Australian skipper Steve Smith made a telling comment two days out from the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
“There’s a new energy with the arrival of the three debutants,” Smith observed.
“Mark Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, and Nic Maddison have lifted the squad for a must-win Test.”
At the same time, rival skipper Faf du Plessis was making ridiculous claims he was innocent of ball tampering, despite television footage proving he was as guilty as sin.
Come the Adelaide toss, and for the sixth time in six, Smith lost – South Africa batted.
With the 18th delivery of the innings, Mitchell Starc trapped his opening batsman bunny Stephen Cook plumb in front, with the score at four.
Alas a no-ball, which is the direct result of bowling no-balls at the nets when run-ups should be fine tuned.
Having lost the toss and the first wicket early, the Australians could have dropped the shoulders, but they soldiered on and when Starc eventually sent Scott packing for 40 with the score at 4-95, the Australians were back in business.
Except for Faf du Plessis.
He was roundly booed when he marched to the crease, but being the arrogant bugger he is, used the derision to his benefit.
His unbeaten 118 was testimony to that arrogance in a total of 9 (dec) for 259, leaving South Africa 12 overs late at night for a new baggy green opening batting combination to survive.
Du Plessis had noticed David Warner was off the field receiving treatment for his on-going shoulder injury, and was timed out for opening the batting.
Usman Khawaja was promoted to join debutant Renshaw, and they saw out the time without loss for 14 – Warner will bat three today.
Du Plessis is shrewd as well – his mindset is purely on taking every advantage possible for a history-making whitewash.
Now it’s time for a mindset in return from the Australians who haven’t offered much resistance in five big Test losses on the trot.
But if Smith’s energy comment two days before this Test started holds good, du Plessis is in for a confrontation at last.
And that’s what baggy green fans expect, at all times.
Adelaide is a beautiful batting wicket, the outfield is fast, and short on both sides, so there’s no reason why the Australian batsmen shouldn’t get among the runs.
Warner and Smith are overdue, Khawaja has proved his worth – and that leaves the three debutants.
Renshaw looked at ease last night, leaving Handscomb and Maddinson to crack the ice.
It promises to be a fascinating day’s cricket.
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