Since South Africa came in from the cold in 1992, they have won only three of the fifteen Tests played in Australia. The first was a classic at the SCG in January 1994. Shane Warne took 7-56 and Michael Slater struck 92 to give the home side a healthy first-innings lead. Only Jonty Rhodes defied Warney in the second, but the Aussies needed only 117 to win with more than a day remaining. The crowd were allowed in for free but the home supporters were in for a nasty shock as Fanie de Villiers (6-43) and Allan Donald (3-34) bowled the Proteas to victory by just five runs.
It was nearly fifteen years before they enjoyed another success Down Under. In the mean time they were destroyed 3-0 by Steve Waugh's team in their pomp in 2001-2, then 2-0 four years later. It should have been tighter had Ricky Ponting not accepted the second innings challenge made by Graeme Smith. Declaring just before lunch on the final day, SA set the visitors 287 to win. Matthew Hayden and Ponting shared a second wicket partnership of 182 at almost a run a ball, and the latter secured victory with 143 not out in 159 balls.
Forward to Perth in December 2008, and Mitch Johnson's 8-61 set up a 94-run lead. The Aussies topped 300 again, leaving South Africa 414 to win, something only one team had achieved before in Test history. Plenty of time remained, however, although Graeme Smith was in belligerent mood, striking a brisk 108. Amla and Kallis chipped in with 50s but it was AB De Villiers and debutant JP Duminy who embarrassed the Aussie attack by claiming victory by a massive six wickets.
The Boxing Day Test started well for the home side, as the MCG crowd enjoyed a Ponting hundred on day one. A day later, SA were struggling on 198-7 but then that man JP stepped up to the plate. He put on 180 with Dale Steyn for the ninth wicket and now the Aussies were on the back foot. Steyn steamed in with the ball and took 5-67, while only 'Punter' provided stern resistance, eventually dismissed by Morkel for 99. The target of 183 was a piece of cake for Smith, McKenzie and Amla, and South Africa had their first series success in Australia for decades. The home team achieved a consolation victory in Sydney thanks largely to Michael Clarke's runs and Peter Siddle's wickets, but this signalled the start of Australia's slide from the pinnacle.
Now at the end of 2012, it's South Africa who stand proud at the top of the Test rankings, although Clarke's side have advanced to third and could displace Smith's men in the next month or so. This time last year they shared the spoils in SA but now, on paper, it's the Saffers who look so strong throughout the team, while the Aussies are suffering from injuries to some key men like Shane Watson and just about all their promising young pace bowlers. If only they could field a settled side, they might just have a fighting chance and not have to resort to psychological warfare (i.e. sledging) to wrest back control.
With De Villiers keeping wicket, it may mean that there is space at seven for that man Duminy to reprise his heroics of four years ago. That is, assuming he gets a bat with Smith, Amla, Kallis, AB et al ahead of him. The Proteas' attack of Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis and Imran Tahir just looks too good and too consistent for the Aussies to dominate. They seem to have a knack for sharing out the workload and wickets so it's the team rather than individuals that has carried South Africa to the top of the mountain just as it did for Australia ten years ago.
