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SYDNEY - Michael Clarke scored an unbeaten 73 as Australia scrapped their way to 267 for six at stumps on day one of the third cricket test against South Africa.
Trailing 0-2 in the three-match series, Australia had slumped to 162 for five after tea at the SCG
before New South Wales teammates Clarke and Brad Haddin began the rescue mission on their home ground.
They added 75 before man-of-the-series contender Dale Steyn (two for 71) struck in his first over with the second new ball. Steyn bowled wicketkeeper Haddin for 38 with a stunning outswinger which clipped off stump.
Clarke's 73 came in five minutes short of four hours and included nine fours. No 8 batsman Mitchell Johnson showed plenty of dash, hitting four fours in his 17 not out.
Clarke was dropped on 12 and 69 and Johnson also had some luck with an edge through the vacant third slip on eight.
Matthew Hayden's career remained under threat, failing to rediscover his former glory with a patchy innings of 31 before dragging a full-length ball from Dale Steyn onto his stumps to leave the score 109 for three.
The 37-year-old veteran of 103 tests faced 78 balls and hit four boundaries but despite the urging of the crowd, the Queeslander's timing was absent.
Hayden has scored only 78 runs at 15.60 in the series and is yet to announce if he wants to play on for next month's tour of South Africa.
Left-arm spinner Paul Harris removed Mike Hussey caught at slip for 30 in his first over, bringing nervous debutant Andrew McDonald to the crease.
McDonald had his helmet knocked off his head by a bouncer from Morne Morkel and looked out of his depth in his 64-minute stay. The red-headed Victorian eventually departed caught behind for 15 off Makhaya Ntini's bowling.
Australia won the toss in overcast conditions and lost two wickets before lunch.
Simon Katich hit 47 off 52 deliveries and captain Ricky Ponting made a first-ball duck for the second time in the series.
Ponting's men are desperate to claim the dead-rubber match to avoid a South African clean sweep.
The Proteas can also take the top ranking from Australia if they win in Sydney.
- AAP