AUSTRALIA will return to the top of the world today once it completes a crushing victory over damaged and demoralised Test champions South Africa in Adelaide.

The underdog success story may come with a rush as South Africa heads into the final day of the second Test teetering on 4-77 after being set 430 for a record-breaking victory.

Australia’s success will be all the more significant without imposing young fast bowler James Pattinson, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the Test summer with a side strain suffered during the first innings.

It is the fourth time the 22-year-old quick has broken down this year, raising yet more questions about the management of young fast bowlers and the role of sports science.

“It is disappointing,” Pattinson’s Dandenong club and Victorian teammate Peter Siddle said after play. “Everyone knows he’s going to be down.”

Siddle defended Pattinson’s preparation coming into the series, with the pair playing four Sheffield Shield matches each.

“All the plan was red-ball cricket and getting ready for the Tests. It (injury) is just part of cricket.

“There was a lot of talk about too much work or not enough work but his plan was perfect.”

While Australia must officially win the series in Perth next week to claim the world Test crown from South Africa on the International Cricket Council rankings, success today will ensure Michael Clarke’s team is already ahead.

Despite Australia’s all too obvious batting flaws and the poor starts that have come against what is supposed to be the best pace attack in the world, Clarke has willed his team into positions of dominance with Bradmanesque batting.

When he was leg before wicket for a mere mortal’s 38 yesterday it gave him a staggering 527 runs in the series at an average of 264.

This has put Clarke within touching distance of Matthew Hayden’s Australian record of 549 runs for a three-Test series, set in India during 2001.

But runs are only a means to an end and Clarke will reinforce to his team that failure in Perth will see the precious number one ranking come and go before it is officially inked in.

Day four in pictures

If Australia does claim the series in Perth it will be first time in six years that South Africa has been beaten on the road.



Clarke will have a refreshed attack at his disposal in Perth, beginning with 12th man Mitchell Starc replacing the unfortunate Pattinson in the final XI.

And there is every chance spinner Nathan Lyon will be given a rest after his marathon spells in Adelaide saw him become the youngest Australian off-spinner to claim 50 wickets, at the age of 25.

Australia has played four fast bowlers in the past two Perth Tests with devastating results, flogging India by an innings and 37 runs last season and winning its only Ashes Test the summer before by 267 runs.

This means that one of the contenders to replace Pattison in the squad, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood or Victorian bolter John Hastings, are every chance of playing the last Test.

South Africa needs a further 353 runs to win, with six wickets in hand.

SCOREBOARD



Australia 1st innings 550

South Africa 1st innings 388

Australia 2nd Innings

E COWAN b Kleinveldt 29 (98)

D WARNER c du Plessis b Kleinveldt 41 (77)

R QUINEY c de Villiers b Kleinveldt 0 (1)

R PONTING b Steyn 16 (39)

M CLARKE lbw Steyn 38 (122)

P SIDDLE c de Villiers b Morkel 1 (16)

M HUSSEY c Steyn b Morkel 54 (129)

M WADE c de Villiers b Morkel 18 (74)

J PATTINSON not out 29 (57)

B HILFENHAUS not out 18 (27)

Sundries (4b 10lb 9nb) 23

Eight wickets (dec) for 267

Fall: 77 (Warner), 77 (Quiney), 91 (Cowan), 98 (Ponting), 103 (Siddle), 173 (Clarke), 206 (Hussey), 220 (Wade).

Bowling: D Steyn 17-5-50-2 (1nb), M Morkel 19-4-50-3 (1nb), I Tahir 14-1-80-0 (2nb), R Kleinveldt 19-2-65-3 (5nb), F du Plessis 1-0-8-0.

Batting time: 326 mins. Overs: 70.

South Africa 2nd Innings

A PETERSEN b Siddle 24 (82)

G SMITH c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 0 (4)

H AMLA c Clarke b Lyon 17 (38)

J RUDOLPH c Cowan b Lyon 3 (28)

AB de VILLIERS not out 12 (101)

F DU PLESSIS not out 19 (96)

Sundries (1b 1nb) 2

Four wickets for 77

Fall: 3 (Smith), 36 (Amla), 45 (Rudolph), 45 (Petersen).

Bowling: B Hilfenhaus 12-6-23-1, P Siddle 11-5-23-1 (1nb), M Clarke 5-2-4-0, N Lyon 15-7-15-2, D Warner 3-0-10-0, R Quiney 3-2-1-0, R Ponting 1-1-0-0.

Batting time: 177 mins. Overs: 50. Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Richard Kettleborough (ENG).

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).

Third Umpire: Asad Rauf (PAK).





Originally published as Aussies climb back to Test summit