Summary
144.3 overs, 34 wickets, and six sessions of play, featuring two prodigiously talented bowling attacks, and one poorly prepared pitch. That was an odd Test match.
The inquest into why the Gabba was so difficult to bat on will dominate the three cricket-free days. Thereafter the spotlight will fall on David Warner, whose Test career appears to be rapidly approaching its end. A few thousand miles away the focus will be on South Africa’s top order – weak on paper, disastrous on Queensland soil.
West Indies were dismal a few weeks ago. South Africa don’t look like making over 200 in their remaining four knocks. This summer of cricket is fast becoming a headache for the game’s administrators.
In amongst the doom and gloom credit is due to Travis Head for his match-winning 92 in the first innings. And all the bowlers took advantage of the conditions without getting carried away. Australia’s attack spread the wickets evenly among themselves and selectors now have the difficult decision around whether to recall Josh Hazlewood for the Boxing Day Test. They couldn’t drop Scott Boland on his home track, could they?
I shall leave you with Geoff Lemon’s thoughts from the press box, but stay tuned for plenty more reaction over the coming days. I’ll see you back here in a week or so, full of Christmas pud.
For South Africa to compete in the next two tests they need to add another specialist batsman and back Keshav Maharaj to play a bigger role. #AUSvSA
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2022
Of course, what all of this analysis of the surface reinforces is how incredible Travis Head’s first innings 92 was. In a match dominated by the ball, with some gaudy bowling figures, it has to be a batter who averaged just 46 across the two innings - and was caught down the legside twice on the same day – who wins the player of the match award.
Steve Smith says it was probably the toughest pitch he’s ever played on in Australia.
Nathan Lyon is asked if he can believe what’s happened in the past 48 hours. “Yeah, I can,” he replies, “because you’ve got the two best bowling attacks going at each other. There is going to be wickets falling and a great contest. The wicket was too much but it shows the quality of bowlers that’s running around out here. Pretty special.”
Mitchell Starc, who celebrated his 300th Test wicket in this match, has a few words on the TV.
Not sure we’ve had a two-day Test before. None of us can recall a two-day Test. Very interesting, let’s leave it at that.
The last 18 months, two years, has been a lot more consistent and probably some of the best Test cricket I’ve played. Hopefully that can continue. I’m just enjoying it. It is a great group to be part of. Maybe not always in two days but when you win Test matches, it is great to enjoy successes.
“This sort of offal was never served up before they started putting numbers on their backs,” chirrups Patrick O’Brien, who has presumably never heard of the England cricket team.
19 wickets fell today, on a surface that will be the subject of intense debate over the coming days.
Australia win by six wickets
8th over: Australia 35-4 (Labuschagne 5, Green 0) Australia reach 29 when Nortje sends down five-wides, increasing the extras tally to 14. South Africa have been full of purpose and intensity with the new ball and they have rattled their hosts. Labuschagne does well to withstand the heat, calling his partner through for a sharp single in the process. With Green on strike Nortje goes short again, and once more the ball flies way too high and fast over everyone for five wides that brings this remarkable Test to a close on day two.
7th over: Australia 24-4 (Labuschagne 4, Green 0)
@jphowcroft SA still in with a chance to win?
— Tom Lewis Tasmania (@tomlewis_tas) December 18, 2022
SA are not still in with a chance to win this match, but this showing will keep them in the series. A brisk 34-0 from Warner and Khawaja would have been extremely deflating, they can at least now remind themselves of the quality of their pace attack ahead of Melbourne.
WICKET! Head c Verreynne b Rabada 0 (Australia 23-4)
For the second time today Head gloves down the legside. Rabada has four. Australia are ballsing this up royally.
WICKET! Smith c Verreynne b Rabada 6 (Australia 19-3)
Short and wide from Rabada, and Smith cracks a brutal square cut for four. Shorter and wider from Rabada and Smith can only find a top edge that flies through to Verreynne! Australia three down and building South Africa’s confidence with every dismissal.
6th over: Australia 15-2 (Labuschagne 4, Smith 2) Shot of the innings so far from Labuschagne, presenting a straight bat to return a half-volley from Nortje back where it came from. The pacer responds well, finding the outer portions of Labuschagne’s blade in quick succession, the first landing just short of mid-on, the second not troubling point. Then the batter has to be on his guard to drop a shorter delivery at his toes with short-leg genuflecting in anticipation.
5th over: Australia 11-2 (Labuschagne 0, Smith 2) So in the hierarchy of fallout from this match we can now presume we’re dealing with: a) the pitch b) David Warner’s future c) South Africa’s quality.
WICKET! Warner c Erwee b Rabada 3 (Australia 9-2)
Hmmmm. Not good for David Warner. Not good at all. Rabada has been forceful with the new ball and line and length delivery has Warner groping late, edging to the cordon where Erwee takes a very good catch at third slip, tumbling in front of second.
4th over: Australia 9-1 (Warner 3, Labuschagne 0) A small psychological blow then for South Africa, and they would love another with the in-form Labuschagne now at the crease. Nortje lets his former countryman know he’s in the contest with some searing pace, making the new ball launch off this capricious Gabba track like an old school catching cradle.
