AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA 1952-53

Their first victory over Australia for forty-two years came as reward for superior allround cricket. Endean and Tayfield played specially notable roles, but the whole side deserved praise for two fielding performances which drew favourable comparison with some of the best teams of the past. Little indication of the events which were to lead to Australia's third defeat in thirty-three post-war Tests -- all in the last eight matches -- was contained in the early play. South Africa ran into immediate trouble against Miller and Lindwall, and the total only became respectable through solid rescue work by Murray, top scorer, Mansell and Tayfield.

Throughout the series South Africa gave no finer display of out-cricket than on the second day. Although their attack was depleted by the absence of Murray (fibrositis) and Watkins (strained back) they held Australia to a purely nominal lead. The stand of 84 by McDonald and Morris was Australia's first-wicket best in twenty-two Test innings but, apart from the hard-driving Miller, the middle batsmen failed against the offbreaks of Tayfield and the legspin of Mansell. By steady length and bowling to his field, Tayfield gave nothing away in an unchanged spell of nearly four hours, at one stage of which he took the wickets of Ring, Miller and Johnston for one run.

The spectacular catch which dismissed Morris set South Africa's standard for the innings. A drive hit Cheetham's upflung hands close to the wicket but bounced away from him. Tayfield spun round, raced after the ball, and caught it in a full-length dive. Cheetham and McGlew made other excellent catches, and Endean, with his back to the iron fence, held a drive by Miller above his head.

The last three days went all in favour of South Africa. When Lindwall and Miller used the new ball the bowling presented some menace, but Endean, Waite, who shared a second-wicket stand of 111, Funston and McLean faced them calmly. Most of the other bowling was made to look innocuous. Endean, though unattractive in style and relying chiefly on strokes behind the wicket, withstood the attack for seven and a half hours without giving a chance. His 162 not out was the second highest innings for South Africa against Australia, the best being GA Faulkner's 201 on the same ground in 1910-11. On account of sore feet Miller was used sparingly, but even so he caused most batting problems and when he dismissed Waite he completed his Test double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets.

Poor light did not help Australia when they started the last innings, but more high-class bowling by Tayfield was the chief reason for their failure to score the 373 required to win. In one period of nine maiden overs he sent back Miller, Langley and Hole, and he richly merited his match record of thirteen wickets for 165. Once again Harvey stood out as Australia's best batsman and the lofted stroke which brought his innings to a close resulted from his only error of timing.

A ninth-wicket stand of 61 by Benaud and the hard-hitting Ring temporarily raised Australia's hopes, but Tayfield split the stand and, when he also brought Ring's brave innings to a close, he fittingly clinched South Africa's triumph.