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AUS win 3 - 0 AUS gains 20 points; SA loses 20 points
Draw 1.5 -1.5 SA gains 2 points; AUS loses 2 points
SA win 3 - 0 SA gains 25 points; AUS loses 25 points
Adelaide
14 - 18 December 2001
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first.� While South Africa claimed the wicket of Hayden (31) the Australians dominated the crucial first session of play, going to lunch at 1 for 88.� The Australians took the total to 182 before Ponting (54) was run out and from there South Africa began dragging themselves back into the game.� They caught Mark Waugh (2) and at tea Australia was 3 for 203.� Stephen Waugh (8), Langer (116) and Gilchrist (7) all fell in the hour after tea as Australia slumped to 6 for 248.� At stumps, Australia was 6 for 272 holding a slight advantage taking into account the likely difficult batting conditions on the last two days.
South Africa would have been hoping to roll over the remaining four wickets for less than 100 runs and start eating into the Australians lead on the second morning.� However, with many dropped catches throughout the day they were not happy as Warne (41) and Martyn took the total to 332 before Lee stuck around to take Australia to lunch at 7 363.� Martyn posted his third Test century before Lee (32), Gillespie (3) and McGrath (5) fell to leave Martyn stranded on 124 not out and the total 439 runs. Henderson was the most successful bowler with 4 for 116 off 33 overs.� South Africa survived the ten overs before tea to be 16 without loss.� After tea the South Africans speeded up the scoring rate and took the total to 87 before Kirsten (47) fell and then six runs later Dippenaar (4) fell before they ended the day at 2 for 101 still 338 runs in arrears with a night watchman at the crease.
Australia increased their advantage in this Test on the third morning after initially being frustrated by the South African night watchman.� South Africa took the total to 2 for 155 before losing Henderson (30), Gibbs (78) and Kallis (5) to slump to 5 for 179 at lunch and at some risk of failing to pass the follow on target of 240 runs.� South Africa then lost Klusener (22) just after lunch before McKenzie and Boucher steered South Africa toward safety and passed the follow on target and at tea they were 6 for 265.� Whereas South Africa dropped catches on the first two days play, on three occasions the Australians should have had a wicket during the days play only to hear the umpire declare "no ball".� McKenzie (87) eventually fell after a 141 run partnership that pulled South Africa back into contention.� The remaining tail enders offered little confidence they could support Boucher after Pollock earned a golden duck.� Boucher (64) eventually ran out of luck and Ntini (9) was the last man out after confusing his helmet with his bat for two consecutive deliveries from Lee.� South Africa had made 374 runs and Warne was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 113 off 39.4 overs.� Australia batted out the final three overs to be 0 for 3 at stumps with an overall lead of 68 runs.
South Africa struck early on the fourth morning by dismissing Langer (1) in the second over and then trapping Ponting (25) to have Australia 2 for 66. However, the Australians then recovered and took a heavy toll on the bowling by adding 99 runs in the session to be 2 for 102 at lunch. South Africa was unable to break the partnership between Hayden and Mark Waugh during the afternoon and saw any chance they may have had in this match slipping through their fingers. The batsmen added 125 more runs to their lead to go to tea at 2 for 227. After tea the batsmen looked to smash anything to gather a huge psychological lead that would be unlikely to be challenged by the South Africans. The result was the dismissal of Hayden (131), Mark Waugh (74), Gilchrist (22), Stephen Waugh (13) and Warne (6) while another 82 runs were added. Australia declared at 7 for 309 setting South Africa a final innings victory target of 375 runs in 102 overs. Henderson (3 for 130 off 29.1 overs) and Kallis (3 for 45 off 15 overs) shared the bowling honours. South Africa was left with the task of facing 12 overs before stumps and lost openers Gibbs (9) and Kirsten (7) to be 2 for 17 at stumps needing another 358 runs for victory.
South Africa looked to the example India had set only a few days earlier when they batted out the final day for a draw after England had set them a similar target of 374 runs. The difference was England did not have McGrath or Warne. In his third over of the morning, McGrath dismissed Dippenaar and McKenzie for ducks and it instantly became when not if for Australia. By the time lunch had arrived, South Africa had crashed to 7 for 73 with Klusener (18), Boucher (0) and Pollock (1) also back in the pavilion. Australia finished the job during the afternoon session after dismissing Henderson (3), Ntini (4) and Hayward (12) leaving Kallis not out on 65 and the total on 128 runs. McGrath (3 for 13 off 14 overs) and Warne (3 for 57 off 29 overs) were the best of the bowlers as Australia won by 246 runs.
Second Test
Melbourne
26 - 29 December 2001
Play was delayed for over an hour before Australia won the toss and elected to field first.� The South African openers batted through the eleven overs before going to lunch at 0 for 17.� Rain interrupted play frequently during the rest of the day.� In the 40 overs that were bowled, South Africa batted tentatively and seemed to exhibit a siege mentality rather than trying to get on with scoring a total that would challenge the Australians.� Gibbs (14) was the first to fall at 1 for 23 with Kirsten (10) following at 2 for 36.� Dippenaar (26) was dismissed in the evening session while Kallis benefited from a few dropped catches.� When rain ended play for the day South Africa was 3 for 89.