WICKET! Khawaja c Maharaj b Rabada 2 (Australia 8-1)
That was very odd from Usman Khawaja. Kagiso Rabada was all over him early in the over, rapping the opener on his gloves, then making him inside-edge onto his thigh. The Australian then left a delivery that missed the off bail by a bee’s wing, swiped an ugly hook that top-edged for two, before stepping to leg and cutting straight to point. Not an innings suggesting a batter with a clear mind.
2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Khawaja 0, Warner 2) Warner looks urgent and focussed against Nortje, defending aggressively, calling loudly, and getting off a pair with a freeing flick off his hip for two. The scoreboard also benefits from four byes when the giant bowler flings down a wild bouncer.
The sideways movement on this Gabba pitch has not been an outlier, with the 0.77 degrees of average seam movement ranking it 11/87 for Tests in Australia since 2006.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 18, 2022
46% of deliveries have been on a good line & length, the third most for a Test in Australia since 2006.#AUSvSA
However, as often the way with 'extreme' pitches, it's the multiple threats which cause chaos. Our PitchViz model, which uses ball-tracking data from the venue, suggests the bounce in this Gabba contest is the fifth most inconsistent for any Test in Australia since 2006. #AUSvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 18, 2022
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Khawaja 0, Warner 0) Rabada’s rhythm and intent are good with the new ball, but the length is just a fraction short, allowing Khawaja to defend from the crease or leave on height. Maiden. Now, over to David Warner.
It’s been fun but it’s all happened too quickly.
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2022
Pitch too grassy and green especially when you have two outstanding bowling units who don’t need generous conditions to have an impact. #AUSvSA
Usman Khawaja on strike as Australia begin the completion of the formalities.
On average in Test cricket, a defensive stroke leads to a wicket once every 67 balls.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 18, 2022
In the #AUSvSA Test, that figure has been just 18, the third lowest for any match in the CricViz database (2006-present).
Two elite attacks, in testing conditions, and some very poor batting.
@JPHowcroft this weekend we’ve seen Sydney Thunder all out for 15 in the BBL, and the Second Test completed in just under two days. If this is the start of a trend, it’s not one I’m enjoying.
— gavin robertson (@gavin_robertson) December 18, 2022
Don’t worry Gavin Robertson (not that one) England’s brave new Ben-and-Bazball is here to save the day.
The Proteas could land a couple of psychological blows in the next few minutes, but the result is now no longer in question. Perhaps the only thing we may learn before Australia go 1-0 in front in the series is the frame of mind of David Warner. Horribly out of form, on a pair following his golden duck yesterday, and the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks, the veteran must hope to avoid another failure, one that could threaten his immediate future at the top of the order.
South Africa 99 all out - Australia require 34 runs to win
Zondo ends unbeaten on 36 and his reputation enhanced. Cummins secured the match ball with figures of 5/42.
That innings lasted 37.4 deliveries, to go with the 48.2 of the first innings. Not good Test cricket.
WICKET! Ngidi c Warner b Cummins 9 (South Africa 99 all out)
With Ngidi on strike again at the start of the over Cummins keeps himself on, as a bowling captain is wont to do. He may have been regretting his decision after South Africa’s No 11 pounded a drive through the covers for four, but Cummins exacted swift revenge, sending a bouncer towards Ngidi’s chin, forcing the tailender to fend an edge through to David Warner who barely acknowledges the completion of the dismissal as he turns and hotfoots his way to the pavilion ready to begin Australia’s reply.
37th over: South Africa 95-9 (Zondo 36, Ngidi 5) Ngidi is on strike at the start of Starc’s 11th over, but he’s off it second ball with a slap towards the covers. Somebody on the telly just said, and I kid you not, “a tricky little run chase coming up for Australia”.
36th over: South Africa 94-9 (Zondo 36, Ngidi 4) Cummins continues, searching for a five-for, but Zondo refuses to give his wicket away. He declines the single first ball after pulling into the legside, then he hits a hat-trick of boundaries, the first an inside-edge down to fine-leg, the second a lovely pull miles in front of square leg, and the third a stand-and-deliver straight drive over the bowler’s head. Zondo now has his highest Test score, and survives a very optimistic REVIEW for a catch behind after missing a delivery that cuts in considerably.
“Echo the disappointment of commentators,” emails Paul Duggan. “SA batting awful technique to this occasional watcher haven’t seen enough of Aussie batsmen to comment. I wonder if one day and slash bash cricket are influencing modern test play? Bowlers good but hardly a test for them on such a wicket.”
35th over: South Africa 82-9 (Zondo 24, Ngidi 4) Nice from Zondo, pushing Starc into the covers and running hard for two. A swipe across the line is fortunate to land safely in the on-side, then he accepts the single after repelling a toe-crushing thunderbolt. Ngidi survives his two deliveries, Starc whistling the first just past the off stump, and the second is a full toss.
5+ catches for non-wicketkeeping Australians in a Gabba Test:
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 18, 2022
Sam Loxton vs ENG, 1950
Mark Taylor vs NZ, 1997
CAMERON GREEN vs RSA, 2022#AUSvSA
34th over: South Africa 79-9 (Zondo 21, Ngidi 4) The hat-trick ball is rank, allowing Zondo to flick a short delivery off his hip down to fine leg. He retains the strike this time, and demonstrates the logic next ball by guiding an upper cut over the cordon for four. A couple of dots follow then a squirty inside-edge allows Zondo to walk to the non-striker’s end and leave Ngidi just one delivery to face – which he defends competently.
