Sydney Test heads for thrilling finale

I'm following the latter stages of this match remotely as I am in France on a rowing mission and for some reason French TV doesn't think Australia v South Africa merits a mention on the evening news bulletins. But what a fascinating finish is in prospect for what has been a real rollercoaster series. And how ballsy of Australia to set South African only - only! - 376 to win, even if they are a batsman down, after the way the first Test went. No doubt Ricky Ponting wanted to give his weaker bowlers the most overs possible to dismiss SA, but even so: only 376 to defend in 116 overs. That takes courage. Or pressure to win.

I got some stick from South Africans who felt I was disrespecting their side by suggesting they could have been 2-0 down in the series rather than heading for a 3-0 clean sweep. I simply meant that this has been such an up and down series, a brilliant advert for Test cricket, that South Africa have had to emerge from positions of some weakness in order to win. This reflects well on them, I meant to say, because they have been able to sieze the game by the scruff of the neck, rather than choke as they used to.

But don't deny that Australia - even this Australia - couldn't have won the first two after the chances they put themselves in. No one chases 414 to win a match, but South Africa did. And at 170-odd for seven in the second Test, still trailling by 200, they looked gone again until Duminy showed his class and Steyn chose that moment to double his career best. Great achievements and not lucky at all (Well, Steyn was a bit after being dropped three times...) but they could still have been 2-0 down if things had just ticked differently.

And now we have a thrilling final day in prospect. 314 in a day to win? It's been done before. Or Australia taking eight wickets to stop South Africa usurping them as No 1 (I assume Smith won't bat unless it is very tight at the end)? Where is your money going?

Comments

[kap]

Dick, if the Sydney Test was the fault of the guest team why did most of the Australian press and indeed most of their past greats blame the home side? As for over celebrating, didn’t some of the Australian team accuse the Indians of that following the 20/20 World Cup? Or what about Gilly claiming Indians don’t shake hands yet ignoring Kumble and whooping it up instead. Just another line to the list of Australian cricketers telling the rest of the world to do as we say and not as we do.

On the BCCI, of course it is self serving. The clue is in the name. And Harbhajan the most hated man in cricket? He’s a long way behind Symonds, Hayden, Ponting, et al. I don’t recall too many of his opponents slating him in the press the way so many players have the Australians I mentioned.

And can you stop perpetuating the Harbhajan racially abused Symonds story. A qualified judge found no case. In fact the judgement was rather scathing of the conduct of the Australian players but let’s ignore that fact and label Tendulkar a liar.

Glad you enjoyed the South Africa series. India-England was a cracker too. Plenty of needle but as Yuvraj said the teams would leave it on the field and have a beer afterwards. Unlike a certain team that talk about playing hard but go squealing to the umpires at every turn. And it really is hilarious how you champion Smith as a great man. Especially in light of all the names you Aussies have called him in the past. As I said: Anyone But India. Enjoy booing India over the next few years; I hope it lessens the pain of your team getting beaten regularly.

[Richard]

Kap, 'revisionist' my @rse.

I know noone will ever convince you otherwise but the Sydney test debacle of 2008 reflected the petulant and disgraceful behaviour of the tourists. To blame Aus for celebrating too much after a remarkable win or because of poor umpiring decisions is delusional.

This summer's series has been a wonderful advertisement for cricket and i applaud the two sides for their behaviour. And enjoy Australia's slide now because before too long they will be back.

.India's behaviour by both players and the BCCI has been and is consistently self serving and reprehensible. Is H.Singh the most hated man in world cricket? if not he should be... imagine the backlash if he was Australian and he'd racially abused a competitor or worse still assaulted another player! And the untouchable Tendulkar lied to protect the miscreant in syd. Then the BCCI bullied the spineless ICC into backing down on their original decision. Pathetic all round.

And only a real cynic could find fault with Ponting's declaration in syd... give credit where it's due. It was a great match that displayed what's best about cricket. Smith what a man! Same couldn't be said about what happened 12 months ago.

Kap, it seems every post you make is an exaggerated and selective attack on the Australian cricket side. They've really messed with you head over the years haven't they... i love it.

