Australia have made a dream start in their quest to seize the No.1 world ranking after Michael Clarke’s new-look pace attack skittled South Africa’s top order on day one of the third Test in Perth.
South Africa won the toss but found themselves reeling by tea at 7-141.
Every Australian bowler took a wicket as they pushed for the best possible send-off for retiring great Ricky Ponting.
The Proteas are now clinging to their top ranking, crippled by losing five wickets for 14 runs in just eight overs in a blitzkrieg before and after lunch.
Mitchell Starc (2-47), debutant John Hastings (1-43), Shane Watson (1-14) and Mitchell Johnson (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.
Nathan Lyon (1-13) was the only survivor – and even he got in on the act before tea, having Robin Peterson (31) caught behind sharply by keeper Matt Wade.
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 brilliantly, with second Test hero Faf du Plessis (39no) proving to again be the only thorn in their side as he hangs in at the crease with Vernon Philander (4 no).
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 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), who popped one up to Wade off an attempted hook shot.
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.
South Africa made several changes to their team, with Kallis included despite a hamstring injury suffered in Adelaide.
