Having restricted South Africa to a below par 266 on day one in Johannesburg, Australia will start day two looking to amass a sizeable lead. But are Shane Watson and Phil Hughes the men to set them on their way?
At 241-4, Graeme Smith’s side looked poised for a first innings total in excess of 400, but a combination of some disciplined bowling from Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and, of all people, captain Michael Clarke, and some brainless batting by the hosts has given Australia a golden opportunity to establish a first innings lead.
Having folded for 47 in Cape Town anything is possible, but in a match they have to win (and with an outfield and boundaries that provide full value for shots), it would take a brave man to bet against them doing so.
That’s not to say the tourists will find the going easy, especially with an opening partnership that is so woefully out of form. Phil Hughes, who looks liable to nick off at any moment, has made score of 4, 19, 9 and 9 since landing on South African shores, and has passed 50 just once (albeit on his way to a ton) in his last seven Test-match innings.
Shane Watson, meanwhile, is looking uncharacteristically ponderous at the crease, with doubts resurfacing about his suitability as an opener. In the past 12 months he averages just 33, without a three-figure score to his name.
With this in mind, punters may be more than tempted to lay both Hughes and Watson to reach 50 in Australia’s first innings. The visitors have every chance of moving ahead in the match tomorrow, but against South Africa’s gun seam attack, their out-of-form openers may struggle to get the side off to a flyer.
