The Australian cricket team may have been crippled by the ball tampering scandal but over the next five days it has an opportunity to register what would be one of its most rousing wins in history.
Against all odds wouldn’t begin to describe Australia’s efforts if they were to haul themselves out of the cricketing abyss to level this series.
Australia will start the fourth Test in Johannesburg today missing their two best batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner and their leading runscorer for this series Cameron Bancroft. They’ll also be farewelling coach Darren Lehmann, who will lead them for the last time after resigning yesterday.
Lehmann made the right choice. Having overseen the creation of the team culture which allowed this fiasco to unfold, he had to take responsibility.
Now Lehmann has one final opportunity to inspire his players and bring out of them a truly great performance. Because that it what it will take for them to win this Test.
Even before Cricket Australia’s bloodletting, South Africa already had overwhelming momentum in this series after winning the past two Tests, including a crushing victory at Cape Town. The Proteas are also buoyed by the return to form in the third Test of veterans Morne Morkel, Dean Elgar and Vernon Philander.
Then there’s the enormous motivation of finally winning a home series against Australia, something they have not done since 1970. South Africa would have been a scary proposition at Johannesburg even for a full-strength Australia.
Which is why it will be so special if this wounded, cobbled-together Australian team can defeat the Proteas. Only time will tell whether the terribly depressing events of this past week will galvanise the Aussies or be an insurmountable distraction.
It was sad to watch them sleepwalk through the final day at Cape Town, a team gutted from within. They bowled and fielded with minimal intensity and then collapsed in a heap with the blade.
Today they will welcome into their XI three new batsmen – Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw will open, while Peter Handscomb is expected to replace Smith.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
All three of those batsmen had fantastic starts to their Test career before being swiftly, and some would say harshly axed following brief form slumps.
Handscomb is yet to prove he has regained touch, in the main because he’s barely had the chance. Renshaw and Burns, however, will re-enter Test cricket in commanding form.
The 21-year-old left-hander has churned out 705 runs at 78 from his past dozen first-class innings, while Burns was the best batsman in the Shield this season, with 725 runs at 56 from just seven matches.
Both men performed well to help Queensland win the Sheffield Shield final this week. Of course, a deciding Test match away from home against an awesome bowling attack is a challenge on a different level. Yet Burns and Renshaw both showed enough during their previous time in the Australian team to suggest this task is not beyond them.
Batting behind them at number three is the man who has now become perhaps Australia’s most important batsman – Usman Khawaja. Suddenly Khawaja and Shaun Marsh are the elder statesmen of Australia’s batting lineup, a status which carries heavy weight.
This is far from ideal for either player given Khawaja is continuing to struggle badly away from home and Marsh has had a very disappointing series, averaging just 20.
It is with Australia’s top six that this Test lies. The visitors’ high-class attack is clearly its greatest strength and can be reasonably expected to perform well in this Test.
But if Australia are to spring a giant upset, and provide its cricketing community with a temporary reprieve from grieving, its new-look batting lineup will have to play out of their whites.
Simoc
Guest
But in his defence Hanscomb doesn't bother the scorers to much these days and nor has Glen Maxwell in recent Shield games. I like the Vince style, especially against Australia. He comes out, looks good and gets out without scoring many runs. Pretty much ideal.
Robin
Guest
Maybe they have more savvy Bee bee. And according to subtle Australian sledging opposition players suck other things. Go back to your history books and look that one up Sage. You are just trying to deflect from the current news that is plastered globally all across the cricket playing world.
qwetzen
Guest
Perhaps some people believe that being an Australian Test cricketer comprises more than runs and wickets...
Sage
Guest
You need some history lessons Robin.
Chris Love
Guest
Mohamed that is an absolute laugh. Not a test cricketer? From 30 less tests has already equaled Mathew Hayden’s number of test 50’s and is hitting 100’s at almost exactly the same rare as Hayden did. He was on track to eclipse Hayden. That will never happen now though.
