Date-stamped : 26 Mar97 - 18:17 Day 1 report - Electronic Telegraph Schultz has Australia on rack with four wickets By Peter Deeley in Pretoria BRETT SCHULTZ, almost written off at international level a year ago, rewarded the gamble taken by South Africa on his fitness with four wickets in an aggressive display of fast bowling yesterday as Australia were dismissed for 227 on the penultimate ball of the first day of this final Test. Whether the home side are in the ascendancy remains to be seen. Hansie Cronje's decision to put the tourists in means they will face Shane Warne on a pitch which is bound to be wearing later. But for the moment, South Africa can celebrate one of their best days of the series. The Australians, already a decisive 2-0 up, promised they were still fired up but presented a slipshod array of batting on a pitch which was two-paced but showed no signs of sideways movement. English umpire Merv Kitchen, arriving for this game only a fortnight after standing in the first West Indies-India Test in Jamaica, was probably the central character of the day. Steve Waugh, who, with 67, was the only man to pass 50 - and incidentally pushed his overall Test average over the half-century mark - was aggrieved at Kitchen's decision to give him caught down the leg side by Dave Richardson when the ball appeared to have flicked a pad. Kitchen was unfortunate enough to have to adjudicate on several hairline leg-before decisions during Schultz's final 10-over spell in which he took three for 21. Ian Healy survived two and also another leg-side chance which Richardson spilled as he barrelled sideways. In desperation, a kneeling Schultz held up three fingers, which Kitchen at first took to be a reference to himself. But the bowler explained later: "I told the umpire that I was implying nothing against him, only telling Healy it was third time lucky." Perseverance paid off for Schultz. He got Kitchen's finger of approval to dismiss Michael Bevan and Shane Warne leg before in the space of four balls, but then Healy wandered up the umpire's end and said some words which brought a hard stare from the Englishman. It was an abrasive last session after the most insipid cricket of this highly charged series. Allan Donald took his 150th Test wicket in his 33rd game, but admitted that to start with"he had bowled rubbish. Schultz, too, says he is slower than he once was. He was in Cronje's side against England here 15 months ago - when the South African captain again won the toss and chose to field - but broke down with injury, not for the first time in his career, and only got in here because Shaun Pollock was not fit. Schultz said: "There were times when I thought my Test career might be at an end. But my motto is 'never give up'. If I break down, I will come back again. At least I finished this day on the field." Mark Taylor took 3.25 hours to struggle to 38, his highest score in 12 innings, but still looked very uncertain and was fourth out fishing at a wide ball without any foot movement. Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh were bowled through the gate misjudging the pace, but Matthew Elliott's dismissal gave South Africa the lift they needed. Donald believes he can bounce Elliott out - and did here. The left-hander went for the hook, top-edged it almost straight behind him, and Schultz, running 20 yards, took a fine catch. Steve Waugh and Greg Blewett gave hints of that 385-run stand in Johannesburg as they put on 80, but then Blewett became another of Richardson's four victims when the off-spinner Pat Symcox got extra bounce. Brian Lara has had blood tests after he complained of feeling lethargic during the second Test against India, which ended on Tuesday. Lara was ruled out of Trinidad and Tobago's Red Stripe game against Guyana, which began in Berbice on Thursday. The West Indies still expect him to play in the third Test, which starts in Barbados next Thursday. Source:: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Day 2 report - Electronic Telegraph Bacher gives backbone to South Africa By Peter Roebuck DETERMINED batting by Adam Bacher and colleagues has given South Africa a chance to end a disappointing series on a high note. Helped by a dozing pitch and some notably sympathetic umpiring, the locals wore down their opponents and can now press for an encouraging victory. Bacher worked hard for his runs. It took him 50 minutes to break his duck and he was never in command against a persistent attack. He was impressed by Steve Waugh's innings at The Wanderers and brought the same unswerving concentration to this innings. A reformed dasher, he has much of Waugh's wilfulness. Mostly he moved on to the back foot and scored runs square of the wicket with his bottom hand. He played Shane Warne off the pitch and was lucky only once, umpire Cyril Mitchley shaking his head as Bacher offered no stroke at a googly, a depressing decision. Mitchley also spared Pat Symcox on the last ball of the day. Otherwise