33rd over: South Africa 74-9 (Zondo 16, Ngidi 4) Zondo accepts a single from the first ball of Starc’s over. That is Boycottian levels of someone playing for their average. Ngidi holds his end up though, just, even equalling his Test average with a thick edge that scuttles down to third for four.
Cummins will have that hat-trick opportunity…
32nd over: South Africa 69-9 (Zondo 15, Ngidi 0) Alex Webster is “definitely feeling a bit queasy. There’s an argument that Test cricket peaked about 20 years ago and we’re sliding fast down the other side now. South Africa not playing Tests would be an absolute body blow. West Indies (recent Eng series aside) have been bad for a while and we’ve had time to get used to it.” Yep, the big three have plenty to answer for with their carve up of the international game.
WICKET! Nortje c Green b Cummins 0 (South Africa 69-9)
Nortje comes and goes in the blink of an eye. His first delivery is classic Cummins and all he can manage is a thick outside edge that flies to the enormous matter-swallowing black hole that is Cameron Green at gully. Can Cummins finish it off with a hat-trick?
WICKET! Rabada c Carey b Cummins 3 (South Africa 69-8)
Cummins shares duties with Starc after tea and he fizzes a couple of deliveries past Rabada’s outside edge before dropping in a very slippery bumper that has the batter swaying out of the way late. The follow up is another line and length delivery slanting across, and Rabada gets a nick this time. Carey does the rest. Simply magnificent bowling.
31st over: South Africa 69-7 (Zondo 15, Rabada 3) Starc’s second ball after tea is too quick for Rabada who fends at thin air. The left-arm pacer is bowling over the wicket to the left-handed batter, and he almost sneaks a yorker through Rabada’s defence but the South African gets his bat down in the nick of time. The Proteas hit the front!
The players are back out for the final session of the day match. Scores are level, South Africa have three second innings wickets remaining. Mitchell Starc has the ball in his left hand.
“Looking at the pitch, the only thing I can say is that if you have such a green top like that it’s not SA that’s getting skewered but the ground staff in Brisbane,” emails Steve Eggson, not unfairly. “That pitch is way too bowler friendly. Of course, as someone who likes their Test cricket slightly bowler friendly, I’m enjoying this immensely but I don’t think it’s South Africa’s fault.”
The quality of the pitch was discussed in depth by Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, with both concluding it was poor, and the worst either had seen in their professional careers at the Gabba.
The view from South Africa is damning.
I'll be pleased not to be up at 2am tomorrow but this is comfortably the worst Test I've covered. There's going to be a lot said about the pitch - and yes, it's unfortunate that SA have to bat on surfaces like this a lot - but more should be said about the batting.#AUSvSA
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) December 18, 2022
How are you all feeling about this out there? Are you enjoying watching South Africa be skewered like this? Or, like me, is it leaving you a little queasy about the state of Test cricket?
Apropos of nothing, mangoes have been particularly delicious this year. Fruit of the Australian summer so far.
Tea: South Africa 66-7 (Scores level)
30th over: South Africa 66-7 (Zondo 14, Rabada 1) Zondo looks secure defending on the front foot to Lyon, then rotates the strike with an easy single on the 45. Rabada doesn’t look as comfortable, but he does enough to see South Africa through to tea with the scores level.
29th over: South Africa 64-7 (Zondo 13, Rabada 0) One over remaining before the tea interval. South Africa trail by two runs. We’re not seeing day three.
WICKET! Maharaj c Carey b Starc 12 (South Africa 64-7)
Boland gets a breather, allowing Mitchell Starc to send down one of the greatest deliveries you will ever see not take a wicket. Fast and full, angling in from around the wicket, hitting the pitch and cutting away like an off break to beat the edge of the bat and the off stump. That was outrageous. Maharaj retains his composure and punches a full toss to the cover fence for four. Starc then bowls another ‘how-did-that-not-take-a-wicket’ delivery that ends up cutting the batter in half, clipping the inside edge and scampering away for another boundary… Inevitably, inevitably, Starc gets his man. Line and length, the batter gets trapped on the crease (understandably) and fends an edge through to Carey. Magnificent bowling.
28th over: South Africa 56-6 (Zondo 13, Maharaj 8) A boundary! Maharaj is quick to rock back when Lyon drops short and cracks the ball behind point for four. This summer so far “has been a disaster for Test cricket” laments Justin Langer on the telly, with the Proteas quickly going the same way as West Indies.
For fans of good Test cricket, Pakistan v England is about to resume on day two of the third Test.
27th over: South Africa 51-6 (Zondo 13, Maharaj 3) Let Boland be Boland, as Aaron Sorkin might write. The big Victorian just keeps putting the ball in the right areas, making Zondo play every ball, testing the front pad and the outside edge of the bat. The result is a maiden as South Africa stagger towards the tea interval dazed and confused.
The fifth time that Boland has taken multiple wickets in an over. In his fifth Test.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 18, 2022
That's 11 of his 25 career wickets in five overs.#AusvSA
Updated
26th over: South Africa 51-6 (Zondo 13, Maharaj 3) Maharaj earns a couple by stepping out and driving Lyon through the covers, but the ball is moving a long long way from off to leg to the right-hander, suggesting there’s a ball with Maharaj’s name on it at any moment. He survives for now.
