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Australia recovered from a precarious position on the third day of the Brisbane Test against South Africa but much work remains to be done on the fourth day to save the game.
We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action throughout the first Test match, with day four of the match starting at 10.30am AEDT.
Day 4 preview: Australia bowled well to restrict South Africa to 450 but stumbled at the start of their innings to pass the advantage back to them.
At 3/374 at one stage, South Africa looked good to get around to more than 500 and grind the opposition bowling. A combination of an improved bowling length from the Australians and South Africa’s desire to up the ante towards the end resulted in just a further 76 runs.
In reply, Australia’s weakness at the top of the order came to the fore.
Dave Warner nicked one from Dale Steyn to the slips and Morne Morkel followed it up with a couple of quick wickets of debutant Rob Quiney and Ricky Ponting.
At that point Australia were 3/40 within the first 10 overs, staring down the wrong end of a barrel with the opposition bowling breathing fire.
An unusually aggressive Ed Cowan and captain Michael Clarke batting with freedom allowed Australia back into the game with their unbeaten 71-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Cowan, like Kallis on the first day, was lucky to survive a caught-behind appeal when it was ruled that the bowler had sent down a no-ball. Hot-Spot showed that he had gloved it to the keeper.
If the weather remains fair, Australia still have work to save this Test match.
They are a good 140 runs away from saving the follow-on, which will be their first major hurdle. Then, they will need to start chipping away at the lead alongside reducing the time South Africa will be left with to force a win.
For that to happen, the current pair will hope to see out the first one hour. Batting against the older ball will be easier, especially now that South Africa have no remaining spinner and with Rory Kleinveldt having had an inauspicious start to his career.
Steyn and Morkel could be used in short bursts but they could still shoulder a bulk of the bowling responsibility on the fourth day with Vernon Philander expected to nick a few.
We will bring you the coverage throughout the game from the Gabba in Brisbane and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
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