South African captain Dean Elgar pleased with getting into minds of Aussie batsmen
Australia may have won the first test in only two days, but South African skipper Dean Elgar reckons the Aussie batters may be down on confidence heading into Boxing Day.
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South African captain Dean Elgar believes his fast bowling cartel have opened up mental “scars” in Australia’s batsmen, despite a numbing two-day loss at the Gabba.
David Warner was dismissed for zero and three by Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada, while fellow high octane quick Anrich Nortje also rattled the cage of Australia’s top order during a nervous chase of 34 to win the first Test.
All-time opening great Warner will play his 100th Test match on Boxing Day as only the 13th Australian to achieve such a rare feat, but his future beyond this summer is under a cloud.
After suggesting the Brisbane pitch was bordering on unsafe, Elgar bluntly turned the tables on Australia’s win by declaring it’s not only Warner who will head to the Boxing Day Test with doubts about South Africa’s firepower.
“Not just him, all of them. We are always trying to find another way to have an edge over our opposition,” Elgar said.
“(Nortje’s ferocious short-pitched bowling at the death) was obviously to try and see if we can open some old scars.
“To get them four down, those batters are going into Melbourne with maybe a little bit less confidence.
“It worked out nicely.
“Result aside, it was one of the game plans that worked out for us.
“If this was a way of getting into their minds further, brilliant. I know a guy like KG (Rabada) is the most feared bowler we have here.
“If he has got that confidence running into the next Test, it’s brilliant for us.
“We are always looking to get into guys’ heads. It wasn’t the worst exercise.”
Australian captain Pat Cummins leapt to Warner’s defence and said low scores should be taken with a grain of salt on a fiery wicket that has been declared a failure by the Gabba curator and produced the first two-day Test on home soil in over 90 years.
Cummins said Warner would not be rattled, and Australia are not worried about his performance.
“I thought they all bowled really well but I think the beauty of experience is our batters have seen a lot before,” Cummins said.
“I thought everyone got into the game. Someone like Davey unfortunately missed out, but he’s a seasoned pro, you don’t have to worry about him.
“I wouldn’t look too much into the wickets, especially today – a couple down leg, a couple of wide cut shots, so I wouldn’t’ look into it too much.”
South Africa might have some scars of their own after being skittled for 152 and 99 in their two innings.
Calls have already started for the Proteas to beef up their batting line-up and bring in Theunis de Bruyn who made 88 in the tour match against the CA XI and 101 in his last first-class match in South Africa – and reduce a tail that currently starts at No. 7.
Elgar though, indicated he would prefer to stick with spinner Keshav Maharaj rather than bring in a batter.
“I like having a specialist spinner. We didn’t even get to day three let alone four or five where the wickets are going to spin. Kesh’s role was nullified by the game being over in two days,” Elgar said.
“I am still very much a captain who wants a spinner because he gives us a lot of control and allows our seniors to have a break where we can rotate them from one end.
“All options are open going into the next one. Theunis is the next batter in. He has been in a great space. I know because I am his teammate back home.”
15-HOUR TEST: AUSSIES BLOW PROTEAS AWAY DESPITE WARNER FAIL
- Robert Craddock
Australia has claimed one of the most bizarre victories ever on a controversial ‘green mamba’ pitch, which has produced the first two-day Test match on home soil in over 90 years.
South Africa capitulated to be all out for 99 in their second innings, setting Australia just 34 runs to complete a whacky six-wicket win.
It was a victory target which Australia made hard work of, with Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith and Travis Head also becoming part of the Gabba wicket procession before the job was finally finished off by Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green … and more accurately, 19 runs in wides and byes.
It might have been even tighter at the death if not for Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje both zipping in three ferocious bouncers between which flew over the batsman and keeper’s head for four – including the winning runs.
In the end, the entire match was over within 144.2 overs, with still an hour to play on the second day.
David Warner goes for just 3 runs and the South Africans are landing some blows here! They couldn't... could they!?
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 18, 2022
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Thirty four wickets fell in just five and a half sessions of cricket.
