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.
Roddie
Guest
The SA batting is very slow almost to the point of being negative.
dasilva
Roar Guru
I wouldn't even agree with best SA bowling line up either Philander is a new bowler and despite his excellent start we can't really judge how good he is and he did struggle that day. He could become world class or he could fade back to the pack become like Brett Lee and be a solid bowler or he may fade away. morkel average 30 with the bowl which is pretty average and only Steyn is an all time great bowler. I think a bowling attack of donald, pollock and devilliers/ntini in the 90's were better and only steyn would conclusively make that team
Matt
Guest
Not really - the first 3 made the pitch look like it was made of pebbles, when in reality it's batting paradise, aka all the centuries. We never should have lost 3 so quickly, it's an alarming trend.
Matt F
Roar Guru
They both bowl leg-spin as well, though Warne's tended to land on the batsmans half of the pitch rather than his own
Jason
Guest
Adelaide 2006 anyone? Warner is pretty close to Warne.
Jason
Guest
We seem to be making a habit of it. The SCG this year was similar.
Brett McKay
Expert
4/487. It's a pretty fair recovery from 3/40...
Matt F
Roar Guru
In fairness to Donald he did say it was the best SA bowling line-up ever, not the best ever of any nation. Before today many of us would have agreed with him as well!
Harry
Guest
What an absolute spanking for "the best bowling attack ever seen' ... copyright Allan Donald. Sole wicket was a run out! And a lucky one at that.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Incredible when you see the 3 or 4 english players on the list who have all played 11 tests yet are 300+ behind him!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
So we will start the fifth day with the tide having totally turned. It began with South Africa at 2/255 at the end of the first day, which was followed by a couple of fightbacks, one bigger than the previous. First South Africa were bowled out for 450 before Australia ended on 3/111 on the third day. One thought that the South African bowlers would come back fresher today and manage to bowl the home team out or get close to doing it by the end of the day. Instead, the home team bat on for the loss of only one wicket in the day - Ed Cowan to a run-out after he had gotten himself a maiden hundred. The fifth day now opens up many possibilities with Australia now looking to get quickly to around 150 as their lead before putting the pressure back on the South African batsmen. And the Australian bowlers will have a second chance to prove that their first-day show was a one-off. Lot to look forward to then on Tuesday and I will be with you for the entire duration of the game.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
This partnership is going at a cracking pace. The whole day has been, actually. 1/372 the day's tally, if I'm doing my sums right.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! The last ball of the day samples how the entire day went for the teams, it is one outside the off-stump and Hussey gets an edge down to the third-man for a four! Australia end on 4/487, 37 ahead with Clarke and Hussey unbeaten on an 188-run stand. No South African bowler took a wicket today!
Red Kev
Guest
Ch9 just shown a graphic showing Clarke has notched up 1000 runs in 7 tests so far in 2012 EDIT - damn it, beaten to the post
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Clarke's gotten himself 1000 Test runs this year. At an average of 111. Great going from the captain given that the next best is 791 (Hashim Amla!)
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! He is making them count now. Part-time bowlers are going to have only so much effect and the one pitched on the off-stump is being driven down the ground for a four! 218 to Clarke. 4/483 with one over to go.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Clarke's throwing his bat at them now. Punch through the covers followed by a slash through point for a four! That takes Clarke to 207 and Australia to 4/472. It is Dale Steyn who is facing the brunt incidentally.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Right, so about 10 minutes to the close. The Aussies are 15 ahead and will not declare overnight I think. They will be targeting a lead of 125-150 in the first session tomorrow before putting the Saffers in. Ed Cowan in his interview with Mark Nicolas said that the pitch is cracking up a little. A few footmarks here and there but one never knows with the pressure of batting to save the game on a last day! 4/465.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Tremendous, absolutely tremendous. Dead pitch or no, he salvaged glory from the miserable shattered earth of our top order. Along with Cowan and quite possibly Hussey. Hussey taking me back to those golden moments where taking a wicket against the Australians only meant bringing another terrible foe to the crease.
Red Kev
Guest
Clarke's form this calendar year is just ridiculous