Shaun Marsh out of the Hobart Test
Actually, just one more bit of news and it’s significant: Shaun Marsh has broken his finger and will miss the Hobart Test. Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson come into the squad for him and potentially Adam Voges, who tweaked his hamstring yesterday. Late drama!
Shaun Marsh has re-broken his finger. Will need surgery. Out for the next Test. Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson into the squad. @FOXSportsNews
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) November 7, 2016
Finally, here’s our report of today’s events …
Updated
That’ll do. After five long and mostly enthralling days, it has really all been said. But in signing off, I want to thank you for your company throughout. I’m sure I can speak on behalf of all your OBO-ers in saying we’ve had a great time bringing this coverage to you. We’ll be back in Hobart on Saturday morning. Until then.
MAN OF THE MATCH: KAGISO RABADA
What a performance. This bloke is 21. And the real shift in this game courtesy of him on day two when he rushed through Usman Khawaja’s defence from around the wicket. From there, it was his game, seven wickets. “I can confidently say there will be not a lot of bowling in the days to come,” he says at the presentation. “But I’ll be ready for Hobart... if I get chosen.” I reckon he you might be needed.
Steve Smith is now with Mark Nicholas. “That partnership really took the game from us,” he says of Elgar and Duminy. “We have had a few collapses of late... that have let us down when we have been in a position to drive the game. What’s next? “We try and let go of this performance.” Too right.
To Faf du Plessis now, the triumphant captain. “Kagiso was phenomenal,” he begins. “We had some harsh words after day one, we were very disappointed, and we wanted to come back with a solid performance The way we came back was quite ridiculous, then we backed it up on day three again. From day one we have been unbelievable.”
SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 177 RUNS! Lyon lbw Maharaj 8. Australia 361.
That’s it! Lyon’s defence beaten, the DRS assessing the ball to clip. It’s enough. Rabada has 5-for-92, a wicket each to Duminy, Bavuma, Philander and Maharaj. Nevill left unbeaten on 60, Australia a good couple of hours short of drawing the game.
I’ll keep an ear on the post game presentation and wrap this up. Back shortly.
REVIEW! Could the Test be over? Stand by! Lyon given LBW off Maharaj.
119th over: Australia 361-9 (Nevill 60, Lyon 8) Philander maiden to Nevill. He won’t give this up. He just won’t.
118th over: Australia 361-9 (Nevill 60, Lyon 8) Nev into the 60s by the end of that Bavuma set. Let’s have a terrace song? “Nevill Nevill, safe in defence. Nevill Nevill, future’s immense. Nevill Nevill, replaced Hadds. Top bat! And his gloves are rad.”
REVIEW! Look, they pitched it up because why wouldn’t they? Bavuma’s inducker ran into Lyon’s front pad, but it was assessed by ball-tracker as missing by a decent margin. Copped a bit of grief today, the ball tracker. My take? If you believe in the science you believe in the science. Especially now that India have taken off their tin foil hats on the topic. Tipping Mitch Marsh doesn’t share my confidence after this morning, mind.
117th over: Australia 358-9 (Nevill 59, Lyon 6) The most eventful moment of this Maharaj over (he’s back, replacing JPD from the Prindiville End) is when a throw from the outfield whacks Elgar on the back. Hilarity. Lyon is looking alright, you know. Now I’ve said that, of course, he’s no chance of making it to Tea. I’m a reliable indicator like that.
116th over: Australia 355-9 (Nevill 56, Lyon 6) How cute that de Kock went and stood back to Bavuma in that over? Very. Very cute. Nevill takes a single first ball, which isn’t the orthodoxy when batting with no. 11. But Lyon, long-term nightwatchman, isn’t your garden variety no. 11. I feel obliged to say that when we played at the same club he made 90 on 50 odd balls once upon a time. And he’s also faced 89 balls in a Test innings before, twitter tells me. Carn, Nath. Keep them out there long as possible.
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115th over: Australia 354-9 (Nevill 55, Lyon 6) Surprised to see Duminy continuing, but at this stage they will want to keep the quicks away from the bowling crease. He goes for three. No worries for Lyon there.
114th over: Australia 351-9 (Nevill 52, Lyon 6) That, I neglected to mention below, was Bavuma’s first Test wicket as well. He’s had some sort of game, starting with his critical half century on the first day when wickets fell around him. And Lyon nearly makes it two in two balls to end the match when getting a big edge, but it doesn’t go to hand. He then takes a couple behind square leg. Can he bat for... oh, you know what? I’m not doing that anymore. Not until Lyon has been out there for half an hour at least.
