da leao： Australia’s first day of cricket on their tour of South Africa didn’tso much answer questions as raise more of them
Brydon Coverdale in Potchefstroom20-Feb-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Mitchell Johnson went wicketless but he wasn’t the only one who struggled on the opening day © Getty Images
Australia’s first day of cricket on their tour of South Africa didn’tso much answer questions as raise more of them. Their first-choicespinner Bryce McGain was belted, their backup fast bowler BenHilfenhaus was the most dangerous of the fast men and there was noreal chance for either Andrew McDonald or Marcus North to gain anadvantage in the battle for the No. 6 spot.Ricky Ponting chose to field on a flat pitch but even he musthave been surprised by the lack of penetration from his bowlers.Imraan Khan’s fifth first-class century created the early problemsbefore the wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn, who had been so out of form that he wasrecently dropped by the Titans, batted his way into touch with anunbeaten 95.At the close, the South African Board President’s XI hadreached 393 for 5 with Kuhn and David Wiese (44 not out) at the creaseand Australia will be hoping that whenever their batsmen get anopportunity they enjoy it as much as the locals. Khan’s 100 from 111balls was fluent and he drove a series of sweetly timed boundariesdown the ground when the fast bowlers overpitched.He also took a liking to McGain, who was punished for droppinguncharacteristically short and was also struck down the ground withease. McGain finished his first day of bowling for Australia with theunflattering figures of 2 for 126 from 19 overs and he may have had aglimpse of what Jason Krejza felt in the warm-up game ahead of theTest series in India.With Nathan Hauritz rested – along with Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke, who has battled back soreness – it was the perfect opportunity for McGain to confirm hisplace in the side for next week’s first Test in Johannesburg. Thingsbegan well when he had Alviro Petersen caught at midwicket in hisfirst over but there was little joy for the rest of the day.Kuhn and Vaughn van Jaarsveld both used their feet to McGain andslammed him for sixes down the ground and his only other success camewhen Gulam Bodi was adjudged caught behind for 48. Bodi was clearlyunhappy with the decision but McGain was thrilled; he had a secondwicket to go alongside the 18 fours and four sixes that were struckoff his bowling as he struggled to find much drift and turn on anunhelpful surface.The fast bowlers didn’t have much more to celebrate, althoughHilfenhaus and Peter Siddle were impressive and collected a wicketeach. Hilfenhaus entered the game as the fourth choice behind Siddle,Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger, but his ability to swing the balland create opportunities will force the selectors to consider him forthe first Test.He should have had the centurion Khan caught at first slip for 9 butNorth, playing his first match for the senior team, put downthe simple chance. Hilfenhaus did manage to remove the other openerBlake Snijman, who was caught behind off a superb outswinger, and hemoved the ball in to the left-hander Khan and drew a string ofinside-edges before Siddle reaped the reward.Siddle had Khan caught at mid-on and Australia hoped that, with thescore at 192 for 3, it might be a turning point. They were especiallyoptimistic when McDonald’s first over brought the wicket of vanJaarsveld, who drove to cover and was well caught by the divingPhillip Hughes. But then came a 107-run stand between Bodi and Kuhn,who continued to attack McGain and added further pain for theAustralians.Neither Johnson nor Bollinger picked up a wicket -though Bollinger should have had an early one when Snijman hooked tofine leg and was misjudged by Hilfenhaus – and the day ended with theAustralians pleased that they were playing in front of a couple ofhundred locals in Potchefstroom rather than thousands in Johannesburg.They have two more days to answer the questions that remain hangingover an inexperienced squad.