25th over: South Africa 49-6 (Zondo 12, Maharaj 1) Well done Scott Boland. His average returns to 10.36 after creeping over 11 before his double-wicket over. But if Marco Jansen is a Test No 7, I’ve been watching the wrong sport for 40 years.
WICKET! Jansen b Boland 0 (South Africa 48-6)
18 runs behind, barely five sessions into the Test, and South Africa are already down to their tail to somehow take the game into a third day. Bleurgh… Jansen, like Verreynne lasts only two balls before Boland crashes into the top of off. Beautiful bowling, exploiting the conditions. Ghastly batting from a side abysmally prepared for this challenge.
WICKET! Verreynne c Smith b Boland 0 (South Africa 48-5)
The star of South Africa’s first innings lasts only two deliveries this time around. Boland does what Boland does, the batter gets the edge you’d expect and Smith does the rest at second slip. ABC cricket.
All four Australian bowlers now have a wicket to their name.
24th over: South Africa 47-4 (Zondo 12, Verreynne 0) There have been multiple potential wicket balls every over this innings with Australia’s pacemen, and now spinner, taking advantage of the helpful conditions. It might be time for the Proteas to throw caution to the wind and take the Travis Head approach.
WICKET! Bavuma LBW Lyon 29 (South Africa 47-4)
Lovely shot from Bavuma, reverse sweeping Lyon for four. South Africa are trying to be proactive against the spinner… and the following delivery it all comes unstuck. Stock delivery from Lyon to a right-hander, Bavuma goes back, the ball keeps very low, and the bat doesn’t come across the line in time. It looked very out in real time and the DRS review confirms the damage.
South Africa still 19 runs behind. This match may not be much longer for this world.
23rd over: South Africa 43-3 (Bavuma 25, Zondo 12) Boland is an unrelenting bowler, probing continually with his line and length. A tight over goes for just one single and ends with the seamer appealing for an LBW nobody else with an Australian accent seemed interested in.
22nd over: South Africa 42-3 (Bavuma 24, Zondo 12) Complementing Boland’s line and length seam wobble, Lyon is getting appreciable turn and bounce. It would be no surprise if this match ends inside two days – which is the current preoccupation of the Channel 7 commentary team. I’m fine with that, because it means James Brayshaw isn’t able to repeat his suggestion that Lance Morris has great “air speed”.
This is much better C7-related content.
We’re a bunch of unique individuals, and we just love the Big Bash 😉#GETONRED pic.twitter.com/DaLriQeA1m
— Melbourne Renegades (@RenegadesBBL) December 18, 2022
21st over: South Africa 41-3 (Bavuma 23, Zondo 12) Boland has the hustle and bustle of a classic strong shouldered English fast-medium seam bowler, and this deck could have been plucked from a northern shire, so an over full of plays and misses outside off stump seems only fair. If anything Clive, some of those deliveries did too much, jagging sharply off the seam as it dug into the lush green surface.
20th over: South Africa 38-3 (Bavuma 20, Zondo 12) Australia’s seamers have bowled well, but now it’s time for the spin of Nathan Lyon. He found serious bounce and no shortage of spin in the first innings, what does he have midway through day two? He has Bavuma second guessing every shot, starting with a line wide of off stump and drawing a missed sweep, then almost creating a chance at short leg but the ball is pushed too firmly down tot he toes of Labuschagne. Zondo then shows his skipper how to sweep effectively, for a single, and Bavuma follows the lead next ball with a near identical shot. Clearly the Proteas have been instructed to sweep Lyon whenever possible.
19th over: South Africa 35-3 (Bavuma 18, Zondo 11) Boland continues, pitching the ball up, and Bavuma is in position nice and early to punch a checked cover drive for a couple. The South African skipper has now faced the most deliveries of any player in the match. The strike is rotated and Boland gets one to nip back at Zondo, but an LBW appeal is stifled by a healthy inside edge.
Since 2019, South Africa's top 3 averages 23.9 in away Tests, worst for any team (not incl 2-Test Ireland). Mediocrity.#AUSvsSA
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) December 18, 2022
Updated
That was Angus Fontaine, I’m Jonathan Howcroft, this is the cricket. Australia well on top and bowling beautifully in helpful conditions, but Bavuma and Zondo are digging in and building the first partnership of the innings.
18th over: South Africa 32-3 (Bavuma 15, Zondo 11)
Cummins returns for a ninth over and the first three deliveries are beauties. The fourth has a dash more aggression and it rears up on Zondo as the umpire calls no-ball. Maybe Zondo heard it. He leans back and pulls it to the boundary with an elegant brutality. Both batters are well set now and South Africa are whittling away at this total. The lead is down to 34. Is it time to unleash the GOAT?
17th over: South Africa 27-3 (Bavuma 15, Zondo 7)
Speaking of good things coming late to those who wait, here comes Scott Boland, 33-years young, and again planting the first three balls on a penny to keep Bavuma’s growing confidence in check. He scarpers a single on the fifth and despite a run-out attempt which hits the stumps, makes it easily. Boland has now leaked five runs from three overs and his average has blown out to 10.87!
