Australia vs South Africa 3rd Test 2009: Australia Pulled off a Consolation Victory

(This entry was originally published on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009)

Going into the third test match of the series, Australia knew that it would not be possible to change the result of the series as they already lost the first two tests of the series, and thus, ensuring a rare test series defeat at home after a long time. Still, a victory with some inspirational performances in the third test was at the sight of Australian players. Moreover, they looked determined to hold on to the no. 1 position in test cricket, a place which was threatened by South Africa’s dominant in the first two matches of the test series.

Chasing down a winning target of 272 runs in the second innings, South Africa got all outfor 272 runs, handing Australia a 103-run consolidating victory. When South Africa’s injured Captain Graeme Smith, who came to bat to save a seemingly defeat despite his injury, got out for 3 as the last batsmen of the South African innings, there were only couple of overs left before stumps. Anyway, Australia got a much-needed victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground. South Africa won the series 2-1. Peter Siddle has got the man of the match award, while the man of the series award goes to Graeme Smith.

Australia vs South Africa 3rd Test 2009: Second Day Report

(This entry was originally published on Sunday, January 4th, 2009)

At the end of the second day, South Africa still seems to be a bit ahead of Australia in the match. Starting with previous days score of 267 for 6, Australia added 178 more runs today to take their first innings total to 445 losing all the wickets. However, South African batsmen also hit back strongly finishing the day on 125 for 1. However, the bad news for South African cricket fans is the injury of Captain Graeme Smith who was retired hurt as he fractured his left hand after reaching 30. South Africa is still trialing by 320 runs with 9 wickets at hand in the first innings.

Michael Clarke’s excellent knock of 138 was instrumental behind the huge total of host team in the first innings. Clarke completed his 10^th test hundred on his way to share a 142-run stand with Mitchell Johnson for the 7^th wicket. Johnson’s 64-run innings also helped Australia to put on a big total on the board. Dale Steyn and Paul Harris picked up three wickets each. In reply, South Africa started pretty well as two openers started playing shots off Australian pacers, but the visitors received a blow when Captain Graeme Smith had to leave the ground while on 30 not out, leaving South Africa 35 for 0. Hamish Amla then joined Neil McKenzie in the wicket, but Peter Siddle dismissed McKenzie for 23, forcing him in LBW trap. Hamish Amla and Jacques Kallis finished the day without any further damage as Amla is batting on 30 and Kallis is not out on 36.

Australia vs South Africa 3rd Test 2009: First Day Report

(This entry was originally published on Friday, January 2nd, 2009)

Today, the third and the final test match between Australia and South Africa started at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Winning the toss, Australia decided to bat first, but the host side could only reach at 267 losing 6 wickets at the end of the day. Opening pair brought a good start to Australian innings putting on 62 runs on the board. Mathew Hayden and Simon Katich scored 31 and 47 runs respectively. At this moment, Michael Clarke remains not out on 73 and the other unbeaten batsmen batting with him is Mitchell Johnson on 17 runs. Dale Steyn picked up two wickets today, while Ntini, Morkel, Kallis and Harris all got a wicket each. So, South Africa seems to be ahead in the match at this moment.

Australia vs South Africa 3rd Test 2009: Preview and Live Score

(This entry was originally published on Friday, January 2nd, 2009)

With the hope of avoiding a seemingly ‘white-wash’ at the hands of visiting South Africa, Australia is going to take on the visitors in the third and the final match of the three-match test series from January 3, 2009, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Losing the first two tests, host Australia has already lost the test series, a rare experience for the Aussies.

Match: Australia vs South Africa, Third Test, South Africa’s Tour to Australia 2008-09

Date: 3 January 2009, Saturday

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia

Kick off: 10:30 local time (23:30 GMT)

Graeme Smith-led South Africa was overly tipped to take a stern test of Australia before the series went underway, and South Africa did so pretty successfully wining the first two matches, while Australia failed to stave off the challenge thrown by South Africa. Now, the best Australia can do in the series is to finished it 2-1 in what would ensure them the top spot in ICC test ranking at least for a while. That is what, Australian captain Ricky Ponting is hoping to do in the final test match of the series.