Mohamed kookaburra
Guest
Australian Test Cricket will move forward now that Warner has gone, he was never a test cricketer and contributed the demise of the team with his boofhead mentality and dopey advice from his social climbing wife.
qwetzen
Guest
It's no wonder you're in exile.
Crackerjack
Guest
No No..as PeterK has told us many times Australia are always the victims! Either it be Rugby or Cricket!
riddler
Guest
what odds would have you got on that being our batting lineup now at the beginning of the ashes..
Bee bee
Guest
There is one silver lining for Steve Smith. At least you didn’t end up like JFK.
Bee bee
Guest
When you say they have not been caught are you implying the possibility they have Cheated and are just better at not being caught? Serious question because legend has it the English team suck...... mints.
peter chrisp
Guest
And SA should get the 4th Test easily with their huge batting lineup
Simoc
Guest
Pretty hard for Handscomb to survive at test level without a defence. But he is classy when in form and we don't have a lot of batting talent at the moment, that is available to play. G Maxwell and M Marsh will need to get lots of runs regularly when away from Australian pitches because none of the others are up to it.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
Talking rubbish Qwetzen, It's not just about ball-tampering. It's about the abusive, corrosive, sledge-fest character of Australian cricket. Where was the concern when Australia sledged Broad, Trott and lately Bairstow about his dead father? What about Warner's behaviour in the current SA tour? Australian cricket stinks with rank hypocrisy and it's players, with CA collusion, have debased the game. Don't forget his infamous quote : "I hope the Australian public give it to him (Broad) right from the word go for the whole summer and I hope he cries and goes home," That in my opinion is conduct unbecoming... Also he has history as a player remember Sri Lanka? He took Steve Waugh's mantra of Mental disintegration to the next level.
Akkara
Guest
It would be absolutely fantastic if they can, however unlikely, I feel. After seeing the images for Steve escorted through the airport, I just don't feel we should expose the team to the SA public and media. I think Pfaff is a gentleman, and will take measures to control the team on the field. As for the conspiracy theory. In general if you appoint a panel which only tells you what you already know, you can bet your bottom dollar, it is not the full story. Even the fact that it was sandpaper was already known, until Bancroft muddied the water. South Africa suspected cheating from the 2nd test, which is why Panni DeVilliers requested that the ball is followed closely. Out of the 16 cameras, 7 were purely for this purpose. Let's wait and see. It may or may not come out.
qwetzen
Guest
"Lehmann made the right choice. Having overseen the creation of the team culture which allowed this fiasco to unfold, he had to take responsibility." What garbage. Only a small-minded and vindictive person would spout such nonsensical character assassination. A coach does not set foot on the field so he can't jump on any bad behaviour, neither can he change the mindset of hardened half-wits. Pundits are suggesting that Oz change the way they play to emulate NZ. Guess what! The main driver of that was the NZ *captain*. You know, the one who's on the field. Lehmann resigned because he was so disappointed with his players *and* because of the hurt inflicted on him and his family by asinine statements like yours.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Great news for Chadd Sayers!
Robin
Guest
A comment wrapped-up in total smugness so sorry I will let you have it with both barrels Ronan - England have not been caught cheating and attempting to change the result of a match through said cheating with the shadow of more cheating hanging in the air (see sugar in pocket clip during the Ashes). Trying to put some shinny gloss on things will not help in the long run.
Sage
Guest
I do. I have issues with some things that have happened though .
Robin
Guest
Play the game, fulfil the contractual obligations and get home ASAP. Forget the result - if Australia were to win it will lay the foundations to "not much wrong with the team" and maybe deflect attention away from the hard scrutiny that needs to take place once the dust has settled. Not only Australia but all international teams need to look at onfield behaviour and how the game is played and I hope this episode will result in changes for the better. Stronger, more empowered umpires to root out sledging would be a good start,