The final analysis
Well, South Africa didn’t lose a wicket today until the final over of the second session, which tells you a fair bit, as do the batting efforts of Dean Elgar and JP Duminy; 127 off 316 and 141 off 225 respectively. They put on an even 250 for the third wicket and have basically put Australia on the ropes.
Australia’s bowlers bent their backs all day but lacked a cutting edge. Peter Siddle has 2-47 from 22, Josh Hazlewood 2-97 from 32, Mitch Starc 1-99 from 27 and in a mature and wholehearted effort, Mitch Marsh took 1-52 off 22, blooming late after looking unlikely to break through during the first half of the day. The less said about Nathan Lyon’s fortunes the better.
So Australia go to the sheds 388 in arrears and even facing a side one strike bowler down, are staring into the abyss. Who know, Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander might put on another 100 tomorrow? Join us then for all the live action and thank you for your company today.
Stumps on day three in Perth - South Africa lead by 388
126th over: South Africa 390-6 (de Kock 16, Philander 23)
Again Siddle gets some bite off the pitch to trouble Philander, who cops one near his fingers, or perhaps on the handle of the bat, when the ball hisses up out of a crack. Siddle is taking as long as humanly possible between deliveries, apparently in an attempt to avoid any of his team-mates having to bowl another over. Philander almost chips a catch to short cover when the penultimate delivery comes through a little slow, but blocks the last to survive to stumps. That is that on a day in which South Africa have thoroughly outplayed Australia.
125th over: South Africa 389-6 (de Kock 15, Philander 23)
Oof, Hazlewood gets one to kick up out of a crack and pass Philander’s edge, but the joke is on Australia if they’re encouraged by sights like that. You’d be asking for the heavy roller overnight. Moments later Philander unfurls a textbook pull shot, swivelling around to appreciate it hitting the rope after Usman Khawaja botches a dive and save. It’s been that kind of day for the home side.
124th over: South Africa 384-6 (de Kock 14, Philander 19)
One over of Nathan Lyon appears to have been enough for Steve Smith, so Peter Siddle returns for one final spell. Siddle barely dropped below the 131-132kmph mark today in an indefatigable effort, but even he’s dropped a yard with the end of the day in sight. He also errs in his width with the final delivery here and Philander cashes in with another boundary. South Africa lead by 382. Unassailable, even a bowler down? Probably.
123rd over: South Africa 379-6 (de Kock 13, Philander 15)
Josh Hazlewood is into his 31st over now, perhaps not the scenario he envisaged for this innings when South Africa were reeling at 32-4 in the first dig. He’s ducking it in towards Philander’s off stump again and nearly castles him with some serious swerve off the penultimate delivery. No dice. Another maiden. We’ve got about 15 minutes until the Australians are out of their misery. It took them the best part of two sessions to take their first wicket of the day and this South African tail could prove just as tricky.
122nd over: South Africa 379-6 (de Kock 13, Philander 15)
A superb stat just now as Nathan Lyon arrives for another bowl, though grim for him: the third innings of the game is the nightmare slot for spinners, who on average, take their wickets at a cost of 70+ each at this point of Waca Tests. Doesn’t exactly fill you with hope. Lyon is worked around a bit and then drags down a half-tracker, which de Kock biffs through cover for a boundary.
121st over: South Africa 372-6 (de Kock 7, Philander 14)
With Mitchell Marsh having worked himself to exhaustion, Josh Hazlewood makes a return to the attack, possibly to close out the night. He’s tailing it in towards the right-handed Philander, with the latter seeming to have an unshakable feel for the precise location of his off stump. With that, it’s time to watch David Warner’s OLED advert for the 85th time today.
120th over: South Africa 370-6 (de Kock 6, Philander 13)
Hmm, Philander is looking very much a batsman now as he strokes Starc to the fence with a lovely cover drive, then repeats the dose a couple of balls later. I guess I shouldn’t have mozzed the Australian last over.
119th over: South Africa 362-6 (de Kock 6, Philander 5)
The figures of the Mitchell’s Starc and Marsh will not end up being hugely impressive but both have done well in their current spells; 1-19 from six for Starc and 1-14 off four for Marsh as this over comes to an end. It’s salvaged something out of a very ordinary day and the South Africans are effectively seven down with Steyn unlikely to bat.
