Australia v South Africa                  December 14 - 18

Check out the latest ground updates done by our correspondent, at the matches.

First Test

DAY THREE 

December 15, 2001 - 0700 GMT
McKenzie helps SA edge towards Aussie total 

ADELAIDE: Neil McKenzie and Mark Boucher shared an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 124 runs to steer South Africa towards Australia's first innings total of 439 after tea on the third day of the first Test on Sunday. 

McKenzie was unbeaten on 78 and Boucher 52 not out with South Africa on 338 for six after starting the day on 101 for two at Adelaide Oval. 

The Australians briefly threatened to run through the South African batting order when they dismissed Claude Henderson, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener to reduce the visitors to 214 for six. 

But McKenzie and Boucher guided the Proteas safely past the follow-on point of 240 then launched a full-blooded assault on the Australian bowlers. 

The two took the total to 265 for six by tea but raised the tempo in the final session, piling on 73 runs by the time drinks were called for the last time. 

They were helped in no small part by the Australian bowlers, who missed out on three wickets because of no-balls. Henderson and McKenzie were both caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off Brett Lee no-balls while Glenn McGrath struck McKenzie plum in front after he overstepped the bowling crease. 

McKenzie and Boucher's half centuries helped calm South African nerves after Australian leg spinner Shane Warne had threatened to wreak havoc earlier in the day. 

Warne picked up two wickets, dismissing Gibbs for 78 and Klusener for 22, to leapfrog Pakistan's Wasim Akram into fourth place on the all-time list of wicket takers with 414 victims. 

McGrath claimed his third wicket of the innings when he removed Kallis for five and also helped run out nightwatchman Henderson for 30. Henderson and Gibbs had frustrated the Australians with a careful third wicket stand of 62 before Henderson run was out at the non-striker's end after Gibbs called him through for a quick single.

Gibbs added 36 runs to his overnight score of 42 before he also threw his wicket away. He had been a model of concentration during his four and a half hour innings when he inexplicably advanced down the pitch and was stumped. 

Kallis departed for five in the next over with no addition to the total when McGrath trapped him lbw with a full toss that him on the foot. 

When Klusener was cleaned bowled by Warne with the total on 214, Australia looked to be firmly in control until McKenzie and Boucher launched their counter-attack. 

December 15, 2001 - 0445 GMT  
SA lose quick wickets after bright start

ADELAIDE: Australia took three wickets in the first session of the third day of the first Test against South Africa and brought themselves back into the match after Herschelle Gibbs and Claude Henderson denied them of a wicket for most of the session.

Gibbs completed his half-century and shared in a 62-run partnership with nightwatchman Claude Henderson and the two took the South African score to 155 before the latter was run out for 30. 

The tourists started the day at 101 for two in reply to Australia's 439 and added 51 without loss in the first hour on a flat Adelaide Oval pitch. Gibbs brought up his 50 within the first 20 minutes when he guided a ball from Aussie paceman Brett Lee to the third man fence, his seventh boundary of the innings. He reached the mark off 133 balls in almost three hours, while Henderson played a more aggressive role. 

The left-arm spinner, who bowled impressively in the first innings, was elevated to nightwatchman after Gary Kirsten and Boeta Dippenaar lost their wickets in the final half hour before stumps on Saturday and played well despite a few hairy moments. 

He had a lucky escape in the second over of the day when he edged a Lee no-ball to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and another let-off in Lee's next over when an inside edge missed the stumps by centimetres. He also survived a confident appeal for lbw from leg spinner Shane Warne but was soon run out after the drinks break for 30.

Gibbs was stumped by Gilchrist off Warne minutes before lunch for 78. He hit 9 fours in his 187-ball innings. Four balls later, Kallis was bowled off a beautiful yorker off McGrath for five and with his departure, the South African hopes of a huge total faded away.

For Australia, Glenn McGrath took 3/35 and proved to be the most successful bowler for the hosts. At lunch on the third day, Neil McKenzie and Lance Klusener were at the crease for South Africa with scores of 1 and 0. The tourists are still trailing by 260 runs and have scored 179 runs for the loss of five wickets in their 65 overs.

DAY TWO 
December 15, 2001 - 0700 GMT 
McGrath strikes early as Australia continue to dominate

ADELAIDE: Australian pacer Glenn McGrath took two wickets in the final half hour as Australia continued to dominate the first Test here at Adelaide Oval.

The tourists were 101 for two at stumps in reply to Australia's 439 with opener Herschelle Gibbs unbeaten on 42 and nightwatchman Claude Henderson three not out.

McGrath trapped opener Gary Kirsten for 47 and also had surprise-inclusion Boeta Dippenaar brilliantly caught by Ricky Ponting in the gully for four.

Earlier in the day, Damien Martyn scored a career high 124 not out to help the Australians post an imposing total after resuming at 272 for six. Martyn hit his highest Test score of an unbeaten 124 as Australia amassed 439 in the first innings.

The 30-year-old right-hander, on 37 overnight, batted for 294 minutes and was the major player in healthy tail-end partnerships with Shane Warne and Brett Lee to put the pressure on the Proteas.

