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It took a few extra overs tacked on at the end of the second session, but Australia finally broke their drought by recording a Test win over South Africa on Day 4 at Adelaide Oval.
Australia needed 127 runs to win after they bowled South Africa out earlier in the day, a very achieveable target, but there were concerns early on when David Warner and Usman Khawaja both fell in the space of three balls in the 18th over.
The lost confidence in Australia’s batting order was made immediately apparent if you happened to be on social media in those moments. Even though the Aussies only needed 63 more runs at that point, the team’s recent batting collapses and the fact we were now relying largely on the debutants had us all nervous.
However with Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw at the crease, Australia slowly but surely progressed towards victory. Smith lost his wicket when the Australians were just two runs short of the win, but Peter Handscomb came to the crease and his first and only run of the second innings was the match winner.
And so Australia finally rejoined the winners list. That’s worthy of celebration – a Test win always is, especially after the rough period the team has been through lately. But amongst our jubilation, we can’t afford to paper over the cracks that have been exposed this year.
Those were the cracks that forced Rod Marsh’s immediate retirement form his role as a selector after the Test in Hobart, and that saw three rookies promoted to make their debuts in the baggy green in this match.
Tellingly though it was not so much the fresh blood brought into the team that won us this one as it was the improved performances from more experienced hands.
Khawaja’s superb knock in the first innings, Nathan Lyon’s brilliant spell at the end of the third day – these were the kind of team-lifting performances that win matches, the kind we needed.
It’s no surprise that a bit of a shake-up in the squad created these. Lyon had some calling for his head before this Test, and he and the rest of Australia’s regulars must have gotten a strong message that poor form will only be tolerated for so long.
As for the debutants, Renshaw and Handscomb will be feeling proud of their performances, and rightly so. Handscomb had a superb half century in the first innings, and Renshaw’s ability to stay calm and eke out a win when his more experienced batting partners were losing their wickets showed maturity beyond his years.
Nic Maddinson, probably the most speculative of the inclusions, was gone for a 12-ball duck in the first innings and unfortunately didn’t get a second chance at the crease.
It’s clear that the Australian team is still very much a work in progress, and it will take more time and change than we’ve seen over the past fortnight before it becomes the best it can be.
However, those wheels do seem to be in motion. The events of this Test will have shown every young first class cricketer in the country that they are going to get the opportunity, if they’re good enough.
It’ll also push the more experienced players. Just look at Peter Nevill, who responded to being dropped with an unbeaten knock of 179 for NSW in the Sheffield Shield.
The fire has been lit amongst the Test team once again. Keep it burning, and the upcoming series against Pakistan – beginning December 15 at the Gabba – will be a big one for Australian cricket.
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