Melbourne Test, Day 4, Close
Saturday, December 29, 2001

That was a great win - one of the most comprehensive you'll see. The Aussie pack was back. The leader was Matthew Hayden, but everyone was involved.

All the batters got a start, all the bowlers did their job as a group ... and the fielding was unbelieveable. The only blemish were a couple of tough chances that went down, and you can hardly even remember them now.

I'd give them nine-and-a-half out of ten for that performance.

There was no time in the whole four days where I felt South Africa were in front. Maybe there was a partnership or two where they briefly had the upper hand, but they were quickly brought back by some great bowling.

South Africa haven't ever really been level with Australia in this series, and they were so far away from dominating this game - which would have been their aim - that it wasn't funny.

They need to bat more like Jacques Kallis. He's playing naturally - the others aren't.

It's got to be the fact that they were so desperate to beat Australia. I think you'll see a more relaxed South Africa at Sydney. I'll be really disappointed if they don't play better, because there are some class players in their line-up.

What the South African players will need to do is to go out and play for personal pride and team pride, and they can do that now the series has been lost.

They have really been hamstrung by their incredible desire to beat Australia and the World Championship tag - that has effected their performance. They have the makings of a pretty good team, and I think Sydney will be a much closer contest.

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.

More Ian Healy
Day 4, Tea: Slower Shane, quick results
Day 4, Lunch: 'Play each ball on its merits'

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