Michael Clarke must be wondering what all the fuss was about prior to November 2013. This Test cricket lark is actually a doddle! It doesn't matter who wins the toss; just rotate the centuries amongst the batsmen, tie the opposition down with Harris and Siddle, then let loose Mitch Johnson....
Against the undisputed number one side in Test cricket at fortress Centurion, the Aussies came, saw and conquered with surprising ease. A dispirited, tired, imploding England touring party is one thing but a full-strength (if Kallis-less) South Africa in their own backyard is surely another. Surely the world-class attack of Steyn, Morkel and Philander would prove too much for the recalled Shaun Marsh and debutant Alex Doolan? No chance.
Marsh's prevous six Test innings, at home against India, had yielded the magnificent total of seventeen runs. Last week, he made 148 and shared a 233-run stand with the increasingly impressive Steve Smith. OK, so the rest of the Aussie side failed miserably but, once Mitch Johnson, his Ashes moustache (almost) fully restored, tore into Smith, Petersen, Faf et al, the first innings of 397 looked more than adequate. Second time around, it was David Warner and new boy Doolan who produced a double-century partnership to set the home team a near-impossible target of 482.
Amla and AB De Villiers showed some resilience and strokeplay but it was another brilliant display of hostile fast bowling from Johnson who mixed the short stuff with some nagging off-stump deliveries and even a slightly slower ball which did for the dangerous AB. Harris and Siddle did the rest, accompanied by some fine catching, notably another brilliant reflex short-leg grab by Doolan off Duminy.
Suddenly the focus of the world's critics has shifted from Cook, Pietersen, Anderson and co to the previously solid Saffer squad. When Dale Steyn shuffled off after a tame edge to slip, his eyes suggested that, OK, while this game has gone, I'll be back to do a Mitch come next week, so watch out! If this series wasn't already a fascinating one, the manner of Australia's victory in the series opener has made it even more gripping than the winter Ashes contest. Australia have become genuine contenders for South Africa's mace but somehow I don't see Smith, Amla, AB and co folding like England did. I look forward to seeing what the home side are made of.....