Bacher's innings was as secure as it was unglamorous. Try as they might the Australians could not shake his equanimity or break down his defence. At last a South African batsman was playing a Test match innings and a large and boisterous crowd roared him on. This is rugby territory, Afrikaner territory, but the support has been stronger than elsewhere. Previously the stands have been filled with black children brought from the townships. Here lots of whites also turned up, basking in the sunshine or cooking their sausages on the hills of this pleasant ground. Australia were surprised and frustrated by their inability to take wickets. The pitch had been slightly uneven on the opening day and they had relied upon some fickleness remaining. Instead the bowlers were forced to strain for movement and only Warne's remarkable leg-break beat the bat with any regularity. Strangely, Warne used his flipper only once, adding to rumours that his shoulder does not permit frequent use. All too soon Australia felt obliged to try their part-timers, a result of their tactic of choosing only three specialist bowlers. A heavy price is being paid to keep Mark Taylor in the team. An early strike proved deceptive. Gary Kirsten has been having a rotten time and he failed again, touching an outswinger in Glenn McGrath's opening spell. Ian Healy took the catch, his 300th victim in Test cricket. Only Rod Marsh (355) has more. Australia had wasted the new ball, though South Africa had been much worse on the first day until they were rescued by colourful contributions from Brett Schultz and Symcox, a pair whose irascibility lifted the team from their introspection. Really these teams have too many meetings and dieticians and psychologists and so forth. It's a wonder any of them ever loses. It took the leathery off-spinner and his swashbuckling chum to shake off the inhibitions. Brian McMillan had been asked to bat at first wicket down, a position hitherto occupied by Jacques Kallis. McMillan has not bowled in this match and averages 40 in Test cricket but he is not a natural top-order batsman and his promotion will be temporary. Still looking more like Gerard Depardieu than does the distinguished French actor himself, he batted in his rugged way and refused to be perturbed as Warne spun deliveries past his probing bat. At 65 for one he seemed to be caught behind as McGrath bowled a superb spell after lunch but umpire Mervyn Kitchen thought otherwise. Kitchen is having an interesting match. It's been a Kitchen sink drama. McMillan was happier against Michael Bevan, whose bowling included several high full pitches. Bevan is averaging 18 in Test cricket and is regarded in the Australian camp as the second best spinner around, a far-fetched notion considering that Mushtaq Ahmed has taken 64 wickets in his last eight matches; Anil Kumble, Saqlain Mushtaq and Paul Strang are not bad either. Bevan appears dangerous with runs on the board. These Australians are a different side when they score heavily in their first innings. Not until the total had reach 128 did McMillan fall and, surprisingly, Mark Waugh took his wicket. Waugh's innings in Port Elizabeth was the most accomplished of his career but his spinners remain gentle. Nonetheless McMillan pushed a catch to Matt Hayden at short leg. Hayden is among those due to return to Australia at the end of this series. Matthew Elliott and probably Justin Langer are expected to join him. Mark Taylor's position is uncertain. Stuart Law, Michael Divenuto and, possibly, Ryan Campbell and Shane Lee will be the replacements. By all accounts those going home are devastated and the effect upon spirits here and hereafter are incalculable. Changing the team for the one-day part of the tour seemed a good idea but it might backfire. Meanwhile Bacher batted along, sweeping Warne for six as he went. Daryll Cullinan joined him and began driving and hooking in an attempt to hasten the scoring and justify his reputation. Perhaps Cullinan waited too long to play Test cricket. Australia took the second new ball and Cullinan fell to it, edging on to his stumps to give McGrath a deserved second wicket. But Bacher was not to be shifted and was still intact at stumps after 360 minutes of tenacious resistance. Source:: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Day 3 report - Electronic Telegraph Hostile Donald raises doubts By Peter Deeley in Pretoria TOO late to save the series, South Africa are at least saving face with a fiery performance which has made Australia look far from world-beaters in this third and final Test. Before the Waugh twins added 66 the visitors were in considerable disarray at 28 for three. Their top order had been destroyed by one of the most lethal spells of fast bowling even Allan Donald has produced in his 33 Tests. But cracks in the pitch are making it increasingly hostile and Australia could yet produce the kind of fightback which won them the second Test. They are 96 for four, still 61 