captain Kim Hughes, according to Peter Lalor in the Australian.
Hughes saw Dennis Lillee in a marquee on the same spot where they once practised and began to have flashbacks to a dark place. "I always get a bit nervous when I come here," Hughes said. "The sea breeze would be blowing and Dennis would be bowling and I always thought I was pretty lucky to get out of the nets with my head on my shoulders. Because when he did say 'sorry', it was 'sorry I missed your head'."
If you watched closely yesterday there was a hint of the old days during the Australian net session. Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee were bowling in the net farthest from the oval and Ricky Ponting drew the short straw. It wasn't pretty and there wasn't anyone padded up and ready to replace the captain when he was done.
The Australian bowling attack has lost its aura following the retirements of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and the time's right for South Africa to cash in, writes Robert Houwing in Sport24.
Johnson, Siddle and Krejza? Their Test experience against the Proteas amounts to a collective, fat zero. So as much as they will be intriguing “unknowns”, they will also sport no history of psychological advantage whatsoever.
Alex Brown writes in the Sydney Morning Herald about Makhaya Ntini, the leader of South Africa’s attack.
Peter English is former Australasia editor of ESPNcricinfo