The carnage inflicted by Australia’s bowlers led by Pat Cummins (5-42) was reminiscent of when the shoe was on the other foot and South Africa famously skittled Michael Clarke’s team for 47 in Cape Town back in 2011.
However, not even that chaotic Test match was over in two days.
The Gabbatoir calamity was the shortest Test match played in Australia since these two opponents last played out a two-day game at the MCG way back in 1931.
It’s more than 20 years since Australia last played a two-day Test, a victory over Pakistan in Sharjah back in 2002.
Commentators have already put the blowtorch on the Gabba curator amid accusations the green wicket was far too spicy for a Test match, and too heavily weighted towards the bowlers.
Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket was particularly critical, as was Brisbane local Matt Hayden on Channel 7, who said he had never seen his Gabba deck look so green.
Coming in with such a short total to knock off presented a no-win situation for Warner, and although he avoided a pair, he goes into his 100th Test match at the MCG on Boxing Day with his future beyond this summer under a cloud.
Travis Head’s 92 and a 64 from Kyle Verreynne in the first innings were the only two scores over 50, although Verreynne claimed on night one that the wicket wasn’t that bad.
Australia resumed day two 7 runs in arrears, but lost their five remaining batters quickly to only lead by 66, as South Africa’s bowlers continued the wicket-taking destruction.
That was when the bedlam really began, and still half an hour before lunch, South Africa were 2-3 with Pat Cummins breaking the innings open, and Mitchell Starc shattering the stumps of Rassie van der Dussen to claim his 300th Test wicket in the same signature style he claimed Brendon McCullum in the 2015 World Cup final and took a wicket off the first ball of last year’s Ashes.
Soon South Africa were reeling at 3-5 and it seemed as though 66 might be enough for a stunning innings’ victory for Australia.
A couple of partnerships got the Proteas into the lead, but they were soon rounded up by Scott Boland (2-14) and captain Cummins who waltzed towards the eighth fifth-wicket haul of his career.
The pitch might have been over-egged, but it didn’t take away from the fact that some of South Africa’s batting was not up to Test standard.
In their most recent two Tests against England earlier this year, they were beaten in effectively two days as far as the amount of overs needed were concerned.
Last summer’s MCG and Hobart wickets were considered sporting, but this was a whole new level at the Gabba as the match collapsed.
It’s a massive blow to Channel 7 in particular who rely on four or five day Tests to cash in on advertising, but also Fox Cricket who cater for matches to go at least four days.
Re-live the incredible two-day Test match at the Gabba below
- Joe Barton
ALL OVER: AUSTRALIA WIN BY SIX WICKETS INSIDE TWO DAYS
Wow - it finishes with four byes off Anrich Nortje. A fairly incredible Test match, dominated by the bowlers - and Travis Head in Australia's first innings.
A six-wicket win shows Australia’s dominance across the six sessions, but the fact they lost four wickets in pursuit of a target of just 34 probably tells a different story.
The wicket here may come under fire from the ICC over its quality. But for now, it is Australia’s day and they take a 1-0 lead going into the Boxing Day Test next week.
5.37PM: AUSSIES RATTLED IN LOOSE CHASE
Kagiso Rabada is on fire!
Steve Smith departs for six, caught behind from a quick bouncer from Rabada is in the middle of a furious spell.
That’s a really ugly shot from Steve Smith, he didn’t need to play at that wide bouncer but he does and now Australia are 3-19.
Hold the phone, now they are 4-24! Rabada has his fourth, with Travis Head strangled down the legside with another gloved offering to the keeper.
It’s about as bad a chase as you could imagine with just 34 as your target. 10 runs required for Australia for victory.
5.28PM: WARNER WOES CONTINUE IN MODEST CHASE
Oh dear, Australia are making hard work of this very modest chase. Both openers are now gone, with David Warner’s horror run of form continuing.
He departs for 3, and Australia are 2-9.
Warner beaten for pace again, with Rabada angling across the body and Erwee taking a nice low catch at third slip.
Australia need just 25 more runs for victory, but South Africa have landed the odd psychological blow here. Particularly with Warner, who has twin failures to take into his 100th Test match in the Boxing Day Test next week.
