Expert
Australia’s high-quality bowling attack had its worst series in a long time, while new captain Tim Paine and young quick Pat Cummins were the only Aussies to enhance their reputations during the 3-1 series loss in South Africa.
Here are my marks across the series for both sides.
Pat Cummins – 9/10
22 wickets at 21 from four Tests
The 24-year-old is now Australia’s best bowler and was the only Aussie, apart from Paine, who managed to flourish in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal that devastated the tourists. He’s quick, he’s skilful, he’s intimidating and, perhaps most impressively of all, he’s relentless.
Tim Paine – 9/10
215 wickets at 43, plus 16 dismissals from four Tests
It is phenomenal just how seamlessly Paine has adapted to Test cricket after only five months ago being unable to get a game for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield. In South Africa his leadership was excellent, his glovework likewise, but it was his batting that was of greatest value, as Australia’s most dependable batsman across the series.
Cameron Bancroft – 5.5/10
223 runs at 37 from three Tests
For these ratings I’m judging Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner purely on their cricket. The West Australian opener had a horror start to the series when he bizarrely walked down the wicket to Philander and nicked off cheaply. From then on he was impressive, finishing as Australia’s leading runscorer across the first three Tests.
David Warner – 5.5/10
217 runs at 36 from three Tests
It was a series of wasted starts for the cavalier opener who, from six innings, made five scores of between 28 and 63. Superstar Kagiso Rabada really troubled him as the series wore on.
Mitchell Starc – 5/10
12 wickets at 34 from three Tests
The left armer was outstanding in the first Test, befuddling the hosts with reverse swing en route to winning Man of the Match. But across the following two Tests he routinely wasted the new ball and struggled to either build pressure or make breakthroughs. Finished the series injured yet again.
Mitch Marsh – 4.5/10
176 runs at 22, plus four wickets at 42 from four Tests
Marsh played easily the best innings of the series by an Australian, with his 96 in the first innings of the first Test setting up a victory for the tourists. He also took several crucial wickets in this series. But after that 96 his batting fell apart, especially his defence, which by the end of the series was leaking like a sieve.
Josh Hazlewood – 4.5/10
12 wickets at 39 from four Tests
Hazlewood entered this series as the number two ranked Test quick in the world, after only England’s James Anderson, but finished it with his tail between his legs. While he was impressively economical, Hazlewood lacked for penetration which was, at times, the result of bowling a shade too wide.
Nathan Lyon – 4/10
16 wickets at 43 from four Tests
After enjoying a brilliant 12 months of Tests leading into this series, Lyon again flopped in South Africa. The conditions as a whole across the series were good for spinners, particularly for a bowler of Lyon’s style, given the generous bounce which was often available. Yet he was easily outbowled by his opposite number, Keshav Maharaj.
Joe Burns – 4/10
46 runs at 23 from one Test
The Queensland opener, like his batting partner Matt Renshaw, was on a hiding to nothing after a last-minute, 18-hour flight to South Africa landed him amid the biggest controversy to rock Australian cricket in more than 30 years. He failed in the first dig, but batted nicely second time around, particularly with his assertive play against Maharaj.
Steve Smith – 3/10
142 runs at 24 from three Tests
Comfortably the worst series of Smith’s astonishing Test career. He made batting look so exceptionally easy in both innings in the first Test that it was a shock when he was dismissed. From then on he had an awful run, making 25, 11, 5 and 7. Maharaj and Morne Morkel both found chinks in his armour.
Usman Khawaja – 3/10
165 runs at 20 from three Tests
Khawaja’s woeful form on the road continued this series – he’s now averaged just 18 with the bat from his last eight away Tests. If Warner and Smith had not been banned for the next year, this may well have been the last time we ever saw Khawaja play a Test away from home.
Shaun Marsh – 2.5/10
147 runs at 18 from four Tests
With a highest score of 40 in eight innings for the series, the elder Marsh was a massive disappointment after his wonderful Ashes performance. Like Khawaja, there are now major question marks over his ability to succeed away from home.
Chadd Sayers – 2.5/10
Two wickets at 73 from one Test
Sayers was brought in to bowl something like Vernon Philander, but it wasn’t to be. While Sayers took 2-146, Philander collected match figures of 9-51. The South Australian was comfortably the least threatening bowler on display in the fourth Test.
Peter Handscomb – 2/10
24 runs at 12 from one Test
Handscomb is a fine player of spin but again looked vulnerable against pace.
Matt Renshaw – 1/10
13 runs at 6 from one Test
Renshaw looked shaky in both innings, but he’ll likely never face more onerous circumstances.
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AB de Villiers – 9/10
427 runs at 71 from four Tests
Kagiso Rabada – 9/10
23 wickets at 19 from four Tests
Aiden Markram – 8.5/10
480 runs at 60 from four Tests
Vernon Philander – 8.5.10
16 wickets at 17 from four Tests
Dean Elgar – 7.5/10
333 runs at 47 from four Tests
Morne Morkel – 7/5/10
15 wickets at 20 from three Tests
Keshav Maharaj – 7/10
17 wickets at 34 from four Tests
Quinton de Kock – 7/10
223 runs at 32 from four Tests plus 19 dismissals
Temba Bavuma – 7/10
136 runs at 68 from two Tests
Lungi Ngidi – 7/10
Five wickets at 15 from one Test
Hashim Amla – 3.5/10
196 runs at 24 from four Tests
Faf du Plessis – 3/10
175 runs at 25 from four Tests
Theunis de Bruyn – 2/10
58 runs at 19 from two Tests