Perhaps they've been spoilt in recent years, but generally, when South Africa's bowlers have put the ball on a good length for 75% of a day's play, they might expect at least some of the other 25% to be impact balls. Not a bit of it. Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden are in such a dominant vein of form at the moment, that bowlers of the class of Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald and Jacques Kallis have been reduced to an ineffectual containing role.

Instead of herding the batsmen into indiscretions by bowling a tight line, South Africa's bowlers were themselves penned in by the power of Australia's strokeplay. Langer's drives (27 runs from 9 full deliveries), and Hayden's swats and pulls (46 from 43 short balls), were so fierce on anything that strayed from the norm, that the only place where the bowlers could catch their breath was on that good length. Jacques Kallis, in particular, bore the brunt of the assault, disappearing for four fours in one Langer over, and three in another against Hayden.

There was no equivocation in the batsmen's footwork either. They played decisively forward or back to all but 18 deliveries out of the 409 they faced between them, and mistimed or edged just 12 balls. Their scoring areas reflected this allround mastery as well, with both players scoring heavily on either side of the wicket. Once again there was a slight bias towards Langer on the offside (62% of his runs) and Hayden on the leg (55%).

Andrew Miller is on the staff of Wisden.com

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