The
Australian selectors’ decision to enter the deciding test between Australia and
South Africa with three new seamers has paid off with Australia having the
Proteas in trouble at 7 for 169, 60 overs in on day 1 at the WACA.
Despite
an inexperienced attack led by the maligned Mitchell Johnson (1/38), Australia
held all the answers denying the South Africans from making a substantial
total. Despite a typically defiant performance from newcomer Faf De Plessis (53no,
whose contribution to the South Africans title defence has been invaluable), none
of the other batsmen were able to make a sizable score due to the disciplined
line and length Australia bowled throughout the day.
Starc
& Hastings pitched the ball too short early on, however they bounced back to
bowl troubling spells either side of the lunch break. Starc (2/51) bowled an
excellent spell reminiscent of Johnson’s two years before against the English,
pitching the ball up and getting it to swing into the right hander, causing the
dismissals of Alviro Petersen (30) and Kallis (2). Hastings (1/51) despite predominantly
being an in-swing bowler was able to get the ball to tail away from the right
hander. He was unlucky not to have more cause for celebration, having a
relatively easy chance off Amla (11) dropped by Cowan a few balls before he was
ran out.
There were
positive signs from the other bowlers as well; Watson (1/14) again used the
swinging conditions beautifully, Lyon (1/13) continued on from his effort in
Adelaide and Mitchell Johnson was somewhere near his best, back to the high arm
action that gained him so many wickets at his peak.
It wasn’t
all doom and gloom for the South Africans; recalled spinner Robin Peterson
proved he could be a valuable lower order batsmen contributing a handy 31 in an
attacking cameo with Du Plessis. The South African pace attack Steyn, Morkel
& Philander could comfort themselves in seeing the positive bowling
conditions. They are sure to cause some headaches for the Australian batsmen in
days to come.