Updated
16th over: South Africa 25-3 (Bavuma 13, Zondo 7)
This will be Pat Cummins’ eight over of his spell and the way Khaya Zondo climbs into his fourth ball and pounds it to the boundary indicates the skipper might be tiring. That’s Zondo’s first four in 31 balls but it’ll comfort him. Any man who waits almost 33 years for his third Test, knows the value of patience.
Updated
15th over: South Africa 21-3 (Bavuma 13, Zondo 3)
Boland is back and Bavuma is playing things cautiously. He proved in the first dig that he knows how to mount a rearguard action and he has another one on his hands here. He watches the first three carefully before leaning into the fourth and driving Boland to the rope. Superb shot. The 32-year-old may have only one Test century from his 52 Tests but he looks to know what he’s doing.
14th over: South Africa 17-3 (Bavuma 8, Zondo 3)
Cummins resumes, banging it in short but Bavuma is up to it this time, bringing it down with control and scampering a single. Zondo cuts at the next ball but Lyon leaps to his left to field it on the bounce and save more runs. Great stuff. Australia have three slips waiting and Cummins has them licking their lips, sliding another two balls past the nervous hands of Zondo to close it out.
13th over: South Africa 16-3 (Bavuma 8, Zondo 3)
Here’s what the crowd craved. Scott Boland replacing Starc. Straight away the journeyman quick curves one past the outside edge of Khaya Zondo. The second tightens the line and grazes the pad as the batter shoulders arms. There are two types of leave and that was a good one. The third and fourth are straight and full. Boland rarely exceeds 130kph but he lands it on a five cent coin every time and that’s how he closes out his first, typically impeccable over of the second innings. Zondo has three runs from his 21 balls and South Africa trail by 50.
12th over: South Africa 16-3 (Bavuma 8, Zondo 3)
Apologies for that slight delay as my internet dropped out and I was taunted by Optus ads from the TV. South Africa trail by 54 and the crowd are buzzing as people’s hero Scott Boland runs through some warmup exercises on the boundary. For now it’s captain Pat Cummins rolling into his sixth over to Bavuma. The compact righthander had faced 21 balls for his four runs until he stepped out to the second delivery of this over and uncoiled a lovely cover drive for his first boundary. The next ball draws the edge through, bouncing twice in front of Usman Khawaja, and the last tantalises outside off. Honours even.
WICKET! Erwee c Green b Cummins 3 (South Africa 5-3)
Updated
7th over: South Africa 3-2 (Erwee 1, Bavuma 0)
South Africa trail by 63 with eight wickets in hand. Starc, with 1 for 1 from his three overs is into his fourth. Bavuma looks flummoxed, fronting up with a straight bat only to watch it whistle past. He finds the sweet spot on the third ball but Starc stoops to collect it and cut off any chance of a run. The big quick from Homebush High has 300 wickets and now back-to-back maiden overs.
6th over: South Africa 3-2 (Erwee 1, Bavuma 0)
The Australians are all smiles as they return for the second session. Perhaps they popped some bubbly for Mitchell Starc’s 300th wicket? Or could it just be the festive effect of the Christmas ham in its umpteenth incarnation? From the first three balls, all delivered at a good clip, Captain Cummins certainly got some pork on his fork. After challenging the outside edge of Erwee he has bounced him then thundered one into his pads drawing an appeal but no referral. The skipper, perhaps chastened by his foolhardy dismissal, is digging deep with the ball, closing out an incredible over with another peach outside and over off peg.
Cheers as well to Andrew Watson who emails: “Thank you for not explaining why Cameron Green is known as ‘the big Sandgroper’”. No worries, Andrew. But please email again if you want answers and I’ll be happy to throw in the origins of ‘Bananabender’ and ‘Croweater’ for free. Players are back on the field and Pat Cummins is at the top of his mark. Let’s get ready to rumble.
Hello again, while the players and officials are at lunch Paul in Perth has been in touch. Allow me to confirm for Paul and all that the South Africans are 3 for 2 – ie. two wickets down for three runs – not 2 for 3. Seems I veered briefly into the Australian-style not the preferred English and offended South Africans who didn’t appreciate their scoresheet looking even more parlous than it already is! To honour convention it will hereafter be listed in the runs-wickets format. Let’s just hope the Proteas stagger past 10 runs to make it clearer for everyone.
Lunch: South Africa 3-2 (trail by 63)
5th over: South Africa 3-2 (Erwee 1, Bavuma 0)
Starc’s third over starts waywardly, two balls sprayed down the legside so Bavuma doesn’t have to play. The stout South African, arms like Christmas hams, is happy to let them pass and make it to lunch. But he’s shuffling across his stumps to get in front of a fuller third ball and after lavishly leaving a fourth Starc dangles outside off, again moves across the crese to get in front of the fifth. So far in fact there’s an appeal for LBW. Cummins and Carey aren’t interested but Starc wants it. Sorry Mitch, not even with 300 wickets against your name, will sway big Pat on this one and DRS go to lunch untroubled. Not so the Proteas. This game is on fast-forward and they have a rollercoaster to ride in the second session just to whittle back the 66 lead Australia established this morning. Speaking of Christmas hams, I’m off to lunch too. See you shortly.