Bavuma a stocky all round version of Gus Logie is a game breaker
— jim maxwell (@jimmaxcricket) November 7, 2016
WICKET! Hazlewood c Elgar b Bavuma 29. Australia 345-9
Oh no! South Africa need just one wicket now, the 65 run stand brought to an end with a leading edge. The delivery after copping a beam ball no less. So the very moment the Proteas look to be losing their way, they find the wicket that puts them a ball from a one-nil series lead. Tea will surely be extended as well. And I’m mad up for a sausage roll, so this didn’t work out that well for anyone. To be fair to the big quick, it was a great effort lasting 71 balls and a solid hour and a half. Can’t be expected to do much more than that.
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113rd over: Australia 340-8 (Nevill 50, Hazlewood 27) Duminy again, and again no concerns for Hazlewood who sees off the bulk of the over. I reckon they might go back to the specialist twirler for the last over they will get from that end before the tea break. When he had enough of defending, Hazlewood cut him for a couple as well to keep the board ticking over. As it has been for the last half hour with decent regularity.
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112th over: Australia 340-8 (Nevill 50, Hazlewood 27) Hazlewood dropped! Bavuma took his edge from a ball that landed just on the crack, and as the way when the keeper is up to the stumps Amla was unsighted at first slip until late, necessitating a late dive. He can’t snaffle it. Another edge next ball! But this falls two feet in front of Amla. Four byes earlier in the over as well, so a fair bit going on behind the wicket when the “all rounder” (let’s go with that) is on. Ric Finlay informs radio listeners that it is inside 200 runs to win now as well. Droll, Ric. Droll.
Amla's Test:
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) November 7, 2016
1 run
2 dropped catches
111th over: Australia 336-8 (Nevill 50, Hazlewood 27) That’ll be Nevill to a half century! What a lovely little hand this has been, both for the strokeplay - not least the pick up through midwicket to reach the milestone - but the patience to tough it out on the final day like this. The previous ball went to the boundary too, beyond third man and brought up the fifty stand between these two as well. Don’t think many saw this coming an hour and a half ago. 13 minutes from taking this game to a final session. How about that?
FIFTY! Super knock here from @pmnevill off 138 balls! His third Test half century #AUSvSA https://t.co/GUZf2SYXWF
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 7, 2016
110th over: Australia 326-8 (Nevill 40, Hazlewood 27) Bavuma into the attack again with his little 110kph specials. Oh how we love this bloke. Much like his first ball in Test cricket, he gets one to shoot through to begin. But Nevill is in, and not going to miss when it is coming down at that pace. He picks up a couple to midwicket when the misdirected delivery inevitably arrives later in the over.
On the radio Dirk Nannes compares him to Ricky Ponting with the ball. Gives me a wonderful chance to do a bit of cross promo, doesn’t it? I have a piece in The Cricketer mag this month dealing with Golden Arms, Ponting featuring. And here are ALL his wickets for Australia. Fun fact: Jimmy Adams was world number one bat which he nabbed him in this collation. Oh, and Vaughan in the ‘05 Ashes. And Kallis in an ODI. and Lara first ball in an ODI. You’re welcome.
CAMERA FALLING OUT OF SKY. Well, not quite. But skycam has literally dropped into the sightscreen. Not quite sure how it has happened, but there is a wire caught behind the frame. And they won’t be able to continue as it s because it’ll be be behind the bowlers’ arm. Getting a replay now, the able has been fixed and away it goes. That was... loose.
109th over: Australia 323-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 27) Last over Hazlewood defended Duminy without bother. This time around, the moment he overpitched he was onto the front dog and slotting him through cover. That’s his shot.
108th over: Australia 319-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 22) Now look, I hate to go on about it. But this over sums up why yesterday afternoon was such a misstep in going after the runs. Rabada in this spell actually looks tired. At last. Evidenced by his speed, at least 10-15kph down on what we have become accustomed in this match. But also when he sprays not one but two wides in the over, bouncers ballooning over Nevill. At this point I’ll simply add, 37 overs remaining.
107th over: Australia 316-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 22) Hazlewood looked vulnerable against the turning ball early, but he’s spending the afternoon at Rancho Relaxo when Duminy is at him. A single to to third man ends the set, but other than that, competent in defence.
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106th over: Australia 315-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 21) A bit going on in that set from Rabada, to break up a quiet stretch as these two get stuck in. First, Hazlewood’s edge is clipped, it’s lovely bowling, but is to the ground and the rope. Four scored. Then, a run out chance after Hazlewood takes a single out to the deep; Nevill is home, but it is sent upstairs to confirm. It isn’t riveting, I’m not going to lie to you. But the only relative win Australia can take from this is keeping Rabada and Philander out there bowling for as long as they can. If that leads them into a final session, well then it gets interesting. But one thing at a time.