Skipper Pat Cummins brings up his 5-wicket haul as South Africa are bowled out for 99. The Aussies are currently chasing 34 runs for victory. 🔥
— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 18, 2022
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5.21PM: KHAWAJA FALLS!
As I was saying - there’s more the lose than gain for Australia’s batsmen when chasing a small total.
Usman Khawaja finds that out the hard way, as he departs for 2 after a fairly strange innings.
Khawaja, facing Rabada, looks to give himself a bit of room and slices a tame chance to Maharaj at point.
I understand Australia wants to wrap this up quickly, and certainly before stumps, but there’s no need to rush this chase.
“Two or three wickets in a chase like this, and you go to Melbourne psychologically a bit up,” offers Kerry O'Keeffe on Fox Cricket.
5.10PM: WARNER, KHAWAJA FACE UP TO MEAGRE TARGET
Australia needs just 34 runs to take a 1-0 lead in this series, but there’s more than just winning and losing on offer here.
For David Warner, there's more to lose than gain. He needs to be there at the finish to quiet the growing discontent about his form.
And South Africa’s fast bowlers can (surely) not pull off a victory, but they can inflict a couple of mental scars ahead of the final two Tests of the series.
Let's see how it unfolds!
5.00PM: CUMMINS GRABS FIVE AS SOUTH AFRICA CAPITULATE
And that is that - South Africa all out for 99, setting Australia a victory target of just 34.
Captain Pat Cummins takes the final wicket with a rip-snorting bouncer to get Ngidi fending to David Warner at first slip. He finishes with a five-wicket haul, 5-42.
Zondo remains unbeaten on 36, the top score of the innings.
Australia is on the brink of a 1-0 lead in this series, incredibly inside six sessions
4.50PM: ZONDO HITS THE TURBO BUTTON
Khaya Zondo... where has this been?!
With Autralia one wicket away from what is destined to be a tiny chase, Zondo has freed the arms and is having a bit of fun out there.
He’s creamed three consecutive boundaries off Pat Cummins - the third a beautiful lofted off-drive - as he pushes South Africa towards 100, and himself perhaps towards an unlikely half century.
It’s the sort of fight South Africa have desperately needed the past two days, and should be enough to ensure Zondo holds his place in the side ahead of the Boxing Day Test.
4.30PM: CUMMINS ON A HAT-TRICK AT THE GABBA
Everything has happened in a hurry this Test, and already the eighth wicket has fallen - with Rabada giving a thick edge off Cummins that lands in Carey’s gloves.
He takes it right in front of David Warner at first slip... Carey is a mover behind the stumps and that’s a great example of it.
Rabada goes for three. And that, by coincidence, is South Africa’s lead.
The very next ball, and Anrich Nortje is gone for a golden duck - well caught at gully by Cameron Green.
Zondo spoils the party, however, and saves the hat-trick ball - with a swift pull down to fine-leg. Although he turns down the offer of a single, preferring to keep strike.
4.25PM: HOW LONG CAN SOUTH AFRICA SURVIVE?
We are back for the final session of today’s play... will it be the final session of the Test?
South Africa resume with Khaya Zondo unbeaten on 14, and Kagiso Rabada with him not out on 1, with scores level between the two nations.
Can they survive long enough, and add enough runs, to push this Test into a third day? It seems unlikely at this stage, but we’ll know more in the next hour.
TEA: PROTEAS CIRCLE THE DRAIN AFTER ANOTHER HORROR SESSION
Let’s start with the positives for South Africa: they’ve wiped out Australia’s first innings lead.
But only just. They’ve reached 66 at tea, drawing them level with Australia - which means David Warner and Usman Khawaja will have to bat again, likely later this afternoon.
The bad news? South Africa have once again crumbled, losing seven wickets.
That’s 12 wickets for the day - to go with the 15 that fell yesterday - bringing into question the quality of the Gabba green deck. But also sharpening the focus on a truly abysmal batting display by a very, very bad touring side.
Only Temba Bavuma (29) and Khaya Zondo (14 not out) have provided any semblance of resistance, while Scott Boland, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have all picked up two wickets each - with Nathan Lyon snaring one.
