ADELAIDE, Australia: Skipper Michael Clarke said Australia are well placed in the run-up to this week’s final Perth Test despite having to settle for a draw against South Africa in the second Test yesterday.
The Australians spent almost nine hours in the field in Adelaide and bowled a total of 148 overs but could not dismiss the Proteas.
Inspired by Test debutant Faf du Plessis, who ended on 110 not out, they batted out the entire fifth day to finish on 248 for eight.
The first Test in Brisbane was also drawn. Australia must win in Perth to take the series and the world number one ranking from South Africa.
Clarke was reminded of the parallels with Australia’s inability to bowl out the last two batsmen, James Anderson and Monty Panesar, when England held on for a famous draw in the first Test of the 2009 Ashes series in Cardiff.
“I like to hope there’s a lot of difference to Cardiff. We didn’t bowl to numbers 9 and 10 as long as we did in Cardiff,” he said.
“It is a great example of how hard a fight Test cricket is. Nothing is a given in this game.
“You have to work your backside off to have success and it is even harder against the number one team in the world.
“We didn’t expect them to give us the game today. We knew we would have to fight. It was no different in Brisbane and it will be no different in Perth.”
Meanwhile, Australia has dropped batsman Rob Quiney for Shane Watson and named three extra fast bowlers in a 14-man squad for this week’s final Test against South Africa in Perth.
As well as including fit-again allrounder Watson, selectors called up Josh Hazlewood, John Hastings and Mitchell Johnson with fast bowler James Pattinson ruled out by a side strain for the rest of the home Test season.
Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Ed Cowan, David Warner, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson. AFP