Updated
4th over: South Africa 2-3 (Erwee 1, Bavuma 0)
Australia are turning the screws here. Cummins and Starc have wiped out the top-order and Nathan Lyon has now twice saved runs with dives. The men in baggy green are racing between wickets to get another Starc over in and despite the South African batters dawdling, the umpires will allow it. Uh-oh.
3rd over: South Africa 2-3 (Erwee 1, Bavuma 0)
Starc has his 300th! And what a trademark Mitchell Starc way to get it. A fast ball delivered high from a long left arm that fell like a guillotine blade and looped a smoking ball, seam up, full and fast past the bat of Rassie van der Dussen to splatter the stumps in all directions. Starc joins an elite club with that dismissal and his often frowny face suddenly sports a smile like a slashed watermelon as teammates and the umpires congratulate him. Lovely moment for all.
WICKET! van der Dussen b Starc 0 (South Africa 3-2)
Updated
3rd over: South Africa 1-3 (Erwee 1, vd Dussen 0)
What a duel we have here. Mitchell Starc with his dander up and Rassie van der Dussen dancing like a cat on a hot tin roof to survive. The crowd are baying for blood now.
2nd over: South Africa 1-2 (Erwee 0, vd Dussen 0)
Poor old Rassie van der Dussen had his pads on but his feet up. He might’ve blown the froth off a Gatorade to celebrate restricting Australia’s lead to 66. Now he’s hopping around at the crease, evading Pat Cummins’ fireballs with his skipper in the sheds and his side reeling again at 1 for 2. It was a pearler from Cummins, plumb LBW and just taking the top layer of varnish off the bails.
Updated
WICKET! Elgar LBW Cummins 2 (South Africa 2-1)
Updated
2nd over: South Africa 0-0 (Erwee 0, Elgar 2)
Sarel Erwee saw off the first over from Starc without scoring (or succumbing). Now his skipper, the veteran Dean Elgar, will try and do likewise against his opposing captain Cummins. He goes one better, flat-batting him down the ground for two runs. But it’s a trap! Cummins squares him up on the next one, raps him on the pad roll and the umpire’s finger goes skyward. Elgar has asked for the technology to intervene but with the naked eye he looked GORN…
1st over: South Africa 0-0 (Erwee 0, Elgar 0)
Mitchell Starc charges in for the first over of South Africa’s second innings sitting and seething on 299 Test wickets and hunting platinum membership of the ‘300 Club’. He extracts shape from the first two and then turns Sarel Erwee inside-out on the third with an unplayable, nigh perfect delivery too good for the batter’s edge. A tricky session awaits the Proteas openers here – 20 hot minutes of heat. Starc has sent the warning shot. Cummins to take the new ball at the other end.
Australia all out 218 (lead by 66)
Australia lead by 66 but they will be disappointed by this morning’s events. After Head and Green rattled through the opening overs with ease, carting boundaries and tickling singles, the innings has quickly collapsed as Starc, Cummins and Lyon all fell cheaply. It left Alex Carey, who was in fine fettle, stranded on a well made 22 and gifted fat bowling stats to a South African attack that were below their best. Strange days. Perhaps the lack of wag in the home side’s tail points to their bowler’s enthusiasm to rip in afresh on a Gabba pitch playing against type by favouring ball over bat. We will see. Have the Proteas batters learned the harsh lessons of the first innings? Or have the Australian pace cartel set them up for a 1-2 knockout? Play is about to resume for 23 minutes so let’s find out…
Updated
WICKET! Lyon c van der Dussen b Rabada 0 (Australia 218)
AUSTRALIA all out for 218.
Updated
50th over: Australia 218-9 (Carey 22, Lyon 0)
Australia’s innings hangs by a thread but Alex Carey will not be cowed. He scampers a single from Rabada’s first delivery, showing trust in Nathan Lyon’s ability with the blade which, as it turns out, is not warranted. Lyon gets a thick edge to Rabada’s third ball and after the starting the day in a shambles Rabada is heading for the showers with 4 for 76 as Australia fall to 218 all out.
Updated
50th over: Australia 217-9 (Carey 21, Lyon 0)
For a handsome man that was an ugly innings by Pat Cummins. He flinched at the first two and swung hard and hopeful at the third to give Nortje an easy catch and Rabada his first scalp of the day. He’s left Australia in a hole, Carey without a partner and shown awkward evidence of why he’s slipped down the batting order after showing such abundant promise as a batter in his early career. The redoubtable Nathan Lyon has replaced him at the crease and as the 17th over the day ticks over Australia have yielded 71 runs and bled four wickets. They would’ve hoped for better I’d venture. South Africa will be skipping.
Updated
WICKET! Cummins c Nortje b Rabada 0 (Australia 214-9)
Updated
49th over: Australia 213-7 (Carey 14, Cummins 0)
Cummins survives a scare on his first ball. The skipper looked decidedly uncomfortable swaying out of the path off a rising ball. He doesn ‘t look good against the next on either. Or the third which he hoiks skyward…
Updated
49th over: Australia 213-7 (Carey 14, Cummins)
That was a great catch by Ngidi. Never easy to run in full-tilt, deliver a fireball then recallibrate to balance yourself and catch a ball rattling back at you. It’s the first caught and bowled in his 50 Test wickets and it’s one the Proteas needed. Australia’s captain has entered the fray… and may be about to exit it. There’s an appeal and the decision is OUT but it may have come off the arm guard.
