Aussies hold the edge

Three South African batsmen gave the Proteas a glimmer of hope here yesterday with half-centuries, but it was the Australians who ended the day the happier of the two teams.

Jacques Kallis reached 12003 runs in test cricket with an unusually brisk 54 and Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers both passed the 50-mark, but South Africa was unable to take full advantage of these good starts.

The Aussie bowlers, surprisingly, had the upper hand in spite of a setback before the start when they lost their spearhead Ryan Harris to injury and then back-up seamer Shane Watson during the game, also to injury.

Australia, whether by design or the hamstring injury to Harris, gave a first test cap to fast bowler Patrick Cummins. At 18, he became the youngest Aussie test debutant since Ian Craig, who played his first test aged 17 in 1953 and later in that decade led a victorious team to South Africa.

READ THE FULL STORY AT SPORTLIVE.