Nevill showing why he should be at six. If he stays seven for Hobart, where he's made 235 in a Shield game, it would defy all logic #ausvsa
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 7, 2016
105th over: Australia 310-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 16) Spun around is Maharaj, now from the Lillee-Marsh end. Not a long breather for the left arm tweaker. It’s a maiden to Nevill, who has his measure.
Gerard Whateley on the radio asked by Chris Rogers about this squad being retained for two Tests regardless of the result here. There’s going to be a lot of scrutiny over this after the Test. “Without labouring the point, I think this is way more serious than is being depicted. This is a three Test series, not a six Test summer. If you lose the next Test the series is gone. I would have had that conversation as a selection panel last night.”
104th over: Australia 310-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 16) Pretty good over for Hazlewood, smashing a bad full toss to the point fence then finishing the over with a little fine leg nurdle. 41 over remaining. I’m going to start doing that a bit now. Don’t be scared.
103rd over: Australia 304-8 (Nevill 37, Hazlewood 10) Rabada is back from the Lillee-Marsh, something for which we can all be grateful. But he’s only easing in here. Bowled 28 overs this innings, so you can understand it taking a while to get back to his quickest. A couple taken by Nevill down the ground, a neat little drive. Really enjoying his fight, as I’m sure Australian team management are as well.
102nd over: Australia 302-8 (Nevill 35, Hazlewood 10) Hands, heads, hands, dropped. Bavuma at short leg can’t hold onto the Hazlewood chance, created by Duminy who is back into the attack. Won a wicket with his first over this morning, nearly did so again.
And one final mention of the real hero this week’s coverage, OLED TVs. Can’t bloody wait to buy one for Chrimbo.
He can watch his run out on his Oled tv #ausvsa pic.twitter.com/G8qRM0Ddfv
— Cricketmemes_ (@Cricketmemes2) November 7, 2016
101st over: Australia 301-8 (Nevill 34, Hazlewood 10) A maiden from Philander to Hazlewood leads us into the drinks, half way through the final day at the WACA. All four wickets today have fallen leg before, Siddle the man to go so far this session when Philander struck the moment he returned with new ball in hand. Quick maths. 44 overs to go. That’s 264 balls. So, 132 balls apiece for these two and the Test is saved. Easy peasy.
Peter Nevill showing a lot of fight. Only Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja faced more balls for Australia in Perth #AUSvSA
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) November 7, 2016
100th over: Australia 301-8 (Nevill 34, Hazlewood 10) What a lovely way to bring up the Australian 300, Nevill down the track and hitting Maharaj through the line and along the ground for four. The only other noteworthy moment of the over was a wide signalled. And unlike the Australian innings where a trio of those were signalled for bouncers that were too high to handle for anyone, this was your more conventional type. Hitting a crack, it turning a long way. Granted, not as far as this from Nathan Lyon at the same venue three summers ago. 100 overs gone in this second dig now. 45 remaining. I’m just throwing that in there.
99th over: Australia 296-8 (Nevill 30, Hazlewood 10) Hazlewood strokes another boundary, two in as many overs after Philander drops short outside the off-stump but with bit less potency than required. It came the ball after beating him, so it gives a sense of how Hazlewood plans to go about this through to the end, whenever that is.
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98th over: Australia 291-8 (Nevill 29, Hazlewood 5) Hazlewood gets his big old front pad down to the pitch of Maharaj and flays him through extra cover for his first boundary. Nice cricket. It inspires a chance of direction from the spinner, going left-arm around to the left-handed batsmen. Now sliding away rather than turning in, he beats Hazlewood’s bat immediately. By the end of the over he’s back over the wicket again. Keeping the sightscreen attendant honest, fair play to him.
1400 people here today. They were letting them in for $20 at the front this morning. Considerably cheaper than normal, so there’s that. On the other hand, maybe a chance missed to throw the gates open.
97th over: Australia 287-8 (Nevill 29, Hazlewood 1) Umpire Dar taking a look at the ball between Philander deliveries. Hard to know for sure, but I don’t think Nevill’s drive to the outfield was sufficient to destroy it quite yet. They don’t get to change it. Hazlewood will keep the strike for the next over with that legside ring walking back into position. A bit dreary at the moment, I must admit.
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96th over: Australia 283-8 (Nevill 26, Hazlewood 1) Bowling with the new ball, Maharaj is sliding into Hazlewood then ripping in. As a result, he is operating with bowl a slip and three men short on the legside. A real throwback. The big boy survives a leg before shout to begin the over and gets more confident in defence as the set progresses, and gets off the mark beyond that leg side ring. Worth remembering that Hazlewood started his Test career with a habit of batting for a long time and not getting out. Not least in Dominica last year where he stuck fat long enough to get Adam Voges from 80-odd to a debut century, significant in the context of that match.