WICKET! Starc c&b Ngidi 14 (Australia 213-8)
Updated
48th over: Australia 202-7 (Carey 14, Starc 14)
Lungi Ngidi has entered the attack for the first time and Mitchell Starc extends a warm welcome to his first delivery, a juicy fruit duly dispatched to the rope. Carey scampers two from the third ball, showing the toe that made him such a promising AFL footballer for a time. Still, Kevin Sheedy’s loss at the GWS Giants has become Australian cricket’s gain as the gloveman from Glenelg goes to 17 from 22.
Updated
47th over: Australia 202-7 (Carey 13, Starc 10)
We’re back after a quick neck oiling and Carey’s thirst is whet further by a juicy first ball on his hips from Rabada. Although he’s been a dervish of positive energy, Carey is still without a boundary from his 14 runs and here he contents himself with a clipped single. Starc oozes laconic energy until he opens those shoulders and swings to the stars but Rabada is still extracting steepling bounce from the pitch and the big Australian fastbowler has to bide his time.
Updated
46th over: Australia 202-7 (Carey 13, Starc 9)
Carey clips Jansen onto the onside to bring up the Australian 200 and Starc taps a single. These two have the strike rotating nicely, never allowing the bowlers to pin them down and get into rhythm. Jansen knows it too. He comes around the wicket and bends like a safety pin to get the ball skything past Starc’s stubble. Drinks.
45th over: Australia 199-7 (Carey 10, Starc 8)
Kagiso Rabada is the leader of this Proteas attack but he was loose and expensive in his first spell. Captain Elgar banished him to the deep to cool his heels awhile and now he’s back. The hackles are up and he’s running in hard, albeit to a stubbornly defensive field. He has Carey hopping with the first three deliveries but slackens slightly to allow a single from the fourth. Starc sees out the over. Australia lead by 47.
Updated
44th over: Australia 198-7 (Carey 8, Starc 8)
Carey and Starc aren’t going into their shell here. Even against the pace of Jansen, the scoreboard is ticking over at just under a run-a-ball. If the Test has shown us anything so far it’s that batters, once established, can score freely. Australia threw the first punches this morning, then South Africa countered with the wickets of Head and Green. Now Australia are consolidating and the Test is teetering in the balance, ready to be taken by the scruff of the neck.
43rd over: Australia 197-7 (Carey 8, Starc 8)
Nortje thunders in amidst 50% humidity at the Gabba. This is a vital partnership. Alex Carey knows how to bat time. The diminutive wicketkeeper has climbed to a respectable 33-plus batting average from his 13 Tests so far but is yet to notch a century (his highest score is 93). Conversely, Starc loves to live by the Lance Cairns credo of ‘give it a heave’ but is watchful against the speed and guile of Nortje… until he isn’t. Bored and beligerent, he heaves the final ball to the rope.
42nd over: Australia 192-7 (Carey 7, Starc 4)
Marco Jansen is showing why South Africa have won their last three series in Australia. He has 3 for 23 from his six overs. That said, Alex Carey is a man in form with gloves and willow at the moment, and he shows why on Jansen’s second delivery, hoiking it square and running four. After Carey taps a single and Starc swerves inside some chin music, Australia take their lead to 40.
41st over: Australia 187-7 (Starc 4, Carey 1)
South Africa have done it again, taking wickets in clumps to derail Australia’s momentum. This time it is Head, out in the 90s for the second time this summer, getting some glove on a rising ball from Jansen he was looking to squirt down the legside. Although he reviewed the decision, Head looked sheepish from the get-go and so it proved as Snicko showed a clear flutter. He’s got to go and suddenly Australia have two fresh batters at the crease and the door is ajar for the Proteas to wrap up the tail and keep the lead (currently 35) small. Starc joins Carey and having clattered a boundary from his first ball from Nortje, shows again that he’s here for a good time not a long time.
WICKET! Head c Verreynne b Jansen 92 (Australia 182-7)
Updated
40th over: Australia 182-6 (Head 92, Carey 1)
Green was every inch the impetuous youth there. He moved late and pushed hard to a fast angled ball in the corridor of uncertainty and got a healthy edge which flew into the slips where it was juggled, ballooning high, before being pouched by Sarel Erwee. South African tails are up!
WICKET! Green c Erwee b Jansen 18 (Australia 181-6)
Updated
39th over: Australia 174-5 (Head 89, Green 14)
As predicted, Rabada has been put on ice and the dangerous Marco Jansen enters the attack. He has 1 for 18 already and looks full of beans this morning.
38th over: Australia 178-5 (Head 89, Green 18)
Green has spanked three boundaries so far, all down the ground through long off, and he swipes Nortje to the rope on the first delivery. There is ominous intent in this strokeplay by the Australian batters. The Proteas need to tighten up fast or these two will take the game from them very quickly. Australia has rattled off 33 but Nortje’s final ball, a scorcher that narrowly whistles past the edge of Green’s bat, injects a bit of hope for the visitors.