Cricinfo reported:

At a team meeting before training on Friday the Australians outlined their goals for the year and focussed on a fresh start. “The culture that a lot of us grew up in was a very strong winning one and that’s what hopefully we’ve got to do for the younger guys coming into the side right now,” Ponting said. “I think it’s important that we move on from the last couple of weeks as quick as we can.”

Well, only time will say if Ponting and his boys will be bale to move on from this situation pretty easily, but for now, I have to say that Australia is under pressure ahead of the third match starting at SCG from tomorrow. Winning the first two matches, on the other hand, South Africa has already boost-up their confidence and is looking to sweep the series, winning the Sydney test too. A victory at Sydney would take South Africa at the top of ICC test ranking, replacing Australia. This is perhaps the biggest motivation for both sides ahead of the match. Australia will be dying for keeping some pride intact, avoiding a defeat in the final match, while South Africa will not leave any stone unturned to win at Sydney.

Australia will miss the services of a number of key players including pacers: Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, and all rounders: Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson for the final test of the series due to their injuries. So, Australia is going to feature two debutants in this test. Victorian all-rounder Doug Bollinger got a surprise call up when Symonds and Watson were ruled out for the match with injury problems, while left-arm pacer Doug Bollinger will play his debut test at his home ground SCG. Bollinger toured West Indies and India with Australian team but could not play any match. So, after many years, Australia is going to feature two left-arm pacers in the first eleven as Bollinger will join Mitchell Johnson. Off spinner Nathan Hauritz was impressive in the first innings of the second test and Australia will look for another special performance from him.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith is also a little bit worried about the two new men in Australian squad as the visitors do not have enough information about them. However, still South Africa is confident and wants to kick off the New Year with a strong performance against the reigning no. 1 of test ranking Australia.

Online Live Score and Updates
Here, I am giving some names of live score and update websites from where you can get the live score and updates of the match:

Cricinfo
Cricketnext
Cricket.sulekha
stickcricket
cricpoint
indvsauslivescore
cricbuzz
squidoo
Sify cricketworld

Australia is now under pressure as they are facing their first ever white-wash at home. However, South Africa can not afford to take the home side lightly as the Aussies could make a strong come back in the third match. I think, this will be a highly competitive affair and fans of both sides will enjoy the first test match of 2009.

Australia’s Decade Long Dominance in World Cricket Fading Away?

There has been a growing concern in world cricket that Australia’s dominance over the world is fading away day by day. After the loss in the test series in India, Australia has recently lost the first test against South Africa in the ongoing home test series. The 6-wicket defeat in Perth is seen as a threat to Australia’s dominance decade long dominance in the cricket world. South Africa posted an excellent 6-wicket victory in the Perth test, successfully chasing the second highest fourth innings target of 414 run in test cricket.

The most important thing is that South African batsmen did not have to struggle to chase down the big total thanks to centuries from Captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. Australian veteran pacer Brett Lee has been criticized for being failed to make his impact felt in the match, while fellow pacer Mitchell Johnson took 11 wickets in which 8 were taken in the first innings for 61. Andrew Hilditch, chairman of selection panel, thinks Brett Lee is very close to be back to his test and to do that he needs to bowl at 140-145 (km/h).

Man of the match AB de Villiers was full of praise about debutant JP Duminy, with whom he shared a 111-run unbeaten stand for the fifth wicket, in the post-match press conference. Captain Smith expressed his pride for both AB de Villiers and JP Duminy, who was not out on 50. The second test kicks off from 26 December in Melbourne. South Africa knows it very well that a victory in Melbourne would ensure their first ever test series win in Australia and it would also take them closer to the top spot in the test ranking. South Africa can replace Australia from the top of the test ranking by winning all the matches in the series.

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Walesonline

(This entry was originally published on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008)