South Africa v Australia - Second Test, Day 5

The Australian mentality would ensure that they went for their final day target, which became 283 in a minimum of 85 overs after overnight rain led to a delayed start at St George's Park. With Mike Procter out of sorts, Bradman and Chappell began positively, both passing 50 as their partnership passed the hundred mark, but disaster struck with the total on 145-2.

Don Bradman, dropped at slip by the hapless Procter off Adcock in the previous over, was gloved by a viciously lifting delivery from Donald, and it was obvious in an instant that some severe damage had been done. The left glove came off and soon Bradman was off too, nursing a broken index finger that will force him to miss the remainder of the series.


Bradman had made 52, and although Chappell was still there, the victory charge was severely compromised, especially with Miller unable to bat. By lunch Australia were 157-2, effectively 157-4, and the South Africans chose this moment to move in for the kill. They were helped by the senseless run out of Border for 10, beaten by Goddard's throw to Tayfield when Chappell called for a badly judged second run, and when a mortified Chappell fell shortly after for 93, chipping Tayfield to the sure-handed Graeme Pollock, it was all over for Australia.

The tourists had been comfortably placed at 175-2 before Border's run out, but on a wearing wicket the innings folded alarmingly thereafter, and despite an hour's resistance from last pair Marsh (30) and Johnston (2*), the tourists were dismissed for 211, handing South Africa a 179 run victory and a 2-0 series lead.

It had been a dark day for Australia, their defeat compounded by the losses of Bradman and Miller to injury, and it may well be that we are witnessing the passing of the torch in the world of ATG Test cricket.

Close of Play, Day 5
SAF 1st Inns 437 (RG Pollock 195, Goddard 121, Waite 48; Davidson 6-100)
AUS 1st Inns 216 (Benaud 46, Davidson 40)
SAF 2nd Inns 169 (RG Pollock 43; Lillee 4-40)
AUS 2nd Inns 211 (Chappell 93, Bradman 52*)

SOUTH AFRICA WON BY 179 RUNS

Man of the Match: RG Pollock

South Africa v Australia - Second Test, Days 3 & 4

Australia's tail mounted a commendable fightback on day 3, a stand of 80 (the biggest of the innings) for the eighth wicket between Benaud (46) and Davidson (40) helping propel the tourists' total to 216 all out, a fair recovery from the depths of 103-7. With a lead of 221 Goddard decided not to enforce the follow-on, a decision that was met with mixed opinions in the press box, and by the end of the day the doubters seemed to have a point as South Africa stuttered to a score of 86-4 in 43 painful overs as Australia continued their resurgence.

Richards (6) again fell early, caught behind for the third consecutive time off Miller, and although Trevor Goddard became the first player to complete the double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets during the course of his innings of 13, there was little else to cheer for Springbok supporters. Davidson put in an excellent spell after tea, and it was left to Graeme Pollock - who else? - to hold the innings together. The only cloud for Australia was cast when Miller, fielding at silly point, had to leave the field in agony after being hit flush on the right shin by a Pollock drive off Benaud, and it is unlikely that we will see 'Nugget' in action again in this match.

South Africa continued to struggle on day 4, the early loss of Pollock for 43 - his first sub-fifty score of the series - setting the tone for the Springboks. Lillee claimed the vital scalp, and he was on his way to a career best return of 4-40 (Lillee has amazingly failed to capture a five wicket haul in 26 ATG Tests) as South Africa were bundled out for 169. Only Procter (30) and Graeme's brother, Peter (32*), offered any resistance, and Don Bradman must have been delighted with the way his team had fought back over the course of the second half of the match.

Australia still faced a titanic challenge if they were to pull off a most unlikely victory though, requiring the small matter of 391 to win with a minimum of 131 overs in which to score them, a task that was made all the more difficult when Procter and Donald once again removed Taylor and Woodfull with the innings barely underway. However, Bradman and Chappell managed to bat through to stumps unparted, and there were signs that the Don might just be recapturing some much needed form. Australia will begin the final day's play needing a further 283 to win, but avoiding defeat will probably be the number one priority for the tourists before any thoughts of a miraculous victory.

Close of Play, Day 4
SAF 1st Inns 437 (RG Pollock 195, Goddard 121, Waite 48; Davidson 6-100)
AUS 1st Inns 216 (Benaud 46, Davidson 40)
SAF 2nd Inns 169 (RG Pollock 43; Lillee 4-40)
AUS 2nd Inns 108-2 (Chappell 48*, Bradman 37*)

SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA - Second Test

St George's Park, Port Elizabeth

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, Davidson, Lillee, Johnston.

After their victory in Cape Town, it was no surprise that South Africa went with the same XI for the second Test, but Australia made two changes, with the fit-again pace duo of Lillee and Davidson replacing counterparts Thomson and McDermott. There was therefore still no place for ATG cricket's leading wicket taker, Bill O'Reilly, and as the events of the first day unfolded, one would not have been surprised to have seen a wry smile developing on Tiger's face.