95th over: Australia 281-8 (Nevill 25, Hazlewood 0) Nevill persevering here, not much more than that. An edge to gully begins the over before plenty of defence and a couple of leaves. Sticking around for some red ink here won’t be for nothing. Adam Voges said to me in an interview that a big part of getting his belief back as a Test player was scrambling to an ugly, unbeaten half century at Trent Bridge last year, amid the ruin of an Ashes loss. A lesson Nevill can draw from.
Meanwhile Katich again, tapping into a bit of dissatisfaction with the preparation Australia had coming into this series: “One Shield game before the first test is almost unheard of.”
94th over: Australia 281-8 (Nevill 25, Hazlewood 0) Nevill takes one down the ground first ball of the Maharaj over to put Hazlewood on strike. But he handles it without any concern. Simon Katich is happy with his former NSW teammate: “Peter Nevill has been impressive, he’s shown a lot of character here. The resolve you need in these conditions.”
93rd over: Australia 280-8 (Nevill 24, Hazlewood 0) The new bat Hazlewood is beaten with the only ball remaining in Philander’s over. Some interesting information from Ric Finlay on the ABC. The Hobart Test is forecast to begin with rain over the weekend, and through to Monday as well. Far from ideal for Australia trying to come back from one-nil down.
WICKET! Siddle lbw Philander 13. Australia 280-8.
Does not come more out than that. It may have hit a little crack, but probably didn’t, jagging into his back pad deep in the crease. The second new ball has struck with immediate effect. They have a review but he doesn’t even bother. Not long now.
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92nd over: Australia 279-7 (Nevill 23, Siddle 13) Maharaj still on, a single taken. Nothing too much going on from his end, but his job to continue doing as he is. Philander back on from the Members’ End now, so the new ball can’t be far away in any case.
91st over: Australia 278-7 (Nevill 22, Siddle 13) Boom, boom! No, Boris Becker isn’t out there, it’s Peter Siddle starting Rabada’s new over with two boundaries. One is a big edgy, the other driven with ease through the covers. Have that. Faf in the cordon cops one in... the groin? I think. Which gives me an excuse to post the following. An opportunity I will not miss.
90th over: Australia 270-7 (Nevill 22, Siddle 5) Sure enough, Siddle much happier facing the spin of Maharaj, capitalising on a short ball that he wallops through the covers to the rope. A nice way to get off the mark. After getting off strike, Nevill has a couple of balls to negotiate, one of which beats his outside edge. Good areas, as they say to Warnie on instagram. Good areas.
89th over: Australia 265-7 (Nevill 22, Siddle 0) Rabada is putting on a clinic here. Drawing Nevill forward, he’s beaten twice outside the off-stump. The edge is finally found, but with soft enough hands it lands well in front of the slips cordon. South Africa are still operating with the old ball (the new one was due after the 80th over). Might be time to give Rabada a chance with it with him bowling like this. Could finish this in a hurry. Mark Taylor on the TV pushing pretty hard for this as well.
88th over: Australia 265-7 (Nevill 22, Siddle 0) I’m enjoying Nevill’s innings. He batted for ages at Kandy when Australia were (belatedly) trying to hold on there. He just has that look about him. And that’s not to say he hasn’t a lot to play for; his spot won’t be without scrutiny if Australia lose this series. Siddle ends up on strike after a single to mid-off, surviving an inside edge.
Centuries in 4th inns at WACA:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 7, 2016
By Australia batsmen - 1
By visiting batsmen - 5#AusvsSA
87th over: Australia 264-7 (Nevill 21, Siddle 0) KP on the telly tells us that Michael Holding is in regular contact with Rabada. Without wanting to stretch the comparison too much, he’s so smoooooth to the crease. Siddle doing a good job getting behind it, but through no fault of his own logic suggests he is on borrowed time.
Michael Holding is mentoring Rabada? Give up now, batsmen of world cricket.
— Dan Colasimone (@DanColasimone) November 7, 2016
86th over: Australia 264-7 (Nevill 21, Siddle 0) Maharaj is wicketless second time around, but not for a lack of effort. Before this Test we had convinced ourselves that South Africa wouldn’t dare go in with an uncapped spinner and surely they’d play four quicks. But he’s fit right in. A prompt maiden here, drawing Nevill forward a couple of times with flight, and pushing him back when pushing it down a tad quicker. Maiden it is.
