Australia has been thrashed in the second cricket Test against South Africa by an innings and 80 runs.
The home side were bowled out this morning in their second innings for 161, losing 8-32 this morning to succumb to the rollicking South Africans.
Kyle Abbott was the pick of the bowlers for the Proteas, taking 6/77 from 23.1 overs. Kagiso Rabada also took four wickets on a terrible day for Australia.
Australia will need to come out fighting on Day 4 of the Hobart Test or face the ignominy of an embarrassing series loss at home to South Africa. Follow the live scores and blog of this fourth day’s play right here on The Roar from 10am (AEDT).
This Test has been played at such a hectic pace that, despite an entire’s day’s play having been lost to rain, Australia still need to bat at least the whole of the fourth day to have a chance of saving the game.
Even then, if rain plays no further part in the game, they might have to conjure up a bowling performance of miraculous proportions to come out unscathed.
Australia needed to bowl South Africa out quickly on day three but the visitors managed to put on 155 more runs. While Australia did run through the final five once Quinton de Kock was dismissed – they took five for 50 – the damage had already been inflicted on Day 1 when the home team had managed just 85 batting first.
What that left South Africa with was a lead of 241 runs, and Australia with their backs to the wall.
Australia would have hoped to get to stumps on day three without loss. The wicket of David Warner, after he had got a start and given its freakish nature, would have hurt them a lot going into the fourth day, especially after Joe Burns had been caught behind with the score still on 0, strangled down the leg-side.
What they now have is a slightly shaky-looking Steven Smith giving Usman Khawaja company at the crease. Form has deserted Adam Voges in recent times while Callum Ferguson is on debut and probably a tad nervous after his first innings run-out – it will up to the not-out batsmen to take Australia to the shores of safety.
And then there is the problem of contending with a bowling attack that exhibited its remarkable class as it ran through the Aussie line-up without their key bowler in the line-up. It was Vernon Philander who swung it for his team in the first innings while Kyle Abbott, who replaced Dale Steyn, gave him good support with his three wickets.
Abbott has added two more in the second innings which gives Kagiso Rabada something to work with after his man-of-the-match winning showing in the first Test match. Rest assured, he won’t make things any easier for the Aussies.
Will Australia survive the day and push the game into the fifth day to give themselves some hope? Or will the South African bowling prove to be too good for them?
Follow the live scores and blog of Day 4 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa on The Roar from 10am (AEDT).
Max
Guest
..."Hobacle"... the name henceforth used to describe a national cricket capitulation
Spongebob
Guest
Pathetic... two innings and they're still a century away from making 320. What to even do? The two new guys brought in failed just as bad as the guys they replaced. Moral is low. Heaven forbid SA actually have their best batsman and bowler back in the side.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
It still shows that his predilection and thought processes are about scoring runs, not about playing the game on a as needed basis. And what about the others at the top of the order? They didn't even look ugly, they simply weren't in the middle long enough.
Lancey5times
Guest
Keeping in mind that only 4 bowlers are required what about this Warner Burns Khawaja Smith Ferguson Patterson Handscomb Maxwell Sayers Starc Hazelwood
armchair expert
Guest
It was only the rain that cost India a series victory in Australia in 85/86.
Brian
Guest
Team is just for Adelaide where the ball will move and spin will play a small role. Maxwell will do the same job as Lyon or Zampa but give you more elsewhere. Long term Lyon or Zampa as a front line spinner
Nudge
Guest
By scoring ugly he meant facing 41 balls without scoring and waiting till things get easier. Smith faced 41 balls this morning before he scored
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Scoring ugly still emphasises the scoring mindset - in context it was regarding their capitulation for 85 runs - once the rot set in, scoring is not important - occupying and accumulating in the goal. I suggest you also read my comment once again. Far from "bashing Smith", I am saying that the players have been let down by their coaches, over a very long time.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Couldn't have said it better
JohnB
Guest
You'd rather hope that isn't how they planned it. Dire as the batting has been, his comments suggest the bowling shouldn't get off scot free.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Agreed but Maxi is just as likely to score a few. I'd settle for a reverse swept 42 right now from the no.6.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
All you need is partimers... It will be a draw anyway. Aus tralia score 560. SA declare at 4/890. Aus bat out last session at 7/90
Cadfael
Roar Guru
No way for Maxwell and Wade has had plenty of opportunities. I don't think Hanscomb is keeping for Victoria but his form as a batsman has been good. Mennie didn't do much wrong so he shouldn't go. For Lyon, Zampa or Agar. Agar has bowled well and is coming off a ten for in Shield cricket.
Mike Dugg
Guest
Because Lyon doesn't do the job time and again when Australia need him. Hasn't got a 5 for in more than 2 years. He's poor on the sub continent. And his batting as solid as it was has regressed. Okeefe offers much more
Mike Dugg
Guest
my team for dead rubber would be khawaja, Warner, smith, Patterson, Ferguson, maxwell, wade, okeefe, Starc, hazlewood, bird/Sayers. Those complaining about Wade are conveniently forgetting Nevill's average at best keeping in Sri Lanka and this summer. Or just following a narrative without much evidence much like when people speak about Quade cooper. Wade has some actual mongrel and fight unlike most of the Aussie team at present. In the odis he has rescued or come close to completely rescued rhe Aussies from some poor positions in the past year or so
Lancey5times
Guest
We don't need 5 bowlers in Adelaide
BrainsTrust
Guest
What are you talking about? India in 81, I don't think there was a 7 session match in that series. The first one would have been the only candidate , while Austrlia won that easy I almost certain it wasn't seven sessions. Next one India just managed to bat out a draw that went the distance. Final one was the infamous Melbourne pitch with the mulligrubbers on the last day. Next series India played in 85 was full of draws, Australia has just lost a lot of their bowlers to a rebel tour and were lucky Gavaskar was batting so slowly and failed to take advantage of it.
Planko
Guest
Time and time again we need players like Mark Taylor , Simon Katich , Chris Rogers. We need test players. We are trying to play test cricket with a team of one day and 20/20 players. It is called alot of things. Scoring ugly, boring but these are you lynch pins. Someone has to be able to turn off their inner Mark Waugh for an hour or so occasionally. Warner looked good yesterday sure he gave up a few chances but at least he was thinking about it by batting well outside the crease certain methods of getting were going to be hard. Good luck Australia. Lastly who picks a player without very limited experience in playing in England (Ferguson ) to play a test match in English conditions. The selectors need to start thinking.
Jeffrey
Guest
Comment of the month lol
Andy
Guest
So all the commentators saying that they are willing to help Australia, cant we just draft them in the side? The selectors have already shown they are willing to pick guys well into their 30s to play whats an extra few years/decades. I would back Taylor, Slater and Chappell to walk into the team, Healy as the keeper, Warne can bowl and at this point even Mark Nicholas could perform decently. Plus the players they replace could take their places as commentators. It would be hilarious to listen to commentary from a guy who has a test average in the 20s.