Sydney Test, Day 2, Tea
Thursday, January, 3, 2002

It was carnage, wasn't it. The psychology of the South Africans has really backfired. Before the series it was Pat Symcox who said the two they would target were Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn. The approach was, we've ruined their careers once, we can do it again.

This South African team is now paying for that psychology backfiring. They are really hurting from it.

Martyn has finally put his Sydney ghost to rest, and it has fired up the whole team.

It was a confident batting display by Australia. It's basically saying to the South Africans that we think there's plenty of time to get you guys out. The Australians think they've got South Africa's measure.

The South African bowlers had some direction in that session. More than in Adelaide, anyway, but they didn't change their plan when Marytn and Lee started to get on top.

They'll bat the same way they have all series. Some will defend, some will try to play their shots. They could take a big leaf out of Jacques Kallis's book and play every ball on its merits.

They have to remember it's not the bowler - the Glenn McGrath or Shane Warne - that gets you out, it's the ball. South Africa need to concentrate and keep it really simple.

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 2, Lunch: Warnie: Can bowl, can bat!
Day 1, Close: SA bowlers go missing under pressure

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