Scatterbrained Australian approach opens door to South African victory
Sat, 22 Aug, 11:00 pm, Final score, AUS 210, BAN 64 & 95
Fri, 11 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 117, AAW 4/121
Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 235, AUS 8/294
Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 7/148, AAW 2/178
Wed, 16 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 161, AAW 5/168
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 272, AUS 6/356
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 6/182, AUU 7/175
Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 9/238, SAM 0/58
Fri, 18 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 7/335, VIC 7/339
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 8/271, AUS 9/272
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/239, AAW 235
Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 115, TAS 1/117
Sun, 20 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 7/341, AUU 239
Mon, 21 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 358, NSW 6/359
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/338, AAW 8/341
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 4/255, AUU 254
Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAM 7/383, TAS 8/376
Wed, 23 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 8/297, AUS 230
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/364, AAW 9/362
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 334 & 199, AUA 171 & 200
Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIC 212, NSW 257
Sat, 26 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 9/365, AUS 333
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 494, AUU 217 & 229
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 4/168, QUW 167
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIW 8/293, SAS 7/290
Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 6/236, TAW 232
Tue, 29 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 4/145, AUS 9/322
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 364 & 257, AAW 176 & 164
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 174, QUW 4/285
Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 7/273, TAW 7/299
Thu, 1 Oct, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 167 & 9/310, AUA 358 & 4/173d
Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 149, AUA 274
Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, QUW 9/266, BAW 7/196
Wed, 7 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INU 315 & 0/11, AUU 174 & 151
Fri, 9 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 3/168, BAW 166
Fri, 9 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 206, AUA 275
Sat, 10 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, VIC 244 & 224, SAM 508
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 1/222, BAW 6/220
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 275, AUA 226
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, NSW 9/500d, TAS 245 & 5/402
Sun, 11 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 175 & 8/201, QUE 307 & 68
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, VIC 241, SAM 311
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, HHW 7/127, ACM 100
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 3/136, BHW 90
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 7/138, PSW 4/139
Mon, 12 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 3/79, MSW 78
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAF 284 & 206, AUS 390 & 6/314d
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, NSW 158, TAS 203
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, WAU 246, QUE 261
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 3/78, ACM 7/77
Tue, 13 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 4/183, PSW 8/182
Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 2/175, BAW 172
Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 4/180, MSW 6/179
Wed, 14 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 5/165, HHW 8/136
Fri, 16 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, BHW 4/86, ACM 83
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAM 7/397, QUE 271
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, HHW 5/136, PSW 8/166
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 5/122, MRW 9/121
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ACM 4/129, MSW 6/132
Sat, 17 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 9/105, ASW 6/143
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 8/165, NZW 2/162
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, MRW 2/132, HHW 8/129
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, BHW 129, ASW 6/139
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 2/93, PSW 92
Sun, 18 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SSW 8/155, MSW 5/158
Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, AUW 7/167, NZW 8/127
Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, ASW 6/116, PSW 5/118
Tue, 20 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, STW 9/152, SSW 6/153
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Live score, SAF 9/425d, AUS 99 & 4/156 f/o
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, SAM 203 & 145, QUE 238 & 4/114
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Live score, TAS 241 & 236, VIC 207 & 5/98
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Live score, WAU 339 & 3/30, NSW 6/440d & 5/262d
Wed, 21 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, PSW 7/134, SSW 8/149
Thu, 22 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW
Sat, 24 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus VIC
Sat, 24 Oct, 5:00 pm, Game not started, WAU versus NSW
Tue, 27 Oct, 7:30 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS
Wed, 28 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus WAU
Thu, 29 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus STW
Thu, 29 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus HHW
Fri, 30 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus NSW
Fri, 30 Oct, 11:45 am, Game not started, AU6 versus ONG
Fri, 30 Oct, 7:05 pm, Game not started, EN6 versus AU6
Fri, 30 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus SSW
Sat, 31 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus VIC
Sat, 31 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MSW
Sat, 31 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MRW
Sun, 1 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW
Sun, 1 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus HHW
Mon, 2 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus PSW
Wed, 4 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus MRW
Thu, 5 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus BHW
Thu, 5 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW
Fri, 6 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus SSW
Sat, 7 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus ENG
Sat, 7 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus ASW
Sat, 7 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus HHW
Sun, 8 Nov, 1:40 pm, Game not started, SSW versus STW
Sun, 8 Nov, 5:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MSW
Tue, 10 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus ASW
Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM
Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus WAU
Wed, 11 Nov, 11:30 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS
Wed, 11 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus STW
Thu, 12 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MSW versus BHW
Thu, 12 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus SSW
Fri, 13 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Sat, 14 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus BHW
Sat, 14 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus ASW
Sun, 15 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus MRW
Sun, 15 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Mon, 16 Nov, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM
Mon, 16 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS
Mon, 16 Nov, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus WAU
Mon, 16 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW
Tue, 17 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus SSW
Wed, 18 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Thu, 19 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus PSW
Thu, 19 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus STW
Fri, 20 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MRW
Sat, 21 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, HHW versus STW
Sat, 21 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus PSW
Sat, 21 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Sun, 22 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus QUE
Sun, 22 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW
Sun, 22 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus MRW
Mon, 23 Nov, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus TAS
Tue, 24 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus VIC
Tue, 24 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Wed, 25 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus BHW
Thu, 26 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus ASW
Thu, 26 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW
Fri, 27 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Fri, 27 Nov, 9:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus HHW
Sat, 28 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus MSW
Sat, 28 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus SSW
Sun, 29 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, BHW versus PSW
Sun, 29 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW
Sun, 29 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Wed, 2 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG
Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus WAU
Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus QUE
Thu, 3 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus TAS
Wed, 9 Dec, 1:20 pm, Game not started, AUS versus NZL
Sat, 12 Dec, 8:10 pm, Game not started, MER versus PER
Mon, 14 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW
Tue, 15 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW
Tue, 15 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW
Tue, 15 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, BRI versus SYS
Wed, 16 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAS versus WAW
Wed, 16 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus ADE
Thu, 17 Dec, 10:00 am, Game not started, ACM versus SYW
Thu, 17 Dec, 11:30 am, Game not started, AUS versus NZL
Thu, 17 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, HOB versus BRI
Fri, 18 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW
Fri, 18 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus ADE
Sat, 19 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW
Sat, 19 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, SYT versus SYS
Sun, 20 Dec, 3:00 pm, Game not started, SLW versus AUW
Sun, 20 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, PER versus HOB
Mon, 21 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAW versus VIW
Mon, 21 Dec, 7:15 pm, Game not started, MES versus BRI
Australia's approach to batting on day four was questionable at best and it backfired spectacularly on a chastening day. (AP Photo: Themba Hadebe)
Among those who fret over the ongoing primacy of Test cricket in the face of the T20 onslaught, Australia's tour of South Africa had long shaped as an enticing proposition: the two best sides in the world squaring off, a clutch of veteran tourists confronting ghosts of controversies past, and Australia commencing a year-long run of battles its aging superstars see as legacy-shaping.
