Australia continued where they finished of their Ashes campaign, a 5-0 whitewash of old enemy England, with a hugely impressive 281 run victory over hosts South African on the Saturday in the first Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
Australia’s Ashes hero – Mitchell Johnson – took 5-59 in the second innings of South Africa, before picking up 7/68 in the first innings to round-off with impressive match figures of 12/127, his best ever figures in Test cricket. His previous best figures read 11/159 against the same opponents at Perth in 2008/09.
Chasing 482-run to win this Test match the Proteas were bundled out for a paltry 200 thanks to man of the match Johnson who followed up his lethal spell in the first innings with an equally brutal bowling in the second innings which included the key wickets of Smith, AB de Villiers, and JP Duminy.
Johnson, as he did in the first innings, picked up a wicket in his very first over, as Alviro Petersen edged it to Brad Haddin. Petersen was soon followed by Smith who was brilliantly caught by Doolan at short-leg to leave Australia struggling at 2/12.
AB de Villiers, who looked the most assured batsman in the Proteas line-up with 91 in the first innings, again was the lone ranger against thunderbolts of Mitchell Johnson. He top scored in South Africa’s second-innings as well with a solid 48 before driving a cutter from Johnson straight to Australian skipper Michael Clarke at short cover who held onto a fine catch.
All in all this Test match completely dominated by Australia from day 1, apart from the first session on day 1 where the visitors lost three wickets cheaply, as Clarke and Co. thoroughly outplayed the No 1 team in Test cricket and also proved that Ashes win was not a fluke.
Given the fact that Australia’s bowling is so strong and Johnson in particular, it will be quite a task for South Africa to make any sort of come back in the two remaining Test matches.
History is also against South Africa, as the last time any team defeated the Proteas was Australia way back in 2008/09.
