South Africa´s quicks have early success

CENTURION: South Africa´s quicks had early success against Australia as the tourists went to lunch on a tentative 83-3 on the first day of the opening Test on Wednesday.

Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel initially vindicated Graeme Smith´s decision to put Australia in at SuperSport Park with the wickets of openers David Warner and Chris Rogers for 24-2 in the ninth over.

Alex Doolan led a brief revival on his debut with 27 in a 48-run partnership with Shaun Marsh that took the Aussies toward lunch. But Doolan pulled a short delivery straight to Robin Peterson at short midwicket off Ryan McLaren.

Marsh was 23 not out alongside captain Michael Clarke, 11, after the first session of a much-hyped series between two of Test cricket´s in-form teams.

Skipper Smith saw perhaps more than counterpart Clarke in the pitch for the fast bowlers after winning the toss and opting to bowl.

Clarke said Australia would have batted anyway. Warner made a typically bullish start by punching two fours through the offside, then chopped a Steyn (1-23) delivery onto his stumps on 12 attempting another attacking shot.

Rogers was hit by a bouncer by Morkel (1-20) and popped up a catch to JP Duminy at short leg next ball, with Duminy diving one-handed to take the chance and send the opener back for just 4.

Doolan, striding in for his first test innings with his team under early pressure, found his range with five fours and forced the South Africans to bring McLaren into the attack, the home team´s replacement for recently retired allrounder Jacques Kallis.

Doolan and Marsh were the two changes in Australia´s team from the triumphant 5-0 Ashes whitewash, and combined handily to approach a half-century partnership.

Only, approaching lunch, Doolan hit his powerful pull off a tempting short ball from McLaren to Peterson, who caught it two-handed and diving to his left.

McLaren had strong figures of 1-8 off five overs in the difficult role of replacing Kallis, one of South Africa´s best ever players. (AP)