Siddle double-strike rocks South Africa
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
DURBAN, Mar 9 (Cricinfo): Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers combined for South Africa's brightest partnership of the Durban Test, but two second-session wickets tipped the balance of power unmitigatedly Australia's way. The hosts headed to the tea break trailing by 400 runs at 145 for 2, and despite the purposeful batting of Kallis and de Villiers, are almost certainly facing defeat in both match and series.
Australia might be on an inexorable march towards victory, but several of their foot soldiers are doing so with a limp. Peter Siddle bowled with pace and aggression to claim the only two wickets to fall in the middle session, then hobbled from the field with an injury prior to tea. Mitchell Johnson, meanwhile, clutched at his left hamstring after retrieving a ball in the outfield late in the session, throwing an unwelcome scare into the Australian camp on the eve of what is shaping as a famous victory.
Siddle returned to the field after having his foot restrapped, but did not bowl again before tea. He missed the majority of the limited-overs series in Australia with a stress reaction to the foot, and was held back from training after the Johannesburg Test after experiencing further discomfort. Medical staff must surely hold concerns for his future participating in the series, even with a nine-day break between the Durban and Cape Town encounters.
Prior to receiving treatment, Siddle had lead the Australian attack with aplomb. The right-armer removed Neil McKenzie caught behind after the lunch break, and would have had Kallis with his next delivery had Marcus North displayed sharper reflexes at first slip.
South Africa 138 and 244 for 2 (Kallis 84*, de Villiers 68*) need another 302 to beat Australia 352 and 331 for 5 dec (Hughes 160, Ponting 81)
Australia might be on an inexorable march towards victory, but several of their foot soldiers are doing so with a limp. Peter Siddle bowled with pace and aggression to claim the only two wickets to fall in the middle session, then hobbled from the field with an injury prior to tea. Mitchell Johnson, meanwhile, clutched at his left hamstring after retrieving a ball in the outfield late in the session, throwing an unwelcome scare into the Australian camp on the eve of what is shaping as a famous victory.
Siddle returned to the field after having his foot restrapped, but did not bowl again before tea. He missed the majority of the limited-overs series in Australia with a stress reaction to the foot, and was held back from training after the Johannesburg Test after experiencing further discomfort. Medical staff must surely hold concerns for his future participating in the series, even with a nine-day break between the Durban and Cape Town encounters.
Prior to receiving treatment, Siddle had lead the Australian attack with aplomb. The right-armer removed Neil McKenzie caught behind after the lunch break, and would have had Kallis with his next delivery had Marcus North displayed sharper reflexes at first slip.
South Africa 138 and 244 for 2 (Kallis 84*, de Villiers 68*) need another 302 to beat Australia 352 and 331 for 5 dec (Hughes 160, Ponting 81)