1st Test: Clarke draws positives from draw

Honours even as South Africa bat out 68 overs on final day.

BRISBANE:

Skipper Michael Clarke said the big positive for Australia in yesterday’s drawn Gabba Test was his team’s bowling performance against South Africa’s heavyweight top order.

The Proteas salvaged a draw under pressure by batting out 68 overs to finish the final day 166 for five with their last recognised batsman at the crease, after trailing the Australians by 115 runs in the first innings.

“There are a lot of positives to come of this Test,” said Clarke. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get a win but we can certainly use the momentum that we take from this game to Adelaide. It is a big positive to get the South African top order out twice in the Test.”

Captain named man of the match

Clarke was named the man-of-the-match for his third double-century of the year, his unbeaten 259 which turned the match away from the Proteas over the closing two days after coming with his team wobbling at 40 for three on Sunday’s third day.

“The team showed a lot of character after day one. I wish we had a bit of play on that washed out day but I think the boys deserve a lot of credit for their attitudes. Our intent was the way it needs to be when you are playing against such a good team.”

Clarke, who has won nine of his 17 Tests as skipper with four drawn, said he saw his bold declaration at first drinks as the best chance of pulling off victory against the South Africans.

“I thought our best chance of winning was to get a lead and come out this morning and be as positive as we could and then give ourselves enough time in the game to take nine wickets. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time.”

Smith says Proteas have time to improve

Meanwhile, skipper Graeme Smith said South Africa had a few things to work on before next week’s second Adelaide Test.

“There’s enough time to reflect and to get one or two things right for Adelaide,” said Smith. “I felt we were ahead of the game going into day four, 40 for three, we just never quite backed up well enough on day four. All in all, I think for me a draw was an even reflection on how the surface played and for both teams.”

Smith expects his vaunted bowling lineup to strike back in Adelaide.

“We didn’t really bowl well in partnerships to create enough pressure on Australia’s batting, certainly on day four. I cannot complain about our bowlers. The majority of the time they rock up and they perform extremely well. Hopefully that will happen in Adelaide again.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2012.