PERTH, 18 December 2005 — Shane Warne broke Dennis Lillee’s world record for the most wickets in a calendar year to trigger a South African batting collapse on the second day of the first Test yesterday.
Warne captured the wickets of AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher to take his tally this year to 87 and restrict the Proteas to 296 in reply to Australia’s 258.
Australia were 38 for one in their second innings at the close, exactly level with South Africa with three days to go at the WACA.
“I’d much rather be in our position than theirs at the moment,” Warne told a news conference. “If we can bat well in the next day and a bit then hopefully we can post a big score for South Africa to chase.” Justin Langer was unbeaten on 15 with nightwatchman Brett Lee yet to score after Matthew Hayden threw his wicket away in the last over of the day.
Hayden had raced to 20, comprised entirely of boundaries, before he skied an attempted pull shot off Charl Langeveldt that ended up in the gloves of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.
“I’d say we’re probably in the leading position at the moment, having them 1-0,” Boucher said. “We would probably would have preferred a score around 350 or 400 but anything can happen. “It was nice to get a little bit of a first innings lead and have them one down with the nightwatchman in so hopefully we can capitalize on that tomorrow and put them under a bit of pressure.
“The wicket’s still very good and if we can try and get them under 250 that would be great but I’m not saying that anything over 250’s not gettable.”
Boucher also blazed 62 with the bat and shared a vital seventh wicket partnership of 77 with Shaun Pollock to ensure the South Africans led on the first innings after a mid-order batting collapse. The tourists had been cruising at 127-1 before lunch but lost five wickets for 60 before tea until Boucher and Pollock’s rescue operation.
Warne bowled de Villiers for 68 to match Lillee’s record of 85 wickets in 1981 then trapped Prince lbw for 28 to set his own benchmark. “It’s obviously a very proud achievement,” Warne said.
“I’ve played 15 odd seasons of international cricket and to have your best season at this stage, age 36, really makes me look forward to the next few seasons.” Lillee, who lives in Perth and was at the ground to see Warne break his record, said he was delighted the record went to Warne.
Lee was also in devastating form yesterday, using his express pace to mop up the tail and finish with 5-93, while Glenn McGrath and left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken collected one each. Bracken made the initial breakthrough before lunch when he removed South African captain Graeme Smith for 34, brilliantly caught by Ricky Ponting at second slip, while McGrath sent Justin Kemp packing with Brad Hodge taking the catch at mid-off.
