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AUS win 3 - 0 AUS gains 16 points; SA loses 16 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 SA gains 7 points; AUS loses 7 points
SA win 3 - 0 SA gains 29 points; AUS loses 29 points
Perth
16 - 20 December 2005
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. South Africa struck in the second over to dismiss Hayden (0) without a run on the board. However, that was South Africa's only success in the session as Australia consolidated and then batted through to lunch to be well placed at 1 for 96. South Africa again struck early in the afternoon session, but this time caught Langer (37) and trapped Ponting (71) to have Australia 3 for 117. Again, Australia began repairing the damage and had batted their way back to parity at tea when the score was 3 for 175. South Africa took a significant advantage during the hour after tea, when they dismissed Hussey (23), Hodge (41), Gilchrist (6) and Symonds (13) in the space of 30 runs to have Australia teetering at 7 for 210 on a pitch that might have expected 450 as a par score. South Africa went on to dismiss Warne (24), Bracken (10) and McGrath (0) to have Australia all out for 258 runs. Ntini was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 64 off 19 overs, his tenth five-wicket haul in Tests. South Africa then faced seven overs before finishing the day strongly placed at no wicket for 38, 220 runs in arrears.
South Africa began the second day strongly, further building their advantage. Australia struggled to make an impact until Smith (34) was caught at 1 for 83. Australia then piled on the pressure leading up to the lunch break and Gibbs (21) played on in the penultimate over before South Africa went to lunch at 2 for 128, still well placed and only 130 runs in arrears. Australia bowled de Villiers (68) in the second over after lunch to even the game up at 3 for 135. Runs became hard to come by and South Africa lost Rudolph (8), Kemp (7) and Prince (28) before going to tea at 6 for 189, with Australia holding the better position and South Africa still 69 runs in arrears. Pollock and Boucher quickly took the initiative for South Africa after the break, adding 75 quick runs and taking the lead before Pollock (34) was bowled at 7 for 264. After another 18 runs, the wicket of Boucher (62) triggered the final collapse with Langeveldt (4) and Ntini (12) quickly following. South Africa was all out for 296, gaining a first innings lead of 38 runs. Lee was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 93 off 22.2 overs, his sixth five-wicket haul in Tests. Australia began their reply and faced eleven overs, during which they lost Hayden (20). At stumps, Australia was 1 for 38, with the scores level.
South Africa took an hour to dismiss nightwatchman Lee (32) on the third morning. Australia managed to add 82 runs in the session without losing any other wickets, to go to lunch with a slight advantage at 2 for 120 and an overall lead of 82 runs. Langer (47) played on shortly after lunch and then late in the afternoon session, Ponting (53) was caught behind at 4 for 184. South Africa had created an opening that could help them to again draw level with Australia if they could shatter Australia's brittle middle order. However, Australia batted through the final session without losing further wickets and slowly but inexorably took the match away from South Africa's grasp. At stumps, Australia was seemingly in the box seat at 4 for 310, with an overall lead of 272 runs.
Hodge brought up his maiden Test century on the fourth morning before Hussey (58) was caught behind at 5 for 316. South Africa desperately needed many more wickets quickly to have any chance in the match. However, all they could manage was Symonds (25) before Australia went to lunch at 6 for 401, completely in command of the match with an overall lead of 363 runs. South Africa dismissed Gilchrist (44) and Warne (5) during the afternoon session. However, Australia continued the mental torture of South Africa until Hodge posted his maiden Test double century and they declared at 8 for 528 at tea with Hodge (203*) and Bracken (14*) the not out batsmen. Langeveldt was the more successful of the bowlers with 3 for 117 off 31 overs. South Africa began their unlikely chase for 491 runs after tea and lost openers de Villiers (12) and Smith (30) in the space of 20 runs to be 2 for 55. By stumps, South Africa was 2 for 85, needing another 406 runs for victory or to survive for 90 overs for a draw.
Australia dismissed Gibbs (33) in the first hour of the final morning to have South Africa 3 for 109. However, chances became difficult to come by and it was not until just before lunch that Australia dismissed Prince (8). By lunch, South Africa was 4 for 140 and still required dedicated batting to avoid a loss. South Africa managed to bat through the entire afternoon session without losing another wicket to go to tea in a far more comfortable position at 4 for 190. Australia only managed to dismiss Kemp during the final session while Rudolph posted his fifth Test century. When the match was declared a draw, Rudolph (102*) and Boucher (13*) were the not out batsmen while Warne was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 83 off a remarkable 47 overs that included 21 maidens.
Second Test
Melbourne
26 - 30 December 2005
After a damp pitch delayed play for half an hour, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. South Africa made an early breakthrough, dismissing Jaques (2) in the third over. South Africa dropped Ponting when he had scored 17 runs and Australia then batted through to be 1 for 60 at lunch. South Africa struggled through the afternoon session until they caught Hayden (65) against the run of play late in the session. By tea, Australia was well placed at 2 for 162. Ponting posted his 26th Test century after tea and then the dismissal of Hodge (7) at 3 for 176 triggered a collapse. Ponting (117) and Symonds (0) fell in consecutive balls, followed by Gilchrist (2), Warne (9) and Lee (4). In all, Australia lost 6 for 63 and at stumps, Australia was teetering at 8 for 239.
South Africa began the second day with a very good chance of quickly finishing the Australian innings and building a substantial reply with a sizeable first innings lead. They dismissed MacGill (4) quickly at 9 for 248 but then dropped a regulation slips catch while Hussey was on 25. The error proved extremely costly as Hussey and McGrath then batted through to lunch, taking the score to 9 for 344 while Hussey posted his third Test century in only his fifth Test. Eventually, Hussey (122) was caught and Australia was all out for 355, while McGrath (11*) was again left stranded. Nell was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 84 off 31 overs. South Africa began their reply, but lost Smith (22) at 1 for 36. By tea, South Africa was 1 for 61. Australia then struggled in the field, unable to create chances. Australia managed to dismiss de Villiers (61), but South Africa ended the day well placed at 2 for 169, only 186 runs in arrears.
Australia strangled the run scoring opportunities on the third morning. The pressure led to the wickets of Kallis (23), Prince (6) and Rudolph (13) while South Africa only added 57 runs in the session before going to lunch on the back foot at 5 for 226. Australia continued in the same manner after lunch and dismissed Boucher (23), Gibbs (94), Pollock (9), Boje (12) and Nel (14) in the space of 51 runs to have the tourists all out for 311 runs. Symonds (3 for 50 off 20 overs) and Lee (3 for 92 off 28 overs) shared the bowling honours. Tea was taken between innings and then Australia began adding to their 44 runs first innings lead. After a good start, Jaques (28) was trapped in front at 1 for 53 and then Ponting (11) followed at 2 for 82. South Africa desperately needed to take two or three more wickets to haul themselves back into the game. However, Australia offered no chances and ended the day at 2 for 110, with an overall lead of 154 runs on a pitch that was developing decidedly uneven bounce.
South Africa dismissed Hodge (24) early on the fourth morning before Australia batted through to lunch to be well placed at 3 for 192 with an overall lead of 236 runs. South Africa dismissed Hussey (31) straight after the break before Hayden posted his 25th Test century. Ntini was unable to bowl after lunch due to a hamstring strain and Australia went to town, with Hayden (137) hitting two sixes while Symond (72) added six more of his own. Gilchrist (0) attempted to follow suit before the declaration came at 7 for 321. Kallis was the more successful bowler with 3 for 58 off 11 overs. South Africa was left with an unlikely task of making 366 runs at 2.77 runs per over for victory. They faced a nervous half an hour before going to tea at no wicket for 21 off eight overs. Australia, having failed to make the key breakthroughs in a similar position in Perth, did not make the same mistake again. The stumping of de Villiers (8) at 1 for 39 saw Smith (25), Gibbs (9), Kallis (9), Rudolph (4) and Boucher (5) fall in the space of just 43 runs. At stumps, the game was entirely in Australia's control with South Africa 6 for 99, with no hope of making the 267 further runs for victory and an equally slim chance of lasting a further six hours with four wickets remaining.
South Africa resisted the onslought on the final morning and added 31 more runs before Prince (26) was caught at 7 for 130. A further 36 runs on, Boje (13) was bowled and then Nel (2) was caught in the over before South Africa went to lunch at 9 for 180. Australia wrapped up the final wicket of Ntini (2) straight after lunch to bowl South Africa out for 181 runs and claim victory by 184 runs. Warne was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 74 off 28 overs.