118th over: South Africa 357-6 (de Kock 6, Philander 0)
“Starc is the best ripper of tails in the world,” says Ian Healy. Hmm, we shall see. At the very least he’s fired up and piffs the ball back at the stumps when Philander gets ahead of himself a little. It’s a maiden for Starc, with a leg bye the only damage, and he ends the over giving de Kock a mouthful.
117th over: South Africa 356-6 (de Kock 6, Philander 0)
He’s made a scratchy start by recent standards, but Quinton de Kock gets going beautifully by creaming Mitch Marsh off his pads to pick up four. There’s nearly another from a cracking straight drive but Marsh cuts it off.
116th over: South Africa 352-6 (de Kock 2, Philander 0)
Vernon Philander is the new man at the crease and he has decent motivation to make some runs here: he’ll be the one who’ll need to do a fair share of the bowling to win this game.
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WICKET! du Plessis c Nevill b Starc 32 (South Africa 352-6)
The skipper goes! And Mitchell Starc finally gets his wicket with a thick outside edge to the keeper. Only moments earlier Adam Voges had missed a chance to catch a Quinton de Kock top edge, only just getting his fingers to a chance that hung in the air forever. Starc could hardly complain given his own efforts earlier, but gets a vital breakthrough regardless.
115th over: South Africa 351-5 (du Plessis 32, de Kock 1)
Marsh continues his superb spell but I’m a little distracted again, this time by Ian Chappell giving WinViz a ribbing by saying it wouldn’t have predicted the result of Headingley ‘81. In the meantime de Kock gets off the mark with a single.
114th over: South Africa 350-5 (du Plessis 32, de Kock 0)
“If Australia win this hour convincingly,” starts Mark Nicholas, before coming to his senses and mumbling the rest. All of a sudden the ball is swinging about the place for Mitchell Starc, but it’s too little too late for the home side. Faf du Plessis swivels into an ambitious hook and fortune favours the brave when it flies off a thick top edge for another boundary. That’s 350 for South Africa.
113th over: South Africa 346-5 (du Plessis 28, de Kock 0)
First innings hero Quinton de Kock reaches the crease now and keeps out a big, in-swinging yorker from Marsh, who is suddenly looking a game-turner after all of us had written him off only a few hours ago.
WICKET! Bavuma c Khawaja b Marsh 8 (South Africa 346-5)
Bavuma holes out! Well that came out of the blue. Bavuma had looked a million bucks a few moments earlier, cracking Marsh for a beautiful straight drive to the fence, but he’s soon hoofing the returning bowler out over square leg and Khawaja moves around swiftly and holds a tricky catch looking into the sun. Marsh is delighted, finally getting some reward for his 19 overs of toil today.
112th over: South Africa 342-4 (du Plessis 28, Bavuma 4)
The South African pair are having a perfectly pleasant time picking runs off Mitchell Starc now, and my computer troubles endure. Maybe Warnie has hacked me. The Starc over finishes painfully for the bowler, with du Plessis getting a thick outside edge through a gap at gully and picking up four more.
111th over: South Africa 328-4 (du Plessis 18, Bavuma 4)
Bavuma is off the mark with a boundary but I miss the the entire episode after falling victim to the karmic retribution I should have known would come for mocking Shane Warne on Twitter.
110th over: South Africa 328-4 (du Plessis 18, Bavuma 0)
With du Plessis on strike Starc has two slips and two gullies, which is a vast improvement on some of Smith’s defensive fields of the morning. They’re a moot point when the bowler angles one across towards fine leg and gets glanced to the rope. “I’ve got a feeling Australia might get a wicket,” is Shane Warne’s optimistic response to that sight. Sadly for Australia, that prophecy does not come to pass.
109th over: South Africa 324-4 (du Plessis 14, Bavuma 0)
There’s a ring of men on the leg side for Bavuma and Hazlewood is shaping it in towards his pads, trying to tempt him into something injudicious. Instead he’s calm and plays only when he needs to, controlling the strokes he does play to the on side. “There’s something building out there!” froths Michael Slater about the Hazlewood over. Yes Slats, a match-winning lead is what’s building.
108th over: South Africa 324-4 (du Plessis 14, Bavuma 0)
Mitchell Starc is brought back into the fray, perhaps with the intention of roughing up the new man with some short stuff. Alas, he doesn’t get a go at him as du Plessis plays out a maiden.