3.55PM: SOUTH AFRICA ON THE ROPES
The end is nigh, for South Africa and for this Test.
Mitchell Starc has a second, and No.301, with a simple set-up to get rid of Keshav Maharaj - out feathering a chance to Alex Carey.
Maharaj was all over the place, and nearly chopped on two deliveries prior, before a botched defensive stroke takes the edge to Carey.
Maharaj added 16 runs, and has brought South Africa to within two runs of making Australia bat again.
But South Africa are 7-64... and well into the tail. This Test is all over bar the shouting, and we aren’t even into the sixth session!
3.34PM: BOLAND GOES BANG-BANG!
One brings two! Scott Boland doubles down after Nathan Lyon’s breakthrough, and removes South Africa’s first-innings hero Kyle Verreynne for a two-ball duck - and then Marco Jansen in the same over.
Firstly, a spicy delivery, angled in but seaming away from the right hander, and Verreynne simply slices an edge to Steve Smith at second slip.
He doesn’t drop many, and he has no trouble here. Another brutal blow for the tourists, who are firmly on track for a massive defeat today.
Two balls later and it’s Marco Jansen on his way with his off-stump pegged back following a gem of a delivery.
South Africa are 6-48.... and with a long tail. At this stage the only question really is whether they can bat long enough to push this Test into a third day.
3.29PM: LYON ROARS TO BREAK KEY PARTNERSHIP
Another brilliant tactical move from Pat Cummins, bringing Nathan Lyon into the attack to shake things up - and it works almost immediately.
In his third over, Lyon gets serious purchase on a massive off-spinner to beat Temba Bavuma’s defences and get the approval of the umpire.
Bavuma goes upstairs, and it has turned a LONG way, but balltracker supports the on-field decision with the ball just clipping leg stump, knocking Bavuma over for 29.
That’s enough. And it’s enough to end the 42-run partnership between Bavuma and Zondo.
That’s a big wicket, because this pair had been quietly, and patiently, rebuilding South Africa’s battered innings. As it stands, they still require a further 19 runs to make Australia bat again.
That’s looking likely, but this pair certainly needs to reach tea without further damage.
3.15PM: CUMMINS TURNS TO LYON AS PROTEAS FIGHT BACK
It’s slow going for South Africa, but they’re doing a good job of fighting back against the Australian onslaught.
Bavuma and Zondo have added 35 runs - and battled through 13 overs, now - to just take the sting out of Australia’s bloodlust, momentarily at least.
It’s enough for Pat Cummins to throw the ball to Nathan Lyon. Lyon had a superb impact in the first innings, picking up three wickets in his eight overs.
The ball is still doing plenty for the quicks, but as the late Shane Warne used to say if it seams, it spins.
South Africa have progressed to 3-40, reducing Australia’s first innings lead to 26.
2.55PM: PITCH UNDER FIRE AS TWO-DAY TEST LOOMS
Questions have been raised about the quality of the pitch being used at the Gabba this weekend, and whether it is up to Test standard.
Players were greeted to a green monster on Saturday morning when the covers were pulled back, prompting Australian Pat Cummins to break from tradition and bowl first in Brisbane.
It’s almost unheard of, but his decision was justified as 15 wickets fell on day one.
Halfway through the middle session on day two, and a further eight wickets have fallen - leaving the prospect of a two-day Test on the cards unless South Africa can show a bit of defensive resolve.
So is the pitch to blame?
“This pitch will come under scrutiny if this match is over today, or by lunch tomorrow,” said Kerry O’Keeffe on Fox Cricket.
“Is it too bowler-friendly? You would have to say yes, from what we’ve seen.”
No one likes to see a match when one discipline completely dominates the other, but from a personal viewpoint I actually quite like to see the batsmen have to work hard for their runs. This is a far more intriguing match than one where the top orders of each team motor their way towards 500.
And it makes Travis Head’s 92 even more impressive when stacked up against the tough conditions on offer.
