Australia bounce back after setbacks
Australia recovered from the loss of three quick wickets to reach lunch on 74 for three on day one of the first Test with South Africa in Perth.
Matthew Hayden fell in the third over before captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey were removed without scoring as the hosts slumped to 15 for three after 5.2 overs, with Makhaya Ntini striking twice for the tourists.
But Simon Katich, who reached the interval unbeaten on 35, and Michael Clarke (23 not out) steadied the ship at the WACA as the honours of the first session of the eagerly-awaited three-Test series ended even.
Ponting won the toss and elected to bat but he was soon left to rue the decision as Australia's top order collapsed.
Having scored just 32 runs in the two-Test series with New Zealand, Hayden was looking to impress, but his batting struggles continued when he fell for 12.
The Queenslander bludgeoned two fours off Ntini in the opening over to state his intent, but immediately after a third boundary in the speedster's second over, he was out.
Hayden edged a superb seeming delivery from Ntini to Graeme Smith at first slip and the Proteas captain took a comfortable catch.
Ntini claimed a second wicket in as many deliveries when Ponting was out first ball, his thick edge caught at third slip by AB de Villiers.
A shell-shocked Australia then lost a third wicket when de Villiers claimed a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Hussey off the bowling of Dale Steyn.
Katich, who scored a terrific century in the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane, and Clarke then tentatively began to rebuild the innings.