107th over: South Africa 324-4 (du Plessis 14, Bavuma 0)
Temba Bavuma is the new man at the crease now and his appearance is a sure sign that South Africa are looking to grind this out as long as possible, rather than getting Quinny de Kock in for some fireworks. Bavuma was doughty and highly effective in the first innings and has a good look at the rest of this excellent over from Hazlewood.
WICKET! Elgar c Starc b Hazlewood 127 (316) (South Africa 324-4)
It’s been a superb innings but Elgar is gone! Hazlewood does the trick, bowling full and wide outside off stump and tempting the tiring Protea forward and into a lavish drive, which ends up in the hands of Mitchell Starc at the finer of two gullies. A gem of a knock, that.
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106th over: South Africa 324-3 (Elgar 127, du Plessis 14)
Nathan Lyon’s on now, perhaps in attempt to stir something in the batsmen and that does happen when Elgar turns a short one past the hand of Shaun Marsh at short leg. You could hardly call it a chance but it’s at least a bit of excitement in what has been a fairly dour session of cricket.
The local rags are not exactly loving this, it’s safe to say.
First edition front page. #ausvsa pic.twitter.com/s9zIRiPAkT
— Kyle Pollard (@KylePollard) November 5, 2016
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105th over: South Africa 321-3 (Elgar 126, du Plessis 12)
This Josh Hazlewood over starts with a boundary to du Plessis but I won’t lie, I become utterly absorbed in Kevin Pietersen’s long-winded rant about how IPL and T20 leagues are breaking down the barriers between international sides and making them more friendly with each other, the main byproduct of which, if Pietersen is taken at his word, is...cuddles.
104th over: South Africa 317-3 (Elgar 126, du Plessis 8)
Anyone else not buying the argument that the lack of Steyn will badly impact South Africa in bowling the Aussies out? The way a few of them played Maharaj’s spin in the first innings I’m be pretty confident about the Proteas bowling attack. Peter Salmon writes in about my Eddie Paynter update before: “Thanks for that spiel about the gloves (over 87). Now every time I go to the cricket I’ll be thinking about S&M. And every time I go to an S&M party, I’ll be thinking about the cricket. Neither good.”
103rd over: South Africa 316-3 (Elgar 126, du Plessis 7)
Josh Hazlewood is back for another spell and the uneven bounce of a few deliveries in Australia are frustrating for the Aussies on two levels: they don’t bring wickets, and also serve as a reminder that batting might get a little more difficult tomorrow. Elgar bides his time and then deflects a short one off his hip to pick up a boundary off the final ball, a situation that leaves Hazlewood cursing himself.
102nd over: South Africa 311-3 (Elgar 122, du Plessis 6)
This is some pretty decent stuff from Mitchell Marsh now. He must sense the lounge rooms of Australia filling with rancour and he’s producing his best spell of the game, finishing this over with a jaffa to Elgar, who looks as tired as you’d expect after 308 deliveries of batting in this heat.
101st over: South Africa 310-3 (Elgar 122, du Plessis 5)
If I haven’t mentioned it already, it’s been hovering around 35 degrees for most of the afternoon in Perth so Australia contend not only with the fatigue of their bowlers but, when the time comes, that of their batsmen as well. Siddle is putting in a lionhearted effort here but eventually over-pitches, allowing Elgar to pick off his 16th boundary with a straight drive.
100th over: South Africa 305-3 (Elgar 118, du Plessis 4)
As Marsh continues his attempt to bore Elgar out of his wicket, I sense some restlessness in the crowd. That or they’ve run out of Swan Lager. Elgar breaks the deadlock with a thick outside edge past the cordon, which runs away for four. South Africa now lead by enough to win the game in a canter, if you ask me.
99th over: South Africa 301-3 (Elgar 114, du Plessis 4)
Like Marsh before him, and like himself before that, and himself again the over before, Siddle is unerringly accurate in this over, a situation that results in minimal scoring opportunities. It’s a maiden. C’mon Faf, go the tonk.
98th over: South Africa 301-3 (Elgar 114, du Plessis 4)
Mitch Marsh is probing away nicely outside off stump to Elgar, both staunching the bleeding we saw before tea and tempting him to play a rash stroke. He doesn’t, though is unlucky he doesn’t pierce the off side field with an attractive drive to finish the maiden over.
