Australia’s batting line-up was yesterday gutted by South African pace dynamo Kagiso Rabada who turned the second Test with a beguiling spell of bowling.
The tourists made a great start on a tricky pitch, reaching 0-98 just prior to lunch, before Rabada ran amok in the second and third sessions.
By only looking at Australia’s scorecard you would get the impression they’d surrendered meekly. But that would do a disservice to South Africa’s bowlers and would also ignore just how difficult were the conditions in which Australia had to bat.
The conditions were ideal for South Africa’s quicks, with a juicy pitch offering generous seam movement and the overcast weather perfect for swing bowling.
The circumstances favoured the bowlers just as much as they did when Australia collapsed for 85 on the first day of the Hobart Test against South Africa 16 months ago. In scrounging their way to 243, thanks to a fine opening stand and a late-order flourish, Australia produced what potentially could be a competitive total.
In a 12-over session before stumps Australia picked up the key wicket of Aiden Markram before South Africa finished the day on 1-39.
Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins both looked dangerous, while spinner Nathan Lyon earned massive turn during the single over he delivered. This gave the impression that, unless the pitch improves for batting significantly tomorrow, it won’t be easy for South Africa to build a sizeable lead.
Earlier, Australian openers David Warner (63) and Cameron Bancroft (38) willed themselves through the new ball spell.
Under-siege opener Warner must have been greatly tempted to take out his anger on the Proteas’ attack and flay them in old-school Warner style. But the new Warner, the one who’s greatly reduced his scoring rate since that Hobart debacle, has become adept at batting within himself.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
For the first time in his 73-match Test career, Warner did not hit a single boundary in his first hour at the crease. At the first drinks break he had dawdled to just 9 from 37 balls, with Australia 0-23 after 14 overs.
Having got his eye in Warner upped the ante, cracking 54 from his next 63 balls, including nine boundaries in a 98-run opening stand with Bancroft.
It took a gem of an in-swinger from impressive young quick Lungi Ngidi to dislodge Warner early in the second session. A similarly good piece of swing bowling from Vernon Philander had induced an edge from Bancroft directly before lunch.
In between the wickets of the two openers, Australia lost Usman Khawaja when he nicked off against Philander, continuing the left hander’s wretched run away from home.
Khawaja has now averaged just 13 with the bat in his past six Tests away from home, spanning two matches in Sri Lanka, two in South Africa, and one each in Bangladesh and New Zealand.
With Australia having lost 3-19, captain Steve Smith (25) and in-form middle order batsman Shaun Marsh (24) set about blunting the Proteas attack. They did so for a while before Kagiso Rabada woke from his slumber, having bowled poorly in the first half of the day.
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
During a sensational spell of reverse swing bowling Rabada trapped Smith and Shaun Marsh LBW, had Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins caught behind, and then castled Mitchell Starc to complete a spell of 5-13. At 8-182, Australia had suffered a collapse of 8-84 after their strong opening.
Then wicketkeeper Tim Paine (36) played yet another calm, mature knock and, by placing faith in tail-enders Nathan Lyon (17) and Josh Hazlewood (10 not out), he helped Australia reach a respectable total.
Rabada finished with 5-96 although he is now at serious risk of being banned for the final two Tests because of his send-off of Smith. Due to several previous offences, the South African quick now needs to be given only the minimum one penalty point by the ICC to see him cop a two-match suspension.
Given Australia’s Nathan Lyon received one penalty point for an incident in the first Test which was no worse than Rabada’s send-off, it seems to be a genuine possibility that Rabada could miss the rest of the series.
Such an outcome would be a blow to the Proteas and to the series itself, but would be a relief to the Australian batsmen, who were yesterday on the receiving end of an all-time great spell from Rabada.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
JamesH
Roar Guru
Why are you bagging Smith? He hasn’t publicly complained about what Rabada did. As for the incident, any unnecessary contact will be penalised. You simply can’t deliberately touch another player, period. Soft or not, the ICC has been consistent with that rule. Rabada’s in massive trouble.
