Australia facing uphill task to rescue second Test against South Africa

STEVE Smith and Usman Khawaja could be all that stands between Australia and their lowest point in 140 years.

Usman Khawaja was 56 not out after day three of the second Test.

UPDATE: STEVE Smith and Usman Khawaja could be all that stands between Australia and their lowest point in 140 years.

Never in the history of Test cricket has Australia been whitewashed in a series on home soil, but that proud record is hanging by a thread.

There are two days left in this match and still a third Test to come in Adelaide, but unless Australia’s under-fire batting order can show enormous fight on Tuesday, the confidence of an already mentally vulnerable dressing room could completely implode.

Australia now trail by 120 heading into day four, but at 2-121 are still leagues away from hitting the front, let alone setting up a target that will put a flying South Africa outfit under the pump.

The prospect of Australia needing to save themselves from a potential clean-sweep against a swinging pink ball in a day/night Test in Adelaide, is a frightening thought.

However, despite some shocking luck yesterday, there is at least slight hope that crisis could yet be averted.

In the face of a 241-run deficit at the innings change, vice-captain David Warner stood up to be counted, as did Khawaja (56 not out) who must find a way to graft out a match-turning partnership with skipper Smith (18no) on Tuesday.

Usman Khawaja was 56 not out after day three of the second Test.

There are a few instances in history of teams rolled in a first innings, scoring 450 plus in the second, and that’s exactly what Australia requires.

The cause was not helped by Joe Burns getting strangled down the leg side in the first over, setting alarm bells ringing for another crippling collapse. But Warner, in sight of a half century was harder done by still, bowled by a ball that rebounded like a pin ball machine from his thigh pad, to his elbow and back onto the stumps.

“Those things go against you when you least want them to, on more occasions than not,” said Josh Hazlewood.

Vernon Philander tried his best to intimidate Khawaja in a fiery end to day three, but the Australian No.3 stood calm and defiant and sent a powerful message to the likes of Adam Voges and Callum Ferguson in the sheds that they too can show no fear.

Earlier Hazlewood blitzed through the South African tail to finish with a brilliant six-wicket haul, but much of the damage had already been done with Adam Gilchrist clone Quinton de Kock blasting a soul-destroying hundred for the Proteas to hand them a solid total of 326.

With Burns immediately falling on his sword to leave the scoreboard reading 1-0, Warner showcased his fearless nature by brutally smashing the first ball he saw through the covers – even though it was the wide, wayward type delivery that saw him nick off and spark the first innings collapse.

Warner’s defence was spot on in an innings of 45 and a partnership of 79 with Khawaja that sent South African spearhead Kagiso Rabada home empty handed despite a superbly relentless spell of at times unplayable fast bowling.

Khawaja was equally resilient and his lynchpin partnership with Smith was already worth 42, before bad light prematurely ended play.

David Warner was out after the ball bounced off his elbow and hit the stumps.

Even if Australia cannot win this Test match, they must build character if they’re to offset the risk of their first-ever clean-sweep at home in a series of three matches or more.

“We talked about the tough periods a lot,” said Hazlewood.

“I think we saw one this afternoon when Kyle Abbott (2-55) and Rabada were bowling quite well. Whether you play and miss or score no runs, it’s just about getting through.

“Big congratulations to Uzzie about that and hopefully he comes out and scores a few tomorrow.”

Voges will be playing for his career at 37 years of age, with changes almost inevitable if there is another abject failure by the batting order.

ABC commentator and former opener Chris Rogers called for Joe Burns to be sent back to Sheffield Shield cricket at the end of this Test to get a much needed hit before Adelaide – however that seems highly unlikely given the constraints of the schedule.

Rogers said it’s clear that many of Australia’s batsmen simply haven’t played enough first-class cricket.

Khawaja survived a close lbw shout by Philander late in the day, only for the South Africans to make a belated referral for DRD.

Smith and Khawaja protested that the delay was too great, but even though replays showed it wasn’t out anyway, Philander was filthy and proceeded to get in the Australian left-hander’s face.

He once threatened to throw down Khawaja’s stumps, and then the next time did let the ball fly, but his intended target didn’t flinch.

Peter Nevill’s Test place is under no immediate threat, however Australia can ill-afford him to miss stumping chances like he did against de Kock off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.

Originally published as Australia facing uphill task to rescue second Test against South Africa