Gee whiz #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/QgKMHl4SrC
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 7, 2016
85th over: Australia 264-7 (Nevill 21, Siddle 0) Sure enough, it is Rabada resuming from the Lillee-Marsh end. Oh and he’s beaten the new man Siddle with something special. It beggars belief how that went over the top of middle stump after evading an edge. This bloke, blimey. I don’t think I’m overstating it by suggesting that he has an 8fer on the shelf here. Exciting.
The players are out on the field
Let’s be hones with each other: this may be a short time, but let’s make it a good one. Adam Collins here taking the baton for what is likely to be the final session of this Test Match. Australia lost three wickets this morning as nicely detailed by Sam Perry. Usman missed his ton by three when he was trapped in front, Mitchells Marsh and Starc both suffering the same fate.
Australia need a million to win (539 to be precise), so let’s ignore that. Alternatively, they can survive two full sessions to save the match on a track going up and down, against an opening bowler in Kagiso Rabada who looks like he is on the fast track to becoming the best quick in the world.
Let’s talk while we’re here. Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com for your detailed thoughts, @collinsadam the place for the hottest of takes.
Channel Nine programmer cueing the first six episodes of The Big Bang Theory...#AUSvSA
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) November 7, 2016
Cricket memes now constitute close to 100% of my participation in this country's political discourse pic.twitter.com/Cf3LvXzlOT
— Ryan Jones (@minorlines) November 7, 2016
First Session Wrap
So the first session concludes with South Africa marching confidently towards victory.
Australia showed some fight but the procession continued for the Proteas as they made sufficient inroads into the Australians, leaving them on the brink of a stinging defeat at home.
As with yesterday, Kagiso Rabada was the destroyer, picking up Marsh and Starc with deliveries that had the Australians beaten for not just pace, but intelligence. The three-card trick of swinging the ball away again and again before darting one back in with ferocious rapidity served Rabada well. He has been nothing short of a revelation (at least to Australian audiences) in this match. One suspects his life changes a little after this performance.
The Australians will be disappointed Usman Khawaja couldn’t survive until lunch. He was their only flicker – the only batsman who showed a semblance of control against this skilful attack. He can, at least, take solace in delivering a Test match innings of substance in front of the home audience.
As we head into the second, and surely last, session of this match, we can expect Australian recriminations, navel-gazing and consternation. They may have collapsed astonishingly on Day Two, but that now doesn’t seem like an aberration. South Africa has truly outplayed Australia in all facets of proper test match cricket: they batted with great patience and grit through Elgar and Duminy specifically, they attacked with vigour through De Kock, Du Plessis has skippered with guile, and the pace bowling has been memorably skilful. This is to mention nothing of Temba Bavuma’s ‘worldy’ run out.
To those who stuck with me on debut, thanks. To those who corrected my grammar throughout, kind regards. I’ve enjoyed being aboard the good ship OBO. I’ll now leave you in the outstanding hands of Adam Collins to take you through the post-lunch session. Cheers!
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84th over: Australia 263-7 (Nevill 20, Siddle 0) As I take a break from the start of my new enterprise - the Kagiso Rabada Appreciation Society - a moment to call out Keshav Maharaj, who has proved great foil for his countrymen. He’s bowled without reward thus far, but has exploited well Australia’s lingering fear over cricket balls that turn away (or don’t they?). That’s lunch.
83rd over: Australia 262-7 (Nevill 19, Siddle 0) How soon will they fall? That’s the question as Rabada does it again. He has five wickets - three remain. What more can be said? He’s incredible.
WICKET! Starc lbw Rabada 13 (Australia 262-7)
A round-the-wicket thunderbolt by Rabada hits Starc fair on the toe. The Australian walked immediately, which is never a positive sign, before Nevill suggested he review. He needn’t have. That’s 5-fa for Rabada, who’s now steaming into Siddle...
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83rd over: Australia 261-6 (Nevill 18, Starc 13) Starc is strangely given a single early in Rabada’s over as he fends out to cover point. Nevill then receives the a decent portion of Rabada’s chosen arsenal this match - out-swinger, bouncer, in-swinger. He then hits Starcs pad with a searing yorker and Starc is given! What a ball. The review is on - Healy already says it looks like it’s going down. Stand by...
82nd over: Australia 260-6 (Nevill 18, Starc 12) Facing Maharaj, Starc employs the ‘no hands’ approach, allowing the outside-leg-pitching-ball to harmlessly strike him on the body. It always looks strange. It’s a heavy leg-side attack but Starc is again unmoved, collecting a single down to long-on, meaning he will face Rabada next over.
