Day 2, 3rd Test from Newlands in Cape Town. Australia 209 (Katich 55, Steyn 4-56, Harris 3-34) v South Africa 3 for 404 (Prince 150, Kallis 102no, Siddle 1-35)
If looks could kill, Ashwell Prince may have murdered a few spectators with his eyes during his triumphant innings of 150.
There are several types of celebrations you see for cricket’s batting milestones. There are those who exude pure elation, happiness beyond words. There are those who simply acknowledge, only because it’s their duty but also aware that the adulation is rightly deserved. And then there are the rare occasions when the celebration is a release of anger. The exclamation mark on a point proved emphatically.
Prince’s display upon reaching three figures was not as obvious as others in the past - Nasser Hussain showing the number three on his back to the press box after his first one-day international century being a case in point – but there was no doubt about Prince’s expression as he removed his helmet. Nor was there any doubt about the unrest in the South African dressing rooms, as his teammates’ acknowledgement of a fine century could best be described as restrained jubilation.
But a winning team is a happy team and all may be forgotten come the start of a new week as Prince’s charming performance has put South Africa firmly in the box seat.
Despite the week from hell, there is no doubt about Prince’s class as a player. Remarkably his last Test innings prior to this yielded 162 not out. Even more remarkably he had not been dismissed in Test cricket since August 2008 and in the last twelve months he has posted four Test centuries with an average just under 70.
Prince was a victim of circumstance. A broken thumb in the nets in Perth opened the door for JP Duminy whose performances in Australia along with the rest of the middle order meant the incumbent vice-captain could not win his spot back. Worse still he was informed of this fact by a journalist rather than a selector.
Since then he was reinstated as captain and a reluctant opener, stripped of the captaincy, painted as a pariah by the press and scored 254 in a provincial game where he clashed with national teammates. Hardly an ideal build up, but he matched his determination with a steely resolve.
He is a street fighter and he plays that way. He hates being called coloured, and he hates the inference that his initial elevation to Test ranks was racially based. He has fought hard to deter his doubters. So hard that he rose to the vice-captaincy, eventually becoming South Africa’s first black captain in Graeme Smith’s absence in 2006.
His innings here at Newlands personified Prince the character. Last night, despite the unfamiliar surroundings of a blank scoreboard and a new ball he counter-punched from the outset. Stumps arguably came at a poor time given he had raced to 37 with five fours and a six.
This morning he was far more circumspect, initially troubled by an Australian attack that had clearly had a rethink. Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle were preferred to the summer’s main man Mitchell Johnson. Ricky Ponting’s instinct proved correct. Prince was unsettled by Hilfenhaus’ early morning shape, while Siddle’s aggression removed his opening partner – a superb return catch off balance – and nearly ended Prince’s day before it began. A huge LBW shout had Asad Rauf thinking hard but eventually shaking his head. The Australian’s referred on the basis that it looked to be knocking all three over but like Ntini the previous day Siddle’s wide approach saw the ball pitch just outside leg stump.
Siddle was easily the pick of the Australian bowlers throughout the day. His energy, pace, and sustained verve reminds you of a young Jason Gillespie. If he can claim more than 250 Test scalps Australia will be well served over the next decade. Today however he was unlucky to collect just the one.
Prince’s day kick started with Johnson’s introduction and one shot. A ball fractionally short and wide off stump was thrashed to the midwicket fence. It was a signal of intent, if not a sign of the sluggish wicket and a tired Johnson. Johnson threw up an effort bouncer, a yard quicker, Prince hooked it flat and hard behind square for four more.
It was to be Prince’s day. He dominated from there preying on Johnson who struggled to find his length and line on a wicket that didn’t suit him. The pace was slow, the bounce even, and he barely moved it off the straight. He looks a tired man after a staggering 518 overs this summer.
Hashim Amla looked equally as comfortable as Prince during their 97-run stand before he prodded at Johnson on 46. This seemed to spark the left-armer. He bowled a quick spell at Jacques Kallis. Memories of drawing blood from Kallis’ jaw in Durban were fresh when he pinned him once more here in Cape Town. This time a bruise on the back would be Johnson’s final mark on the day's play as he succumbed to cramp late in the last session. Hilfenhaus cracked Kallis’ helmet in the following over and the stand-in captain was left to wonder whether he might break more helmets than score runs.
His fears were allayed with the introduction of Bryce McGain. Prince feasted on the leg-spinner’s first three deliveries. The first was a streaky carve over point. The next disappeared one bounce over the long-off fence. It was this stroke that brought up Prince’s 11th Test century. He now sits third all-time in Test cricket history behind Don Bradman and George Headley as the best converters from 50 to 100. Prince continues to break boundaries.
McGain’s introduction and Ponting’s persistence with him proved a blessing for Jacques Kallis. Released from barrage of short pitched bowling he belted the hapless McGain to all corners and hit himself into form. He raced from 4 to 36 in three McGain overs. The 36-year-old Victorian could be playing his first and last Test match as he conceded 102 in 11 innocuous and wicket-less overs.
Prince and Kallis established a lead before Prince fell caught down the leg-side off Hilfenhaus. The initial appeal was turned down by umpire Steve Bucknor before Ponting referred it upstairs. Prince’s guilty body language and no other explanation for the sound were the only conclusive evidence but after 12 exhausting minutes Prince was eventually sent to the sheds for an even 150.
Kallis then punished a tired attack, reaching his 31st test century, his first in 11 months late, in the day. Again it was farcical scenes as Kallis celebrated whilst Asad Rauf signaled leg-bye. Hotspot’s prompt analysis showed a large inside edge. The information was relayed swiftly to the Pakistani adjudicator and he changed his decision, much to Ponting’s bemusement. It was a commonsense ruling but seemingly an obvious breach of normal protocol.
South Africa’s lead of 195 with seven wickets in hand leaves Australia with plenty to ponder overnight. The Test match seems lost barring a miracle but there are bigger questions to examine. The lack of back-up batsman in the squad to replace Marcus North has left the selectors with egg on their face. The first innings total of 209 was clearly below par. McGain’s inclusion has been wanted since September but it was hardly justified. He may be Australia’s best spinner but he is not in Australia best ten first-class bowlers which begs the question of his inclusion.
Australia’s balance looks as lopsided as the current scoreline. A tired trio of quicks has not helped the cause but this large oversight must be addressed before the Ashes squad is announced.
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