Australia's attack was put to the sword on a hot and humid opening day in Port Elizabeth, with Graeme Pollock once again totally dominating proceedings out in the middle. It was a good toss to win for Goddard, although once play eventually got under way after a half hour's delay due to a damp run up, the early losses of Richards and Mitchell threatened to stymie South Africa's progress.

Enter Pollock though, and for the remainder of the day it was a Springbok run-fest as Bradman's attack were flayed all around St George's Park. By tea the score had moved on to 164-2, and a remarkable 203 runs were added in 43 overs during an extended evening session as the tourists' bowlers wilted alarmingly. Both Goddard and Pollock recorded centuries in a 225 run stand for the third wicket, and although Marsh gave lives to both batsmen - Goddard was put down in front of first slip off Lillee when on 10 and Pollock could have been stumped off Benaud on 60 - the batting was of the highest order.

Goddard eventually fell lbw to Chappell for 121 with Nourse following soon after, but Waite added 78 with Pollock before the close, taking the score to 367-4 to complete South Africa's dominance of the day, and with Pollock still there on 179*, Australia looked like facing a mammoth first innings score from the Springboks.

The nature of events on day two in P.E. could not have been in more stark contrast to those of day one though, as thirteen wickets fell for just 175 runs in an incredible day's cricket. In conditions less sapping than the previous day, Australia's left-arm duo of Davidson and Johnston ran riot, plucking out the last six South African wickets for only 36 runs to finish off the innings for 437. Pollock had advanced to 195 (410 mins, 290 balls, 21x4) before being brilliantly caught at first slip by Taylor off Johnston, and then Davidson took over, finishing with figures of 6-100 on his return to the side.

Woodfull and Taylor couldn't capitalise on the unexpected momentum granted their team by Davidson's burst though, and both were gone with just five runs on the board, victims of devastating yorkers from Donald and Procter respectively. The innings never recovered, and by the close Australia had slumped to a woeful 105-7, as South Africa's seam attack tightened their grip. Bradman again fell victim to a poor umpiring decison, given out caught behind for 31 when the ball appeared to brush sleeve, not bat, and Miller (3) was run out in the most unfortunate of circumstances, Procter deflecting a drive from Border onto the non-striker's stumps in his follow through, but other than that South Africa thoroughly deserved the success that came their way.

Australia now have it all to do to save this Test, and one wonders if their crown may finally be slipping after so long at the top of the tree.

Close of Play, Day 2
SAF 1st Inns 437 (RG Pollock 195, Goddard 121, Waite 48; Davidson 6-100)
AUS 1st Inns 105-7 (Bradman 31, Border 31)

South Africa v Australia – First Test, Day 5

Whatever the final outcome, one thing was for certain on the final day of this opening Test, and that was that Australia would make the Springboks fight tooth and nail for every run as they chased down their victory target. And so it proved to be, with just 60 runs coming in an edgy first session, but crucially no wickets fell. Thomson shelled a difficult chance as Goddard top-edged a Miller bouncer when on 44*, and Johnston hooped the ball around alarmingly under an overcast Cape Town sky. He felled Goddard with a bumper at one stage, but South Africa's second wicket pair went on to add 127 vital runs before both fell in the space of two overs after lunch, Mitchell caught in the cordon for 40 and Goddard run out by a tremendous McDermott throw for a brave 82.


At 128-3, still 106 away from victory, it was now down to Graeme Pollock to guide South Africa home, and with support from the middle and lower order he did just that. Miller bowled earnestly with the second new ball – he finished with figures of 3-39 from 24 overs – but to no avail, and Pollock's resolute, unbeaten 54 saw his team over the line with ten overs to spare. He batted out the last hour with brother Peter, and it was fitting that the brothers Pollock should be at the crease when victory came, theirs having been the two outstanding individual performances for South Africa over the course of the five days.

So, South Africa take a 1-0 lead, just as they did when the teams last met Down Under, but Australia came back to draw that series, and one would not bet against them doing the same here after an extraordinarily hard-fought first Test match.

Close of Play, Day 5
AUS 1st Inns 232 (Taylor 69, Woodfull 54, Chappell 53)
SAF 1st Inns 277 (RG Pollock 117; Johnston 4-51)
AUS 2nd Inns 278 (Border 112, Chappell 47, Bradman 45; PM Pollock 5-32)
SAF 2nd Inns 234-6 (Goddard 82, RG Pollock 54*, Mitchell 40)

SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 6 WICKETS

Man of the Match: RG Pollock

South Africa v Australia - Days 3 & 4

A tempestuous third day's play ended with the outcome of the match hanging in the balance, as both teams slugged it out like the heavyweights of world cricket that they are.

South Africa's tail managed to take the total to 277 and a lead of 45, the admirable Johnston finishing with figures of 4-51, and Australia were two down before they had wiped away the deficit as the Springboks again unleashed a hostile assault on the tourists' batsmen. Things came to a head when Donald sent down a beamer to Taylor, and it took the intervention of both captains - Bradman was the non-striker at the time - to calm the situation.

