David Quinlan: "For a top class team to lose 6 for 23 is disgraceful. Not even a yelp from the tail, and all the hard work from Hughes and Katich comes undone!"
Australia must have been eyeing a score of well above 400 after that opening stand but lost their way badly, particularly today. They lost their last six wickets for just 23 - and their last five for just 4 - as the South African seamers tore away at them, troubling their batsmen especially with the short ball. The pitch has helped the bowlers today so Johnson and Hilfenhaus will bank on some assistance.
BW Hilfenhaus c Smith b Steyn 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Hilfenhaus, the No.11, comes in
PM Siddle c †Boucher b Steyn 0 (10m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Dale Steyn to start the proceedings
All set for the start of the post-lunch action. South Africa have fought back superbly, but they still need to finish the tail. Andrew McDonald, who was picked as an allrounder, is still there.
David: "Well they said at the start of the series that this was going to be a battle of the tails. I hope Australia isn't resting on its laurels. Can somebody please explain to Michael Clarke why wickets at the end of the day are so important!"
END OF OVER:107 | 3 Runs | AUS: 351/8
- Peter Siddle0 (3b)
- Andrew McDonald3 (6b)
- Jacques Kallis15-4-49-2
- Makhaya Ntini19-4-58-2
And that's lunch on day 2. It was some session. Some of it will find its way to Youtube. Dale Steyn pumped up the pressure in a spell that featured lots of bouncers. Michael Hussey struggled as he hopped around the crease. One hit his helmet, a few flew past his startled face and Morne Morkel picked him with a lovely full length delivery. Morkel too was pretty steady today, hitting the right areas and getting the ball to cut away. Kallis and Ntini replaced the duo and induced errors from the new batsmen. At lunch on day 2, South Africa would be happy but it would be mixed with a tinge of regret at yesterday. Australia would be glad that they are still in a good position, courtesy Phil Hughes and Katich's innings yesterday. Game on. Join us in a short while.
Mark sums up the first session for Australia: "I got my kids into bed, we were 340ish for 5. I come back a few mins later and we're 8 down for not too many runs more. I'm shaking my head AGAIN!"
Bob Smith from OZ: "Hussey struggled to 50. He misreads those deliveries often. His form of the past 18 months has been average ie. high 30's. He has been figured out and hasn't modified his game. Plays too much like a robot. Needs to free up his game and watch the ball."