Lee way for South Africa
Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fifth day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Cricinfo staff
21-Dec-2008
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Missed it by that much
On a day like this Australia needed to take every half-chance that came their way. A ball that skimmed just above Brett Lee's head was more of a quarter-chance. AB de Villiers was on 67 when he drove Jason Krejza in the air down the ground and Lee at mid-on could not quite find the ball above his head. There were so few millimeters in it that had the fielder been a six-foot-sixer like Stuart Clark he might just have reached it.
On a day like this Australia needed to take every half-chance that came their way. A ball that skimmed just above Brett Lee's head was more of a quarter-chance. AB de Villiers was on 67 when he drove Jason Krejza in the air down the ground and Lee at mid-on could not quite find the ball above his head. There were so few millimeters in it that had the fielder been a six-foot-sixer like Stuart Clark he might just have reached it.
Four important minutes
After the late finish on the fourth day, when stumps was not called until 8.03pm, the players had to front up for an early start on the final morning. Well, four minutes early. There had been 64 minutes lost to rain on day four and the extra hour left a small amount of time still to be made up, so play began at 11.26am instead of 11.30am. Hope the players adjusted their alarm clocks accordingly.
After the late finish on the fourth day, when stumps was not called until 8.03pm, the players had to front up for an early start on the final morning. Well, four minutes early. There had been 64 minutes lost to rain on day four and the extra hour left a small amount of time still to be made up, so play began at 11.26am instead of 11.30am. Hope the players adjusted their alarm clocks accordingly.
Krazy decision
Krejza must have been wondering where he fitted in Australia's plans when Ricky Ponting turned to the part-time spin of Michael Clarke in the first session. Krejza was not called on until five minutes before lunch, when he immediately found turn and bounce and troubled JP Duminy.
Krejza must have been wondering where he fitted in Australia's plans when Ricky Ponting turned to the part-time spin of Michael Clarke in the first session. Krejza was not called on until five minutes before lunch, when he immediately found turn and bounce and troubled JP Duminy.
Another unwanted century
Four consecutive hundreds is a brilliant way to start a Test career, unless you're a bowler. Krejza became the first man to concede triple figures in each of his first four Test innings when Duminy launched him for a six over mid-on in the second session. Krejza ended up giving away 102 runs, the same amount as in the first innings. But he will do well to ever finish a match with more runs against his name than on his Test debut in Nagpur, where he went for 215 and 143.
Four consecutive hundreds is a brilliant way to start a Test career, unless you're a bowler. Krejza became the first man to concede triple figures in each of his first four Test innings when Duminy launched him for a six over mid-on in the second session. Krejza ended up giving away 102 runs, the same amount as in the first innings. But he will do well to ever finish a match with more runs against his name than on his Test debut in Nagpur, where he went for 215 and 143.
Ponting's pitch itch
Since the WACA first hosted a Test in 1970-71 Australia have had a better winning percentage only at the Gabba, out of the country's five main grounds. But after two Perth defeats in 2008 - India won in January - Ricky Ponting is bemoaning the loss of the venue's famous bounce and pace. "I'm disappointed because the uniqueness of the WACA that it once had, that we keep hearing about every year, it appears it's always there for the state games but it's just not there for Test matches, which I think is disappointing," Ponting said. "Brisbane and Perth are the places that offer a bit of uniqueness in Australia. I think Brisbane still has that and I think the WACA is losing that very quickly."
Since the WACA first hosted a Test in 1970-71 Australia have had a better winning percentage only at the Gabba, out of the country's five main grounds. But after two Perth defeats in 2008 - India won in January - Ricky Ponting is bemoaning the loss of the venue's famous bounce and pace. "I'm disappointed because the uniqueness of the WACA that it once had, that we keep hearing about every year, it appears it's always there for the state games but it's just not there for Test matches, which I think is disappointing," Ponting said. "Brisbane and Perth are the places that offer a bit of uniqueness in Australia. I think Brisbane still has that and I think the WACA is losing that very quickly."