2.35PM: PROTEAS BATTLING AGAINST AUSSIE BOA CONSTRICTOR
This is tough going for South Africa - they have waited until the 12th over before posting their first boundary of the innings.
It comes via the bat of Temba Bavuma, who batted very well in the first innings and would dearly love to end his century drought - he’s gone 82 innings without a Test ton.
But it is not going to be easy. Because Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are giving nothing away in a brutal display of economical and lethal fast bowling.
Throw in Scott Boland, who is just about to join the attack, and you’ve got a three-headed boa constrictor that is squeezing the life out of South Africa’s batting.
2.15PM: SOUTH AFRICA IN DIRE COLLAPSE
The two-day Test is on! Cameron Green takes an absolute screamer to remove Sarel Erwee for just 3.
Pat Cummins has been bowling fire to start the session, and puts the ball in an awkward spot for Erwee who tries to pull the bat out of the way - but it flies off the edge towards Green at gully.
It’s high above his head, but Green is a giant and he does superbly to pull in the tough chance.
South Africa.... wow, they’re 3-5. Still 61 runs away from making Australia bat again. Sydney Thunder fans watching this might be having flashbacks to Friday night’s appalling capitulation.
2.05PM: THE MOST WORRYING SIGN FOR SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa are in a hole right now. Two wickets down, still trailing by 63 runs on Australia’s first innings... and things could yet get worse.
How? Well, the weather has turned in Brisbane. It’s no longer bright and sunny, and the new conditions should play into the hands of the Australian seamers.
And that includes Scott Boland, for whom Test cricket seems like child’s play.
Unfortunately for South Africa, it’s gone very overcast at the Gabba during the lunch break & Scott Boland is warming up #AusvSApic.twitter.com/FgJrZVCPgT
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 18, 2022
1.50PM: HAVE AUSSIE QUICKS BEEN SET UP TO FAIL?
Have Australia’s players – and fast bowlers especially – been set up to fail this series?
That’s the question being asked by former Test batsman Simon Katich, who pointed to the injuries suffered by fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood as an indication that the lack of red-ball cricket prior to the summer Tests had left Australia’s stars unprepared.
Cummins suffered a minor quad complaint in the opening Test of the summer, against the West Indies in Perth, which ruled him out of last week’s Adelaide Test.
Hazlewood, for the second summer in a row, has picked up a sidestrain which has forced him to miss two Tests already – and racing to clock to be fit for Boxing Day in Melbourne.
“They had no preparation, four-day cricket in a Sheffield Shield leading in. Then, Hazlewood gets injured, Pat Cummins gets injured. I don’t think it is a coincidence,” Katich told Channel 7.
“They were underdone physically.”
Katich added that the struggles from opener David Warner and Cameron Green could also be attributed to a lack of preparation for Australia’s premier cricketers.
“Then we’ve seen a little bit with the batting, Cameron Green had limited preparation with red-ball cricket,” Katcih explained, prior to Green’s 18-run cameo on Sunday.
“He has found it tough at the start of the series. (And) David Warner getting out for a first-ball duck. He played white- ball cricket, no Sheffield Shield.
“It is setting the players up to fail at times the way the schedule is. It is not easy for the modern-day player to keep making these adjustments.”
LUNCH: AUSSIE QUICKS RUIN SOUTH AFRICAN TOP ORDER
A two day Test is firmly on the cards in Brisbane, as the utter carnage continues on the ‘green mamba’ Gabba pitch.
Mitchell Starc claimed his 300th Test wicket after Pat Cummins struck the first blow, to leave South Africa 2-3 at lunch on day two and trailing Australia by 63 runs.
Australia themselves were dismissed cheaply for just 218 with half an hour to go before lunch, and all signs suggest the low-scoring contest could be over sooner rather than later.
The under-siege Proteas batsmen are under enormous pressure to build partnerships and try and turn a deficit into a competitive lead.
Travis Head fell in the 90s for the second time this summer - out for 92 after a ferocious spell from Proteas’ demon Marco Jansen.
The left-arm Jansen had already claimed the wicket of Cameron Green in the same over, and struck again two balls later to send Head packing.
