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A favourite song in the South African dressing room, apart from the national anthem and their team victory song, is surely “Anything you can do we can do better/We can do anything better than you!”
And they have shown that they can, not just in this third Test, but throughout the series.
In the first Test the rain and the bat dominated, with innings hundreds from Kallis and Amla to go with the centuries from Clarke and Hussey.
In the second Test again bat dominated. Australia’s batsmen attacked and South Africa’s defended, with the defence getting the better. South Africa’s bowlers out-played their Australian counterparts. In the second innings, the Proteas bowlers did the job the Aussie attack could not.
Third Test and Australia were buoyant after their new attack did a good job. Then up comes South Africa and does the job twice as well to take a significant lead. When the batsmen got their turn again, the display of power from the Proteas was brutal.
The game, the series and the number one ranking were signed and sealed by the batsmen and delivered by the bowlers.
What does all this show? Predominantly, Australia has a hell of a long way to go before it should even begin to think about being number one.
All the talk about Australia’s bowling depth has been shown to be an illusion. Injuries happen but the depth has not covered these holes.
Perhaps only Lyon and Starc could claim to have improved or bowled well, while Siddle has shown courage and heart.
Among the batsmen there have been glimpses of potential from a few and proven class from the established players. Hopefully with Ponting’s retirement a gaping deficiency in the top order can be narrowed.
Can it be narrowed in time for the Ashes? Probably not.
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