Sydney Test, Day 4, Lunch
Saturday, January 5, 2002

Time is really the key for South Africa at the moment. If they're to have any chance of winning, they really need to put Australia under time pressure - more so than the runs they make.

If South Africa can bat through to the close tonight and even just into tomorrow, they'll probably only be 100 or maybe 150 in front. This Australian team will just blast that - they're a very different side to Australian teams which have struggled to chase small totals in the past.

But if South Africa can bat a good part of tomorrow - that's when the pressure will be on, because the Australians will have to attack to get any total and that's when mistakes are made.

That was an even session. It's not easy to get an even session against Australia but, even more than that, it's not easy to then get on top of them. No side has been able to really climb on top of Australia for two and three sessions in a row because of the pressure they exert.

It's too early to say if we've got a game on here, but there are players still to come who can make runs.

It will be a test for Australia if South Africa are still at the crease tonight. Some of the nightmares of India will come back to them - even though that was a totally different situation to this one.

Kirsten has played long innings before, but I'm hesitant to say he's got the ability to bat long periods just because he has before. The other innings he played developed naturally, it's harder to set yourself for a long innings when you're expected to, because you end up putting pressure on yourself. But they certainly need him to bat through to stumps to have any chance.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments will be appearing exclusively on Wisden.com after each session in this series. He was talking to Tim Stoney.

More Ian Healy
Day 3, Close: A glimmer of hope
Day 3, Tea: At last, they have relaxed

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