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Kagiso Rabada destroys Aussies, may face strife over Steve Smith bump

Paceman Kagiso Rabada ripped through the Aussie batting, but he could be in trouble after an altercation with Steve Smith.

Peter Lalor
David Warner during at the training session at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth today. Picture: Getty Images
David Warner during at the training session at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth today. Picture: Getty Images
15 min read
3:20AMMarch 10, 2018

Australia v South Africa, second Test, day one from St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. Australia made 243 after skipper Steve Smith won the toss. South Africa are 1-39 at stumps.

Rabada rips apart Aussie batting

Kagiso Rabada tore the heart of the Australian innings and tore strips off Steve Smith in an incident that is sure to be examined by the match referee and may see him miss the rest of the series.

South Africa are 1-39 at stumps and in the ascendancy after Australia were all out for 243.

Smith’s men were going well at 3-161 before Rabada started to get the ball reversing. The quick took 5-13 in 18 balls either side of tea.

The visitors resumed on 1-98 after the lunch break but lost 5-72 in the second session and 3-73 in the third.

Rabada will be delighted with his return but match officials will look closely at contact with Smith and the verbal send off he gave the batsman.

The Australian captain did not look happy about the quick clipping him as he went past.

Rabada was recently suspended for a Test match and is already carrying five demerit points. Officials warned players they would have to be on their best behaviour for this match.

If he receives three more demerit points — the amount he received for clashing with Niroshan Dickwella in a match against Sri Lanka in February last year — he will be out for the next two Tests.

Rabada let the Aussie batsmen know he was on top. Picture: Getty
Rabada let the Aussie batsmen know he was on top. Picture: Getty

The bowler trapped Smith (25) LBW with the last ball of his 14th over, Shaun Marsh (24) with the second of his next and Mitchell Marsh (4) three balls after that.

Marsh slid down the order and looked to have caught the gastro bug doing its way through the Australian camp, but the entire side will be feeling sick about the turn of events.

After tea the rampage continued with Pat Cummins gone for a golden duck and Mitchell Starc out for eight.

Tim Paine (36) combined to put on 31 runs with Josh Hazlewood to take the total to 243.

Earlier David Warner was bowled by the young Lungi Ngidi for 63.

Vernon Philander has been the most difficult of the bowlers taking 2-13 from 14 frugal owners.

Cummins made the only breakthrough when South Africa faced the last 12 overs of the day, trapping Aiden Markram LBW for 11.

How day one unfolded:

2.35am: Stumps

Elgar plays out a maiden from Nathan Lyon and the hosts finish the day on top. They are 1-39, with Elgar 11 and Rabada on 17.

2.30am: Rabada rolling

The big paceman is wielding the willow with some style. He clips Pat Cummins to the mid-wicket boundary for four, then steers a pair of Josh Hazlweood deliveries behind point on the off side for the same result. He races onto 17 from 14 balls.

Dean Elgar has 11. South Africa are 1-39.

Pat Cummins successfully appeals for the wicket of Aiden Markram. Picture: AFP
Pat Cummins successfully appeals for the wicket of Aiden Markram. Picture: AFP

2.15am: Wicket!

Pat Cummins is brought into the attack and he makes an immediate impact, trapping Aiden Markram lbw with his fourth ball. It was probably going to hit leg stump, and Dean Elgar doesn’t bother telling his opening partner to go upstairs for a review. Markram is out for 11 and South Africa are now 1-22.

No rest for Kagiso Rabasa, who is sent in as nightwatchmen. He clips his first ball to square leg for four. 1-26.

2.10am: Proteas make solid start

Not too many issues so far for openers Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar. Both have 11 and South Africa are 0-22 after seven overs. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have shared the new ball without looking too dangerous.

Mitchell Starc delivers late on day one. Picture: AFP
Mitchell Starc delivers late on day one. Picture: AFP

1.55am: ICC statement on Kagiso Rabada

“Kagiso Rabada has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during Tuesday’s ODI against India in Port Elizabeth.

The South African fast bowler now has five demerit points on his disciplinary record after receiving three demerit points against Sri Lanka in a One-Day International on 8 February 2017 and one demerit point during the Lord’s Test against England on 7 July 2017.

