Former Proteas coach Eric Simons takes a look at South Africa's historic second-Test — and series-clinching — win over Australia in Melbourne. Has the wheel turned in world cricket?

When play started on Day Three of the second Test match in Melbourne there were a number of likely scenarios that one would expect to play out during the course of the day.

The scenarios, of course, all involved South Africa trying to minimise the damage of the situation they had got themselves into the day before, and try ensure that Australia went into their second innings with as small a lead as possible. At the start of the day anything under a hundred runs would have been a moral victory. The one scenario that was not plausible was South Africa building up a lead in the first innings and a healthy one at that.

In an era where so many Test matches seem to come and go without any significant event to make them remarkable, in this series we have now had two from two that will be remembered for many a year. And for a change they will be remembered fondly by South Africans!

I have previously spoken of my belief in the top order of the Proteas, so chasing down the 414 in the first Test, while brilliant, was not that surprising to me. But having spoken about my concerns regarding the vulnerability of our tail, the partnerships that rescued us from an impossible position blew me away!

I am obviously not with the team in Australia and have not been able to watch them prepare for the series, but I am willing to wager a fair amount on the fact that Duncan Fletcher has played an important part in the improvement of the batting performance of the lower order.

Guts equals glory

I have watched the technical batting of the South African team with interest since I learnt of Fletcher becoming involved. I do not believe there is a better technical coach in world cricket and he has already made a significant impact on our top order batting — now we can add the lower order to the equation as well.

You cannot turn a person into a batsman in one or two sessions, but what Duncan is exceptional at is finding a way to use what you have and make you effective at your job. And how effective did our lower order become?!

But it is not all about the coaching and game plans — it required great commitment and plenty of guts from Paul Harris and Dale Steyn to go out there and do the business.

So those are all the incidentals covered because for me the man of the moment without a shadow of a doubt is JP Duminy.

When you play first-class cricket well enough to be selected for your country you must have a decent technique. What is tested at the highest level is not so much the cricketer's technique but rather his character — his ability to tap into his talent and his technique under the pressure of international cricket. There are many very talented cricketers that never make it at the highest level, not because they are not technically proficient, but rather because they could not survive the test of character.

I coached JP previously in the Western Province structures and also within the Proteas team so I have always known he was exceptional when simply judged on technique.

Duminy: The boy becomes a man...

During the winter I was involved in CSA High Performance program of which JP was a member. There I learnt more about the man JP had become and I knew that it was not a matter of whether he was going to make the grade but rather when he was going to make it. When you combine his ability with a strong character you have a winning combination.

I think the mental scars in the South African team that the Australian's have always brought up before a series have healed nicely, but if I was Australian I would be a little concerned about the deep wounds that two defeats from strong winning positions has made in the psyche of this Australian team.

I wonder if the wheel has finally turned?

  • So what do you make of the series win? Let us know what you think below, or email Eric at ericsimons@primediaonline.co.za with any additional comments or questions.


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