Australia have set a solid platform in their quest to seize the No.1 world ranking after Michael Clarke’s new-look pace attack skittled South Africa on day one of the third Test in Perth.
The Proteas won the toss but found themselves bowled out midway through the last session for 225 runs in 74 overs.
Every Australian bowler took a wicket, with Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon the standouts as the home side pushed for the best possible send-off for retiring great Ricky Ponting.
Faf du Plessis (78no) led a defiant recovery for the second straight match, while Morne Morkel (17) smashed four quick boundaries at the death.
Du Plessis, South Africa’s saviour in Adelaide as well, came to the crease at 5-67, but partnered Robin Petersen and Vernon Philander to crucial lower-order half-century stands to make the total competitive.
Australia’s top order have to now face an anxious period at the crease before stumps.
The Proteas were reeling earlier on day one, when they lost five wickets for 14 runs in just eight overs in a blitzkrieg before and after lunch.
Starc (2-55), Lyon (3-41), Johnson (2-54), debutant John Hastings (1-51) and Shane Watson (1-22) stood up and delivered.
The gruelling second Test in Adelaide cost Australia their entire fast bowling line-up – James Pattinson was injured and Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus too overworked to back up just three days later.
Lyon was the only survivor – and came up with the key partnership-breaking wickets of Petersen (31), Philander (30) and Morkel.
On paper, Australia looked enormously vulnerable taking a debutant and three bowlers who hadn’t played Test cricket in months into a battle to be crowned the world’s best Test team.
But where it matters on the pitch, Australia’s bowlers complemented themselves well, with second Test century-maker du Plessis proving the only thorn in their side.
Injury-prone allrounder Watson, playing his first home Test in two summers, made the first breakthrough of the match when he had Proteas skipper Graeme Smith (16) edging to Clarke at slip.
Left-armer Starc, who hadn’t played for Australia since the West Indies tour in April, bowled too short in his opening spell but exploded out of the blocks before lunch to crash through the stumps of Alviro Petersen (30) and injury-hampered dangerman Jacques Kallis (2).
Hastings was earlier presented with his baggy green by Adam Gilchrist and in his 11th over had AB de Villiers (4) also caught by Clarke at slip.
It was just reward for Hastings, who had Hashim Amla dropped in a sitter by Ed Cowan in his previous over.
Amla couldn’t capitalise on his reprieve either, run out by David Warner in the over in between for 11.
And not to be outdone, Johnson celebrated his return from the Test wilderness with the wicket of Proteas debutant Dean Elgar (nought) and Dale Steyn (2).
Injury ruled Johnson out of last summer’s Tests, but poor form had him on the verge of being dropped anyway.
It was the Johnson of old at his favourite ground the WACA on Friday, terrorising the batsmen and bowling with pace and control from the outset.