81st over: Australia 258-6 (Nevill 18, Starc 11) Enter Rabada (4-71) for fifteen minutes of legitimate fast-bowling examination. As senior partner Nevill is offered a single, which he takes. Rabada gets four balls at his opposite number. He elicits Starc’s outside edge immediately, and the ball screams past third slip for four. Starc’s feet, relevantly, appeared not to move. Ian Healy has just said that Rabada’s is the best bowling he’s seen at the WACA since Wasim Akram. High praise, indeed. Good luck, Mitch. He survives. There’s 12 minutes until lunch.
80th over: Australia 253-6 (Nevill 17, Starc 6) Another quick over passes for a single to Nevill. In a semi-intriguing sub-plot, Nevill is batting fairly well here. For what it’s worth, he certainly looks more organised than his current colleague at number six - but don’t tell Channel Nine that. Obviously he will get out now that I’ve said that. Apologies.
79th over: Australia 252-6 (Nevill 16, Starc 6) What would you rather? Rabada with the old ball? Or Rabada with the new ball? That’s the conversation as Starc negotiates Duminy’s twirlers - offering one sumptuous slap past mid-off for a boundary.
78th over: Australia 248-6 (Nevill 16, Starc 2) Maharaj is reintroduced, this time coming over the wicket to the left-handed Starc. The Aussie opening quick makes good use of his ‘pins’ to stride out and secure a single, before Nevill - looking ever more correct - again defends the remainder of the over
77th over: Australia 247-6 (Nevill 16, Starc 1) South Africa’s Moneyball tactics win again, and they now get their first look at the Australian lower order. Khawaja was really the only remaining threat to the Proteas, who can now smell victory. At this stage the question is whether or not Australia can survive the session. Ooh’s and ahh’s abound as Nevill sees out Duminy’s over.
WICKET! Khawaja lbw Duminy 97 (Australia 246-6)
Khawaja, playing for spin, misses one that slides straight on and is wrapped on the back leg. It always looked out. Duminy has the key breakthrough! Heartbreakingly disappointing for Khawaja, who was playing excellently until this point. What is it with part-timers and first balls? Australia now on the precipice.
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77th over: Australia 246-5 (Nevill 16, Khawaja 97) Duminy’s first ball strikes Khawaja on the back pad and he’s given! Khawaja REVIEWS - it doesn’t look good. Stand by...
76th over: Australia 246-5 (Nevill 16, Khawaja 97) The field has now spread for Khawaja, who helps himself to a boundary flicked off his thigh pad, as well as a two and a one. He’s 97. JP Duminy enters the attack.
75th over: Australia 235-5 (Nevill 16, Khawaja 90) The South African bowling is currently lacking the bite of its first hour, but of course all roads are leading to a 30-minute Bavuma spell ahead of lunch. Nevill defends competently - his shot selection increasing in its decisiveness and accuracy. Meanwhile, conversation builds around the veracity of the DRS system, with a couple of ideas being suggested on Twitter:
We probably should just ditch DRS and replace it with an app that polls the commentators on what they reckon. Majority wins. #AUSvSA
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) November 7, 2016
Big fan of how Hawkeye only works when it gives decisions that favour your team. Otherwise, very unreliable. #AUSvSA
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 7, 2016
74th over: Australia 233-5 (Nevill 14, Khawaja 90) With four Test match wickets and an average of 35 (superior to Mitch Marsh, isn’t that?), Temba Bavuma enters the attack. And drama immediately! He hits the famed crack, the ball canons into Khawaja’s pads, but it’s a no-ball! That would have been out, out, out. What would have represented another genius move in Du Plessis’ miserly rotation of bowlers sadly comes to nothing. Khawaja takes two off the hip a a couple of balls later, and then a boundary, but what a highlight a Bavuma LBW would have been. Very hard not to like this guy.
Meanwhile Khawaja is 90 not out.
73rd over: Australia 226-5 (Nevill 14, Khawaja 84) Philander remains in the attack, bowling that dry-yet-tempting line outside off. He too has the ball talking, but Nevill’s judgment is sound. A late effort to bring one back in is read well by the Aussie wicketkeeper.
Related: poorly pixelated images of Rabada in the dressing room reveals that he’s receiving some work on his body, presumably from South Africa’s physio. With the new ball due in seven overs, you can understand the prerogative to rest him. A searching new-ball spell looms.
That’s drinks, with Australia losing one wicket for the hour. They’re 225-5.
72nd over: Australia 225-5 (Nevill 14, Khawaja 83) Nevill looks contented on the front foot against Maharaj. It’s a curious line Maharaj is adopting to him, with the ball on or outside off stump, and two catching men on the leg. He needs to straighten it (says the Internet blogger). Nevill collects a four, punching off the back foot, to end the over. Something different needed for the South Africans?
