The true surreal nature of the contest was summed up by Alan Border in commentary remarking that he had batted in an innings longer than this Test had indeed lasted. A game so full of the bizarre and freakish, ended with sanity being restored with South Africa brushing the rust off their 1st innings all round performance. To truly victimise an inept Australia.
If you look at the game honestly, the competitive stages in the game for Australia were propelled by the freakish coupled with the relative rust of a South African Team that hasn't played in near on a year in Test Cricket.
Let us look at the flaws and merits of both.
South Africa
In running the rule over South Africa's performance. You cannot help but be critical of their very substandard performance in the 1st innings with both bat and ball.
Though in forgiving the ineptness of the 1st innings, you can give the very credible excuse of their ridiculously long absence from the test arena to explain it.
The typical relentless nature of the South African bowling attack that was so evident in the 2nd innings was so lacking in the 1st. This epitomised by allowing Australia to get to 284 on a pitch that was assisting the bowlers after they had reduced them to 6/163.
Then the batting would have been embarrassing for an under 15 school girls side. Shane Watson's very refined medium pace was a huge factor in the total of 96, but then the batsmen accentuated his threat by a lack of Test batting. Still, very much in ODI mode with not a straight bat to be seen.
For everything deplorable in the 1st innings performance, the 2nd innings was every bit as remarkable. The highest respect needs to be given for their ability to fight back when they were very much on the ropes. Then the supreme skill they showed within the comeback
Star Men
The Pace Trio
The debutant Vernon Philander was a worthy recipient of the man of the match performance with his expert use of the conditions that saw him net match figures of 8/78. Though the bowling unit as a whole was truly breathtakingly good taking 247/20.
A figure made even more remarkable, when you take into account that both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were far from the top of their games due to a long lay off
Graeme Smith
The plaudits for the spectacular ease of the tricky 2nd innings chase mostly went to the aesthetically pleasing Hashim Amla stroke play. Which was a huge factor in the victory, but very much supported by the dropped catches off him. Crucially off the last ball in day 2 when Amla was only on 29.
It would not be out of line to stay that if that catch was taken, the finish to the match would definitely have been more hotly contested, and the result even might have been different. Due mainly to the huge momentum swing it represented.
The play of Graeme Smith was so assured in forging the belief in a victory chase, and then so shifting in gears to dominate when the Australians had the wind taken out of their sails.
A flawless, chanceless 101* was of the highest calibre. Made even more note worthy by the extreme pressure he had been under in South Africa after the World Cup failure, and his perceived 'lapse attitude'
Unfair in the extreme, for a player in the Test arena, who has been one of its finest and most respected performers
Australia
What can you say about Australia that is not harsh in your critique?
A score of 47 in the 2nd innings was seen by most as being a freak result, but Australia's recent past in batting has been littered by its fragility. So against a very fine bowling unit on a pitch offering a little support it was hardly surprising
Especially when you take into account, the huge reliance on Mike Hussey of late to prop up the huge holes in the batting line up. That, when he failed were ruthlessly exposed by the rampant South African bowling.
Star Men
Michael Clarke
In all aspects of his performance, the Australian Skipper deserves a standing ovation.
His breathtakingly brilliant 151 in the 1st innings was an innings of the highest calibre. When you take into account the pressure he was under coming in at 3/40 on a willing deck, and against a very formidable attack.
Then his scathing attack on the teams batting for a deplorably inept batting performance showed a leader that won't shirk the issues. Rather taking responsibility for them, and demanding a better display
The Worries
The batting line up is just not up to scratch.
This was underlined in the 2nd innings shame of being dismissed for 47. I say this for in a game that is just in the 2nd day, and you have a lead of 186.
How should you bat?
Conservatively, and with a determination that with time on you side there is no excuse for not at least getting to 250, and a lead of over 400. Though, the Australian batsmen seemed to be averse to my old mans view with them batting as though they were in an ODI, and having to score at over 8 an over.
Granted, the bowling was high class, and the pitch offered a bit of assistance, but the South African attacks greatest gift was the giving nature of the Australian batsmen. The ridiculous choice of shots in the circumstance made you think that Christmas has come early and they were dressing as Santa for Steyn and Co!
Only Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke at present are anything approaching Test class with the jury still out on Shaun Marsh. Especially his toughness for the test arena in lieu of him choosing to come in at 10 in the 2nd innings because of a back ailment. Rather than deal with the pain, and try to stop the haemorrhage like bleeding by coming in at 7 at the lowest.
Alan Border, a man who bleed for the Baggy Green as emphasised by batting against the fury of the West Indies with broken hands was trying his best to bite his tongue in Commentary. For you knew he wasn't impressed in the slightest by Marsh's 'weakness'
Away from Marsh, the opening partnership is an accident waiting to happen.
The initial success seen in Shane Watson's stop gap tenure at the top has well and truly gone past it's used by date, and he needs to revert to 6 in the line up. Not only to prop up his batting that has seen him struggle with an average of 19.66 in 9 innings in 2011, but also to fully capitalise on his value to the Team. This by allowing him to become more a full time contributor to the bowling.
Phil Hughes, sorry mate, but your not a Test batsmen bootlace with your shoddy technique.
Ricky Ponting needs to retire.
Then a very fine contributor with the bat in Brad Haddin is experiencing a real low time in his career- 2011 average of 14.55. Well down on a career average of 36.36
When you combine all the ingredients of the batting line up- well the end result is Team totals of 47 against great attacks!
Mirchell Johnson NEEDS to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can anyone give me one reason why Johnson is still in the Test Team?
For one can only live on your past performances, and potential of what might be for so long. Till your continuous rubbish bowling undermines the rest of a respectable bowling unit to make you have to be removed from it
An average of 37.94 in his 16 Tests since the start of 2010 is well down on his career average of 30.73, and hardly worthy of selection. Especially when you take into account his 2011 average of 51.63.
Then made worse is not only his loss of threat, but also the fact that he leaks so many runs through his consistent bowling of one or two buffet deliveries an over
Pure and simple, he has used up all his past credits, and needs to go!
My Team for the 2nd Test
In truth, there are not much quality in the depth of the squad. If I had my choice Simon Katich would be on the next flight to Johannesburg. Though after his outbursts, there is more chance of Bradman rising from the dead and batting at three for Australia in the 2nd Test.
Pure and simple, Phil Hughes and Mitchell Johnson need to go, and Shane Watson moved down the order. I don't view Pat Cummins as Test class as yet, but on a pitch in Jo'bourg that supports pace. It is perfectly suited for his express pace.
Making the Team this
Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon
Looking Forward
South Africa seems to have blown the dust out of its engines, and seems ready to fire on all cylinders. Whereas Australia is in tatters with as many holes in its line up as a piece of Swiss cheese.
So the 2nd Test will more than likely be a complete mauling for Australia. More than likely by an innings
GeoSuper