George
Guest
Good. Must work on praising Australians in every post to win yours and waltzing's approval though, eh?
George
Guest
Was referring to "the total condemnation and character assassination" - not getting off of a punishment.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Three more demerit points will get Rabada suspended for two matches (his second suspension. Under the ICC rules, ANY physical contact that is neither unintentional nor unavoidable constitutes a level 2 offence, the minimum penalty for which is three demerit points. I’ll be pretty surprised if Kagiso plays any further part in this series.
JamesH
Roar Guru
He means evidence that playing the victim ‘like Warner’ will get him off. Like how it got Warner off and he didn’t get three demerit poi- oh, wait. Never mind.
BrainsTrust
Guest
There is a massive difference between a tackle and a shoulder bump. I understand that the shoulder bump is not part of cricket and would be laughed at in rugby, Then there is another massive difference between a shoulder bump and this shoulder brush. This is an extremely embarassing display from Smith and Australian cricket followers including you, Rabada past record isn't good, and he is South Africa's key bowling weapon so now they are playing for the brush of a shoulder and playing it up. Has the wholle strategy of stump mics and Warner been orchestrated by Smith and Lehman to provoke Rabada, if so they make the biggest diver in football lthat goes down clutching their face without any contact look like an amateur in gamesmanship.
ols
Roar Pro
"Where is the media, feminists, South African players and coach etc coming out and showing their disgust " You only have to watch any coverage of cricket or rugby union to know that South Africa is like something from the 1970's. The coverage of crowds between moments of play is focused upon any attractive women ( or any woman attending) in the crowd and near naked cheerleaders are a huge part of any rugby game. The country is stuck in a time warp.
Savage
Roar Rookie
Actually, quite the opposite.Don't worry you will eventually come to light
Drago
Guest
That's not really the point and by the way I'm not sure Smith has complained? It is against the laws/code of the game and can be penalised. This is not rugby.
Drago
Guest
In your world perhaps not. In the real world, yes it does.
Joseph
Guest
Wrong. I'm South African and I find his behavior disgusting. He's a great talent - one of the best - but that kind of gratuitous aggression is unacceptable. Like that idiot Warner's comments.
Joseph
Guest
The sledging thing was started by Australia, by whom it was supposedly made a "part of the game". You dished it out knowing that most teams would be reticent to give it back in equal measure. That is until "short-man-complex" Warner decided to display his lack of intellect and eventually got it back with interest. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Savage
Roar Rookie
lol kohli is 6th doesn't mean he is 6th best T20 batsmen in the world.
BrainsTrust
Guest
I don;t see any real contact, you would have to be the worlds biggest sissy to complain about a slight brush of the shoulder, Smith and half the people on here seem to have just fallen into that category.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
"Not sure how you can s shame an adult woman who makes free and fair choices about who she wants to associate with. The fact that you, Davey and the many others think she should feel ashamed or embarrased about her choices is frankly alarming." Umm... I never said that. None of us have actually said that at all, and I'm pretty certain that Warner's reaction isn't because he's "ashamed" or he wants to make her feel that way. Where on earth did you get that from? That is some epic strawmanning. "And SBW is a victim too?" They're highlighting his behaviour, which is just as irrelevant, and dragging him through the mud for something he has zero involvement in. How is he not in this case? I'm sure he certainly doesn't appreciate it. I also love how you tried to make out like we're all victimising Candice but think SBW isn't, even though they're in nearly the exact same boat.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Cheers Crickettragic very glad you enjoy them mate. As far as the Australian Test pitches go they are so terribly disappointing more often than not these days and really lower the quality of cricket we get to see.
Bazza
Guest
Warner got 3 demerit points hardly a not anything tomen. Missing games will hurt players more than a money fine.
Bazza
Guest
He should be out for the next 2 tests as he is a silly man who can't control himself he will eventually learn. Well done with the ball and bat though. I wonder if there was any tampering like in previous instances when they have got the ball to sudden move. ? They have form over the years
Drago
Guest
Yeah nah. I will stick to the ICC ratings thanks. Your mate Kohli is 6th end of.