Rabada was subsequently suspended from the Trent Bridge Test against England after his accumulated demerit points reached four following the Lord’s breach.

If Rabada reaches the next threshold of eight or more demerit points within a 24-month period, he will be suspended again from either two Tests; one Test and two ODIs / T20Is; or four ODIs / T20Is, whichever comes first for the player.

Tuesday’s incident happened in the eighth over of India’s innings when Rabada, after dismissing Shikhar Dhawan, waved at the departing batsman and also made a comment which could have resulted in a reaction from the batsman.”

Rabada takes the wicket of Pat Cummins. Picture: AFP
Rabada takes the wicket of Pat Cummins. Picture: AFP

1.45am: Innings wrap

Australia have been dismissed out for 243 having succumbed to a devastating spell of bowling from Kagiso Rabada.

The quick took 5-13 in 18 balls either side of tea, but may find himself in hot water after colliding with Steve Smith on taking the captain’s wicket.

The visitors resumed on 1-98 after the lunch break but lost 5-72 in the second session and 3-47 in third. Australia is about 150 short of the first innings average at the ground in recent Tests.

Rabada will be delighted with his return but match officials will look closely at contact with Smith. The Australian captain did not look happy about the quick clipping him as he went past.

Rabada was recently suspended for a Test match and is already carrying five demerit points. Officials warned players they would have to be on their best behaviour for this match.

If he receives three more demerit points _ the amount he received for clashing with Niroshan Dickwella in a match against Sri Lanka in February last year _ he will be out for the next two Tests.

The bowler trapped Steve Smith (25) LBW with the last ball of his 14th over, Shaun Marsh (24) with the second of his next and Mitchell Marsh (4) three balls after that.

Marsh slid down the order and looked to have caught the gastro bug doing its way through the Australian camp, but the entire side will be feeling sick about the turn of events.

After tea the rampage continued with Pat Cummins gone for a golden duck and Mitchell Starc out for eight.

Tim Paine (36) combined to put on 31 runs with Josh Hazlewood to take the total to 243.

Earlier David Warner was bowled by the young Lungi Ngidi for 63.

Vernon Philander has been the most difficult of the bowlers taking 2-13 from 14 frugal owners.

Australian supporters at Port Elizabeth. Picture: AP
Australian supporters at Port Elizabeth. Picture: AP

1.30am: Aussies all out

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine is the last man out, bowled by Lungi Ngidi for 36. Australia are dismissed for 243, with Josh Hazlewood not out on 10. The last pair added a vital 31 runs.

1.15am: Tail wagging

At drinks in the final session things are looking brighter for Australia than they might have an hour ago.

Tim Paine has 33 and Josh Hazlewood 10 in a partnership of 28 from 37 balls. The No.11 has surprised even himself, surely, with a couple of stylish looking boundaries, through cover and mid-on off the bowling of Ngidi. Australia are 9-240.

12.50am: Lyon chips in

Australia’s No.10 has added 30 precious runs with Tim Paine, to help the score along from 8-182 to 9-212. Paine has 13.

12.25am: Starc gone

12.20am: Paceman walks a fine line

Kagiso Rabada has dazzled with the ball but he might be in a spot of bother over his antics after the dismissal of Steve Smith. The aggressive bowler made some contact with the Australian skipper, the pair bumping shoulders as Smith walked down the pitch. We may hear more about this.

12.10am: Rabada strikes again

12am: Aussies crumble

Things have gone to pieces for Australia in the second session at Port Elizabeth.

The visitors resumed on 1-98 after the lunch break but lost 5-72 thanks to some inspired bowling from Kagiso Rabada who took 3-8 in the space of six balls leading into tea.

Rabada will be delighted with his return but match officials will look closely at contact between he and Smith after the batsman was given LBW. The Australian captain did not look happy about the quick clipping him as he went past.

Rabada was recently suspended for a Test match and is already carrying five demerit points. Officials warned players they would have to be on their best behaviour for this match.

The bowler trapped Steve Smith (25) LBW with the last ball of his 14th over, Shaun Marsh (24) with the second of his next and Mitchell Marsh (4) three balls after that.

