Australia didn't quite get the script right in the first session. After winning the toss and inserting South Africa in overcast conditions on a seaming track, they allowed the opening batsmen far too many sighters. In his first five overs, Glenn McGrath allowed the batsmen to leave 12 balls – that's 40% of his deliveries. Brett Lee bowled 14 deliveries in five overs which didn't require a stroke – almost 47%. The bowlers pitched short 12 times in 11 overs, and in conditions which favoured seam and swing, didn't pitch it up once. The batsmen were forced on the front foot less than 30% of the time.

In the second session, the discipline improved significantly. McGrath still allowed the batsmen to leave 32% of his deliveries, but Lee made them play 82% of the time. Importantly, almost 43% of the deliveries were played off the front foot.

The Australians induced just six uncontrolled strokes (that's edges, play-and-misses, or any shot that is in some way false) in the first 11 overs; in the next 29, they induced 24 more – a third of them off McGrath, who was, as usual, bowling just outside off stump. He hardly bowled anything on the leg side. And 97% of his deliveries were on a good length or just short. Not surprisingly, he was rewarded with two wickets in that session.

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com, India.

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