Alex Carey remained not out 22, but ran out of batting partners after Starc, Cummins and Nathan Lyon came and went quickly on a bowlers’ pitch.
- BEN HORNE
1.15pm: STARC JOINS 300 CLUB
And that’s a piece of history for Mitchell Starc - he cleans up Rassie van der Dussen with a gem of a delivery, swinging through the gate and crashing into middle and off.
“You can’t hit that,” says Allan Border on Fox Cricket.
“That’s a hell of a delivery.”
Van der Dussen goes for a duck, and boy oh boy are South Africa in trouble... They’re 2-3, with lunch fast approaching, and still trail by 63 runs.
Starc becomes the seventh Australian bowler to take 300 Test wickets, joining Warne, McGrath, Lillee, Lyon, Johnson and Lee.
It’s a phenomenal achievement, and he’s not done by any stretch.
1.05PM: CUMMINS STRIKES EARLY BLOW
Oh boy, there really is no let-up in this Test. Four balls into his first over and Pat Cummins has struck, snaring the massive wicket of South African skipper Dean Elgar for 2.
It’s a beautiful delivery, nipping back off the seam to beat the bat of Elgar and crash into his front pad.
Elgar opts for a review, hoping for a miracle, but balltracker confirms his dismissal via umpire’s call - with the ball predicted to clip the bails.
That’s a big blow for South Africa, who are 1-2 and still facing a big task to wipe out Australia's first innings lead.
12.50pm: AUSTRALIA ALL OUT FOR 218, LEAD OF 66
Australia's innings is wrapped up before lunch - all out for 218, with a lead of 66.
Nathan Lyon is the last man to perish, gone for a four-ball duck after chipping a Kagiso Rabada delivery back over the bowler’s head - where it is well taken by Rassie van der Dussen.
Alex Carey is left unbeaten on 22, while the bulk of the damage was done by Travis Head who fell agonisingly short of a sixth Test century. He fell for 92.
A lead of 66 is not as many as Australia might have hoped they’d have in their locker after bowling South Africa for 152 yesterday, but runs have been hard to come by on this wicket and every one is vital.
There’ll be a short burst before the lunch break, after a 10-minute changeover.
12.40PM: CUMMINS GONE FOR A DUCK
Well, that didn’t last long. Pat Cummins - given a reprieve after being given out first ball - survives just two more deliveries before throwing his wicket away.
Cummins swipes at a short ball from Rabada, and mistimes his pull - skying it to give a regulation chance to Nortje who tracks back to mid-on.
Australia lead by 62. I think South Africa would’ve taken that sort of a first-innings deficit at the start of play today.
12.35PM: WICKET! STARC FALLS TO FREAK CATCH
What a CATCH! Lungi Ngidi has taken a belter of a caught-and-bowled to remove the dangerous Mitchell Starc for 14.
Australia’s lead is now 61... with two wickets remaining, and Alex Carey the main man. Obviously Pat Cummins is competitive with the bat, so there's still runs to be had for Australia’s tail if they can hang around with Carey.
But Starc’s stay in the middle is over. He pops up a low return offering to Ngidi, a big man it must be said, but the quick is able to get down low and get his big hands under the chance near his ankles.
That’s a really impressive take and gives South Africa a much-needed boost.
Cummins nearly goes for a golden duck - given out caught in the gully, but he immediately reviews and the decision is overturned as it’s come off his arm guard rather than the glove.
12.20PM: AUSTRALIA PASS 200 AS LEAD GROWS
After a flurry of excitement, care of a double-wicket over to Marco Jansen, Australia has got back into the groove this morning.
With Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc leading the charge now, Australia has moved past 200 with three wickets in hand - and a first-innings lead of 50.
How much can the Australian tail wag? Every run from here on is like gold dust for Pat Cummins’ men.
11.50AM: WICKET! ANOTHER! HEAD FALLS SHORT OF TON
The wickets are tumbling once again. It’s a repeat of yesterday when 15 wickets fell - and this time it is Travis Head who has to go, after a contentious review.
Head gets a faint touch down the legside from a Marco Jansen short ball, before immediately reviewing.