Marsh slid down the order and looked to have caught the gastro bug doing its way through the Australian camp, but the entire side will be feeling sick about the turn of events.

Earlier David Warner was bowled by the young Lungi Ngidi for 63.

Vernon Philander has been the most difficult of the bowlers taking 2-13 from 14 frugal owners.

Steve Smith leaves the ground after being dismissed lbw to Kagiso Rabada. Picture: AFP
Steve Smith leaves the ground after being dismissed lbw to Kagiso Rabada. Picture: AFP

11.35pm: Wasted review

Steve Smith’s review woes continue. He was trapped in front by Rabada and looked like he was walking even before being given out by the umpire. Instead he went down the pitch for a chat with Shaun Marsh, who for some reason advises his skipper to challenge. It proves to be a waste, and he’s sent packing for 24 and it’s 4-161,

11.15pm: Close call

Shaun Marsh gets in on the act, crashing Rabada to the point boundary with a cut shot that’s as good as you will see.

Smith then barely survives a run-out chance after pushing one onto the leg side and going for a quick single. Square leg swoops onto it and scores a direct hit, but the skipper has grounded his bat and is barely home.

10.55pm: Smith on another rescue mission

The skipper combines watchfulness with a splash of aggression, cracking Lungi Ngidi for a couple of boundaries in the one over. He moves to 22, while Shaun Marsh has eight. Australia are now 3-146 off 46 overs.

10.35pm: Game on

David Warner responded to one of the hardest weeks in his cricketing career with another important innings for his country on the first day at Port Elizabeth.

Lungi Ngidi celebrates the wicket of David Warner. Picture: AFP
Lungi Ngidi celebrates the wicket of David Warner. Picture: AFP

Under immense pressure after the controversy at Durban, he hit a solid half century in difficult conditions before falling for 63 to the bowling of 21-year-old Lungi Ngidi after lunch.

Warner’s position as vice captain was under scrutiny with the board meeting in Melbourne on Friday but he appears to have survived for the moment.

Cricket Australia has, however, slammed the team for its behaviour in the match which Steve Smith’s men won by 118 runs.

Warner and Bancroft (38) put on 98 for the first wicket, the Queensland batsman falling to the canny Vernon Philander two balls before the lunch break. Usman Khawaja is yet to gain traction on the tour and was dismissed by the seamer for four.

Ngidi replaced Morne Morkel in the side. The young quick who is playing just his third match is one of the most exciting prospects in world cricket.

10.25pm: Warner gone!

South Africa have turned this match around in a hurry. David Warner is bowled through a gap between bat and pad by Lungi Ngidi. Warner is out for 63 and Australia are now 3-117. Steve Smith (1) is joined by Shaun Marsh. The visitors have lost 3-19 and all of a sudden batting looks difficult again.

10.10pm: Phenomenal Philander

Vernon Philander has found his length now, and he’s causing Warner to become watchful and defend his stumps doggedly after the lunch interval. The right-arm medium pacer lured Khawaja into an ill-advised drive with a ball that wasn’t quite full enough for the shot. The teasing line outside off stump did the trick too.

9.55pm: Oh man, Usman

Usman Khawaja is out, caught behind by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the bowling of Philander for just 4. Australia now 2-104, with Warner on 51 and Steve Smith heading into bat.

Usman Khawaja has looked out of sorts so far on this tour. Picture: Getty
Usman Khawaja has looked out of sorts so far on this tour. Picture: Getty

9.40pm: We’re back after lunch

Vernon Philander resumes after lunch, to new batsman Usman Khawaja. He has two balls remaining in the successful over in which he picked up Bancroft before the break. Khawaja lets them both go, and his thoughts turn to spinner Keshav Maharaj, who picked him up in the first Test.

Cameron Bancroft trudges off the field after being dismissed by Vernon Philander. Picture: AFP
Cameron Bancroft trudges off the field after being dismissed by Vernon Philander. Picture: AFP

9.30pm: Cooking with gas?

9.05pm: Agony for Bancroft

Disaster in the over before the lunch break. Cameron Bancroft edges one from Philander and is caught behind for 38. He’d played and missed at a few, edged one through the cordon but had looked relatively good for the 118 minutes he was at the crease. There was only two balls left in the session when he fell.

