By Adrian Meredith
MELBOURNE, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) November 13, 2012: I am not going to do a day five wrap up; but instead look at the test as a whole. The major talking point that affected the test was the injury to J P Duminy. He didn't get to bat or bowl, as it happened overnight, before he was due to bat. He didn't even get to field. It meant that for the whole match South Africa had 10 men vs Australia's 11.
How different things would have been had he been able to play, or even had another player been able to be used as substitute.
In the 2nd test, South Africa will have the choice of replacing him with an all rounder or a pure batsman. I'd love to see Quinton de Kock, the under-19 wicket keeper and batsman. Though he isn't actually in the squad so, perhaps not!
The other major thing that affected the test was the rain, which, while not enormously heavy, was persistent enough to wash out day 2. Had they been able to play on day 2, the chance of a result would have been a lot higher.With that being said, this was a match of two halves. On day 1, South Africa were very good and it all looked very easy for them as they put on a massive 2/252 off 82 overs.
After the rain, on day 3, while South Africa weren't amazing, they still clearly won the day, as they fell from 2/252 to 450 all out and then had Australia 3/40 before they recovered to 3/111.
But then, after that, Australia recovered hugely. Sure, there was some luck involved, as no less than three times South Africa took wickets - all caught behind - off no balls. Australia did too - twice in two innings - with one being clean bowled - but this affected South Africa a lot worse. Hashim Amla shouldn't have been given out - and should have reviewed.
Indeed, so many reviews seemed that they should have been reversed but weren't, due to benefit of the doubt going to the umpire - caught behinds that for all the world looked out, but you couldn't be sure.
But Australia came back from 3/40 to have two consecutive 200+ run partnerships, as Ed Cowan, who I for one didn't think should be in the team, provided a match saving 100 and he was backed up by a very lucky Michael Clarke - who managed 200 not out - and Michael Hussey capitalised with an even 100. And they did it all, in spite of being 410 runs behind with only 7 wickets in hand, at more than 4 runs per over.
The timing of the declaration was, as it always is, a bone of contention. It looked to be too early for me, as I think that they should have done it during the lunch break, as then they wouldn't lose the 10 minutes for changing innings - plus by then South Africa would have had no chance of passing the deficit. Declaring at the drinks break left South Africa with an awkward 115 run deficit, and some 80 overs to face. But it was always likely that they would overtake the deficit, thus leaving Australia with a chase. In the end, they shook hands when South Africa had a lead of 51 still with 4 wickets in hand and only 11 overs to go - 8 overs once the change of innings came.
Had Australia declared at lunch they still might have failed to win; but it would have put South Africa in a much bigger worry. The lead could have been 200, or more, with 66 overs to face, and then South Africa would have been 100% defence.
The match highlighted all of South Africa's strength - their incredibly strong batting line up, and the length of it, as well as the strength of their opening bowlers in Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn - but it also highlighted their weaknesses - that they need to have that variety in bowling, that Vernon Philander was really terrible, and that Rory Kleinfeldt had one of the worst debuts we've ever seen.
Australia's weaknesses were sorely exposed - an over-attacking David Warner, Ricky Ponting who in spite of being in great form is still terrible at the start of an innings, and Rob Quiney was far too aggressive and ultimately his score of 9 looks terrible and looks like he may never play test cricket again. Australia's bowling was also very weak, and it highlighted why Nathan Lyon, who has averaged over 50 bowling in the last 6 months, should not have been in the side. While James Pattinson was once again fantastic, Ben Hilfenhaus was only good at tying down one end while Peter Siddle most of the time was terrible, only taking wickets when the batsmen failed to take him seriously. While Ed Cowan scored a big century, and Michael Clarke a double, it really felt like Australia were lucky to escape with a draw.
But it also highlighted Michael Clarke's ability as a captain, that even with a day washed out, when everyone said that the only options were a South African win or a draw, even when Australia were 3/40 chasing 450, he still saw a way to win. Okay so it didn't work out, but the fact that he tried, and got so close to success, shows a lot of strength.
The problem for Australia is that traditionally they don't like to change a winning team, and yet in this case they really need to. If nothing else, Nathan Lyon cannot play in Adelaide, while Mitchell Starc must.
They also need to get rid of Rob Quiney - and need to play an all-rounder in his place. We saw just how much Australia need that 5th strong bowling option, as they were out of ideas after the others failed. If Shane Watson has recovered from injury, then he should play; but if he hasn't then there are many other options of who could be picked, from Dan Christian to Mitchell Marsh to James Faulkner to Andrew McDonald or even Glenn Maxwell.
Dan Christian is probably the strongest batting option and also is the most reliable, having more international experience than the other contenders, while Mitchell Marsh is probably the best player of the others; but James Faulkner is comfortably the best bowler of the others - and, of note, is a better bowler than either Peter Siddle or Ben Hilfenhaus, Andrew McDonald has the best FC record (but is prone to injury) and Glenn Maxwell is the only one of them who is a spinner. There will also be question marks over both Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle, and with so many other fast bowling options about, there surely will be a temptation to debut the 20 year old fast bowler who averages 20 in FC cricket, the son of the great Craig McDermott, Alistair McDermott. McDermott isn't the only other option either, as there will surely be a temptation to play the in-form left armer Doug Bollinger, and someone with a very good record against South Africa, Mitchell Johnson, will also be someone to consider - as he is in some kind of form of late. Clint McKay has a superb domestic and international record - bar one test match - and deserves the chance to improve his stats too.
The biggest mistake the Australian selectors could make is to name an unchanged 11 for the 2nd test. They have to recognise that they were lucky to escape from the draw, and, if it weren't for rain plus Duminy's injury, as well as a lot of luck for Michael Clarke especially, but also Ed Cowan, they could have lost by an innings. There are many options for who could be chosen but they have to realise that they need to be playing their best players, not just players with good reputations. Siddle and Hilfenhaus are England condition specialists - they don't tend to do very well in Australia - so don't pick them while playing in Australia! They are also somewhat out of form.
South Africa's biggest decision will be what to do with JP Duminy. But they will also have to decide what to do with the 4th bowling option. Surely Imran Tahir will play; but if not, then who? I don't think that they can risk Rory Kleinfeldt again. The form of Vernon Philander will be a worry too. While Philander is unlikely to be dumped, they do need to do something about his poor performance. He bowled no balls galore and was generally terrible - not even looking like getting a wicket.Adelaide typically ends up with a draw and teams often play 5 specialist bowlers, in trying for the win. It is often a ground where all-rounders thrive, and where you may want to consider playing 2 all-rounders in the same team, instead of 5 bowlers. South Africa have Kallis but could consider a 2nd all-rounder as well - in place of Duminy. Australia may consider playing perhaps Christian and Faulkner.
There will be a lot of decisions to make, and the selections for the 2nd test will be critical in deciding the outcome.
The worst thing that the Australian selectors could do is to go in with an unchanged eleven. But, traditionally, that is what they do after a win.
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