behind, after Mark Waugh dragged Pat Symcox on to his stumps. After South Africa gained a first-innings lead of 157, Donald accounted for Mark Taylor and Matthew Elliott in five overs with speed and movement. Then Steve Waugh was battered on the rib-cage. Earlier Matthew Hayden stormed off the field - and surely out of Test cricket - when Brett Schultz won a debatable leg-before decision. Weaknesses have been exposed which will give comfort to England in the coming Ashes series. Australia do not have an opening partnership worthy of the name. In the three Tests the highest stand between Taylor and Hayden has been 33. This game has also shown Australia's need to employ a third seamer for England. From the way Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne were battered around Centurion Park they must rejig their formation, leaving out a batsman, to make way for the likes of Paul Reiffel. There was a time yesterday when Australia promised to climb back into contention. McGrath produced sustained quick bowling to dismiss Jacques Kallis and Adam Bacher in three balls, at which point South Africa were a mere 35 runs on. Bacher, 94 overnight, had prodded for 85 minutes in search of his maiden Test hundred. In the end he got two more singles - though the leg-before decision looked to be yet another of the uncalled no-balls which have dogged the series. Then Hansie Cronje and Lance Klusener, mistrusting the pitch, used the long handle as 122 were added for the last three wickets. McGrath was scythed for two sixes by Cronje and Klusener hit Warne for one far over extra cover. Source:: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Day 4 report - Electronic Telegraph Healy banned as Donald sees off Australia By Peter Deeley in Pretoria SOUTH AFRICA wrapped up the final Test inside four days with more devastation from Allan Donald. That left Australia 2-1 winners and caused regret that a series so poised could not be played over the traditional five-match course. After the way the home side climbed back into contention following a drubbing in the first game, it is hard to predict how this rubber would have ended if the sides still had to go to Durban and Cape Town. If Australia's recent form is anything to go by there would have been a result. Their last 17 Tests have ended in a result - 10 victories and seven defeats. Curiously, the series was originally scheduled for this time next year but it was brought forward so that India could entertain Australia in 12 months. Donald's two-wicket burst in three deliveries immediately after lunch crushed Australian hopes of setting a fighting target, most tellingly when Jason Gillespie's off stump was whipped out by a yorker. The fast bowler, who returns to Warwickshire next month, emphasised his dominance as early as the fifth ball of the day when another yorker bent back Greg Blewett's middle stump. After off-spinner Pat Symcox bowled Michael Bevan round his legs the inspiration of two old heads in Steve Waugh and Ian Healy was Australia's need in the crisis. Instead Healy was undone by another of many umpiring errors in this series, Cyril Mitchley giving him out caught behind when the ball clearly came off the pad. A furious Healy stomped off with many a glare and his bat reached the dressing room before him, courtesy of an under-arm throw as he climbed the stairs. Healy was later suspended for the first two one-day international games here. Match referee Raman Subba Row said: "I warned that umpires' decisions should be accepted and those who questioned them demonstrably would be suspended." Hopefully Subba Row will comment in his International Cricket Council report on some undistinguished umpiring. He might also pass on the comment of one umpire who confided that with television replays and players' appealing the job was becoming almost untenable. Steve Waugh stayed to the end, sharing in a final stand of 21 with Glenn McGrath. Waugh batted for 4.5 hours for his 60 and won his third successive man-of-the-series award against South Africa. Australia somewhat mitigated the size of defeat as Adam Bacher tentatively pushed Gillespie to point and Gary Kirsten was caught behind. Fittingly Daryll Cullinan, who has taken more verbal flak than most out in the middle, brought victory with successive boundaries. It was a game of contrasting fortunes for two strike bowlers. Donald, finishing with match figures of eight for 96, has now taken 36 wickets in nine Tests against Australia. Shane Warne did not bowl yesterday and with none for 89 in the first innings, it is the first time in 44 Tests he has failed to take a wicket. Hansie Cronje, South Africa's captain, said: "Our players have learnt more in the last two weeks than in their entire cricketing careers." Mark Taylor will be staying on to lead Australia in the international series. He had been given the option of going home for a rest before the tour of England. Source:: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)