Some of that probably distracted us from what a bittersweet prospect it was, too. For how, as anyone glued to this contest in the past two weeks will have asked themselves at some point or other, can a game so awash with money have conspired to deny us regular helpings of this fun and fascinating South African outfit? Of real cricket that matters?
Twenty-four hours ago, it was centurion Temba Bavuma reminding the world not only of his life-affirming resurgence as a batsman, but of the great shame that in the last two years, he's only had eight other opportunities to strut his stuff at Test level.
Steve Smith reaches a major milestone but doesn't return and Marnus Labuschagne makes a mockery of an enormous reprieve on a disastrous fourth day for the Aussies in Gqeberha. Here are the quick hits from South Africa.
Early on day four at Gqeberha, the focus shifted to beanpole all-rounder Marco Jansen, fresh from his swashbuckling 85 with the bat, now tearing through the Australian batting order like the Grim Reaper. Lurking not so much in the shadows as slightly off to the side of the stage, stirring up drama and intrigue, there was also the imposing figure of Proteas attack leader Kagiso Rabada.
That and a few subtler problems added up to an unmitigated disaster for Australia. Replying to South Africa's declared total of 425, the scatterbrained and frankly embarrassing tourists were skittled for 99 in their first innings and asked to follow on.
By default, Australia fared a little better in the afternoon, finishing the day at 4-156 with Travis Head undefeated on 87. But with its deficit of 170, and a neck injury to Steve Smith — who hasn't appeared to bat yet in the second innings — it will take something truly remarkable for Australia to pull this game out of the fire on the fifth and final day.
The main impression Australia's performance left was of the sheer needlessness of the entire debacle. What was the first innings batting plan, if any? Why were so many batsmen in such a hurry in a scenario from which Australia was never going to win?
Travis Head was the only Australian batter to show a bit of fight in the face of South Africa's onslaught on day four. (Getty Images: Gallo Images/Richard Huggard)
Which is not to take the focus of South Africa's unstinting excellence. Another emblematic figure in that sense was off-spinner Simon Harmer, who many thought should have been dropped for this game.
Instead, he's made big runs, caught everything that has come his way, and chipped in with two key wickets. Australia has had no such unassuming star.
Jansen, with 5-33 from 11 overs in the first innings chaos, was the chief destroyer, but there were wheels within wheels. The mere presence of Rabada, who was missing from the first Test, seems to have transformed South Africa's collective energy from a little too amiable in Durban to ruthless and faintly menacing here.
Jansen was the most visible example of this phenomenon. In Durban, he'd bowled with pace and incision to spark Australia's initial collapse. But as his influence waned and Matt Renshaw got going, he silently brooded away in his own world, looking a little like Alain Delon's expressionless assassin in Le Samourai.
Today he was an entirely different man — gregarious, energetic, fired up. To his usual bouncers he added fist-pumps and fiery send-offs. Like Rabada in the memorably testy corresponding game eight years ago, he got up in Australia's grill and wouldn't go away.
Marco Jansen was back to his menacing best as Australia crumbled under his pressure on day four. (Getty Images: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)
A brief catalogue of Australia's worst misdemeanours in the first innings bears mentioning. Marnus Labuschagne again drove with hard hands, slightly off balance, with his bat plane all wrong, therefore couldn't complain about the bad luck of departing to a one-handed screamer by Harmer in the cordon. Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins each either walloped or wafted at deliveries they should have respected, especially given the dire state their team was in at the time.
In the second innings, Nic Maddinson again nudged lamely at Rabada to be caught behind the wicket. As in Durban, Labuschagne again squandered a promising start when a break in sight, heedlessly thrashing Harmer into the deep to hole out for 39 when drinks were about to be brought on. And Webster, again neither looking comfortable nor batting with due caution, was dismissed cheaply at the worst possible time. Renshaw, who had looked relatively comfortable, shouldered arms to be bowled by Rabada.
And for all that, and Australia's loss of 13 wickets for the day, South Africa's attack was a man down for most of the day after lionhearted quick Anrich Nortje suffered a groin injury in his fourth over. Things could actually have been worse.
Only a day ago, one felt the confluence of luck, momentum and a single special innings had changed the game's course without any great culpability on Australia's behalf. The feeling is very different now. South Africa will arrive for the final day with victory in its mind — in this game, foremost, but also perhaps in a series that is now thrillingly alive.
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