Now, how much more South Africa need to get just to cover for the absence of their lead bowler? 50? 100? #AusvSA
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 5, 2016
97th over: South Africa 301-3 (Elgar 114, du Plessis 4)
Siddle’s bustling away with typical vigour, and with du Plessis on strike he has a slip, gully, point, short cover and a man in closer at mid-on. He’s most threatening with that wide one outside off, which has du Plessis flashing a drive when the ball is really darting away off the seam. Too much, in this instance, to actually take an edge.
96th over: South Africa 300-3 (Elgar 113, du Plessis 4)
Wicketless for the first two session, Mitch Marsh is reintroduced to the attack with a similar game plan for Elgar; wide of off stump with the field stacked in close. Elgar was cramping up before tea but he’s presumably had a shower, a rub-down and eaten a few bananas to get himself going again. But it presents an interesting equation: South Africa need to attack now while the Aussie bowlers are fatigued. Should Elgar take the ‘hit out or get out’ approach? In the meantime, du Plessis lathers an on-drive for four to get off the mark and bring up 300 for his side.
95th over: South Africa 295-3 (Elgar 112, du Plessis 0)
OK, we’re off and away after tea and the prospects aren’t a whole lot rosier for Australia with Proteas captain Faf du Plessis heading to the crease, but he gets a jaffa from Siddle first up. It’s a little wide of off stump and just back of a good length, and jags away from the outside edge with real bite. A few dots round out a wicket maiden and the Aussies have a slight spring in their step.
This the sort of break in play where David Gower was once seen with a glass of champagne. Asked why, he said "I'm celebrating our wicket!"
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 5, 2016
WICKET! JP Duminy c Nevill b Siddle 141 (South Africa 295-3) - and that is tea
Got him! Yes, it was no sure thing but JP Duminy has to go, right on tea. What a shame. It was a superb knock but he’s chased a wide one and perished right as he might have tucked his bat away and taken a well-earned rest in the sheds. Duminy’s 141 came from 225 deliveries and has given his side what might prove an unassailable lead in this Test.
Updated
Review! The Australians think they have Duminy caught behind
95th over: South Africa 295-2 (Elgar 112, Duminy 141)
It was a huuuuuge noise but Aleem Dar says no. Let’s look at snicko.
94th over: South Africa 295-2 (Elgar 112, Duminy 141)
It’s not a track to emphasise his strong suits but this has been a particularly miserable session for Nathan Lyon, who continues without looking like taking a wicket in this over. Duminy waits five balls to work a single and Elgar does the rest. We’ll have one more over before tea, I think.
KP should make nature documentaries. His husky, reverent tones sound like he's crouched behind a bush watching two rhinos flirting.
— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) November 5, 2016
93rd over: South Africa 294-2 (Elgar 112, Duminy 140)
Siddle powers on with Voges back in that short mid-off position beside the pitch and another man a few metres right of him, which is at least a concerted mode of attack for the Aussies. Siddle’s line is predictably skewed towards the off side and a maiden ensues, but I can’t imagine either batsman is willing to throw it away in the last few overs before tea.
Just in: punishing photograph evidence of Mitchell Starc’s miss before. There’s no hiding out in the middle of the Waca.
92nd over: South Africa 294-2 (Elgar 112, Duminy 140)
Uninspired and uninspiring is what you’d call Australia right now. This South African pair have been magnificent in negotiating both of the first two sessions today, especially given the various batting collapses preceding. Here they continue as before to Lyon, pushing singles and waiting for the bad ball. We’re just on 15 minutes away from tea and it can’t come quick enough for the bowling side.
91st over: South Africa 292-2 (Elgar 111, Duminy 139)
New bowler, same result. Peter Siddle is back for another bowl now and Dean Elgar greets him with the full face of the bat and lovely straight drive, which bullets its way past the bowler before thumping into the fence. There’s soon a man in close, next to the non-striker at short mid-off, but no dice for Siddle as he looks for the breakthrough.
90th over: South Africa 288-2 (Elgar 107, Duminy 139)
Nathan Lyon continues to wheel away and there’s some brief excitement when Elgar lofts him to leg, but the ball falls to the turf perfectly safe and this partnership continues to grind on. The Australians are basically hanging out for tea at the moment. It’s not far off.
