de Villiers exorcises demons with record-breaking chase
AB de Villiers erased a lingering hoodoo for South Africa as they sealed their most satisfying win with a record-breaking chase of 4 for 414
17/12Result
1st Test, South Africa tour of Australia at Perth, Dec 17-21 2008
-
![Australia]( "Australia")
375 & 319 -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
281 & 414/4 (119.2 ov)
Player of the Match
17/12Result
1st Test, South Africa tour of Australia at Perth, Dec 17-21 2008
-
![Australia]( "Australia")
375 & 319 -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
281 & 414/4 (119.2 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Ponting ponders Hilfenhaus or Bollinger for Melbourne
Australia's inability to defend 414 in Perth has left Ricky Pontingconsidering bowling changes for next week's Boxing Day Test inMelbourne
Weaklings turn bullies
South Africa have never, yet, snared a series in Australia. But suddenly their corner looks very compellingly like the one to be in
Smith's fourth-innings heroics
Stats highlights from South Africa's historic run-chase against Australia in Perth
Lee way for South Africa
Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fifth day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Day 4
Smith hundred allows South Africa to dream of victory
Graeme Smith's 108 drove South Africa to 3 for 227 in their bid to reach 414 and record the second-highest chase in history
Australia's drinking problem
Plays of the day for the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Nielsen questions three-hour sessions
Australia's coach Tim Nielsen has questioned the wisdom of playingTest cricket well into the evening after stumps was not called until8.03pm on the fourth day of Australia's match against South Africa inPerth
'Tomorrow the most important day of the summer' - Lee
Brett Lee expects the final day at the WACA to be the most telling of the summer for Australia and South Africa as both aim to land the first blow in the battle of the world's top two sides
Smith 2.0 upgrade works wonders
Graeme Smith's century on the fourth day in Perthsent a louder message to Australia than any amount of verbal banter
Day 3
Australia in control but South Africa refuse to fold
Australia sat in the preferred position with a lead of 322 over South Africa after the third day
Ridden by doubt, Hayden's time is running out
On a day when Rahul Dravid at least delayed further queries about his retirement plans, Matthew Hayden's second failure of the match against South Africa has only intensified speculation over his future
Elgar's best, Duminy's second-best
All the key numbers from the third day of the WACA Test, where Dean Elgar and JP Duminy starred at the venue where they debuted
Pitch is the key with match in balance
Conventional wisdom states that the WACA gets easier to score on as the match wears on but South Africa will face a tall task to begin the series with a win after Australia extended their lead to 322.
Day 2
Johnson's magnificent seven stun South Africa
Mitchell Johnson ruined South Africa's brave pushes for safety with a dramatic seven-wicket haul as the visitors spluttered to 8 for 243
'We don't see the game as down and out' - Kallis
The most severe scars do not heal quickly and Australia's dominance of South Africa's batsmen over the past decade gave Ricky Ponting hope leading into this series that the old wounds could be reopened. For much of the second day in Perth it looked like t
Johnson has a ball in his new home
Mitchell Johnson is like a wind-up toy. He'll tear in at the same speed all day but he has to be pointing in the right direction when the string is pulled
Decisions, decisions
Cricinfo presents Plays of the Day from the second day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Day 1
Opening exchanges live up to the hype
In an absorbing tug-o-war South Africa and Australia were eyeballing each other, with the hosts reaching 9 for 341 on the first day
Neither side goes the distance
Since the teams last met nearly three years ago Australia's power has diminished while South Africa have grown stronger
Katich reacquaints himself with the WACA
Cricinfo presents Plays of the Day from the first day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Duck, duck, goose?
Cricinfo presents Plays of the Day from the first day of the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Others
Haddin backs Lee to hit his straps
Brad Haddin has backed Brett Lee to return to his best despite taking only one wicket in Australia's loss to South Africa in Perth
Lee and Hayden not washed up
Australia's selectors hope Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden will continue to be part of their plans for the Ashes
McGrath says Lee is on track
Glenn McGrath expects Brett Lee to return to his best with a couple of wickets and has encouraged the fast bowler to remain upbeat
Chokers no more
History is written by the victors and this year South Africa have madeso many alterations to the accepted version that the past is nowirrelevant
No usurpers here
Why South Africa aren't really challenging Australia for No. 1 yet
Australia's aura fades away
Australia's aura is fading by the day, and they face an uphill battle to avoid a home-series defeat to South Africa
Langer says Hayden 'not sure' on retirement
Matthew Hayden's failure at the WACA on Wednesday has raised further doubts over his international future
Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Perth
Cricinfo's match home for the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
End the spin uncertainty
Australia's rotation of their spinners, which continued on Monday with Nathan Hauritz replacing Jason Krejza, must be stopped
Debutant Duminy lives the dream
Test debuts don't come much more rewarding than the one JP Duminy experienced in Perth
Hilfenhaus in for MCG as Krejza dropped
Ben Hilfenhaus has been called to provide Australia with another bowling option for the second Test on Boxing Day
An umpiring blooper
Plays of the day for the third day of the first Test in Perth
Australia bank on batting prowess
Stats preview to the first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth
Calm Smith shakes off mind games
Last time South Africa visited Australia for Tests Graeme Smith tried to talk the series up as an action-packed thriller that might just have a surprise ending
Teams go for spin but Steyn the key
Dale Steyn and his fast-bowling colleagues have attracted all the attention but both teams have taken a conservative approach by leaning towards including a spinner on the bouncy WACA pitch