Playing with great touch and footwork, Martyn completed his third Test century and guided Australia beyond 400. He added 84 runs with Warne and 77 runs for the eighth wicket with Lee as South Africa struggled to finish the Australian innings off after the home side had resumed the second day at 272 for six.

Warne was bowled by Lance Klusener for 41 when he got an inside edge to one that cut back ending his 97-minute knock off 77 balls. Lee batted for 98 minutes for his 32 before he was caught in the deep by Neil McKenzie off Nantie Hayward.

Spinner Claude Henderson finished with 4-116 off 33 overs and paceman Hayward took two of the last three wickets to end with 3-108 off 31 overs. Skipper Shaun Pollock finished wicketless for 64 runs off 28 overs.

South Africa trail Australia by 338 runs at stumps on the second day of the first Test on Saturday.

December 15, 2001 - 0610 GMT  
SA start run chase 

ADELAIDE: South Africa were 16 without loss in reply to Australia's imposing total of 439 at tea on the second day of the first cricket Test at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Gary Kirsten was unbeaten on 10 with Herschelle Gibbs not out six after the South Africans made a nervous start to their first innings reply. 

Kirsten had a let-off on two when Australian captain Steve Waugh failed to grasp a difficult slips catch off leg spinner Shane Warne but steadied himself to make it through to tea. 

The Australians added 167 to their overnight score of 272 for six to amass 434 with Damien Martyn scoring a career-high 124 not out. 

December 15, 2001 - 0430 GMT  
Henderson helps SA bowl Australia out for 439

ADELAIDE: Claude Henderson took four wickets in an innings as South Africa bowled the hosts out for 439 runs in their first innings of the first Test here at the Adelaide Oval on the second day.

For the hosts, Damien Martyn scored a career-high 124 not out and helped them amass an imposing first innings total of 439. Martyn added 88 to his overnight score of 36 to beat his previous highest Test score of 118 when he eventually ran out of partners before the tea break. 

Australia had resumed on 272 for six with the game delicately balanced but then made another 167 for the loss of four wickets to put themselves back in the driving seat. 

Shane Warne went for 41 after starting the day on seven while Brett Lee made 32, Jason Gillespie three and Glenn McGrath five. 

Left arm spinner Claude Henderson was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing with four wickets.

Martyn's century was his third at Test level and his first in Australia with his two previous Test hundreds both coming on this year's Ashes tour of England. 

He batted beautifully throughout his innings but should have been out on 95 when South African captain Shaun Pollock dropped him in the slips. 

Given a second chance, Martyn brought up his hundred in the next over when he flicked a ball from Henderson down the legside for two runs, reaching the milestone off 185 balls in 255 minutes. 

Warne and Lee were also given let offs as the South African fielders failed to take their opportunities, allowing the Australians to reach their daunting total.

DAY ONE 
December 14, 2001 - 0810 GMT  
SA fightback after Langer century 

ADELAIDE: South Africa fought back after Justin Langer scored his fourth century in five Tests on Friday to help Australia reach 272 for six on the first day of the first Test. 

Langer blasted his way to a hundred before tea but eventually fell for 115 as Australia finished the opening day at 272 for six after reaching 182-1 before tea. 

The left-hander was well supported by Ricky Ponting, who scored a half-century despite suffering back pain, but the Waugh twins, Steve and Mark, made a combined total of just 10 runs in a disappointing start to their 100th Test together. 

With their world championship trophy at stake, the Australians wasted little time trying to stamp their authority on the opening Test of the three-match series only to be foiled by the South Africans late in the day. 

Steve Waugh won the toss and immediately sent his openers in on a typically flat Adelaide Oval pitch tailor-made for batting and they responded by belting 61 in the first hour of play. 

The run spree stalled just before lunch with the total on 80 when Hayden went for 31, misreading a slower ball from Lance Klusener and spooning the easiest of catches to Makhaya Ntini at mid-off. 

Langer and Ponting accelerated again after lunch, sharing a 102-run stand full of risk and entertainment. 

Ponting strained his back during the morning warm-up but did not allow his obvious discomfort to restrict his cavalier approach to the game. 

He had a let-off on six when Gary Kirsten spilled a waist-high chance at third slip and another escape on 28 when he was caught by Boeta Dippenaar at mid-wicket off a Shaun Pollock no-ball. 

But Ponting, who averaged 83 in the recent series with New Zealand, was in no mood to reflect on his good fortune, racing to 50 off 78 balls before his luck deserted him on 54 and he was run out attempting a suicidal single. 

Langer was also in an aggressive frame of mind, belting 15 boundaries and a six during his five and a half hour innings. 

A former number three batsman, Langer's Test career looked to be over when he was dropped for the Ashes series against England only to be given a second chance as an opener in the final match at the Oval. 

The 31-year-old made the most of his recall, blasting an unbeaten hundred against a pedestrian England attack then followed up with back-to-back centuries in this summer's first two Tests against New Zealand. 