It briefly looks like he might survive - nothing comes up on hotspot - but there is a faint spike as the ball passes the glove and that’s enough to confirm the on-field decision.
He departs for 92 - eight short of a well-deserved century.
11.48AM: WICKET! GREEN CAMEO COMES TO AN END
Well, that’s a commentator’s curse from me!
Cameron Green was flaying boundaries all over the place, but he’s bitten off a bit too much - and flashes at a wide delivery from Jansen. It was there to be hit, but Green gets the thick edge.
It was too hot to handle for Maharaj at third slip, but he does enough to parry it skyward and Sarel Erwee has enough time to make his way across from first slip to make a nice catch.
Green goes for 18, with Australia leading by 29.
11.45AM: GREEN, HEAD PILE ON PAIN
We’re not even half an hour into day two and it looks like the life has already been squeezed out of South Africa.
While Travis Head marches on towards another century (passing 2000 Test runs along the way this morning), Cameron Green is opening his broad shoulders and putting in a knock that is ripping the contest away from South Africa.
Green has pounded four boundaries to race to a run-a-ball 18, as Australia go about building a first-innings lead.
They’ve added 33 runs at just under six runs an over so far this morning, to give them a 26-run lead with five wickets remaining.
11.25AM: AUSTRALIA MOVE PAST SOUTH AFRICA
It took just four deliveries this morning for Australia to wipe out the remaining run deficit, having started the day seven runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 152.
Cameron Green punched a fine off drive to the boundary off Kagiso Rabada to signal his intent for the day.
Travis Head, who started the day unbeaten on 78, has another century in his sights while Australia will be keen to pile on the runs and bat South Africa out of the contest.
There’s also a tremendous opportunity for Green to get his summer going after watching the top order occupy the crease for much of the West Indies series. He’s started promisingly, with a pair of boundaries against Rabada.
11.05AM: WARNER’S TEST FUTURE ‘IN DOUBT’ AMID FORM SLUMP
Veteran opener David Warner’s Test future is in doubt, according to Australian legend Mark Waugh as the under-fire star battles a latest form slump.
Warner, one of Australia’s finest ever batsmen, hasn’t scored a Test century since January 2020 and was blasted out for a golden duck by Kagiso Rabada on day one at the Gabba – raising questions about whether his time in the baggy green is coming to an end.
He’s yet to register a half-century this summer, and has passed 50 just twice in 2022, which all puts him under pressure to turn things around in a hurry according to Waugh.
But it was the nature of Warner’s dismissal on Saturday – beaten by pace from a vicious Rabada bouncer – which concerned Waugh the most.
“The signs weren’t good there with the technique. I do think the quicker bowlers worry him. But just the way he got out is a concern for me,” Waugh told Fox Cricket.
“I think he’s lacking in confidence… he needs some runs in the next couple of Test matches to keep being picked in the Test team.
“It doesn’t matter who you are: your job as a batsman is to make runs. He’ll be given a bit of leeway because of his record and who he is, but how much leeway do you keep giving a batsman?
“The selectors would want to see him make some runs in the next couple of Test matches otherwise his Test future would have to be in doubt.”
10.45AM: STARC’S CRUEL MILESTONE BLOW
Mitchell Starc is on the verge of joining one of the most elite groups in Australian cricket – the 300 club.
And for a brief moment yesterday, he thought he was about to become Australia’s seventh Test bowler to take 300 wickets. Only for Travis Head to come up with the only blot on his copybook yesterday.
Before he revived Australia’s batting with a superb counter-attacking knock, Head spilled a tough chance at bat-pad that would’ve given Starc his milestone wicket.
The catch went in, then out, and then hit the turf leaving Starc stranded on 299 going into the second innings against South Africa.
“He had a few cracks at it. (The 300th wicket) will come when it comes,” Starc told Fox Cricket.
“It’s been an enjoyable journey. We’ll forgive Heady if he keeps going with the bat as he is.”
10.15am - AUSSIES’ PLAN TO CRUSH PROTEAS
Australia resume in a very strong position – they trail South Africa’s first innings by just seven runs, with Travis Head unbeaten on 78 and eyeing off another Test century this summer.