Finally, a note from Ian Forth:
Channel 9’s contortions to defend one of their favourite sons sound reminiscent of Warnie’s protection of Pup when on commentary. After shelling one absolute dolly at slip off the last ball of an over, Warnie commented, “Ah, that’s rough. He was thinking about a bowling change there and that distracted him.”
Fair call Ian, and if nothing else, thank you for not ripping my grammar to shreds.
71st over: Australia 221-5 (Nevill 10, Khawaja 83) Philander challenges the off stump again, prompting that yearly musing on how to avoid showing the seam to a batsman. Khawaja, however, capitalises on a fullish Philander delivery, driving handsomely for four. He gains another couple punching through backward point to finish off the over.
Word also seeps through that Rabada has left the field. He probably wants a rest, to be extremely fair to him.
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70th over: Australia 215-5 (Nevill 10, Khawaja 77) More evidence of Khawaja’s comfort as he uses his feet thrice to meet Maharaj’s increasingly flighted delivery. Although the ball beats the bat and rattles around the pad-glove area, Nevill sees off Maharaj’s final delivery to complete a somewhat less dramatic over for Australia. Only about 500 of these deliveries remain. Anyone else counting down?
69th over: Australia 214-5 (Nevill 10, Khawaja 76) A welcome reprieve for the Aussies as chief destroyer and all-round legend Kagiso Rabada is removed from the attack. Vernon Philander assumes hostilities and delivers the majority of his over to Nevill. He searches a fourth stump line and beats the noticeably upright Nevill late in the over. So, in short, there is no reprieve. Two maidens in a row now.
68th over: Australia 214-5 (Khawaja 76, Nevill 10) An ironic ‘howzat’ from a close-in fieldsman as Khawaja dances down the wicket to kick Maharaj away. Steve Smith would understand. A huge shout from South Africa greets the last ball of the over, as one stays very low to Khawaja’s attempted heave through the on-side. The umpire says not out, the South Africans leave it. Maharaj is providing great foil to Rabada. Stand by for a bowling change...
67th over: Australia 210-5 (Khawaja 76, Nevill 10) South Africa give Khawaja the single early which can’t impress keeper-batsman Nevill, who wisely tries to play late and is largely successful. Dare I say it, but there’s shades of a 2005 Simon Jones (in somewhat warmer climes) here as Rabada demonstrates his continuing mastery of the talking ball. The reverse-away swinger remains his stock ball, while we all await the one that goes the other way. After some indecisive work with the blade, Nevill gets well forward and strokes Rabada through the vacant cover region for four.
66th over: Australia 209-5 (Khawaja 75, Nevill 6) Maharaj continues the strangle from the other end. He races through an over to Nevill, who continues to defend him via the front foot.
65th over: Australia 201-5 (Khawaja 74, Nevill 6) An over notable for Nevill edging one that just about carries to Du Plessis, and earlier, laughs galore as Rabada again hits a crack. Everybody survives. It’s fitting, actually, given this may well be the last day of cricket at this ground. It’s cliche, but I suppose this clip absolutely must be run today, in the spirit of crack-hitting.
Rabada is absolutely running the show here. It’s hard to see Australia surviving this for long.
64th over: Australia 201-5 (Khawaja 74, Nevill 2) Conjecture about the validity of the DRS technology continues, as multiple replays do seem to show a ball that may have flicked the stumps at best. Away from Mitch Marsh, on the field itself, Nevill solidly defends.
64th over: Australia 201-5 (Khawaja 74, Nevill 1) ‘Unlucky’, ‘promising’, ‘not much he could do’ - the support for Marsh from Channel Nine continues as an eventful over concludes. Rabada traps Marsh who departs the scene, while Khawaja pummels another boundary.
WICKET! M Marsh lbw Rabada 26. Australia 196-5
After a review. Rabada has his man. Such was the swing it looked like it may have been missing leg stump - it wasn’t. Not good news for Marsh, another piece of excellent skill from Rabada. In comes Nevill.
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63rd over: Australia 196-4 (M Marsh 26, Khawaja 69) For the first time, Rabada looks fractionally impatient. He zeroes a ball in to Khawaja’s pads. The Australian comfortably works him, and in turn brings up the fifty partnership between Khawaja and Marsh. It’s largely irrelevant, but you take what you can get, I suppose.
REVIEW! Rabada spears another one in, this time to Marsh, and he strikes the pad! A huge shout goes up though early thoughts are that it’s doing too much. He’s out! Marsh departs for 26 off 52.
62nd over: Australia 195-4 (M Marsh 26, Khawaja 69) A nice duel developing between Maharaj and Khawaja. The latter counter-punches by dancing down the deck early in the over - sending Maharaj the distance, as they say, before working him for one. Feet were key. Marsh, not missing out, plants his enormous leg down the wicket and strokes Maharaj wide of mid-off for a boundary of his own.
