CRICKET/Australia v South Africa: Former Malahide and Ireland spinner Johan Botha has been called in to the South Africa Test squad for the first time after injury to fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has put him in doubt for the third and final Test against Australia in the Sydney Cricket Ground next week.
Ntini damaged his hamstring and tendons behind the left knee on Wednesday and failed a fitness test before play on day four of the second Test yesterday, South African officials said.
"We preferred to withdraw him from bowling today to prevent him from aggravating the injury," said South Africa selector Haroon Lorgat. "Ntini is our strike bowler and we will not take any risks with him. We will only play him once he has fully recovered from his injury."
This gives off-spinner Botha the opportunity to join the squad in preparation for the third Test at the SCG, a ground that traditionally produces good wickets for spin bowlers to exploit. Last night he was on his way to Melbourne, where his team was struggling to save the second Test. At the close of play, South Africa were 99 for six chasing an unlikely total of 366 to win.
Australia are playing two spin bowlers in Melbourne and are almost certain to retain both Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill at the spin-friendly SCG.
Botha, 23, could be rushed into the South Africa line-up to partner left-arm spinner Nicky Boje in Sydney. He was originally selected only for the limited-overs section of the tour, which starts on January 13th.
Uncapped Botha has played only four One Day Internationals for his native country, making his debut last month in India. He played last season for Malahide CC in Leinster league cricket and also represented Ireland as an overseas player in a Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy match against Yorkshire in Stormont. His season in Ireland was cut short when he was drafted into the South Africa A team.
"Johan will arrive in the next day or two. We'll look at our options for the next Test," Lorgat said.
South Africa batted through the last four sessions to salvage a draw in the first Test at Perth but with just four wickets remaining at the start of the final day and Ashwell Prince the only recognised batsman remaining, a similar result looked out of the question.
Andrew Symonds featured with both bat and ball yesterday to propel Australia to the brink of victory. Under pressure to retain his Test place after a run of low scores, he smashed a test best 72 then dismissed Jacques Kallis (9) and Jacques Rudolph (4).
He combined with Matthew Hayden (137) in a 124-run partnership off 93 balls in just 66 minutes after lunch to help Australia to 321 for seven declared.
"I had to go out there with a more positive mindset, bite the bullet a bit and be brave, just try and play my way," Symonds said. "I went out there and it worked fairly well today."
When South Africa batted, Symonds took two for six from four overs and leg spinner Warne grabbed the wickets of AB de Villiers (8), Herschelle Gibbs (9) and Mark Boucher (5).
Resuming on 110 for two, Australia lost Brad Hodge (24) and Mike Hussey (31) before Hayden and Symonds went on the offensive after lunch.
Their assault on the South African attack, missing Ntini, allowed captain Ricky Ponting to declare with 45 minutes remaining in the second session.
Ponting had been criticised for delaying the declaration and not giving his bowlers enough time to dismiss the South Africans in the drawn first Test.
Overnight: South Africa 311 (H Gibbs 94, AB de Villiers 61) Australia 355 (M Hussey 122, R Ponting 117, M Hayden 65; A Nel 4-84) and 110-2.
AUSTRALIA SECOND INNINGS
M Hayden c Boucher b Kallis 137
B Hodge c Boucher b Nel 24
M Hussey c Kallis b Smith 31
A Symonds c Nel b Kallis 72
A Gilchrist c Prince b Kallis 0
S Warne not out 0
Extras b6 lb3 nb9 pens 0 18
Total 7 wkts dec (83 overs) ... 321
Fall: 1-53 2-81 3-131 4-193 5-317 6-321 7-321
Did Not Bat: S MacGill, G McGrath.
Bowling: Pollock 23-5-60-1; Ntini 8-2- 17-0; Kallis 11-0-58-3; Nel 20-3-71-2; Boje 14-0-65-0; Smith 7-0-41-1.
SOUTH AFRICA SECOND INNINGS
G Smith c Gilchrist b McGrath 25
AB de Villiers st Gilchrist b Warne 8
H Gibbs b Warne 9
J Kallis c Gilchrist b Symonds 9
A Prince not out 16
J Rudolph b Symonds 4
M Boucher c Ponting b Warne 5
S Pollock not out 13
Extras: lb6 w1 nb3 pens 0 10
Total 6 wkts (42 overs) ... 99
Fall: 1-39 2-45 3-58 4-64 5-72 6-82
Bowling: McGrath 11-3-27-1; Lee 6-3-13-0; Warne 15-2-43-3; Symonds 4-2- 6-2; MacGill 6-4-4-0.
