Australia’s new-look batting line-up faltered for a second time in the fourth Test yesterday as South Africa brought themselves to the edge of a 3-1 series victory.
Faced with a gigantic target of 612, Australia stumbled to 3-88 at stumps against a Proteas attack with two bowlers who were well below full fitness in Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada.
Australia’s fresh opening pair of Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw left as many deliveries as possible during the new ball spell by Rabada and Vernon Philander. But, while Burns looked solid, Renshaw was stuck in the mud.
The 21-year-old barely timed a delivery during his tortured stay of 5 from 42 balls, which ended when he was trapped LBW by Morne Morkel from around the wicket.
Renshaw was caught planting his front pad early and outside off stump, leaving him struggling to reach around this obstacle when Morkel got the ball to move in at him off the pitch.
That brought to the crease Australia’s most experienced batsman Usman Khawaja, who fell cheaply to spin for the umpteenth time in his career. Khawaja began his innings aggressively, advancing down the pitch to spinner Keshav Maharaj and cracking him through cover for four.
Then Khawaja started playing with fire by repeatedly kicking away balls pitching outside off stump. Soon after he was out LBW, failing to play a shot to a Maharaj delivery which was crashing into off. This blunder was emblematic of Khawaja’s often muddled thought processes when facing spin.
(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
At the other end Burns played a calm and assured knock. He executed the shot of the day, blasting a flat pull for six from a Rabada delivery which was only slightly short of a good length. Burns was also impressive in his play against Maharaj, which was notable given he has had past troubles with spin at Test level.
Yesterday, however, he had a clear plan against Maharaj and stuck to it. When the Proteas spinner found a good length Burns stretched forward, got low and smothered the ball. When Maharaj bowled fuller Burns went down on one knee and swept for several confident boundaries.
And when the tweaker dropped slightly short Burns was well back and cutting nicely through point, with an emphasis on timing over power.
The one technical shortcoming which stood out during Burns’ innings was the same one which caused his dismissal. The Queenslander, like his batting partner Renshaw, was at times overcommitting on the front foot, leaving him vulnerable to a fuller delivery moving back in to him.
Philander tried to exploit this flaw and in the end Morkel was successful in doing so, getting Burns LBW for 42.
Peter Handscomb (23no) and Shaun Marsh (7no) then batted out the day. Handscomb underlined his generous ability against spin by regularly getting to the pitch of Maharaj deliveries to drive well through the offside.
Earlier, South Africa batted on and on, much longer than expected, building a monstrous lead.
This strategy seemed to be designed to limited the potential workload of their pace attack, with Morkel struggling with a side strain and Rabada reportedly suffering a stiff back.
They were able to bat at length because of the lack of penetration from the Australia attack who, bar Pat Cummins, caused few troubles.
The youngest member of the Australian attack was outstanding once more, with Cummins taking 4-58, including the key wickets of AB de Villiers, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock.
The 24-year-old has had an outstanding series, taking 22 wickets at 21, to trail only SA superstar Kagiso Rabada (23 wickets). As this series has worn on the gulf between Cummins and the rest of the Australian attack has widen considerably.
While Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon have looked increasingly tired and flat, Cummins bowled with wonderful intensity all the way to his final spell. Handscomb and Marsh will need to replicate that verve in the first session today if they are to give Australia a slim chance of drawing this Test.
Walshy
Guest
Dont worry our boys will get tneir appeals and be back especially bancroft a special talent watch out for perth boy bosisto too his mate good player renshaw has not arrived yet burns too flashy you have to wear it like bangas does to be a great opening bat, stupid bans media hysteria we would have won that last test.
ColinP
Guest
Khawaja wasn't playing a shot.....Ronan is obviously still in the wrong though....continue
Alan
Guest
Disgraceful performance by the Australians. Backs against the wall, where’s the fighting spirit? The galvanized fight after some adversity. Absolutely p weak from the marshes and khawaja. Khawaja should never wear the green and gold again and the marshes don’t deserve another chance either.