61st over: Australia 184-4 (M Marsh 22, Khawaja 62) The crack-fascination begins as Rabada - over the wicket to Marsh - lands one well outside off-stump that rears violently toward Marsh, narrowly missing off stump. Rueful, wry smiles all round. Rabada seems to be setting Marsh up for the one that tails back. He attempts this late in the over, but the radar is significantly off and De Kock scrambles to save it down the leg side. The noose is tightening...
60th over: Australia 182-4 (M Marsh 20, Khawaja 62) Marsh works Maharaj for one through the off-side, before the spinner decides to come around the wicket to Khawaja, with two men stationed on the leg awaiting a chance. An rank, overpitched delivery - dispatched straight by Khawaja - punctuates an otherwise testing over.
59th over: Australia 177-4 (M Marsh 19, Khawaja 58) A bit more variation from Rabada this over. A short one, a ball from wide of the crease, and then finally a a fuller, late-swinging delivery that exposes Khawaja’s leaden feet. Two plays and misses ensue. Both bowlers have started well.
58th over: Australia 173-4 (M Marsh 19, Khawaja 58) Maharaj is around the wicket to Marsh as Healy continues his panic about Rabada’s follow-through. Men already crowd the bat. Most deliveries skid through. Australian’s wait in fear for the one that spins. He’s through the over quickly and it’s another maiden.
57th over: Australia 173-4 (Khawaja 58, M Marsh 19) The irrepressibly impressive Kagiso Rabada takes up the ‘reins’ (thanks Brendon, never again) at the other end, tailing the ball away to the left-handed Khawaja immediately. Commentators Warne and Healy are immediately concerned with Rabada running down the danger zone. A maiden to Rabada - we should probably get used to that.
56th over: Australia 173-4 (M Marsh 19, Khawaja 58) Faf Du Plessis, somewhat surprisingly, commences proceedings with spin. Keshav Maharaj immediately finds the top half of the bat, eliciting groans from the close-in fielders. Won’t be the first time today. Marsh responds with a neat whip off his hip for a boundary, before Maharaj tests him on leg-stump for the remainder of the over. Four leg byes finish the over. Rabada from the other end. 534 balls to go...
Pleased to report my first Guardian comment has come in. Thank you Brendon for highlighting my early grammatical errors. Adam Collins will indeed be taking the ‘reins’. Having said that, he may one day ‘reign’ – a possible Freudian slip from me? Probably not, it was just poor spelling. Welcome to the Guardian, evidently.
Welcome to day five
“If they can just…”
Hello and welcome to day five of the first test of the Australian summer, and, possibly, the last day of Test cricket at the WACA Ground.
It’s 4.10am in Cape Town, 2.10am in London, 1.10pm in Australia’s East and 10.10am in Australia’s West. Wherever you are, a huge hello and cheers for joining. I’m Sam Perry, debuting on this storied live blog for the entire morning session – should it last that long, of course.
Australia resumes this morning at 169-4 with 90 overs remaining, with six fragile wickets standing between South Africa and a thoroughly outstanding test victory. The Proteas have been utterly dominant for the entire contest, barring day one, growing into the contest as the match goes on. Temba Bavuma’s runout and Kagiso Rabada’s exhibition of swing bowling will not be forgotten swiftly – both already belong in the annals of Test highlights this decade.
For Australia, consternation will reign throughout the day as it collectively tries to grasp just how far it may have fallen. Going down in the subcontinent is one thing, but to be so comprehensively outplayed at home? The nation needs to be held. Observing its collective reaction to the grief of losing brings its own entertainment though, because while there is an inevitability hanging over the remainder of the match, finality always triggers the wildest spectrum of approaches. I’ll be hoping to document this today. Brace yourselves for sad resignation, irrational hope, and the age-old approach of ‘bargaining’ – a well-known stage in the grieving process. ‘If they can just get through this hour…’
Of course, memories of Faf Du Plessis’ epic resistance for South Africa in Adelaide loom large. Channel Nine has already shown these scenes twice already in it’s pre-day coverage. But the overriding feeling is that Australia, with its zealous philosophical commitment to aggressive cricket and quick scoring, feel ill-equipped to achieve something similar.
Whatever the case, I’m anticipating wickets, widening cracks and recriminations. It could all happen very quickly, but if not, Adam Collins will take the reigns for the second session.
If you want to get in touch I’m fairly sure my info is somewhere on the left of screen, but if it isn’t, email me at sam.perry.freelance@guardian.co.uk or heap public scorn on Twitter, where I’m at @sjjperry. See you soon.
Sam will be here shortly, which should give you enough time to catch up on how day four panned out:
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