Head added 117 with Steve Smith yesterday to put Australia well on top after three sessions, but with the sun out at the Gabba today it looks like batting conditions could be at their best.
Head will need to combine with Cameron Green, who will come to the crease after nightwatchman Scott Boland’s dismissal closed play yesterday, and Alex Carey in a bid to bat South Africa out of the contest.
A lead of anything north of 100 runs will look like an enormous mountain to climb for South Africa and what looks like a fairly feeble batting lineup.
However if Rabada, Nortje and Jansen can regroup and knock over the final five wickets without too much damage – then make the most of the better batting conditions this afternoon – we could have a game on our hands.
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TEAMMATE’S SCARY PREMONITION OF WORLD-BEATER HEAD
This Test is the one-year anniversary of Alex Carey forecasting his mate Travis Head would become one of the world’s best batsmen.
It seemed a tad premature for a player who a few months earlier had lost his Cricket Australia contract but it’s time to give the fortune teller his due.
In consecutive Gabba Tests the free-spirited Head has taken a century off England and then treated the decorated South African attack as if they are park bowlers.
He may have floundered in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in between but his best work in Australia really is rare air.
Head has always been an interesting case study, partially because South Australia has over the past decades produced three left-handed stroke-players – Darren Lehmann, Wayne Phillips and David Hookes – who played less than 30 Tests each for varying reasons despite being players of exceptional talent.
Head, for several years seen as a flighty fringe player, has somehow managed to crack the Test match code on home shores.
The national selectors have always liked Head but they were never sure how to get the best from him.
Some people have said his stunning form surge proves he should never have lost his Cricket Australia contract – others who know him well say it was the making of him.
COOL SKIPPER
Pat Cummins’ smooth transition to the Test captaincy has left Australia to ask itself whether it’s been seduced by fake logic for 145 years.
That long held theory that bowlers were too busy to run the team meant that before Cummins took, Ray Lindwall – in one Test only – was the only other specialist fast man to lead as Australian Test team.
Cummins greatest challenges are ahead with series against India and England but
but there is a calm resilience in this team and Cummins had no qualms in challenging convention by bowling first at the Gabba.
There seems no doubt that Cummins encouragement of Head to play his natural game has helped him play with uplifting freedom.
You wonder what other fast bowlers could have offered as Test leaders had they not been discarded because of the “batsman are best’’ theory.
The great Keith Miller was snubbed because he was deemed too colourful off the field but was adored by his fellow players who enjoyed playing under him at state level.
Geoff Lawson was never close to captaining Australia yet he was the most progressive Sheffield Shield captain of the 1980s and would have been an interesting choice if ever Allan Border had been injured.
Lindwall got one Test as skipper. His mates reckon he could easily have done the job full-time.
UNLEASH THE BEAST
Occasional film producer Kagiso Rabada recently did a movie called Ring of Beasts then, for one dramatic ball, became one at the Gabba.
Bowlers have been trying to tuck up David Warner with short stuff for years but he is so quick and evasive that unless you land it on the pin point, you pay.
But Rabada at his best is next level. He was clearly a man with a plan.
He warmed up strongly and arrowed his first ball directly at the body where Warner’s feet came off the ground, his hand came off the bat and his eye came off the ball as he fended to short leg who was on red alert for precisely that shot.
Someone in the press box exclaimed “it was a really tough one to get first up but you do get those ones first up.’’
South Africa have their plan for the series for Warner now.
Opening the batting is a brutal professional and Warner’s recent modest form will mean at age 36 he is on trial for his future in the final two Tests of the series.
Batsmen can age quickly against express pace but Warner is a renowned scrapper. Great challenges await against a fabulous South African pace attack – not simply for Warner but everyone.
Selectors to drop big Test hint as Green injury fears linger
Australian selectors will provide an early steer on potential replacements for Cameron Green when they unveil an Australia A squad, as fears linger over the all-rounder’s fitness.
Carey’s answer to keeper challenge
The day after the man who took his World Cup spot scored an impressive ton in Perth, Alex Carey answered back with a classy knock.