Aus vs SA 1st Test, GABBA
November 15th 2012 18:26
Australia has begun their series with the World Number 1’s, South Africa, in a fashion that makes you want to stay up and watch every ball. However, the match didn’t start all that well for the Aussies. The supreme Hashim Amla hit his 3rd century of the year (104) and the forever dependable Jacques Kallis made 147. As South Africa made 450 a/o. Australia’s early wicket of Graeme Smith was not a sign of things to come. As Alviro Petersen (64), then Kallis shared good partnerships with Amla. De Villiers and Rudolph made good starts but the Proteas’ tail succumbed to the home bowling attack, of Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Lyon and Pattinson. Australia would have been rather disappointed with their bowling effort, they insisted on bowling short and wide on the first morning, and this meant that all the touring batsmen were able to get themselves in.
Australia made 565 for 5 declared, and they already have 3 centurions, Ed Cowan made his maiden Test hundred with 136, Mr Cricket Mike Hussey made 100, and the captain Michael Clarke passed 1000 runs for the calendar year with a quite superb 259*. All this came against a South African attack which allowed England only 2 centuries during their whole series earlier in the year. The form of Michael Clarke is definitely going to put fear into any opposing bowlers. Most players will have one year in which they are almost invincible, and 2012 has certainly been that year for Clarke. He began with a double hundred and a triple hundred against India. Then he scored consistently against the West Indies before returning this week to score that unbeaten double at the Gabba against the South Africans. In reply the 3 centurions were the only players to get anything of note, and Clarke’s innings is made to look all the more brilliant when we realize that he came in with the score on 111-3. He was part of 2 double-hundred partnerships, and was on the verge of becoming the first player in history to make 2 triple-hundreds in a calendar year, when he declared the innings allowing his team to have a chance of winning the game. However, they were only able to get 5 South African wickets, and were unable to force the victory.
If day 2 hadn’t been rained out, I think this Test could’ve been a classic. If it had gone down to a final day climax South Africa would’ve had the disadvantage of having only 9 wickets. This is because their batting all rounder Jean-Paul Duminy tore his achilles tendon doing fitness exercises after day 1. The hosts were missing their premier all rounder Shane Watson, the big hitting blonde was the man of the tournament at the World T20 and his over’s were greatly missed by captain Michael Clarke, who had to turn to a combination of himself, Michael Hussey and debutant Rob Quiney. However, because of Duminy’s injury South Africa had the same problem, with Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen bowling 14 over’s between them.
Roll on 2 more test matches.
Graeme Swann on Hashim Amla, “It was ridiculous, when he went out to bat he was fully shaven, and when he returned he had a beard down to his knees.”
Australia made 565 for 5 declared, and they already have 3 centurions, Ed Cowan made his maiden Test hundred with 136, Mr Cricket Mike Hussey made 100, and the captain Michael Clarke passed 1000 runs for the calendar year with a quite superb 259*. All this came against a South African attack which allowed England only 2 centuries during their whole series earlier in the year. The form of Michael Clarke is definitely going to put fear into any opposing bowlers. Most players will have one year in which they are almost invincible, and 2012 has certainly been that year for Clarke. He began with a double hundred and a triple hundred against India. Then he scored consistently against the West Indies before returning this week to score that unbeaten double at the Gabba against the South Africans. In reply the 3 centurions were the only players to get anything of note, and Clarke’s innings is made to look all the more brilliant when we realize that he came in with the score on 111-3. He was part of 2 double-hundred partnerships, and was on the verge of becoming the first player in history to make 2 triple-hundreds in a calendar year, when he declared the innings allowing his team to have a chance of winning the game. However, they were only able to get 5 South African wickets, and were unable to force the victory.
If day 2 hadn’t been rained out, I think this Test could’ve been a classic. If it had gone down to a final day climax South Africa would’ve had the disadvantage of having only 9 wickets. This is because their batting all rounder Jean-Paul Duminy tore his achilles tendon doing fitness exercises after day 1. The hosts were missing their premier all rounder Shane Watson, the big hitting blonde was the man of the tournament at the World T20 and his over’s were greatly missed by captain Michael Clarke, who had to turn to a combination of himself, Michael Hussey and debutant Rob Quiney. However, because of Duminy’s injury South Africa had the same problem, with Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Alviro Petersen bowling 14 over’s between them.
Roll on 2 more test matches.
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