Could the old laager mentality be descending on the South African touring party? According to ABC Radio today, Graeme Pollock, selector and former great (and great is not misused here), is not too popular with his lads at the moment. Pollock was critical on air yesterday of the lack of imagination shown by his nephew, the current captain Shaun, and the team in general as they let Matthew Hayden and Mark Waugh bat Australia into a powerful position. Pollock Snr. was right, of course, but that never counts in a beaten dressing-room. Now most of the South Africans have revealed that old weakness against Shane Warne, and have gone 1-0 down against opponents who are back to their best. And Shaun Pollock leaves Adelaide with scores of 0 and 1 and figures of 1 for 102. The pressure is really on now.

The Melbourne pitch for the second Test will probably bounce quite a lot. That will help Pollock, Nantie Hayward and Allan Donald, if he returns, but also Australia's pace attack - and Warne, who can use bounce brilliantly. Glenn McGrath and Warne were superb this morning, breaking open the South African resistance in the first session and putting paid to theories that they needed a fifth bowler. Australia could have done it with just those two.

The Australians have regained the momentum, spark and confidence missing in the series against New Zealand. In this mood they are fierce opposition, unerring in their ability to attack their opponents' weak points.

South Africa will have to draw on all their legendary fighting qualities. And they should procure a tape of Graeme Pollock's commentary, if they don't have it already, and try to learn something before regathering for Melbourne.

Many critics here argue that this Australian team lacks an allrounder. But this South African team needs at least one allrounder fewer, on current form Lance Klusener, to make room for another specialist batsman. It should be Daryll Cullinan, but he is not even here, as the selectors, without Pollock's vote, became Warne's first victims when Cullinan was left out of the squad weeks ago. That might have been the first mistake of the tour.

Mark Ray has covered Australian cricket since 1987 and is also the author of a number of books on the game.

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