Demolition Men

South Africa had several factors against them from the outset of the second day of the first Test: They were missing Allan Donald, had an inexperienced captain, and were facing opponents enjoying the best of the batting conditions after a productive first day. However, they were pitted against no greater challenge than two batsmen, both averaging over 50 in Test cricket, who were ranked 9th and 10th on the PwC batting ratings and are only set to climb higher.

In assessing Adam Gilchrist's remarkable, career-best 204 not out, the fastest double century in terms of balls faced in Test history, it would be easy to downplay Damien Martyn's contribution in the dismantling of South Africa's attack. Yet Gilchrist's innings, part of the record stand of 317 for the sixth wicket, was made all the more destructive because it was part of a demoralising, unrelenting partnership. With no wickets for respite, South Africa never had an opportunity to begin halting the momentum, and Martyn's professionalism in supporting Gilchrist before flourishing himself gave the assault its deflating impact.

Though 321 runs in little more than two sessions suggests it was a day of sustained hitting, one awesome aspect of Gilchrist's innings was his ability to switch suddenly from caution into attacking mode. Though it will be easily forgotten now, Gilchrist and Martyn did not begin the day in a blaze of strokes. Often, Australia is positive from the start of play, forcing opponents to fight back the rest of the day. In contrast, the first half hour was testing, as Nel and Ntini bowled with discipline.

36 minutes in, after adding only 15 to the overnight 331/5, Gilchrist edged Nel towards first slip. It wouldn't have carried, so Kallis dived across from second to get a hand to the ball but could not hold the catch. As it turned out, that was South Africa's one opportunity to stop him. Given that Gilchrist was 35 at the time, and that Kallis also dropped Hayden on zero while making only 3 himself, an extremely harsh critic could say Kallis' ledger for the match is -288 runs!

Within an hour, the batsmen had completely changed the momentum, seizing the moment so quickly that South Africa hardly had time to adjust to it. The weakened attack of Boje and Kallis were confounded - they realised Gilchrist was going after them, but he was able to hit selectively enough that he maximised his chances of success. It was the outstanding feature of Gilchrist's batting - whereas most batsmen seem to lose control seeking to dominate, Gilchrist remained cool and did not try to out-do himself with each shot. Somehow, this mode of calm attack comes naturally to him, which is why he averages 57.3 from 40 Test innings at a strike rate of near 80.

Without the resources, the Gilchrist-inspired acceleration caused the bowlers to lose their discipline. There was little Mark Boucher could do. He sent fielders out to the boundary, but it did not stop Gilchrist finding it. Ninety minutes into that session, Australia were out of reach, again playing at a level to which South Africa are unaccustomed.

In the second session, they home team came out beaten. First ball, Nel failed to react to a ball in his vicinity at third man, and a subsequent misfield confirmed South Africa's state of mind. Martyn's century came off 167 balls yet it had seemed as if he was batting slowly. By his standards, up to lunch it had been a relatively dour supporting role, but after the break he flourished. Most memorable was a square drive off Ntini, just before reaching his hundred, that split third man and the fielder set deep at point. For a time, the roles were reversed so much that Martyn almost caught up to Gilchrist.

Horrifically for South Africa, throughout the partnership both batsmen were still beaten at regular intervals, suggesting there remained something in the pitch they were failing to exploit. While suggestions the batsmen might have been lucky are ludicrously misguided given the rate at which they scored, Makhaya Ntini was one bowler who truly was desperately unlucky. Never losing heart, he continually beat the edge of the bat or found edges that were safe, surely taking one of the best 1/124s in Test history.

Also unjustly rewarded was Gilchrist - in sweeping one of his eight sixes out of the stadium, he came excruciatingly close to the massive gold payout awarded to any batsman who achieves the unlikely feat of striking the distant gold sponsor's sign. It was an innings that deserved gold.

South Africa were missing their two best bowlers in Donald and Pollock, and it is true that Australia did start the day in relative safety on a pitch apparently comfortable for batting. Nevertheless, scoring 321 in 56 overs, including 190 from 25.3 overs in the second session as part of a triple century partnership, against the second-ranked team in the world must rate as one of the great attacking batting performances in Test history. At 293/5 on day one, Australia could have been dismissed for 350-380 and South Africa might have retained a fighting chance. Instead, they were mercilessly crushed.

Disregarding the fact he is a wicketkeeper who bats at No. 7, with five hundreds in 29 Tests, Adam Gilchrist is graduating to becoming one of the best batsmen in the world. Having played similarly in India, England and Australia, it is difficult to mount an argument that he is vulnerable in particular conditions or against a certain type of bowling. Martyn and Gilchrist at six and seven bookend the openers perfectly and with the Waughs in the middle, it is an outrageously qualified batting order.

South Africa can point to the fact they had a depleted attack, dropped a couple of catches, and in Australia put themselves under too much pressure. But the truth is they need to play perfectly to win, whereas Australia can turn a match with a couple of inspired sessions. To highlight the difference, Steve Waugh dropped Neil McKenzie in the gully when South Africa were three down. Yet unlike Kallis' misses, that mistake is easily forgotten, as McGrath induced another error and he was soon dismissed.

Despite the scores, Australia are not substantially better than the Proteas. They just play a superior brand of cricket.