Kallis and McKenzie held the Australians out and consolidated on the second morning.� However, at 3 for 131 Kallis (38) then Klusener (0) were dismissed and the advantage moved back to Australia.� At lunch the tourists were 5 for 190.� South Africa struggled to score at only 2.5 runs per over and when Boucher (43) Henderson (5) and Donald (0) were dismissed in the space of 35 runs the score became 9 for 233.� Pollock (42*) and Hayward (14) then frustrated the Australians and in taking the total to 277 evened the match up again before Hayward was the last man out at tea.� Thus the evening session was one of those key periods in a Test when a dominating performance by one team could then set the toe for the rest of the Test.� Hayden and Langer came out and smacked the ball around and scored at just over 4 runs per over to finish the day with a half century each and 126 runs on the board with no loss of wickets.�
South Africa was unable to contain the Australians on the third morning.� The openers took the total to 202 before Langer (85) was dismissed and then later Ponting (22) was dismissed on lunch when the score was 2 for 267.� South Africa began the afternoon session by dismissing Hayden (138) without addition to the total.� However the Waugh brothers took the match further out of the South African's reach by adding another 81 runs before Mark (34) was out.� At tea, Australia had moved to 4 for 375 with a lead of 98 runs.� South Africa fought their way back in the extended evening session by running out Stephen Waugh (90) and catching Martyn (52), Warne (1), Lee (3) and Bichel (5) to have Australia 9 for 475.� At stumps, Gilchrist (30*) and McGrath (0*) had taken the score to 9 for 487 with an overall lead of 210 runs.
After losing McGrath (0) in the first over, Australia was dismissed for 487 with a first innings lead of 210 runs on the fourth morning.� Donald (3 for 103 off 29 overs) and Pollock (3 for 84 off 31 overs) were the best of the bowlers while Gilchrist (30*) was the not out batsman.� Australia then snuffed out any hope of a South African fight back.� Lee dismissed Kirsten (10) and Gibbs (21) to have the tourists 2 for 37.� Dippenaar (23) fell closer to lunch and South Africa was 3 for 97 at the break.� Australia gained momentum through the afternoon and dismissed McKenzie (12), Klusener (7), Boucher (0) and Pollock (18) while Kallis offered the only resistance.� At tea, South Africa was 7 for 158 and in danger of losing by an innings.� It was only a matter of time and Henderson (16) and Donald (7) returned to the dressing room having just erased the deficit while leaving Kallis close to his century with the number eleven, Hayward.� Eventually, Kallis (99) ran himself out desperately seeking a century with the total on 219 runs.� Warne (3 for 68 off 24 overs) was the best of the bowlers.� Needing only 10 runs for victory in the Test and the series, Langer (7) looked rather silly trudging off at 1 for 7 before Hayden (3*) and Ponting (0*) finished the job giving Australia victory by nine wickets.
Third Test
Sydney
02 - 05 January 2002
Australia won the toss for the third time in this series and elected to bat first.� Hayden and Langer began slowly, but after the first half hour began to cream the South African bowling.� By lunch, they had taken the score to 0 for 93.� South Africa faired no better during the afternoon session and dropped a chance of each batsman.� Langer passed his twelfth Test century and Hayden closed in on his own and at tea the score was 0 for 215.� After passing his ton, Hayden (105) was finally caught at 1 for 219.� South Africa began to drag themselves back into the match by running out Ponting (14), catching Langer (126), Stephen Waugh (30) and on the last ball of the day Mark Waugh (19).� At stumps, Australia was 5 for 308 having lost 5 for 93 during the final session but still holding a slight advantage.
The second morning session was the point where the Test would be decided.� South Africa desperately needed to wind up the Australian innings for less than 350 or the option of winning would completely disappear and the draw option would be their best result.� Australia, however, won this key session convincingly putting on another 131 runs for the loss of Gilchrist (34) and later Warne (37) on the last ball before lunch when the score was 7 for 439.� South Africa did take the final three wickets during the afternoon session, but not before Martyn reached his century and another 115 runs took the total to 554 with Lee (29), MacGill (20) Martyn (117) and McGrath stranded on 1 not out.� Boje was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 63 off 25.2 overs.� With the draw the best they could now hope for, South Africa lost Kirsten (18), Dippenaar (3), Kallis (4) and Gibbs (32) to be 4 for 93 at stumps with "how soon and by how much" in their minds.
The third morning saw the remaining South African wickets tumble for the addition of only 61 runs.� McKenzie (20) and Boucher (35) were the only batsmen to make double-digit contributions as the first innings ended at 154 runs.� The bowling honours were shared between McGrath (3 for 35 off 17 overs), Warne (3 for 47 off 19 overs) and MacGill (3 for 51 off 20.2 overs).� With a 400 run deficit remaining, Australia had no hesitation of enforcing the follow on.� By lunch, South Africa was 0 for 6.� South Africa then fought back and won the afternoon session.� They lost Gibbs (10) soon after lunch but made it to tea with the score at 1 for 140.� The fight back continued during the afternoon when they only lost Dippenaar (74) and at stumps, the score was 2 for 209.� However, despite winning two of the three sessions on day three, the battle to save the game remains hopeless with another 191 runs needed to avoid an innings loss.
Australia broke through early to catch Kallis (34) and later McKenzie (38) as South Africa continued to erase the deficit while Kirsten reached his century.� By lunch the score was 4 for 299.� Australia continued to apply pressure through the afternoon and Ontong (32), Kirsten (153), Boucher (27) and Boje (1) were dismissed and at tea the score was 8 for 403.� The final wickets of Henderson (2) and Donald (2) fell to leave Pollock not out on 61 and the total 452 runs.� MacGill was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 123 off 42.5 overs.� Hayden and Langer wiped off the 53 run victory target to record victory by ten wickets and a series whitewash.
