Australia and South Africa will face each other in the third and final Test of their series at the Adelaide Oval, in what will be a day-night fixture. You can follow the live scores and blog of this first day’s play right here on The Roar from 2:30pm (AEDT).
With the series already lost, Australia will be looking to play for pride but, vitally, they are also playing to make sense of where they are headed with their Test squad. With three debutants to featuring in this third Test of the series, along with two other changes to their XI, things could get interesting.
Since Australia had the better of the first day of the opening Test in Perth, the Proteas have dominated the series, winning by 177 runs at the WACA in Perth, and by an innings and 80 runs in Tasmania.
The comprehensive victory in Tasmania which sealed the series came despite losing the whole of the second day to rain. Australia were skittled for just 85 when batting first with only two of their batsmen posting double figure scores, and Vernon Philander taking 5/21.
The tourists replied with 326, Quinton de Kock scoring a century and Josh Hazlewood the pick of the bowlers with 6/89, which proved to be more than enough against an Australian side that seemed to lack both the technique and the stomach for the fight required to get back into the contest.
Second time around, the hosts fared little better, managing just 161 all out, the match finishing with more than a day to spare.
The Australian selectors have taken drastic action in an attempt to stop the rot and turn their fortunes around. The starting XI in Adelaide will show five changes from that in Tasmania, and will have three debutant batsmen in the top six in the order.
Matt Renshaw will open the innings alongside David Warner, while Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson will try and shore up the middle order.
Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, who fought harder than most in the second Test, unluckily loses out as Matthew Wade earns a recall, and quickie Jackson Bird returns to the side in place of Joe Mennie as the hosts bid to avoid a whitewash in series of more than two matches on home soil for the first time ever.
South Africa have had to endure controversy of their own. Captain Faf du Plessis was fined for ball-tampering, although he denies cheating and will appeal the penalty handed down by the ICC.
That aside, what that did was to bring the entire team together and du Plessis will they are able to present a united face for this third Test match as well.
Be sure to join The Roar from 2:30pm (AEDT) for live scores and commentary for the entire first day’s play of the day-night Test between Australia and South Africa.
Andy
Guest
Yeah damn a commentator talking about a players technique and things he can improve! He should be talking about fishing or golf damnit.
Don Freo
Guest
I'd say Lyon "owned" #10.
ColinP
Guest
Just get all 11 born overseas.....you'll see rapid improvement
Matthew H
Guest
Completely agree, should have been looking to wrap the innings up for ~200. Got owned by the SA 10 & 11. What's up with commenters thinking our bowling is always wonderful? Was clear to me that Faf wanted to leave the ball and the tail wanted to play at the ball. What do our bowlers do? bowl outside off to Faf and on the stumps to the tail making it easier for both of them. Should have been bowling a foot outside (at least) off stump to the tail, especially Shamsi. The Warner situation clarified that our team is inexperienced and needs to improve on situational awareness etc.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Starc perhaps down a bit on his best - but he did come in a tad under done with his leg - is he only operating at 85%? Bird was ordinary to start with in particular - unable to sustain the pressure.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I thought that was a really good day of test cricket. Du Plessis scored a hundred that is to be celebrated - vastly different to the run fests last season on flat tracks. A little bit of ducks and drakes at the end and Australia survived a tough little period (it's good to be able to play and miss.). The bowlers forced to work despite a good early start that could so easily have seen SAf collapse. The pitch and ball - a good first day of a test match really. No desperate evils. Matty Wade a tour de force comeback - very tidy behind the stumps and the Australians noticeably 'sounded' more into it in the field. But of course that's just 1 day - but I reckon you can see what Smith was after.
Don Freo
Guest
Lyon did well with #10. As soon as Starc starts this around the wicket short stuff to #11, he has to be taken off and Bird would remove him with a well pitched LBW. We have the bowlers to close them out. They just need to attack the wickets instead of trying to hurt the tailenders.
Don Freo
Guest
Self validation is all you need to get by, Ozibatla...even if it perpetuates error. He is regularly high 140s and low 150s.
Don Freo
Guest
Australia should be very happy to have already rolled South Africa for under 300. Great effort.
Ozibatla
Guest
I dunno, he seemed to be bending his back to me. It just doesnt fit is all. He had never bowled 160 before, nor has he since. He hasnt even got within a few ks of that mark since and today with a mild day and seemingly match fitness now at an optimum level he barely cracks 150... dont get me wrong, 145-150 is quick but its well short of 160. Its an extremely rare, difficult, painful thing to do, bowling at or above 160. I just dont believe starc can reach those speeds. Hazlewood was apparently timed at 156 one delivery in the hobart test, yet no one mentioned a thing, because it is inconceivable.
davSA
Guest
They always have Doogs , throughout the history of the sport . Its called respect and has been hard earned by both these great cricketing nations. One or two silly incidents will never undermine that which is forged.
davSA
Guest
oh come on Dave. Was that entirely necessary .. For what its worth the Proteas have the strictest code of conduct re racism than any other sides in world cricket. Their team includes 6 black players and 5 different cultural groups.Even the white guys in the side are from 3 distinctively different cultures.even a hint of racism and that player will be on the first plane home.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I'm fairly sure he cracked 150 today, but give him a favourable wind and the knowledge he only has 10 overs to bowl, pretty sure that'd put him up a bit more. Plus the quick ball for him is the yorker, which he wasn't landing today.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Couldn't agree more Bobbo7. It's hideous. Slats, Tubs, Heals, & Kev. Its TV cricket hell!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
While true that Renshaw is young and improving, KP is completely right to analyse his technique -- it's part of his job as an analyst, if that slightly pronounced step got him out and nobody mentioned it, the coverage would be rightly criticised.
Felix
Guest
I prefer to reserve my judgement on totals until both teams have batted. Perhaps the pitch flattened out and it'll be a road tomorrow, Warner will score 180 off 100 and SA will be 100 behind. Or perhaps Australia did indeed miss a trick in not dismissing the tail - I think when a player such as Shamsi triples his first class average going the tonk against a national attack with bowlers who have a 26&27 average, I'll let two innings be played before calling it.
FAF
Guest
You go Faf... show Warner what you are made of... he he
Adsa
Guest
Our bowlers need the bats to give them the day off, bat for a day and let them rip in on day three.
Felix
Guest
Yep, he's looking the real deal so far. His Dad was on ABC radio up here in Brisbane on Monday and was asked about his son's style as a batsmen. He said he taught him to leave well and that the first session belongs to the team - his job is to wear out the bowlers, absorb deliveries and protect those beneath. He said lunch to tea belongs to him and the team, and he is free to up the ante a little after that. Just what the Doctor ordered, thanks Dr Ian Renshaw!
Amrit
Roar Guru
So Shamsi did play as I've said, and yup Du Plessis responds to his critics. Australia should be disappointed with the fact that SA scored 259 from 169/7. Good day ahead of us