SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA - First Test

Newlands, Cape Town

SAF: Richards, *Goddard, Mitchell, RG Pollock, AD Nourse, +Waite, Procter, PM Pollock, Tayfield, Donald, Adcock.

AUS: Woodfull, Taylor, *Bradman, GS Chappell, Border, Miller, +Marsh, Benaud, Thomson, McDermott, Johnston.

Whilst South Africa entered the series able to field their first choice XI, Australia's bowling ranks were again decimated, just as they had been in the series against New Zealand. Already without the crocked Lindwall for the tour, both Lillee and Davidson pulled out before this match, and a tail with Jeff Thomson coming in at nine looked decidedly vulnerable.

Australia began proceedings in most positive fashion though after Bradman won the opening toss, with Woodfull and Taylor both contributing half-centuries to an opening stand of 104 on a fast paced Newlands pitch. However, the innings lost its way after both openers were dismissed in the afternoon, and they were joined back in the pavilion by Don Bradman, who had taken almost an hour to score just 4 before being harshly judged caught behind off Donald by umpire Ashman, the ball having clipped pad and not bat on the way through to Waite. Chappell offered hope, passing 3000 runs during a well-crafted 53, but by the time Goddard snared him late on day one, the innings was already in free-fall.

Procter and Donald cleaned up the tail with an incredible new ball spell on the second morning, the last three wickets tumbling in consecutive deliveries, and Australia had slumped from 192-3 to 232 all out. Both Benaud and McDermott had been dismissed fending away rapid Mike Procter bouncers, and Australia replied in kind as South Africa’s reply got underway amid a hail of short pitched bowling, with Jeff Thomson in particularly ferocious mood. Goddard went for a duck, and when Richards (32) lost his off pole to Johnston shortly after lunch, the Springboks were 52-3 and struggling.

However, Graeme Pollock was proving more than equal to anything that Australia could throw at him, and supported by cameos from Nourse (31) and Waite (32) he plundered a sublime century from just 139 balls, truly one of the great innings. It was fitting that it took a piece of brilliance in the field to dismiss him, Marsh diving full length in front of first slip to scoop up a remarkable catch off Johnston, but his 117 had all but pushed South Africa into the lead, a feat which they duly accomplished before the close.

Close of Play, Day 2
AUS 1st Inns 233 (Taylor 69, Woodfull 54, Chappell 53)
SAF 1st Inns 248-7 (RG Pollock 117; Johnston 3-49)