What drama and tension, what a sensational finish and what a Test match. There was unbridled emotion when South Africa defied history and the odds to win the first test in that record run chase in Perth. The lads, led by the pugnacious Graeme Smith demonstrated the nerve and ambition to chase down the record second highest total of 414. The daily newspaper in Melbourne, The Age, carried a banner headline that read: ‘Official: Australia in recession – As the boom times fade into distant memory, South Africa hold their nerve to win at the WACA,’to reflect the mood of a nation slowly realising that their greatest export for almost two decades is in decline.
I always got the impression that the local media had a sense of apprehension when the Proteas arrived in Australia that their team have a big challenge on their hands. Quiet obviously, the team itself gave no such impression – professional to the end they were. But the cracks began to show late on the fourth afternoon when Jacques Kallis and AB De Villiers played a crucial hand to set the panic amongst Ricky Pontings men.
They batted with diligence and with growing confidence. In a period before the close of play, batsmen normally become circumspect when keeping their wicket intact. De Villiers and Kallis in particular, actually turned the tables and the match when they scored 34 runs in the last 3 overs of the day to leave their team needing just 187 with 7 wickets in hand in a total of 92 overs. It was the most crucial psychological upper-hand in the match, when exposing the inexperience in the attack. It was an advantage which the batsmen maintained for much of the memorable 5th day when they batted with uplifting self assurity and verve.
This was only South Africas sixth win in over 98 years of Test match battles between the two countries. Smith again challenged destiny.Earlier this year he achieved one of the great Test match victories and produced one of the the most memorable inning in Tests and by virtue of that seminal performance also achieved his country a series win over England in forty-three years. This time he again set his team on course with a most superbly crafted century, his first against Australia in over 9 innnigs. He inculcated unwavering self belief in his men and found a most willing ally in Hashim Amla to set their team on course.
Kallis has seldom outwardly demonstrated determination as he did in this Test. De Villiers’ has played two innings recently that has seen him settle at number six in the order. His 217 not out in Ahmedabad and 178 in Headingly gives comfort knowing he is developing into a reliable batsman. And JP Duminy? He was given a poor decision in his debut inning and was a ton of nerves in the second. He was so nervous at lunch, how he managed to focus for close on to an hour before the break was remarkable in itself. He reached the dressing room and headed for the washrooms where he threw-up and remained in his pads and gloves like a boxer between rounds. Team manager and doctor Mohamed Moosajee calmed his nerves and when he got to the wicket he played like a master of old and by the time he ran down the pitch and hit Jason Krejza for a six and four, he put the result in no doubt.
For most of the South African touring media that includes four of us from Radio 2000, four from Supersport and three wr iters, the target seemed very much an impossibilty. History suggested that the fourth innings chase over 400 is near impossible. That mark had until Sunday, only been breached twice before in 131 years of Test cricket to win a Test match. I for one have been on record to say in a snap poll among our media, that with a well paced and timed innings, with wickets intact the impossible can be achieved. It feels great to be vindicated, having full confidence and belief that this team had the resolve, inner-belief and potential to defy the odds.
What some of our Aussie broadcast colleagues did say during our commenatry stints while the game ebbed and flowed, was that the local public have long desired a strong and closely fought series. India came close on their tour last year. The question remains, will the Proteas actually achieve what teams have failed to do since 1988, to win a series in Australia. South Africa still have that hurdle to overcome – and it gets more difficult with two Tests still to play.
So all of the finer details and statistics will be read and scrutinised and savoured about this match. But for me this is a season of firsts, of teams achieving the impossible, of fantastic run chases and Test cricket getting the best exposure and advertsing it could hope to get without the razzmatazz and hype we see for the Twenty20 which craves to monopolise the game. India achieved their second highest run chase in early December to beat England, also coming from behind a first innings deficit. For those who want to see Test cricket relegated to the lower rungs and even put to pasture, this will deal a great blow.Finally, let me end by quoting one of my favourite writer and colleague, Australian Mike Coward, who is working with the Radio 2000 team for this series as the expert summariser; “ What joy, What pure joy. This was a Test match for the ages; one that surely convinced the non-believers that the game is pure and beyond compare.”
Aslam Khota in Perth
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