Melbourne Test, day 1, lunch
Wednesday, December 26, 2001

The Melbourne wicket's got a bit of moisture in it, but Australia didn't really use it well. They'll have to correct their length after lunch - they bowled a bit short and a bit wide in that little session.

I'm not surprised Steve Waugh bowled – both captains were going to field first - but they do need to get the South Africans on the front foot, get them pushing at the ball and then use the sideways movement.

The openers have been able to let too many balls go, they haven't had to play enough deliveries. They have been able to confidently leave balls that have bounced over the top of the stumps - that's a sign that there's good bounce in the wicket and the Australians bowled too short.

When you get it at the right length the new ball should go sideways. Both Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs need to push singles and use their left- and right-hand combination to make it hard for the Aussies to settle into that length.

This next session could really tell the story of the match. If South Africa can get through they'll be in a position to set a really competitive score. If Australia can pick up three or four wickets they won't look back.

But with a little bit of good batting at the top South Africa can put some pressure on in the first innings. And they can get at Shane Warne when it's least favourable for spin bowling.

The key is that the runs have to be made in the first innings in this test because they'll be harder to make as the game goes along.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments will be appearing exclusively on Wisden.com after each session in this series. He was talking to Tim Stoney.

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