Warner remains undefeated on 50 from 69 balls and the Australians take lunch at 1-98 having survived a difficult early spell.

There is a lot of movement off the seam but the wicket is slow and the batsmen had been disciplined in not following the ball most of the time.

Cameron Bancroft has been dismissed in the last over before lunch. Picture: AFP
Cameron Bancroft has been dismissed in the last over before lunch. Picture: AFP

8.50pm: Warner’s perfect response

David Warner responds to a difficult few days in style, moving to 50 from 69 balls. He had not hit a boundary in the first hour but has smashed eight in the 50 minutes since the break. Australia motoring along here and moving into the 90s without losing a wicket. Warner has punished Rabada, whose 10 overs went for 47. It is Warner’s 29th Test 50. Bancroft has 33 and Australia are 0-93.

8.40pm: Proteas on the defensive

Faf du Plessis has started to spread the field, and of course Warner and Bancroft respond with edges through slips for 4. Lungi Ngidi has not exactly dazzled so far, the 21-year-old’s five overs have so far yielded 26 runs. After 24 overs Australia are 0-77, with Warner 41 and Bancroft 30.

8.20pm: Warner springs to life

All of a sudden batting looks a little easier out there. Warner has been very watchful to this point but he unleashes against Kagiso Rabada. He cracks three boundaries in one over to move to 34. Bancroft, who looks increasingly comfortable, has 19 and the visitors are 0-59 from 17 overs.

David Warner cops a tricky delivery during the first morning. Picture: AP
David Warner cops a tricky delivery during the first morning. Picture: AP

8pm: Batsmen take the early honours

One hour in and Australia’s openers have weathered the storm. It’s 0-23 with Warner on 8 and Bancroft 10. Both batsmen have copped a few on the body but right-hander Bancroft will be especially pleased to have survived an hour in truly testing conditions.

Bancroft hit a pair of fours, but Warner did not bother the ropes. Started a bit brighter after the break, clipping Rabada off his pads for four. Bit of grass on the wicket encouraging seam movement early, but there’s not a lot of pace.

0-29

Not surprisingly, there has been little chat out in the middle — it’s been the sounds of silence compared to the first Test.

7.25pm: Survival mode

A watchful start from David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, as Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada get the ball hooping early. An offering from Rabada squares Warner up and he does well not to get an edge. After seven overs it’s 0-7, with Bancroft 2 and Warner 3

7.05pm: Premature end to Morkel’s career?

Australia have won the toss and chosen to bat in the second Test.

History shows the odds heavily favour the side that bats first and a win here will give Steve Smith’s side an unbeaten lead two-nil lead in the four match series.

Australia named an unchanged side for the second Test, but South Africa dropped Morne Morkel who put in a patchy performance in the first match. The tall quick has 297 Test wickets but may have played his last match — he announced he would retire at the end of the series.

There is speculation Morkel will move to Australia with his wife, television reporter, Roz Kelly.

Meanwhile, in an extraordinary move Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has publicly condemned the side, saying it fell short of standards expected at Durban and calling on them to improve their behaviour.

The cricket boss included both teams in his criticism. He has been in contact with the team to express his concerns. Sutherland is due to arrive in South Africa for the Cape Town match and chairman David Peever arrives on the weekend. Both trips were already planned.

“The events of day four in Durban have unfortunately marred an otherwise very good Test Match and a dominant performance by the Australian men’s team,” Sutherland said.

“CA supports the sanctions imposed on players from both teams by the ICC, and commends match referee Jeff Crowe for his handling of a difficult situation.

“CA has reminded the team of the standards of behaviour expected of players representing Australia.

“Those standards are spelled out in the ICC Code of Conduct and also the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket. As the Preamble states, cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game.

“This includes the need to be respectful of opponents, and CA expects this to be observed by players at all times. Unfortunately neither team met this standard in Durban. The Australian team understands that fans expect better.

“Australia has always prided itself on taking a highly competitive approach to international cricket. This will not change, however CA is confident that what occurred in Durban will remain an aberration.”

Sutherland did, however, back claims by Smith that the side has been one of the best behaved in cricket in recent times.

