OMEN
12-30-2008, 02:14 PM
AUSTRALIA slumped to their first home Test series defeat in 16 years as South Africa completed a nine-wicket triumph on day five of the Boxing Day Test.
The Proteas, who started the day on 0-30 in pursuit of 183 for victory at the MCG, lost skipper Graeme Smith for 75 before Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla knocked off the runs after lunch to seal South Africa's maiden Test series win in Australia.
Smith hit 10 fours from 94 balls before he was leg before to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz to end the opening stand with McKenzie at 121.
McKenzie was 59 not out with Hashim Amla unbeaten on 30 when South Africa finally passed their victory target.
Australia had not lost a Test series on home soil since 1992-1993, when Richie Richardson's West Indies claimed a five-match series 2-1. South Africa's Test series victory was their third against Australia, and their first in nine since they won a four-match series at home in 1969-1970.
Smith could not hide his elation after the match.
It has been such a special moment for all of us," he said on the Nine network.
"It has been an incredible team effort.
"I have been smiling non-stop since we hit the winning runs."
South Africa veteran Jacques Kallis was thrilled to cap his fourth tour of Australia with a series victory.
"At the MCG, what better place to want to do it," he said on the Nine Network.
"I've had some individual highlights here, but lost Test matches and drawn Test matches, so this one takes the cake.
"Having won a Test match here beats all those (previous) feelings ... and is an unbelievable effort."
Ponting commended the tourists on their fightback at the MCG, and their series triumph.
"South Africa have outplayed us in all the big moments of these two Test matches," Ponting said.
"We had them on the ropes early in this game and they have certainly been good enough to turn that situation into a very good one for themselves, and they have won the game very comfortably.
"This is a series win for them that has been very well-deserved."
The teams now head to Sydney, where South Africa will usurp fallen giants Australia as the world's top-ranked team if they win the third and final Test.
Australia dropped Andrew Symonds from their squad for the SCG Test, adding Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald to the mix.
Australia's woes deepened with the news that 12th man Shane Watson is unable to bowl for six months because of stress fractures in his back.
Watson had been touted as a replacement for Symonds, who is battling knee soreness. McDonald is now likely to play in Sydney.
Fox
The Proteas, who started the day on 0-30 in pursuit of 183 for victory at the MCG, lost skipper Graeme Smith for 75 before Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla knocked off the runs after lunch to seal South Africa's maiden Test series win in Australia.
Smith hit 10 fours from 94 balls before he was leg before to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz to end the opening stand with McKenzie at 121.
McKenzie was 59 not out with Hashim Amla unbeaten on 30 when South Africa finally passed their victory target.
Australia had not lost a Test series on home soil since 1992-1993, when Richie Richardson's West Indies claimed a five-match series 2-1. South Africa's Test series victory was their third against Australia, and their first in nine since they won a four-match series at home in 1969-1970.
Smith could not hide his elation after the match.
It has been such a special moment for all of us," he said on the Nine network.
"It has been an incredible team effort.
"I have been smiling non-stop since we hit the winning runs."
South Africa veteran Jacques Kallis was thrilled to cap his fourth tour of Australia with a series victory.
"At the MCG, what better place to want to do it," he said on the Nine Network.
"I've had some individual highlights here, but lost Test matches and drawn Test matches, so this one takes the cake.
"Having won a Test match here beats all those (previous) feelings ... and is an unbelievable effort."
Ponting commended the tourists on their fightback at the MCG, and their series triumph.
"South Africa have outplayed us in all the big moments of these two Test matches," Ponting said.
"We had them on the ropes early in this game and they have certainly been good enough to turn that situation into a very good one for themselves, and they have won the game very comfortably.
"This is a series win for them that has been very well-deserved."
The teams now head to Sydney, where South Africa will usurp fallen giants Australia as the world's top-ranked team if they win the third and final Test.
Australia dropped Andrew Symonds from their squad for the SCG Test, adding Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald to the mix.
Australia's woes deepened with the news that 12th man Shane Watson is unable to bowl for six months because of stress fractures in his back.
Watson had been touted as a replacement for Symonds, who is battling knee soreness. McDonald is now likely to play in Sydney.
Fox