There it was, another entry in Australia’s hall of infamy against South Africa. There was 47 all out, in the innocent days when the 2011 Test was the worst humiliation in Cape Town. There was 85 all out in Hobart, 2016, that led to half the side being sacked.
Now there is 99 all out in Gqeberha, one day after the home team blew past 400, only for the visitors to follow on halfway through day four. At 156 for four, still 170 behind, Australia could yet save the second Test on its final day, but another batting failure has left the door wide open to defeat, and the table laden with defeat’s favourite snacks. When Nic Maddinson’s first innings lasted four balls on the third evening, nobody would have predicted that his second innings would be done an hour after lunch the next day.
Between times, nine other Australian wickets fell in 38.3 overs. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada bowled spells of ferocity, cranking up the speed gun while beating edges with the ball pitched up, and peppering batters when it wasn’t. As well as they bowled, though, their best was not always required, with some dismal Australian decisions giving wickets away.
Not Scott Boland, the nightwatch, who nicked one early, or Travis Head lbw to a ball angling in from the left-armer, nor later could you place much blame on Matthew Renshaw, who got a ball that reared to take the shoulder of a defensive bat. But Alex Carey and Beau Webster both played senseless punches off the back foot to rising balls, nicking them to round out Jansen’s five for 33. Mitchell Starc did the same for Rabada’s second.
Marnus Labuschagne got in a footwork tangle and tipped towards the off side, edging Anrich Nortje to set up Simon Harmer’s sizzling slip catch. Pat Cummins slogged to the deep, having given up. Steve Smith hung in for 28, becoming the dozenth player to pass 11,000 Test runs, though he looked awful in the process.
It transpired that this was related to a neck problem, making it difficult to turn his head, and when he was eventually bowled by Wiaan Mulder’s nip-backer he was as far away from hitting a ball as he’s ever been in his life. With South Africa’s lead at 326, and a session and a half to go, they had the option to bat for a couple of hours to buffer the lead before bowling late, or to go straight into a new bowling innings. Even with Nortje out with a groin strain, having bowled just 3.3 overs, Temba Bavuma asked his bowlers to go again.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