“Under the period of the current team leadership, Australian players have received fewer sanctions under the ICC Code of Conduct than players from the majority of the nine top-ranked Test playing nations,” he said.

“CA is confident that the rest of the series in South Africa will be remembered for enthralling cricket played in the right spirit by both teams.”

6.50pm: Aussies to bat first

6.30pm: A gloomy outlook

The covers are off in Port Elizabeth for the second Test between Australia and South Africa, but light rain has delayed the toss, AAP reports.

The toss has been delayed 10 minutes, having originally been scheduled for 6.30pm (AEDT).

Players from both camps have completed their warm-up, with the expectation being that play will start on time at 7pm.

6pm: Warners’s future clouded

Dave Warner’s troubles are far from over with the possibility he may face further sanction, including losing his vice-captaincy. Read more here

5pm: Cricket Australia’s timely reminder

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland. Picture: Getty Images.
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland. Picture: Getty Images.

After the Cricket Australia board met today, CEO James Sutherland has issued a statement claiming the governing body has reminded players to maintain the “standards of behaviour expected of players representing Australia”.

Just hours before the second Test in Port Elizabeth begins, Sutherland said the incident between Warner and de Kock “marred an otherwise very good Test match and a dominant performance” from Australia.

“Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game,” the statement read.

“This includes the need to be respectful of opponents, and CA expects this to be observed by players at all times. Unfortunately neither team met this standard in Durban. The Australian team understands that fans expect better.

“Australia has always prided itself on taking a highly competitive approach to international cricket. This will not change, however CA is confident that what occurred in Durban will remain an aberration.

“Under the period of the current team leadership, Australian players have received fewer sanctions under the ICC Code of Conduct than players from the majority of the nine top-ranked Test playing nations.

“CA is confident that the rest of the series in South Africa will be remembered for enthralling cricket played in the right spirit by both teams.”

Warner is expected to receive a hostile welcome from the Port Elizabeth crowd.

4pm: Stump mics to stay

Stump microphones are expected to stay up in Port Elizabeth, revealing whether Australia and South Africa pepper each other with banal banter or bitter barbs.

Skippers Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis met with umpires and match referee Jeff Crowe on the eve of the second Test, which starts at 7pm AEDT today. The message from officials was clear — umpires are set to adopt a more watchful approach in the second Test, while both teams have been told they must behave better compared to the acrimony in Durban.

David Warner and Quinton de Kock’s staircase stoush was the most notable blow-up in Kingsmead.

The moment Warner exploded

But stump microphones picked up plenty of chatter from both sides, with host broadcaster SuperSport ignoring Australia’s wishes for them to be turned down between balls.

The levels were adjusted slightly mid-match after Australian players deliberately spruiked rival sponsors, but they were never muted altogether. Du Plessis had a not-so-subtle dig at the tourists’ request during his post- match press conference.

“I didn’t know we had an option of on or off. I just thought it was there always,” du Plessis said.

“If you say stuff and you obviously get caught then you get caught.” Smith denied his team was “desperately trying to get them turned off.

“It’s certainly written by the ICC that when the ball is dead, the stumps mics aren’t supposed to be on,” Smith said.

David Warner and Quinton de Kock clash in a stairwell. Photo: Supplied
David Warner and Quinton de Kock clash in a stairwell. Photo: Supplied

“It’s up to the host broadcaster to make sure that is the case. Unfortunately a few people have been caught saying a few things when the stump mic shouldn’t be on. I think that’s something the ICC needs to look at, to make sure they’re off when the ball is dead.”

Smith suggested his pre-match meeting with du Plessis was productive. “If they (umpires) hear something going on, it’s about going to either myself or Faf to ensure that we have our troops in line and playing within the guidelines. That was the conversation,” he said.

“There’s nothing wrong with a bit of banter out in the field. It’s just making sure we’re not getting personal or crossing any lines.”

Du Plessis expressed similar sentiments.

“I don’t have a problem with chirping, I think chirping is good for the game,” he said.

— AAP

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-vs-south-africa-second-test-live-coverage-from-port-elizabeth/news-story/b931928aadfbc73e2825c79c77a07d97