AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA 1952-53

At Sydney, January 9, 10, 12, 13. Australia won by an innings and 38 runs. After their victory at Melbourne, South Africa entered this match not only on terms of equality but with the confidence which that success had given the players. Yet any hopes they held of succeeding again were virtually dispelled during the first two days when Australia established an overwhelming advantage. The South Africans made a promising start and went to lunch with the score at 59 for one. Afterwards, however, Lindwall changed the course of the innings in the first over of his third spell. Bowling at his fastest with a strong breeze behind him, he sent back Endean with the fifth ball and McLean two balls later. This broke the back of the batting and though Funston made some vigorous strokes the innings closed soon after tea.

Australia lost two wickets cheaply, but there the South Africans' successes ended. McDonald and Harvey put on 113 in 100 minutes, and Miller joined Harvey in a partnership of 168 which beat the previous best fourth Australian stand against South Africa, 154 by W. W. Armstrong and C. Hill in 1910-11. Harvey, at the crease for six hours, gave a glorious display of batsmanship to which he brought both power and elegance.

Australia gained a lead of 270 and South Africa's task of saving the game suffered a double blow when Lindwall dismissed Waite and McGlew in his second and third overs at a personal cost of six runs. Endean and McLean resisted for ninety minutes and increased the total by 99 runs. Watkins also batted briskly, but the tail-end batsmen provided few problems for a lively and well-sustained attack. Tayfield did not bat because of a fractured left thumb received when stopping a drive from Miller.