[kap]

Greg, I think most people would be of the opinion that the two best teams at the moment are South Africa and India. Australia has won one match in nine against the two in the last 12 months.

As for Australians playing fair, interesting one. Since Sydney (when even their own supporters expressed disgust at their conduct) they have undoubtedly behaved themselves. How much of this is due to the acceptance they had over stepped the mark and how much is due to the realisation that their bully boy tactics look silly when they keep getting beaten is the real question. Also I imagine with all the infighting in the squad it is hard to save energy to take on the opposition! And to imply that the Indian tourists were responsible for the “antics” of last year is revisionist nonsense. It’s laughable and insincere to laud the South African tourists as such good chaps when they were treated with contempt the last time they came. Obviously a case of Anyone But India. And you’re delusional if you think scrapping a win in a dead rubber is “not far away from getting back to normal.” Enjoy the victory as you’ll get walloped in South Africa and then lose the Ashes too.

Other than that, great post.

[Aidan Gilhooly]

Surely Leslie the idea behind Pontings declaration was to set Australia's bowlers a realistically achieveable target. I am pretty sure it had absolutley nothing to do with Pontings "sportsmanship" as he has proven many times he is far from a consumate sportsman.

[Greg Oz]

Well: the game is done and won, and the excellence of the contest is obvious. This was indeed a contest between the two best teams going around, and I agree with the author that it could have easily been 3:0 to Oz. But it wasn't. The Suids played rearguard as if their lives depended on it. Their run chase in Perth was amazing. Their effort in passing the Oz 1st innings in Melbourne simply freaky. But as the Ozzies showed in Sydney, it takes such efforts to beat Australia.

But this series also has given lie to the idea that the Australians do not play fairly. This was a tough series. Smith batting with a broken hand was to me a lesser feature of the contest. What it was showed that the Australians have regained their 'killer' streak. It still has a way to go, but it is not far away from getting back to normal. And it is tough cricket that is the feature; not antics like we saw last year with India.This series was played with mutual respect; something a bit lacking from some previous visitors but a feature of these last few weeks.
The games were played without compromise; with the keenest of agression, power and finesse. It is as the game should be played, and I look forward to the return games in SA later this year.

Greg

[Mike]

Watch your language. "Ballsy"? I was hoping this IS The Times, not some tawdry tabloid.

[Patrick Kidd]

Paddy
Absolutely. Read the end of my Ponting Ashes Hero to see me saying the very thing - although I zent for 3-1, but you are right, it could have been 3-0; Close series hinge on small things. I do try to be fair!

[Paddy]

Patrick, it wasn't just the Saffers giving you stick on that comment and your explanation doesn't really mitigate what you said. South Africa did not ride their luck any more than Australia, eg Ponting cashing in in Melbourne after being dropped on 24. The better side shone though for sure. But pray do tell, do you think by the same token, that England could just as easily found themselves 3-0 down in the 2005 Ashes?

[kap]

Leslie, Ponting a glorious sportsman? Your description doesn't reconcile with his behaviour of the past few years. He's set a 'sporting' target knowing full well that Smith is unable to bat and his bowlers will need all the time they can get. It was probably also done for PR reasons so the more gullible will buy the line you are peddling. Ponting can't really lose: if SA go for it they are more than likely to lose wickets and give the Aussies a chance. If they actually pull it off then Ponting will claim it was only due to his 'sporting' nature. If SA fail then Ponting will be hailed a great captain. Job's a good 'un.

My money will be on a South African defeat simply because they have already won the series and it doesn't matter. An Australian victory will only paper over the cracks within the team.

[Leslie Udwin]

Ponting is an unbelievable sportsman We have forgotten what the GLORY of sport is all about.It takes people like Ponting who are there for the glory of the GAME and its excitement to remind us. Austrailia should be proud that Austrailia have put the game 1st..even before victory.

[Rod Baker]

It is possible; before now against Oz we chased down 374 in an ODI, and twice on this tour we have shown what we can do.

Here's hoping we can repeat the performance.

[lejuan]

Australia don't have the firepower to get the remaining 8 wickets needed for victory. Siddle and Johnson have had their moments, but they'll need to be at the top of their game come day 5. Great declaration from Ponting though - finally, some gumption (albeit one series and two tests too late...)