Sport

Aust cricket stars save Test careers

07:29 am on 23 November 2011

Three Australian cricket stars almost certainly saved themselves from the selection axe for the start of the home summer after four hours of heart-stopping Test cricket.

Ricky Ponting (62), Brad Haddin (55) and Mitchell Johnson (40 not out) were on the chopping block before being instrumental in Australia's second-innings run chase of 310, a record for in Johannesburg.

Ponting and Haddin hadn't had a score of note for the past 12 months, while Johnson still hasn't taken more than two wickets in a match since last summer's Ashes

But with the series-levelling second Test victory over South Africa by two wickets secured, there'll be strong argument to retain the trio for the first Test against New Zealand starting next Thursday.