Cricket: Aussies duck blame for draw

PERTH - The Australian cricket team are accepting no responsibility for the drawn first test against South Africa, despite the home side's dominant position heading into the final day.

Glenn McGrath insists a lifeless Waca pitch prepared by a new curator and some determined South African batting, rather than any negative Australian tactics, were the main reasons behind the result.

The veteran paceman also said he'd never felt better, even after the final day wicket-less return with the ball.

McGrath also backed struggling all-rounder Andrew Symonds, making the extraordinary assertion that his fielding alone was enough to warrant selection.

Criticism was still raging over Ricky Ponting's decision to allow Brad Hodge to bring up his double-century late on day four of the test, rather than declare and have as much time as possible to force a result.

South Africa - and in particular Jacques Rudolph, who produced a career-defining unbeaten century - comfortably batted out the four remaining sessions to manage a draw.

It has been viewed as a negative tactic, but McGrath said the entire team backed the move.

"Everyone wanted Hodgey to go on and score that double hundred once he got so close," said McGrath.

"We've generally bowled teams out in under a day, so nobody had any problems with it at all.

"I'd back us nine times out of 10 to knock a team over in that time."

Despite having the entire fifth day to claim the eight wickets they needed for a 1-0 series lead, Australia could manage only three.

McGrath, who battled the flu on the eve of the test after being rested from the one-day series against New Zealand, ended with 0-39 from 24 overs in the second innings.

He insisted he still had "a bit in the tank" at stumps, although he had difficulty getting up to 130km/h and was far from lively in the field.

McGrath complained of a lack of pace and bounce in Perth under new curator Cam Sutherland.

"The thing that disappoints me the most is a lot of wickets around Australia are losing their character," he said.

"The wicket yesterday was not your normal Waca wicket.

"It would be disappointing if all wickets around Australia are identical.

"I think it's just a new curator, just a few teething problems. Hopefully next year it'll be back to normal."

Symonds is the other man under pressure, seemingly from everywhere but where it counts - Cricket Australia.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said earlier this week they will be sticking with Symonds, even though he is averaging 12.62 with the bat and has taken just two wickets in five tests.

"I think he's only one good test innings away from cementing his spot in the team," McGrath said.

"Hopefully he'll go to Melbourne, score a few runs, if he gets a bowl, take a few wickets.

"But I think his fielding alone can nearly win us a game. I used to say that about Mark Waugh.

"Someone who's such a natural athlete, quick around the field, great hands - I think he's got plenty to offer the team and I expect big things of him in Melbourne."

- AAP