He missed a fourth consecutive hundred in the third and final Test against the New Zealanders but made it four from five with his century against South Africa today. 

He celebrated reaching triple figures before lunch in the most dramatic way, hoisting left-arm spinner Claude Henderson over the fence for six. 

He made it to tea on 104 but added just 11 more in the final session when Henderson caught the shoulder of his bat and Pollock held a sharp chance at slip. 

Mark Waugh, who scored a century on debut at Adelaide Oval a decade ago when he was promoted to the Test team at the expense of his twin brother, managed just two when he edged a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off express paceman Mornantau Hayward. 

Steve fared little better, compiling just eight runs, when he was unluckily given out, caught by Neil McKenzie at bat-pad off Henderson. 

Waugh stood his ground while the South Africans appealed and was preparing to take strike again when he was told Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan had given him out. Television replays later suggested he had not hit the ball. 

Australia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist went cheaply for seven in the final hour before play, also falling to Henderson who finished the day with 3-55. 

The Proteas fought back gamely, taking five for 66 to reduce the Australians to 248-6, before Damien Martyn and Shane Warne steadied the innings with an unbroken 24-run stand with Martyn reaching 37 and Warne five.

December 14, 2001 - 0640 GMT
Langer scores another century

ADELAIDE: Justin Langer scored a century before tea to steer Australia to 203 for three at the break in the first Test against South Africa on Friday. 

Langer completed his fourth hundred in his last five Tests, reaching 104 not out by the end of the second session while Australian captain Steve Waugh was unbeaten on four. 

Waugh replaced his twin-brother Mark who was out in the last over before tea for two. Ricky Ponting was run out for 54 earlier in the session while opener Matthew Hayden went for 31 before lunch. 

Langer, who has scored four hundreds since being recalled to the Australian team for the last Ashes Test against England, brought up his 11th Test century in dramatic fashion, hoisting left-arm spinner Claude Henderson over the Adelaide Oval fence for six. 

The left-handed batsmen also blasted 15 boundaries as he reached the milestone off 171 balls in 232 minutes.

He shared in an 80-run partnership with Hayden for the first wicket before Hayden was deceived by a slower ball from Lance Klusener and holed out to Makhaya Ntini at mid-off. 

Ponting replaced Hayden in the middle despite injuring his back in the warm-up, preventing him the chance to use a runner and rode his luck to reach a half-century and share in a 102-run stand with Langer. 

Ponting was dropped by Gary Kirsten at third slip on six then had another let-off on 28 when he was caught by Boeta Dippenaar at mid-wicket off a Shaun Pollock no-ball. 

He brought up his 50 off 78 balls with a sharp single off Henderson but his luck deserted him on 54 and he was run out attempting a suicidal single, with Dippenaar firing the ball in from cover. 

Mark Waugh stayed long enough to see Langer get his hundred but went in the next over, edging a catch to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher off express paceman Nantie Hayward.

December 14, 2001 - 0530 GMT
Langer reaches half century after lunch 

ADELAIDE: Justin Langer completed a half century after lunch to help Australia make a strong start to the first Test against South Africa on Friday. 

Langer punished the South African attack to reach 73 not out as Australia were 157 for one at the halfway point of the opening day's play at Adelaide Oval. 

Ricky Ponting survived two let-offs to reach 45 despite suffering back pain while Matthew Hayden was the only man out, departing for 31 just before lunch. 

Australian captain Steve Waugh won the toss and had no hesitation in giving his openers first use of a pitch tailor-made for batting. 

Langer and Hayden vindicated Waugh's decision with an 80-run stand for the first wicket before Hayden was deceived by a slower ball from Lance Klusener and holed out to Makhaya Ntini at mid-off. 

Langer, who scored back-to-back centuries in the recent drawn series with New Zealand, began cautiously but was quickly into stride, hitting Ntini for three successive boundaries in the over before drinks then reaching 44 at lunch. 

He brought up his half-century with a boundary off Mornantau Hayward shortly after the re-start as Ponting took the Australian total past 100. Ponting was cleared to play despite straining his back during the morning warm-up but was prevented from using a runner because the injury happened before the match began. 

The Tasmanian had a let-off on six when he was dropped by Gary Kirsten at third slip then an even luckier escape on 28 when he was caught by Boeta Dippenaar at mid-wicket off a Pollock no-ball.

December 14, 2001 - 0030 GMT 
Australia opt to bat first after winning toss

ADELAIDE: Australian captain Steve Waugh won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa here at the Adelaide Oval in the first match of the three-match series.

The hosts have fielded an unchanged eleven which drew the three-match series with New Zealand earlier this month while South Africa have omitted 'White Lightening' Allan Donald and have included Boeta Dippenaar, an extra batsman.

Apart from the fact that Steve and Mark Waugh would be playing there 100th Test match together, the hosts would like to win the series and retain their number 1 standing in the ICC Test Championship. A series loss or drawn series would mean that South Africa would head the ranking.

Australia: 
Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill, (12th man)

South Africa:
Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Claude Henderson, Makhaya Ntini, Nantie Hayward, Justin Ontong (12th man)