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THE battle between Morne Morkel and Michael Clarke in Cape Town showed just what a brutal and beautiful game Test cricket is.
In an intense period between lunch and tea on day one of the third Test, Clarke was on the receiving end of an immense working over from one of the tallest and most intimidating — in actions rather than demeanour — bowlers in world cricket.
Morkel made his intentions clear from the outset of his spell, coming around the wicket and wasting no time in banging in a couple of short balls to rough up Australia's skipper.
It didn't take long for the tactic to bear fruit, with Clarke's dodgy back and a predominantly leg-side field meaning he had little choice but to try defend against the short-pitched barrage heading his way.
Morne Morkel's bouncers were frightening to watch. Source: AFP
It felt like bodyline with helmets.
Clarke's head might have been protected, but his arm wasn't, and Morkel struck it with ferocious force in the 43rd over.
The 32-year-old tried to shake off the blow, but it clearly caused him a fair amount of pain and Australian physio Alex Kountouris was onto the field at the end of the over with the offer of treatment and painkillers.
Clarke was no fan of the former, opting for the latter to dull the pain he felt at the time and the pain he knew was about to come.
Sure enough the next time the two faced off Morkel sent down more short stuff, with the third ball of the over clipping Clarke on the chest before smashing into his jaw.
Clarke cops one on the chin from Morkel. Source: FoxSports
The Aussie skipper was wounded, and to their credit the South Africans were on the scene quickly to check he was OK, which Clarke eventually was. That meant it was time for hostilities to resume.
The giant South African paceman sent down another short-pitched thunderbolt and it thudded into Clarke's glove, ballooning into the air before almost landing on his stumps.
Next ball, another short one, and once again Clarke copped a blow on the body, this time in the stomach. Once again the Aussie skipper grimaced but got on with the job, just like Ponting, Waugh, Taylor and Border did before him.
Despite Clarke's struggles against Morkel, David Warner was playing the Proteas quick with consummate ease.
Clarke sported a nasty bruise after being hit on the arm by Morkel. Source: FoxSports
He showed just how well he was seeing the ball — or not seeing it — by pulling a short ball from Morkel for four with his eyes closed.
And in fact, the 1.96m paceman never quite reached top pace or bounce for the rest of his spell. Sure, he sent down plenty more short stuff but Clarke eventually came to grips with it and was able to see Morkel off before the tea break.
Not before one final insult though.
The crowd at Newlands was right behind its giant bowler throughout his pace assault and the locals roared with delight as a Warner single brought the Australian captain back on strike.
It was a humorous bookend to a period of play that will long be remembered by those that saw it.
It was brutal, it was beautiful. It was Test cricket.
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