Australia v South Africa
VB Series, Match 2
Sunday, January 13, 2002 Australia will be a little bit worried by this defeat – but there's certainly no need for panic. Almost every year the pattern is the same – Australia roll into the one-dayers off the back of a victory in the Tests, and they get a kick in the pants in their first match. To lose two on the trot is unusual, but then they don't always play two matches in the first weekend. It's the usual symptoms though, and this defeat should be a loud wake-up call.

Australia have been guilty of complacency – and impatience as well. They wanted to rotate their squad in this series, but they hadn't banked on defeat. Not even these guys can perform to the best of their ability in one-match bursts, so the likes of Mark Waugh and Ian Harvey, who lost against New Zealand, should have been retained for this game at least. That way they could have redeemed themselves on one hand, and cemented their places on the other.

Glenn McGrath was missed, though Jason Gillespie did a fine job – 2 for 28 from 10 overs is ideal. But McGrath is so good at coming back in the middle of an innings, and again at the end – he has the ability to change the match at any stage. Andy Bichel kept things tight until his last overs, and Shane Warne was brilliant, but in McGrath's absence, Andrew Symonds was not the ideal guy to have at the death. Harvey should have played.

South Africa bounced back brilliantly from their humiliation in the Tests. Jonty Rhodes was excellent on his return, and Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis were a hundred times better. They've straightened out their actions and immediately it's paid dividends with three wickets each.

This is an important victory for South Africa, make no mistake. Australia have prided themselves on their dominance in the pressure moments, and this the first tight game that South Africa have won in a long time. Their batting was a bit wobbly towards the end, but this was not an easy wicket at all – some balls crawled through, others leapt at the helmet – and they will take great confidence from the win.

Confidence was something that was strangely lacking from Australia's performance. It was an unusual team – Bichel was playing his first one-dayer in four years, Matthew Hayden his first at home in eight years. Both guys are in good form – and there was a lot of enthusiasm about – but it all seemed a little hollow.

Australia are bottom of the pile, but at least they've lost to two different sides. To be eight points adrift at this stage would be a whole lot worse. The team will kick on from here and come good, although continuity – at least for 2-3 games – is a must. The selectors cannot just throw any old XI together and hope they gel. They must get their combos right, and fast, because it's time to win.

Ian Healy, one of the game's greatest wicketkeepers, is a commentator for Channel 9. He will be giving his verdict on each match in the VB series. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

More Ian Healy
Drifty Australia outplayed

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd