NewsBite

Australia vs South Africa: Live coverage, Day 4 of fourth Test in Johannesburg

South Africa needs seven wickets to win the fourth Test, but secured the series with a mind-numbing display of batting.

Peter Lalor
South African bowler Morne Morkel (second from right) celebrates the dismissal of Australian batsman Matt Renshaw (second from left) on the fourth day of the fourth Test between South Africa and Australia. Photo: AFP
South African bowler Morne Morkel (second from right) celebrates the dismissal of Australian batsman Matt Renshaw (second from left) on the fourth day of the fourth Test between South Africa and Australia. Photo: AFP
12 min read
1:45AMApril 03, 2018

South Africa needs seven wickets to win the fourth Test, but secured the series with a mind-numbing display of batting on the fourth day at Johannesburg.

Australia was 3-88 when bad light stopped play, Peter Handscomb on 23 not out and Shaun Marsh 7 not out.

They trail by 524 runs but can at least get a draw if they bat through the last day. The series is lost anyway.

Joe Burns (42) ensured his emergency dash for the last Test was not a waste of time, but partner Matthew Renshaw (5) was again dismissed cheaply.

Both fell LBW to Morne Morkel who was bowling with a side strain.

Usman Khawaja (7) did not look happy to be adjudged LBW by umpire Nigel Llong, the batsman who battles against spin arguing he had played a shot to the delivery from Keshav Maharaj which hit him outside off.

Had he been deemed to have tried to hit the ball he would have been not out on the review.

Llong mouthed back that he had not played a shot, Khawaja reviewed and the ball was deemed to be hitting the wicket.

The umpire looked to have it right and the exchange was not a good look for the game.

Chadd Sayers also had a tough day of it, going wicketless in the second innings of his first Test and rarely troubling the batsmen.

The local side batted on and on and on in the first session. And then on and on and on through the second — even though their lead was insurmountable. Captain Faf du Plessis did not pull the pin until he had established a 611 run lead at the tea break.

Word came through that bowlers Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander were not fit, but all three came out and performed as if there was nothing wrong.

Cricket South Africa put out a notice of the situation during the afternoon.

“Proteas team update: Rabada is struggling with a stiff lower back, Morkel still with the side strain sustained yesterday, Philander has a strapped groin. All are being managed throughout the match,” a team spokesman said.

Had they been injured it would have explained why du Plessis did not want to tax them. That they presented so fresh had people wondering just what was going on.

Shane Warne attacked the home side for its dreary batting earlier in the day, both in commentary and on Twitter.

Du Plessis, who made a century in the innings, kept batting for another session after Warne’s tweet.

Opener Dean Elgar batted for an hour — over 70 deliveries — without scoring a run.

Leading the series 2-1 already, the locals don’t need to get a result, but the tactic was depressing for fans who want to see some sort of a contest.

When it did come South Africa’s declaration robbed Pat Cummins of a chance to get 10 wickets for the match — and Josh Hazlewood one.

Cummins had 4-58 to go with his 5-83 in the first innings when the South Africans closed the innings.

Earlier du Plessis scored 120 and Elgar 81.

Hazlewood had 0-41 in the second innings to go with his 0-46, but he bowled well.

The bowler with the biggest worry is Sayers who was only given 14 overs in the second innings despite the side sending down 105. He does not seem to have the confidence of his captain.

Sayers was used sporadically in the first innings and did not seem to get the respect of the batsmen who swung at his medium pace bowling with abandon.

He is the biggest star on the Sheffield Shield circuit, but did not look to have the game to go to the next level.

HERE’S HOW THE DAY UNFOLDED:

1.26am: STUMPS — Australia 3-88

Bad light has stopped play late on the fourth day of the fourth Test, with Australia 3-88 chasing 612 for an impossible victory.

The retiring Morne Morkel was the star of the final session, picking up the wickets of Matt Renshaw (5) and Joe Burns (42) to finish the day with figures of 2-18 from eight overs.

Left arm orthodox spinner Keshav Maharaj (1-45) was the other successful bowler, picking up the wicket of Usman Khawaja (7).

1.05am: WICKET! Burns out LBW

It’s a third LBW in the Australian innings, with Joe Burns failing to get any bat on a Morne Morkel yorker that looked to be cannoning into middle and leg.

