Proteas have the edge for Perth
SA’S inspired performance in the second cricket test against Australia in Adelaide yesterday has given them the mental edge going into the series decider in Perth on Friday.
The Proteas started the final day with just six wickets standing and forced a draw with two wickets in the bank.
Australia threw everything into the fray for the 148 overs of SA’s second innings, but were stymied by the resolute batting of Faf du Plessis, whose 110 not out made him the fourth South African to score a century on debut.
The sight of Peter Siddle sinking to his haunches several times during his bowling performance summed up Australia’s day.
Siddle’s readiness for another match so soon is in question and the Australians have reacted by loading their squad for Perth with fast bowlers.
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, John Hastings and Mitchell Johnson are in the squad 14, while Shane Watson, who missed the first two tests with a calf injury, is also expected to be fit.
The Australians are also worried about the form of veteran batsman Ricky Ponting, who has been dismissed for nought, four and 16 in his three innings in the series.
“I see him scoring a triple hundred in Perth in the first innings, that’s how I see it, helping us win the third test,” a chirpy Michael Clarke said when he was asked how he saw the Perth test panning out for Ponting.
Graeme Smith would not have been ready to agree that that smacked of panic, but he knew a tired team when he saw one.
“Australia spent a lot in the last day-and-a-half and we’ll need to see how they reassess,” Smith said.
“It’s really a strengthening point for us because we didn’t play very well. We had another couple of big injuries that created hassles, but we managed to scrape through.
“We haven’t been at our best, but we still haven’t been beaten and that is a very rewarding feeling for us.
“With four down last night, probably the writing was on the wall. I just wanted to see the guys show a bit of character, and they represented us immensely. That was the most fulfilling thing.
“We wanted to go to Perth with the chance of winning a series in Australia again, and we have that opportunity.”
Smith described not being able to do anything but watch the day’s play build slowly to its climax as “terrible”.
“It got more and more tense. I don’t think I watched much of the last six overs, having watched most of the day. But once the fifth ball of the last over was bowled I was gone, I knew it was game over.”
With Vernon Philander – ruled out of the second test with a back spasm – due to return in Perth, SA’s major injury concern is Jacques Kallis, who played important innings in Adelaide despite a strained hamstring.
Smith confirmed that if Kallis played in the third test it would be as a batsman only.
‘ We wanted to go to Perth with the chance of winning the series