What a first day! It was a real eye opener for Australian cricket. I'll be one of the first to swallow the humble pie. I thought that the Proteas would not match it with the Aussies but they played above their weight yesterday. Australia struggled against such tight bowling and a consistently attacking field - products of good captaincy I suspect.

The home side revealed many deep structural problems. In Symonds and Gilchrist you have two players that are not contributing as much as they are expected to and this is becoming a long term problem. This puts added pressure on Hodge and Hussey, throwing those two in the deep end because they need to bat in defiance of their Test experience. They're doing OK but we should not expect them to be match winners. Similarly, Warne and Lee contributed well with the bat again. Australia's good batting in the tail has been a blessing for them in recent years, adding an extra 100 or so runs and applying the pressure on opponents. They did an OK job yesterday but would be feeling the heat as Australia copes with a transitional middle order. Ponting is outstanding with the bat. He just keeps on going. A great captain's knock.

It is too early to make a call regarding this Test. You cannot discount a champion team. One thing is for sure, Australia will have learned a lot of lessons from yesterday's play.

Hussey has been in superb form, playing at home for the first time would have put some pressure on, but his form of late would mean that he has established himself, has over a century average in both forms of the game...he is doing more then ok.

South Africa did what England did, tight, consistent great bowling with Makaye Ntini getting 5 wickets...the last session was as good as bowling as you would see...and the Aussies could have been out earlier with all the dropped catches, but they just got on with it South Africa and didn't let it get to them.

A strong South Westerly Wind helped the bowlers yesterday, won't be as strong for the next few days.

Gilchrist is tired - Wasn't allowed to rest the New Zealand Series and you can tell his mind wasn't in the series when he was over there.

The whole damn squad is tired, tell me what idiot thought Australia would be advantaged from playing in Christchurch on Sunday to Perth on Friday, defies logic...when South Africa have been here for weeks and are not travel weary at all and have played 7 days of cricket on Perth wickets...

What a day

I have no idea who will win the test match.

Geeze i wish we had more then 1 test match per year...

Its been a damn fine match so far - another reminder, not that I needed it, of the overall superiority of test over OD cricket. Warne breaking the great DK Lillee's longstanding record for wickets in a year being a highlight - the the great mans home venue.

Ponting had a real stroke of good fortune in his 2nd dig, but that's cricket. With the Proteas having to face Warne in the 4th innings, that should be enough to ensure an Australian victory.

A big question mark now over Symonds. Another failure and Clarke could be back in the team sooner rather than later.

I think Australia are doing enough at the moment. I'd be putting them ahead thus far.

A great Test to watch.

Got a bit tedious towards the end of the day, but still an awesome match...even better when its free

A solid days play, 2nd Day was far better then today, pissed off that I will miss Hodgey's Century but will be back for the third session tommorow...the benefits of working 5mins on the bus from the WACA

A few wickets tommorow and the test match will be back on even stevens...South Africa fell away towards the end of the day...even Lee's brief innings was thoroughly entertaining.

Some great strokes, bowling etc...Its been great to have such a competitive Test Match at the WACA for once...normally its so bloody one-sided.

Go HODGEYYYY!!!

He's a dubious selection for ODI's - likes to gradually build his innings before unleashing all his shots - but he's a natural for tests.

But did Ponting's declaration come a little late?? Hopefully it'll be sunnier in Perth tomorrow.

Looks like Langer will miss the Boxing Day Test. Options are to promote Hussey back as opener as per previous when Langer was missing. Or perhaps leave him where he is and opt for a new selection - Phil Jaques?
Symonds is now looking down the barrel. If he's not replaced by Clarke for the Boxing Day test, he either does something at the 'G or Sydney gets to welcome Clarke back.

Morning Showers...our dodgy weather is irritating the heck out of me...that wicket is looking like Sydney...so much moisture, the weather hasn't been hard enough for it to become hard.

I would bring back Martyn for Symmonds personally, I think Clarke still needs to develop as a player...he has some major flaws to his game.

I didn't get to see Hodgey or the Australians bat, I only saw the last session and Warney will do a lot of damage on that pitch.

Why the hell do they go off for bad play when they have the most powerful lights in the world being used and they were only using a third of the available lighting...could have easily continued to stumps on full beam.

Can Symonds please go? This "allrounder for the sake of an allrounder" experiment has got to stop. He just doesn't cut it! They didn't even bowl him in the First Innings and when bad light threatened play today, Ponting belatedly suggested Hodge as a bowler above the allrounder.

i think if Australia doesn't win this test then drop symonds, but if they win they should keep him

yea, Hodge is perfect for test matches, but not so sure about the one dayers

Andy Symonds – 5 Tests, Batting Average 12.63, Bowling Average 82.00

How is this man still in the side? He weakens the bowling and batting. It is an absolute disgrace if he plays in Melbourne, the worst / most unjustified selection since Scott Muller.

Fantastic to see Hodge do so well, did it his own talented way.

I’d love to see Jaques open for the Boxing Day test, but it is a big call to put in for such a big game in such an important position (but if Hayden can do it, Jaques can do it). I’d think the move should be to open with Hussey, Clarke to number 5. But that leaves Symonds in the side still, since Martyn is ruled out (he should never have been dropped) so I guess the best possible / likely move that the selectors can make is to open with Jaques and bat Clarke at 6.

Has been a good 1st Test too, should be a good series, especially with the return of Kallis.

He's still there!!!!!!!! Hopefully MacGill makes the 11 and Symonds carries the drinks.

Congratulations to Phil Jacques. Even though he averages over 50 and has been in sensational form I now brace myself for cries of NSW conspiracy.

i dont think Jacques being picked will reignite the NSW conspiracy, cause i do beleive he deserves it

if katich was picked then yes

Well I didn't expect that!

The Proteas did well to bat out for the draw. Ponting did set a huge target but even if he had declared when the lead was 400, I don't think it would have made a difference. Australia was bowling really well but could not get the breakthrough. The "allrounder" was not really used. Does this mean he is just a batsmen? Drop him!!!!!!! If they had MacGill or another specialist bowler in the side the Aussies would have come closer to a victory. I cannot believe that Symonds is still in the 12.