Australia had led by 188 on the first innings, but when Mike Hussey dropped Hashim Amla in the gully from the last ball of the day, depriving Ryan Harris, South Africa went to stumps at 1/81, needing just 155 more to win. Captain Michael Clarke held out a glimmer of hope, but also prayed for less of a glimmer from the sun. Like an earthquake, there was no forewarning. Like religion, it could not be rationalised. The sun was in and out, the ball didn't swing alarmingly, the pitch was sporty, but hardly monstrous. The 19 wickets for 94 that will be talked about forever came in a kind of spasm, between untroubled 50-plus partnerships at the end of Australia's first innings and the start of South Africa's second. Michael Clarke ... scored two in his second innings. Credit:AFP Twenty-three wickets fell, the equal most in a single day in the era of covered pitches. For only the second time in Test history, parts of all four innings were played on one day. Between South African captain and opener Graeme Smith and Australia's last man pair, not one player registered double figures. Bowling figures were at once exotic and meaningless. For Australia, Shane Watson took five wickets in his first 21 balls. Only Ernie Toshack in 1946 has taken five wickets more speedily from the start of a spell. Ryan Harris took four wickets as an auxiliary.

For South Africa, debutant Vernon Philander took 5/15, and so made a name for himself. But, extraordinarily, Dale Steyn took only two. After the first, he was not needed again until the last. Clarke did not spare himself in presenting his team's mea culpa. ''Our shot selection was horrible,'' he said. Vernon Philander sends Ricky Ponting on his way, lbw for a duck in Australia's second innings. Credit:AFP ''South Africa bowled well, but in my opinion we shouldn't have been all out for 47. That's unacceptable and I take full responsibility for all that.'' In the absence of other explanations, questions will be asked about the impact of short-form cricket on the powers of Test cricketers. The counter-point is that on this day and selfsame pitch, Clarke had made 151.

''There was enough in the wicket when it was overcast, but our shot selection was disgraceful,'' he said. ''We nicked everything in sight, any half lbw was given out ... I can make a million excuses. The facts are we should not have been all out for 47.'' Some of the shot play was - not to put too fine a point on it - criminally reckless. Hussey drove the first ball after tea straight to gully, Brad Haddin played a wild and ridiculous slog and Mitchell Johnson slashed haplessly. These are all Test century-makers. It is one thing to stay positive, quite another to abandon responsibility. South Africa bowled well, but in my opinion we shouldn't have been all out for 47. That's unacceptable and I take full responsibility for all that Phil Hughes was dropped in the slips and then caught there. Ricky Ponting was lbw for the second time in the game, losing a referral for the second time and for the second time making his lack of faith in the system obvious. Nine decisions this bizarre day were referred. At first they benefited Australia handsomely, then South Africa. Clarke and Watson were also lbw. Only Shaun Marsh can be fully forgiven. Despite back stiffness so severe that he did not field at all in South Africa's first innings, he hobbled out against advice at No.9. He lasted two balls.

Clarke said Australia's batsmen had betrayed the bowlers. ''I just said to the boys in the change rooms: the bowlers seemed to get criticised for us losing games of cricket, but I can guarantee you we have done nothing but put ourselves under pressure.'' Loading That said, Mitchell Johnson again failed to convert nets and practice game form into Test figures, and will be under critical review as Australia prepare for the second Test in Johannesburg. In their beds, new selectors Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel must have tossed and turned. In Johannesburg and about to board a plane back to Australia, new supremo Pat Howard would have called for a stiff drink.