37th over: Australia 174-5 (Head 89, Green 14)
Head plunders his way past 2000 Test runs off Rabada’s second ball, a short wide ball on the offside. He steals another three runs to move to 89 and when Green moves calmly onto the front foot to pump Rabada down the ground for another boundary, Dean Elgar sends the signal for Marco Jansen to warm-up for an early blast. Rabada has woken up on the wrong side and cost his side five runs an over so far.
36th over: Australia 166-5 (Head 86, Green 9)
Nortje’s first ball of his 10th over is on the button but the second strays down leg side and Travis Head slides it off his hip to the fine leg boundary. The third is on an off side line but Head skips inside it and clips it close to the rope for more runs. He squirts another two square and cuts for a single to move to 86 from 92 balls and retain the strike for the next over from Rabada.
36th over: Australia 157-5 (Head 81, Green 9)
After some advice/ admonishment from skipper Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada has tightened up his line and length. Green can’t get any of the first four deliveries away but when Rabada errs and it’s in the slot Green leans in and taps it with a tremendous crack to send the ball careering down the ground for a four. Lovely shot by the big Sandgroper. He has his eye in now and looks to have slept well.
35th over: Australia 153-5 (Head 81, Green 5)
Anrich Nortje, already with 2 for 37 from his first day’s toil, is partnering Rabada and he’ll want to do better than his mate did in his opening over. He does. The first two are bang on the money and Head parries them back. He lashes at the third but it doesn’t hit the middle and Nortje fields it easily off his own bowling. Head is jumping at the fourth as it angles across his body. He wants a single but Green smartly sends him back. The youngster is happy at the none-striker’s end, still aglow from that silky drive down the ground in the previous over.
34th over: Australia 153-5 (Head 81, Green 5)
Green is off the mark, nudging Rabada down the ground for a single off the first while Head misses the chance to blaze two half-volleys through the gaps, finding the field each time. He makes no mistake off the fourth long-hop and crunches it to the rope for three. Inspired, Green clobbers the last one down the ground for a boundary. Bright start by the men in baggy greens
The players are on the field. Here comes Travis Head swaggering to the middle with the long tall drink of water that is Cameron Green trailing behind. The big allrounder is 17 Tests into his career but has looked every inch the rookie lately. Can he dust off the cobwebs and find some time in the middle? Mr Rabada, who opens the attack, will have plenty to say about it.
Updated
34th over: Australia 145-5 (Head 78, Green 0)
Congrats to Mike in East Maitland, home to that prince of the ring Les Darcy, who answered correctly that Dale Steyn is the other South African speedster to hail from Uitenhage. Like Steyn once did, Nortje tends for the title of fastest bowler in the world right now. He made his name as a T20 sensation in the Indian Premier League, but now has 57 wickets from his 15 Tests so far at the impressive average of 27.52. Doubtless the Australians studied his barrages on the flat Pakistan decks and knew he’d take to Australian conditions with gusto. He will be primed for a big morning under the Brisbane sun today.
There’s still time to catch up with all the Day 1 action. Read Geoff Lemon’s report
It’s a sunny Sunday here in Brisbane. The Gabba ground staff are lending last minute additions to this blazing green-top and South Africa’s speedster Anrich Nortje is talking about the origin of his fearsome pace: the run-up apparently, not the pantomime twirling of what is his splendid fast-bowler’s moustache. The burly 29-year-old certainly troubled the Australian batters yesterday, nudging 150km/h and finding good lines. Perhaps those lines and speed emulate that of the Volkswagen factory in his home town of Uitenhage? Q for readers: Which other Proteas pace great hailed from this town, north of Port Elizabeth?
Preamble
Morning all and welcome to Day 2 of the First Test: Australia v South Africa. This is the 102nd Test between these great cricketing nations over 120 years of competition and every fibre of that fierce rivalry was on show yesterday as 29,306 fans piled into the Gabba to witness a thrilling day of seesawing action.
Under cloudy skies, Australian captain Pat Cummins, usually a proponent of solar power, won the toss and made the bold gambit to bowl first. But that decision paid off in spades. South Africa were skittled for just 152 inside 50 overs, the last six wickets falling for 27. Their blushes were saved only by a partnership of 98 between Temba Bavuma and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.
Australia’s ebullience lasted one delivery, as Kagiso Rabada speared the fresh cherry off the green-top Gabba pitch and straight into David Warner’s heart. The 99-Test opener, two years without a century and averaging 21.8 since 2020, flinched and blinked, fending the ball to a high flying Khaya Zondo at short leg for his second golden duck in 181-innings. And when Marnus Labuschagne was undone by Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje bamboozled Usman Khawaja, Australia were three for 27 and it was game on.
If Sandpapergate, and the last hostile meeting between these sides in 2018, still rubs Steve Smith raw it sure didn’t show. He spanked his first ball for four and, with a typically cavalier Travis Head in tow, put on 113 in 23 overs to wrestle back the ascendency. But then a late twist: Smith bowled by Nortje for 36 and nightwatchman Scott Boland nicking off to leave in flux at Australia 145 for five.
Will Travis Head roll on from his unbeaten 78? Can allrounder Cameron Green shuck off the rust and rediscover form? Will Australia’s tail wag like a dog at a butcher shop window? Or will the fearsome Proteas pace attack blast them out for under 200? The stage is set and the sun is shining so let’s find out shall we?
Need a primer? Here’s Geoff Lemon’s series preview…
Updated
