In the second of three instalments running throughout the South Africa-Australia series, we delve into the Wisden Almanack archive to pick out a memorable Test match between the sides. Here we go back to the fourth and final Test at Port Elizabeth in 1969-70 Australia arrived in South Africa early in 1970 in buoyant mood, fresh from a 3-1 series win in India, and ready to face a side which had not played a Test since the Australians' previous tour three years before.

Although the Indian trip had been strenuous, Australia's captain Bill Lawry said at the outset that he was confident of success. But from the start little went right for the tourists. Their main strike bowler Graham McKenzie lost all form (he took 1 for 333 in three Tests), the batting repeatedly failed (with the exception of Ian Redpath, who managed 283 runs at 47.16), and their catching was described by the Wisden Almanack as "deplorable".

South Africa, in contrast, were outstanding in every department. Barry Richards, in his first (and only) Test series, and Graeme Pollock both topped 500 runs, while fast-bowling allrounder Mike Procter blew away 26 wickets at 13.57.

Australia lost the first three Tests by wide margins - 170 runs, an innings and 129, and 307 runs - and arrived at Port Elizabeth with only pride to play for. South Africa's captain Ali Bacher, on the other hand, was determined to complete a clean sweep in the four-match series.

The match - played at the venue of South Africa's inaugural Test 81 years previously - turned out to be their last for over two decades, as worldwide disapproval of the apartheid regime forced sporting isolation. The greatest sadness for cricket was that some of the era's greatest players - Richards, Pollock, Procter, Barlow - were never seen on the official international stage again. But it was to be quite an exit ...

Almanack report
Scorecard

Martin Williamson is managing editor of Wisden.com.

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