South African superstar Jacques Kallis turned the second Test on its head with an inspired spell on a dramatic opening morning in Adelaide.
But the bigger game-changer might have come when he limped from the field injured midway through the first session on Thursday.
Australian opener David Warner (67 not out from 79) exploded out of the blocks after Michael Clarke (18 not out) won the toss, before Kallis inspired a mini-collapse in which three wickets fell in just 15 minutes.
It put the home side on the rails before they consolidated somewhat to be 3-102 at lunch.
But with figures of 2-19 from just 3.3 overs, Kallis pulled up short in his run-up in the 17th over and limped off Adelaide Oval with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.
It was the second injury disaster of the day for the world No.1 team, after they lost fast bowling weapon Vernon Philander before play to a back injury – replaced by rookie Rory Kleinveldt (0-15).
Warner continued to hit to the fences despite Ed Cowan (10), Rob Quiney (0) and Ricky Ponting (4) falling quickly around him.
Under pressure leading into the Test, Warner fell back to the only style of play he knows and batted on instinct.
Warner scored mainly through cover and smashed 10 boundaries and a six, bringing up his half-century in just 47 balls.
With Warner off the leash, the Proteas were in trouble early and it was obvious they were missing the strike of Philander.
But when Kallis was called into the attack to replace a misfiring Dale Steyn (0-33) in the 11th over, the experienced allrounder came up with an immediate answer for his side as he has done so often.
With his third ball, Kallis had Cowan caught and bowled, although there was some confusion as to whether the opener was out lbw.
Morne Morkel (1-30) then fed off the veteran in the very next over, to have Quiney caught at slip by Graeme Smith with a cracking delivery.
Ponting escaped a second consecutive duck and fourth in five innings against the Proteas, when he hit Kallis away for a boundary.
But Kallis responded with an absolute gem to crash through Ponting’s stumps two balls later.
The former Australian skipper was so outplayed by the delivery, he finished on his knees.