After most massive parties comes the sobering up.
And so it was for Australia’s cricketers on Friday.
A day after head-spinning revelry, reality hit as hard as any hangover.
The sheer joy of scoring 482 runs against South Africa on the opening day of the second Test evaporated in Adelaide heat.
Australia lost 5-68 on the second day.
Even Michael Clarke, after adding six to his overnight score of 224, missed.
Clarke getting bowled by a straight Morne Morkel delivery proved he’s human.
Which is not a good thing – just ask umpire Richard Kettleborough, who was usurped by technology. But more of that later.
When the Australians took the field, their bowlers struck the same problems found by their South African counterparts a day ago – an unresponsive pitch and belligerent batsmanship.
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade made a dog’s breakfast from a silver-service stumping: he fumbled a routine chance that should have sent South African skipper Graeme Smith packing for 46.
Only when Mike Hussey swooped and threw down the stumps did Australia achieve an initial breakthrough, running out Alviro Petersen (54).
Even that dismissal was fortunate, with Petersen forced to dodge his captain mid-pitch before inexplicably slowing for a step or two when yet to reach his crease.
Soon after, the hosts thought they had Smith caught behind off paceman James Pattinson on 78. Umpire Kettleborough thought so too.
But Smith challenged the verdict and hot spot couldn’t provide a definitive snick, so technology again prevailed over humanity.
But before Smith, leading from the front as great leaders do, logged his century, a thick-set, blonde-tipped Australian legspinner whose surname starts with Warne rejoiced at getting a wicket.
David Warner dismissed dangerman Hashim Amla, stumped, as Wade partly made amends for his earlier blunder, but only just – the ball initially striking the gloveman in the chest before being controlled.