Third Test
Sydney
02 - 06 January 2006
Light rain delayed play until after lunch on the first day. When play did get underway, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia struck early, de Villiers (2) at 1 for 16. After a brief recovery, Gibbs (27) and Smith (39) fell in the space of 17 runs for South Africa to be 3 for 86. By tea, Australia held a slight advantage with South Africa 3 for 103. South Africa fought back strongly during the afternoon session and batted through to stumps without losing a wicket to end the day well placed at 3 for 230.
South Africa continued on the second morning in the same manner as the previous evening and Australia was unable to break through. Kallis posted his 23rd Test century and it took Australia until 15 minutes before lunch to break the 219 run partnership when Kallis (111) was caught on the boundary. At lunch, South Africa held a strong advantage with the score 4 for 310. Wickets continued to came slowly for Australia. After Prince posted his third Test century, Warne trapped him for 119 runs and Boucher (5) was caught eleven runs later for South Africa to be 6 for 355. However, that was the only success for Australia as South Africa ploughed slowly on to be 6 for 390 at tea. Following tea, the tourists began to throw the bat at the ball and added a further 61 runs for the loss of Rudolph (38), Pollock (46) and Nel (12) before the declaration came at 9 for 451. Lee was the more successful bowler with 3 for 82 off 30.4 overs. Australia began their reply, needing to see off 15 overs before stumps. South Africa significantly enhanced their advantage during the period, dismissing Hayden (4), Langer (25) and then Hodge (6) in the final over. At stumps, Australia was looking to be in deep trouble at 3 for 54, still 198 runs short of the follow on target and their dodgy middle order exposed.
Australia began the third day by digging themselves out of a very tight spot and taking the score to a more comfortable, but still poorly placed 184 runs before Hussey (45) was caught behind. Ponting posted his 27th Test century in his 100th Test before being trapped in front for 120 runs at 5 for 222. Symonds (12) was also out in the same manner four runs later and Warne (0) was caught next ball for Australia to be in serious trouble at 7 for 226. Lee and Gilchrist then combined to avoid the follow on before Lee (17) was caught at 8 for 263. Thereafter, MacGill (29) added 59 runs for the ninth wicket with Gilchrist and McGrath (1*) hung around while another 37 runs were added before Gilchrist (86) holed out. Australia was then all out very late in the day for 359 runs, conceding a first innings lead of 92 runs. Nel was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 81 off 24.1 overs. South Africa faced 1.3 overs before de Villiers (1) was trapped in front for South Africa to end the day at 1 for 4 and with a strong advantage with an overall lead of 96 runs.
Light rain delayed play for an hour in the fourth morning. Then the rain kept returning throughout the day to limit the entire day to only 20 overs and frustrate the South Africans desire to bat themselves into an unlosable position and then bowl Australia out. During the intermittent play that was available, South Africa added 90 runs for the loss of Smith (5) and Gibbs (67). When the umpires eventually gave up trying to get play underway again, South Africa was 3 for 94 with an overall lead of 186 runs, and probably not enough time to bowl Australia out on the final day without offering a significant chance of losing the match through an early declaration.
South Africa began the final morning needing to balance the declaration against the overs remaining to bowl Australia out and leaving a required run rate that would tempt the home side to chase and take risks. South Africa needed quick runs and managed to add 100 runs in 20 overs whilst losing Prince (18), Rudolph (4) and Boucher (11) before declaring at 6 for 194. Kallis (50*) and Pollock (26*) were the not out batsmen while MacGill was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 33 off 6 overs. Australia were left with the task of setting a new record for a final innings run chase at the SCG in order to win, with 287 runs required from 76 overs. South Africa had an hour at the openers before lunch and managed a breakthrough with Langer (20) bowled just before Australia went to lunch at 1 for 31 off eleven overs. However, after lunch Hayden and Ponting gave no chances whilst scoring at six runs per over for the entire afternoon session. The net result was that by tea, Australia was 1 for 182 and had positioned itself for an easy win whilst simultaneously knocking the stuffing out of South Africa's hopes for victory. South Africa managed to catch Hayden (90) after tea, but at 2 for 212 and only 75 runs from victory, it was too late. Ponting posted his 28th Test century and became the only man to post two centuries in his hundredth Test before going on to hit the winning runs and finish 143 not out. Hodge (27*) was the other not out batsman as Australia won by eight wickets.
