Adelaide Test, Day 2, Lunch
Saturday, December 15, 2001

I felt last night Australia finished the day with their noses in front, but they've really consolidated that position this morning. I don't want to make any big predictions yet. A lot depends on the next session, but they are going to be very hard to beat from this position.

They would have been hoping for another 70 or 80 this morning, but if they can stretch the total to over 400 after lunch, the South Africans are really going to have their work cut out.

The main problem for South Africa has been that they've taken too long to adjust to the wicket on both days. They've overpitched and let all the Australian batsmen get onto the front foot too much.

The bowlers did the job last night - worked out the right length to bowl and stuck to it. But the wicket looks like it's at its best in the morning and, again, they haven't had any real plan today and the bowling has lacked consistency.

You've got give a lot of credit to the Australian batsmen - particularly the lower order - they really put a high price on their wickets.

A lot of people are surprised by Shane Warne's form with the bat, but he really should have been batting like that for the past eight years. It's a mystery why he hasn't done it sooner. He's got things pretty right at the moment - he's seeing it early, he's not doing too many silly things, and without much foot-movement he has the strength to play all round the wicket.

But Damien Martyn has played a conventional Test-match innings. He came out under pressure, he took his time - all the others took on the bowling, but he's been very much back to basics. He's the type of guy the strokeplayers can work around.

He's adjusted well to the state of the pitch - he's made it all look too easy, with a minimum of fuss, no big flourishes, just very tidy work.

The key when the Australians bowl later today is to hit the right spots on the pitch often enough. It's hotter today, the pitch will dry out and some of those cracks will get wider so the bounce will get worse. They just have to use it.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments will be appearing on Wisden.com at the end of every session in the series. He was talking to Tim Stoney.

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