South Africa v Australia, Third Test

The Wanderers, Johannesburg

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

AUS: Woodfull, Taylor, Harvey, GS Chappell, Border, *Benaud, +Healy, Davidson, Lillee, O'Reilly, Johnston.

At 2-0 down with 3 to play, Australia's tour was already going less than well before the teams even arrived in Johannesburg, but the confirmation that both Bradman and Miller would miss the rest of the tour through the injuries they sustained in Port Elizabeth only served to blacken further the cloud that hung over the tourists' camp. In fact, new captain Richie Benaud had only 12 fit players from which to choose at The Wanderers, with Marsh (rib) and Thomson (groin) also unavailable, whilst South Africa made just one change, Peter Heine replacing the unfit Alan Donald in the Springboks' pace battery.

Benaud made the bold move of inserting South Africa after winning the toss on the first morning, and when the hosts were reduced to 82-3 on a green wicket shortly after lunch, his decision looked justified. Richards had stroked a beautiful 43 before being harshly adjudged caught behind off Johnston by umpire Mitchley, but his innings showed that strokeplay was possible on this surface, and under clear skies Graeme Pollock and Dudley Nourse set about proving that point.

Pollock had been bowled off a Davidson no ball when on 9 and Nourse struggled early on, but Australia's grip steadily loosened as the day progressed as South Africa's fourth wicket pair took control. Pollock has been irresistible in the series so far, and his third century in successive Tests seemed preordained from his first ball. He passed 4000 ATG runs in the process and finished the day undefeated on 115, with Nourse joining him in three figures, contributing 107 to the pair's unbroken stand of 218 as South Africa finished the day on 300-3. O'Reilly sent down 21 fruitless overs on his return to the team, and Australia's chances of a morale boosting victory already looked slim after just one day's play.


Day two dawned hot and humid, and with the wicket regaining some of its first morning life, Australia struck back admirably, dismissing the Springboks midway through the afternoon as Lillee and Davidson ripped through the remainder of the innings. Pollock and Nourse were eventually parted with the second new ball, having put on 232 for the fourth wicket in almost even time, but from 314-3 the last seven wickets tumbled for just 70 runs, with only a belligerent, career-high 31 from Heine at number 10 causing Australia any further consternation.

Lillee and Davidson picked up four wickets apiece, but South Africa had still amassed 384, and both Woodfull and Taylor had to work hard as Australia replied. Nonetheless, the pair managed to put on 81 for the first wicket with Woodfull striking six boundaries in passing 50, but once Procter plucked out both openers in successive overs, it was backs-to-the-wall time once again for Australia.

The returning Harvey nicked Heine behind for 5 after a frustrating hour at the wicket, and when, in fading light, Chappell (24) top-edged a hook off the same bowler to Peter Pollock at mid off, Australia were well and truly behind the 8-ball once more. At 116-4 they enter day three still trailing South Africa by 268 runs, and inspiration needs to appear from somewhere for this beleaguered Australian team.

Close of Play, Day 2
SAF 1st Inns 384 (RG Pollock 122, Nourse 111, Richards 43; Lillee 4-84, Davidson 4-84)
AUS 1st Inns 116-4 (Woodfull 56)