Donald did not bowl again in the day, but controversy reigned again when umpire Orchard sent Taylor on his way, lbw for 13, with Adcock's delivery seemingly swinging way down leg. Australia were clearly rattled at this stage, but gradually they clawed their way back against some very accurate bowling, Bradman contributing 45 in over three hours before playing on to Goddard. Chappell and Border's second 50 stand of the match took Australia past 150, but Chappell's dismissal for 47 shortly before the close tipped the scales again, and at 178-4, Australia led by 133 at the close.

A rainy fourth day was all about Allan Border who, with wickets falling regularly at the other end, took on the Springbok pacemen, cutting and pulling his way to his 8th ATG century as Australia continued to struggle against the hosts' pace attack. Richie Benaud (11) stuck it out long enough to help Border to put on 50 for the seventh wicket, but the tail folded again as Peter Pollock scythed through the lower order to pick up a deserved five wicket haul.

Border was last man out for 112, by which time Australia's total had grown to 278, but a target of 234 on a pitch that was losing its spite seemed to be within South Africa's compass. Barry Richards departed for 0 to Miller as he became Rod Marsh's 50th victim in ATG cricket, but Goddard (25*) and Mitchell (11*) survived another bumper barrage from Thomson and co, leaving South Africa to score a further 198 runs on the final day to win this vital first Test.

Close of Play, Day 4
AUS 1st Inns 232 (Taylor 69, Woodfull 54, Chappell 53)
SAF 1st Inns 277 (RG Pollock 117; Johnston 4-51)
AUS 2nd Inns 278 (Border 112, Chappell 47, Bradman 45; PM Pollock 5-32)
SAF 2nd Inns 36-1

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)

Top Batsmen & Bowlers

So, who has performed well at this level? Let's take a look at the batsmen first:

	M	Runs	HS	Avge	100s
DG Bradman	38	4785	414*	79.75	17
JB Hobbs	35	4104	295	67.28	13
RG Pollock	35	3504	252*	60.41	9
IVA Richards	38	3466	375	52.52	13
Javed Miandad	38	3241	248	48.37	8
Hanif Mohammad	41	3212	216	42.83	9
WR Hammond	36	3025	256	49.59	8
GS Chappell	37	2988	154	48.19	9
GStA Sobers	39	2873	154	47.10	8
L Hutton	31	2589	202*	45.42	9

Unsurprisingly, Bradman heads the list, both in terms of runs scored and average, but his performances haven't quite matched his real-life figures. However, when you consider the attacks he's had to face in the ATG universe, then his displays have been commendable!

Now for the bowlers...

	M	Wkts	Best	Avge	5I/10M
WJ O’Reilly	35	193	8-7	22.06	10/3
MD Marshall	37	151	6-32	26.48	5/0
AV Bedser	36	130	8-75	28.31	5/0
Imran Khan	34	129	5-49	27.63	3/0
RR Lindwall	38	128	7-72	25.80	4/0
FS Trueman	34	127	6-85	26.71	4/0
Abdul Qadir	34	127	6-72	36.69	8/1
TL Goddard	36	108	5-25	25.56	6/0
MJ Procter	28	102	6-52	27.24	3/0
HJ Tayfield	32	97	6-36	31.02	2/1

Australians thus sit at the top of every chart, perhaps underlining why they remain the number one ranked team in my ATG world.

Please feel free to post your comments on these performances, and I'll post any other records on request if you're interested.

Next up: Australia's tour of South Africa!

Gideon

Standings

OK, as promised, here are the standings as of Test #127:

	P	W	D	L	Pts
Australia	41	20	10	11	56
England	40	16	14	10	51
South Africa	36	14	11	11	49
Pakistan	41	15	12	14	46
West Indies	39	13	12	14	43
India	32	10	7	15	38
New Zealand	25	2	8	15	18

The 'Points' column is calculated thus: one point for a win, one third of a point for a draw then divide that total by the number of matches played. Australia have held the top spot since Test #1 v England (Australia still hold the Ashes, just as in the real world!), but they have stuttered during recent series and the teams behind them at the top are starting to bunch up.

Next up will be the top batsmen and bowlers in the ATG world.

Gideon

Welcome...

Hello, and welcome to 'Gideon's Cricket World', where you're going to find the results and summaries of my Test cricket replays, played using the PC version of International Cricket. For those interested, the dice and chart version of the game is available from Owzat Games, but unfortunately the computer incarnation is no longer around.

My matches involve the All Time Great (ATG) Test teams from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies, with the only restriction on selection being that players must have been retired from all forms of cricket for at least two years in order to be eligible.

I've played 127 Tests so far, spanning 32 series, and the results and summaries from some recent games can be found here.

In my next post I'll publish a 'Current Standings' table that ranks the countries, and also some similar tables showing the top individuals in my ATG world thus far. After that it will be on with the next series, which is Australia's trip to South Africa, which should be a very competitive match-up.

Gideon