Melbourne Test, Day 4, Tea
Saturday, December 29, 2001

You have to take your hats off to the Australian bowlers - it's been a mighty effort on a very good pitch and in difficult conditions today.

I've been most impressed with Shane Warne. He has really attempted to flight the ball and get the batsmen playing shots.

The difference has been his speed. He has had the confidence to throw it up. He was averaging 85kph in the first innings, and now he's down to about 80kph, with a lot more balls in the seventies. That's the perfect pace for him. This wicket has really brought the best out of him because he has had to work hard.

I spoke to him after play last night and he also identified that he's been bit flat in his delivery. If you looked closely at his front arm in that session, it was a lot higher.

That's really important for a spinner - it helps him get more rotation and also get more drive with his shoulder. His body has been going a bit early, and he's been bowling too much with his shoulder - which cuts down the bounce and spin he's been getting.

But all the bowlers are the real heroes. At the end of the South African first innings the batsmen all took their caps off to them in the changing-rooms. They knew just what an effort it was to bowl South Afrioca out for 277 on this pitch - and they've done it again. They've all been fantastic.

I hope they don't try to just keep Kallis off strike after tea. I hope they try and get him out, rather than keping him off strike and attacking the tailenders.

South Africa will be annoyed. They just can't get going. The batsmen are all doing the hard work - getting a start, but then getting out.

They haven't been able to lay back and relax the way the Australian batsmen have, because the Australian bowlers have kept them under so much pressure.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments will be appearing exclusively on Wisden.com after each session in this series. He was talking to Tim Stoney.

More Ian Healy
Day 4, Lunch: 'Play each ball on its merits'
Day 3, Close: 'A tale of two innings'

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd