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Records tumbled on the first day of the Adelaide Test and a wounded South African team were at the receiving end of absolute pasting.
We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout the second Test match, with the day starting at 11.00am AEDT on November 23.
The fact that 482 runs were scored in a day makes it a monumental effort from Australia. That they were made against a side proclaimed to be the best in the world, with a bowling attack second to none, makes it scarcely believable.
Captain Michael Clarke was at the centre of it all and again. Scoring double-centuries has become second nature for him this year as he notched up his fourth on the first day’s play. A triple-century beckons for him on the second day.
Dave Warner, who had come into the game with a cloud hanging over his place in the side silenced his critics with a typically Warneresque century. His knock set the foundation for the Clarke-Michael Hussey stand that took the game so far away from South Africa that the visitors will now be left to do all the chasing.
Injuries played a part too. South Africa lost Vernon Philander at the start of the game and their best bowler on display in Jacques Kallis was left with a hamstring issue that has ruled him out of bowling further.
JP Duminy has already flown back to South Africa after his injury last game and with Dale Steyn surviving a fitness scare in the third session, the visitors were almost looking at divine intervention. Steyn returned back to the field but by then the Aussies had delivered many a mental scars.
How South Africa recover from the day that transpired will reveal the character of the team. On a very flat Adelaide Oval track, the remaining Aussie batsmen will look to up their career statistics, especially with Clarke on the cusp of joining an elite list of two-time triple-centurions.
At best, even if South Africa can trigger an equally stunning collapse on the second day, Australia will still be left with a score of around 550. Despite all the shenanigans about the pitch, South Africa will then need to overcome the negative mindset that could associated while chasing a total as tall as this to remain in the series.
With Kallis unfit, he will get to bat only at number seven or after the amount of time he spent off the field with his leg injury, which will add to the Proteas woes. It is here Graeme Smith’s ability to lead from the front will be tested as he looks at emulating his counterpart.
First things first though, Australia could well look at batting once in this game and if their opposition do not get early wickets, it may not be a bad idea for them to aim for a score in the region of 650.
This will achieve two things for the home team; not only will it add to the humiliation that has already been meted out to the world’s best bowling attack, it will also give the pitch a chance to deteriorate by the time South Africa come on to bat.
Exhausted bodies, weary minds and a score of 650 on the board against you can nullify the best of batting strips.
We will bring you the coverage throughout the game from the Adelaide Oval and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
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