Australia v South Africa

At Melbourne, December 26, 27, 28, 29. Australia won by nine wickets. Toss: Australia.

The South Africans were not merely beaten, but beaten into submission. Their abject surrender of the series on the fourth day called both their recent record and their aspirations to the Test Championship into question. Their grim, regimented cricket was brittle beside Australia's confident ebullience, and above all the indefatigable openers, Hayden and Langer.

Nominally, the South Africans picked their strongest eleven, with Donald pronounced fit for his first Test since April. But their strength derived from deeds recalled rather than deeds recently recorded: Donald had taken only one first-class wicket on tour, and Klusener had just made a pair in a high-scoring match against New South Wales. The Australians were without the injured Gillespie, but Bichel fitted into the ensemble so neatly, with four wickets, two catches and a run-out, that disruption was minimal.

Only 40 overs were bowled on the first day in gloomy conditions that tried the South Africans' application and found it wanting. They were 59 for three when Dippenaar was caught at gully by Hayden diving to his right. McKenzie showed impressive poise next day, sharing half-century stands with Kallis and Boucher, but even survival was a struggle. Kallis, dropped twice off Bichel and troubled by the short ball when he moved mechanically on to the front foot, needed almost three hours to score 38, and was then adjudged caught behind, off Bichel again, from a ball he clearly missed; umpire Nicholls was deceived by the out-swing once it passed the bat. Klusener shovelled back a return catch to Bichel from his first ball, and Donald lasted one menacing over from Lee.

Though Pollock and Hayward provided an affirmative finish with a last-wicket stand of 44 in 12 overs, they were ineffectual with the ball, and Hayden and Langer were even more positive in Australia's reply. Their first 50 materialised in 11 overs, and they proceeded without difficulty to their third double-century partnership of the season. Hayden's flawless 138, including 17 fours in ten minutes under five hours, was the climax of 12 months in which he had finally repaid the faith of supporters and selectors. Bob Simpson's Australian record of 1,381 Test runs at 60.04 in the calendar year 1964 was overhauled; Hayden finished the game with 1,391 at 63.22 in 2001, including five centuries. Both men played 14 Tests in that time; Hayden had 25 innings to Simpson's 26. For good measure, he completed 1,000 first-class runs for the Australian season when he reached 130.

Australia passed South Africa's 277 with three wickets down, in enervating heat: ideal conditions for their captain to run himself back into form. Steve Waugh was below his best - Dippenaar, twice caught on his heels when bat-pad chances looped towards short leg, let Donald down badly - but still quick to dispose of loose deliveries. He even essayed a rare hook. But after nearly three hours, he was out in the 90s for the tenth time in Tests, a record. Beaten by Gibbs's direct hit, Waugh did not see umpire Hair's raised finger, and was awaiting a replay when informed. He stayed for almost 20 seconds, apparently asking about consulting the third umpire, which contradicted his public statements that Australia would lead the way in respecting umpires' decisions. The replay did raise questions - one bail seemed to be disturbed by Boucher before Gibbs struck the stumps - but the referee, Ranjan Madugalle, docked Waugh half his match fee. Waugh later complained of being "crucified in the papers", and criticised official restriction on his scope for comment.

South Africa regained some heart, and their pace attack some rhythm; when McGrath fell in the first over of the fourth day, Australia had lost their last six wickets for 58 in 23 overs. But as at Adelaide, only Kallis stood firm as the tourists gave a puny second-innings display, despite an excellent pitch and sapping heat. The Australians fielded brilliantly even by their standards. Hayden, at short leg, caught Dippenaar off a full-blooded punch; Mark Waugh, in his 100th consecutive Test, took two slick catches at slip that belied their difficulty, and Martyn executed two run-outs. The second, involving a smart gather by Gilchrist on the half-volley as a flat return rocketed in from point, caught Kallis a foot or two short of a century as he tried to commandeer the strike from the last man, Hayward. It ended a brave innings from Kallis, who had batted more than seven and a half hours in the match: a feat splendid in its defiance and disappointing in its loneliness. At least he made Australia bat again, if only for three overs, to claim their series victory.

Man of the Match: M. L. Hayden.
Attendance: 153,025.

Close of play: First day, South Africa 89-3 (Kallis 22, McKenzie 14); Second day, Australia 126-0 (Langer 67, Hayden 55); Third day, Australia 487-9 (Gilchrist 30, McGrath 0).