But he did identify Mycobacterium leprae, and that is good enough cover for the spin-doctors.

ECONOMIST: How not to abolish leprosy

Home supporters were hoping for a partnership of the magnitude of the one between Amla and De Villiers, but it ended on 69 when David drove the innocuous-looking off-spin of Duminy straight to short cover.

BBC: S Africa top rankings after win

The experienced team of spin-doctors installed this summer to cover the salvage operation is headed by Sergei Yastrzhembsky, a Kremlin press officer famous for blocking the flow of information from Chechnya for the first 15 months of fighting there.

ECONOMIST: Russia's sunken submarine

Ponting holed out to De Villiers at deep backward square leg, while Marsh was superbly caught by Kallis at extra cover off JP Duminy's occasional off-spin.

BBC: Marsh helps Aussies level series

That was despite Bell (23) having played a loose cover-drive to be caught off the leg-spin of Smith, and Eoin Morgan (8) also hitting a catch into the infield off Smith.

BBC: Shane Watson century too much for England in Melbourne