 Adam Gilchrist's team are hunting a 3-0 series sweep in SA |
Australia wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist felt the wicket of Mark Boucher, nine balls before the close on day one of the final Test, could prove crucial. "We've got a new batsman in, the new ball is due and Ashwell Prince (79 not out in South Africa's 238-6) will have to start again," said Gilchrist.
Stand-in South Africa captain Jacques Kallis agreed that Boucher's wicket was a major blow for the host nation.
"We would have preferred to have been five down at the close," he said.
Kallis, leading the side after Graeme Smith injured his left ring finger at fielding practice Thursday, said Prince had shown plenty of character.
"He batted really well on a difficult wicket. He hasn't scored the runs he wanted in this series but he gutsed it out."
Kallis refused to stoke controversy over Matthew Hayden's catch to dismiss Jacques Rudolph.
Rudolph was out for 25 after edging Shane Warne to first slip but replays suggested the ball bounced just before Hayden closed his hand around it.
"We can only go on the evidence on TV and you can't really say," said Kallis. "You have to take Hayden's word on it.
"Jacques felt it was tight but it's difficult to say because it went fast. Hayden's not the type to cheat."
MMIX
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