Burns goes for a well-compiled 42 (80 deliveries) as Shaun Marsh makes his way to the wicket with Australia 3-68. Peter Handscomb (10 not out) is at the non-striker’s end.

12.33am: WICKET! Khawaja out LBW

Usman Khawaja is on his way back to the pavilion, trapped LBW by South African spinner Keshav Maharaj.

The wicket was not without controversy ... Khawaja got himself well outside off stump to a ball that spun wickedly back into his pads.

Umpire Nigel Llong ruled that Khawaja didn’t play a shot and gave him out, despite Khawaja’s objections that he had played at the ball.

The Aussies reviewed the decision, but replays showed the ball was hitting off stump. With the umpire’s ruling that he hadn’t played at it, Khawaja had no choice but to depart for 7 (12 deliveries).

Peter Handscomb joins Joe Burns (20 not out off 51 deliveries) at the wicket with Australia 2-34, trailing by 577.

12.12am: WICKET! Morkel traps Renshaw

Not so long ago, we were assuming we’d seen the last of Morne Morkel as a Test fast bowler. The retiring South African paceman was struggling with a side strain and was not expected to bowl in the second innings.

Yet not only has he fronted up to bowl in Australia’s second innings, he’s made the first breakthrough for his team, trapping Matt Renshaw LBW for 5 (42 deliveries).

Australia are 1-21, trailing by a whopping 590 runs.

12am: Burns survives LBW shout

11.38pm: Big task ahead for Aussies

We’re five overs into Australia’s second innings in Johannesburg, and so far Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns have survived — but we can’t say without incident.

Renshaw was given out caught behind off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada on the very first ball of the innings. Renshaw, though, immediately called for a review which showed the ball clipped him on the arm, not the bat.

Burns also survived a confident LBW appeal in Rabada’s third over.

Peter Lalor 11.05pm: South Africa declare

South Africa have declared and robbed Pat Cummins of a chance to get 10 wickets for the match — and Josh Hazlewood one.

The rollers are on the pitch. Faf du Plessis pulled the pin with the side 6-344 — a lead of 611.

Cummins had 4-58 to go with his 5-83 in the first innings.

Earlier, du Plessis scored 120 and Dean Elgar 81.

Hazlewood had 0-41 in the second innings to go with his 0-46.

The bowler with the biggest worry is Chadd Sayers who was only given 14 overs in the second innings despite the side sending down 105. He does not seem to have the confidence of his captain.

Peter Lalor 10.57pm: TEA — South Africa 6-344

South Africa is 6-344, more than 600 runs in front at the tea break on the fourth day but is in no hurry to declare.

It is not that the team doesn’t want to win, rather that Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada both have injuries.

Morkel has a side strain and probably won’t bowl unless absolutely necessary, Rabada has sore lower back but was ok to play soccer in the morning.

Vernon Philander is carrying a slight niggle to add to their worries.

Leading the series 2-1 already, the locals don’t need to get a result.

10.20pm: South Africa’s injury woes

9.52pm: WICKET! Cummins traps de Kock in front

Pat Cummins picks up a fourth wicket, trapping Quinton de Kock LBW for 4 (4). There was an immediate review from de Kock, but replays showed the ball swung back into the batsman, pitched in line and was going on to hit middle stump.

Surprise, surprise ... still no declaration from South Africa. We’re now hearing that Kagiso Rabada may be struggling with an injury, which — combined with Morne Morkel’s side strain — would leave the South African attack down to just two frontline bowlers in Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj.

So don’t expect a declaration any time soon.

South Africa are 6-273, leading by 540. Cummins has 4-56 and needs just one more wicket for a 10-for for the match.

9.43pm: Elgar out ... but no declaration

Still no declaration for South Africa, despite another wicket lost ... this time it’s Dean Elgar, who crawled his way to 81 from 250 deliveries.

Maybe there’s a reason why Elgar was playing conservatively — his first aggressive shot in recent memory was skied over mid-off, with Shaun Marsh running back to take a nice catch off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.

South Africa are now 5-266, leading by 533. Lyon has 2-77 off 33.5 overs.

9.35pm: WICKET! du Plessis departs

A wonderful innings by Faf du Plessis comes to an end, the South African captain edging Pat Cummins to Peter Handscomb, who takes an excellent catch diving wide to his right at second slip.

du Plessis, batting with a broken finger, departs for 120 from just 178 deliveries, leaving South Africa at 4-264 and with a lead of 531 runs.

Dean Elgar (79 not out off 245 deliveries) is joined at the wicket by Temba Bavuma, who’s fresh off a 95 not out in the first innings.

Cummins, bowling his 16th over of the innings, has 3-50.

9.19pm: Century for du Plessis

He’s done it the hard way, copping two painful blows to what appears to be a broken finger ... but South African captain Faf du Plessis has brought up his century just after lunch on the fourth day of the fourth Test against Australia.

It took an edge that went between gully and third slip for four off Josh Hazlewood to do it, and while that certainly wasn’t the most convincing shot he’s played this innings, no one can deny that du Plessis thoroughly deserved the mileston.

South Africa move to 3-240, with du Plessis on 103 not out (163) and Dean Elgar on 72 (238).

Still no sign of a declaration from South Africa, even with a lead of 507 and 61 overs remaining in the day’s play.

Peter Lalor 8.37pm: You read it here first...

If you were reading The Australian on March 11 you would not have been so surprised about the ball tampering controversy that was about to break.

I admit I was shocked by what was going on, but we reported suspicions things were going on 13 days before the event.

Here’s what we wrote on March 11.

Someone clearly did watch that space ....

How we covered the story on March 11.
How we covered the story on March 11.
'Questions will be asked. Watch this space' ... how we covered early ball tampering allegations on March 11.
'Questions will be asked. Watch this space' ... how we covered early ball tampering allegations on March 11.

8.02pm: Warne rips into South Africans

Commentating on the fourth Test earlier today, champion Australian leg spinner Shane Warne left no doubt in anyone’s mind as to how he felt about South Africa’s conservative tactics in the first session of the fourth Test in Johannesburg.

And he backed up his comments with a very pointed tweet.

South African opener Dean Elgar, in particular, has been frustrating to watch this morning. He took more than 70 deliveries to finally get off his overnight total of 39 as the home team crawled to 3-202 at lunch — a lead of 469.

With the game out of Australia’s reach, South Africa’s refusal to declare combined with dour batting have made this morning’s session painful to watch for both team’s fans.

Peter Lalor 7.44pm: It’s all bad for the Chadd

Chadd Sayers is in a bit of trouble.

Australian bowler Chadd Sayers. Photo: AFP
Australian bowler Chadd Sayers. Photo: AFP

The Australians have something to play for here.

Sayers would have wanted the ball so he can get a few scalps and keep his name in contention for next year’s Ashes, but things have not gone well for the South Australian in his first two overs.

Dismal Dean Elgar had not scored a run in more than 70 deliveries, the dour opener digging in against Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in their spells.

When Sayers came on, Faf du Plessis ran down the wicket and treated him with contempt. Worse was to come when Elgar finally broke his run drought against the bowler. It wasn’t a convincing shot but it was an attempt to be attacking — a sure sign the South Africans do not rate the South Australian who is playing his first Test.

The two overs only cost 11 runs, but the signs were clear and Tim Paine responded by replacing Sayers with Mitchell Marsh.

It was not a good look. Sayers had been replaced after his first and second overs yesterday, but Paine claimed in the first instance it was because he wanted to get Lyon bowling to Elgar.

7.22pm: Fifty for du Plessis

After copping his fair share of blows, South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis lands one of his own, bringing up his 50 against Nathan Lyon in the 66th over.

du Plessis is 57 not out from 105 deliveries, while Dean Elgar is 39 not out (182).

South Africa are 3-158, leading by 425.

7.12pm: du Plessis cops painful blow

We all know about the pain that Tim Paine has been forced to bat through in the fourth Test at Johannesburg ... but he’s not the only captain that’s had to do exactly that.

South Africa’s Faf du Plessis has bravely chosen to bat on after copping a nasty blow on what appears to be a badly broken finger. He was struck in exactly the same spot yesterday and was heavily taped up as he came to the crease today.

After having his finger re-strapped, du Plessis gritted his teeth and again took strike against Australia’s most fearsome paceman, Pat Cummins.

In the 63rd over, South Africa is 4-143, leading by 410 with du Plessis 43 not out and Dean Elgar 39 not out.

Blood spilled ... Faf du Plessis gets treatment.
Blood spilled ... Faf du Plessis gets treatment.

6.53pm: Off again...

...on again.

Players are back out in the middle and we’re back underway.

6.37pm: Well, that didn’t last long

Bad light has stopped play here in Johannesburg. We’ll have an update as soon as we know more ... but there are some dark clouds overhead and rain is forecast.

6.30pm: Lights on, game on

It’s not very often that floodlights are needed to get a Test match started ... but welcome to Johannesburg.

After a short delay because of bad light, the players are out on the field. South Africa is 3-142, leading by 409 with Faf du Plessis 42 not out and Dean Elgar 39 not out.

Bowling for Australia are Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

6.01pm: We’re underway at 6.15pm AEST

5.52pm: Play delayed due to bad light

5.50pm: Mr Burns has a new nickname

5.10pm: Day 4 pitch

5pm: If Paine’s hurt, who’s next in line?

Tim Paine insists the broken thumb he suffered in Johannesburg is a minor injury, although a further blow could cause further damage.

Paine led from the front on day three of the fourth Test between Australia and South Africa, top-scoring with 62 then keeping wicket with the help of some painkillers.

Australian captain Tim Paine takes evasive action against a bouncer. Photo: AP
Australian captain Tim Paine takes evasive action against a bouncer. Photo: AP

The busted digit is on Paine’s right hand, where his index finger serves as a constant reminder of an injury that threatened to end his career after it was broken by a 148.2kmh thunderbolt from Dirk Nannes in 2010. That fracture required seven rounds of surgery.

The Tasmanian still has eight pins, a metal plate and a piece of hip bone in the finger that rarely feels right when he’s keeping.

However, it means Australia’s new captain has a pretty good idea of when a finger injury is serious or not.

Paine is upbeat he’ll be fit for Australia’s next assignment, an ODI series in England that starts on June 13.

“I haven’t spoken about it (with medicos). All we know at the moment is some sort of break in it. It’s all in place, which is good,” he said. “Barring another hit in this Test it should be OK.

“I’ve had my fair share of finger injuries and compared to a couple of them this one isn’t too bad.”

Aaron Finch has served as stand-in skipper of Australia’s ODI side in the past. Finch may be asked to do so again if Paine is ruled out of the one-day series that will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2019 World Cup, which is being hosted by England.

Australia opted against naming a vice-captain for the fourth Test against South Africa, with the sacking of Steve Smith and David Warner igniting a leadership crisis.

Cricket Australia board member and former Test skipper Mark Taylor was full of praise for Paine, noting he’s “the permanent solution” as skipper rather than a stop-gap measure.

— AAP

4.45pm: Not the farewell Morkel wanted

Morne Morkel may have bowled his last delivery at international level, with South Africa’s retiring paceman trudging off the field on day three of the fourth Test.

South Africa's Morne Morkel. Photo: AP
South Africa's Morne Morkel. Photo: AP

Morkel, who announced prior to the four-Test series that he would retire after the series finale against Australia, suffered a side strain during his 13th over in Johannesburg yesterday.

The beanpole was unable to continue bowling and left the ground for assessment. Team management has confirmed Morkel is dealing with a left side strain, the same injury he suffered in October.

Morkel was expected to spend six weeks on the sidelines on that occasion, but was only cleared to return after 11 weeks.

The Proteas say Morkel’s side is being strapped and he will try to continue bowling in the match.

Morkel, who is expected to join a Big Bash League franchise for the 2018-19 season, produced career-best match figures of 9-110 in the third Test. The 33-year-old’s man-of-the-match haul didn’t make him reconsider retirement plans.

“It is tough. Especially leaving a quality group of men in the change room. It is going to be sad but I suppose all good things come to an end,” Morkel said.

— AAP

More Coverage

Inquiry into CA called forInquiry into CA called for
Peter Lalor
The Paine ascendancyThe Paine ascendancy
Peter Lalor

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-vs-south-africa-live-coverage-day-4-of-fourth-test-in-johannesburg/news-story/d8742b2b160fb4d7fcf379563c00a5a9