You should watch the replay, Warne commented he didn't offer a shot
Ball hitting pads outside offstump and ball tracking to hit wickets with no shot offered is always out.
Markismo
Guest
Agreed. Pitched outside the line Kwahaja even steps outside off stump, ball spun into the pad still outside the line of off-stump. Should never been given out - shot offered or not. 99% of deliveries padded away in this fashion never a shot offered without issue. The fact that a computer graphics simulator then characterises a fictional ball movement trajectory from such an acute spin angle to validate the decision is another story!
Ozinsa
Guest
I doubt he’s the only one. I thought he didn’t play a shot and the commentary box was unanimous. As Roman said, in addition to looking like he didn’t play a shot to the specific ball that got him, prior form in the innings set him up to not get a favourable outcome. Overall, I’d say he has no cause to suggest he was unlucky. He needs to work on a strategy to play spin or he’ll be dropped for UAE and have to work his way back again
bazza200
Roar Rookie
Nathan Lyon in the second test dropped a guy who went on to score another 100 runs and really put pressure on us. Don't think they really did that. Also there was alot of beating the outside edge of Aussie bowlers and not much luck yes U make your own but we didn't take our chances. DW south Africa will drop when they get punished for Thier lack of players of colour in Thier team.
Melvin Pukely
Guest
I would MUCH prefer to be England than Australia at this current moment. This Australian team is shot and on current form would be ranked at around Number 6 or 7. Still it's good to see Warner gone.
Ben
Roar Rookie
What were the selectors thinking when picking him. Each of them should be sacked.
Trenno
Guest
The worrying thing for me is that Khawaja doesn’t seem to be the answer at 3. Maybe he needs to open if they are going to keep him in side, but then Renshaw would have to go. Renshaw has had a lean test but I think we need to persist with him in light of the suspensions. Burns has looked solid and with more game time will lockdown his position in the team. But what do we do at 3? 4-6 is also a question. The Marshes have dropped off again but probably deserve to stay as really who can come in? Maxwell? Maybe. Finch? Wade as a batsmen? We have some real questions to be answered before the next test series which, luckily is a while away. Thoughts? (P.s does anyone else see the irony of a 2 time convicted ball tamperer leading South Africa to the first series win against us in South Africa since appartied in series where we have our first ever convicted ball tamperers suspended during it? Life works in mysterious ways)
Simoc
Guest
What development of players? I see the Indian batsman pretty much all have outstanding technique and the ability to use their wrists in finding gaps in the field. Looking at our batsman they rely so much on talent to get them through. I'm picking a watershed moment for Indian cricket next summer. Beating Australia in Australia. I can't see our guys getting enough runs, even though our bowling will be great. NZ in celebration mode. And for the Marsh boys and Handscomb its business as usual. I'de discount this test for selection criteria for Burns, Renshaw. Couldn't really expect anything other than that they belong there.
Just doing my bit ?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yep Handscomb looked great against Maharaj but very shaky in the few balls of pace his faced - he had one outside edge fly just over second slip from the bowling of Morkel.
Ben
Roar Rookie
Handscomb was lucky yesterday he only faced 6 balls from the quicks. Today he will be tested.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Khawaja averages just 25 with the bat after 15 Tests away from home. He's lucky that Smith and Warner have been banned or I think this may well have been his final series outside Australia.
mmacter
Guest
You didn't mention his average in this series George, very clever buddy.
mmacter
Guest
Hey Flemo,khawaja averaged only 20 in this series.What's your take on that?And please don't compare his effort to the Marshes.His failure has nothing to do with them.
Basil (the original)
Guest
Nice try Biltong but as you can see us Aussies are are more focused on arguing amongst ourselves about our own players depending if we like them or not.
Johnno
Guest
should shane warne become the new CA chairman? He might be the right candidate