89th over: South Africa 285-2 (Elgar 104, Duminy 139)
Save for a dodgy bit of evasive work from Duminy, which ends in runs anyway, it’s not a hugely eventful over from Hazlewood, though Dean Elgar receives some treatment on his arm at the end of the over and there’s the following admission from national selector Mark Waugh, who says Mitch Marsh will play in Adelaide.
Dean Elgar brings up his century!
88th over: South Africa 281-2 (Elgar 103, Duminy 136)
It’s a case of third time lucky for Steve Smith’s side on that ball issue; something changed in Hazlewood’s final two deliveries of the last over and it no longer fits through Nigel Llong’s metal contraption, so the umpires pick another from the box. With that, Nathan Lyon is introduced into the attack and Dean Elgar biffs him through cover to collect the boundary that brings up his fifth Test century, which has come off 255 deliveries and taken a marathon 390 minutes. Good on him. He got a pair last time he played a Test at the Waca.
Australia successfully get the ball changed. Now lobbying for a fresh bowling attack. #AUSvSA
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 5, 2016
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87th over: South Africa 277-2 (Elgar 99, Duminy 136)
JP Duminy takes guard after a drink and promptly dispatches Josh Hazlewood to the fence at third man with a lovely late cut. Mark Nicholas is in raptures, saying the batsman has transformed from a boy to a man in the last 24 hours. Reminder: JP Duminy is 32 years old. Another reminder: Test cricket does actually occur outside Australia. Four balls into the over the Australians again decide that the ball is out of shape, and again Nigel Llong calls BS on that notion.
Meanwhile, you don’t see gloves like these anymore. Well, not outside of S&M dungeons anyway.
#OnThisDay in 1901, Eddie Paynter was born. He averaged 59.23 in his 20 Tests, the 2nd highest (min. of 10 innings played) for England pic.twitter.com/uyj5Ko74iF
— ICC (@ICC) November 5, 2016
86th over: South Africa 273-2 (Elgar 99, Duminy 132)
I suppose the conversation that needs to be had here is whether Mitchell Starc was brought back a little early from his various injury complaints of the winter. He’s seemed inhibited at times, though one can’t underestimate the impact of downward momentum. Here he tails one into the pads of Elgar and there’s a stifled appeal, but it was going down leg. Off the over’s final delivery Elgar plays a compact square drive to the fence at deep point and moves to 99. He looks a touch nervous, but mainly exhausted from his stout efforts today.
85th over: South Africa 268-2 (Elgar 95, Duminy 131)
Hazlewood is accurate but not as penetrative as his captain would hope in the early stages of this over, though he’s making Elgar work for his hundred. It’s a maiden, but Australia’s constipated bowling effort continues and the new ball is making little difference to the situation.
84th over: South Africa 268-2 (Elgar 95, Duminy 131)
Adam Voges is feeling around at his left hamstring around the buttock region as he takes his position at first slip, but you’d guess it’s a good sign that he hasn’t gone off for treatment just yet. To be honest the Australians should probably get him straight off as a precaution given the task they’ll have ahead of them with the bat. The only thing the home crowd has to cheer in this over is David Warner’s dive at the rope to save another boundary. The Nine team are so bored they’ve fallen back on that tried and true conversational classic: Mark Taylor wasn’t very agile in the field.
Outstanding from David Warner #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/C5QTSOEttE
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 5, 2016
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83rd over: South Africa 264-2 (Elgar 92, Duminy 130)
Another over of all-sorts from Hazlewood features further calamity for Australia when Adam Voges appears to tweak his hamstring in the act of diving to save a boundary. Duminy has a lucky moment when an ungainly ducking action ends with the ball sliding off the back of his bat to fine leg for a single. It might have gone anywhere.
82nd over: South Africa 259-2 (Elgar 92, Duminy 125)
Mitchell Starc pairs with Hazlewood with the new ball and also starts on the wrong line, allowing Duminy to nudge a couple of runs to fine leg. Apologies if I’m sounding like a broken record here. The rest of the over is better, though 142kmph is a little down on the kind of pace we’ve become accustomed to with Starc.
Not long after the broadcaster pans to a shot of Australian chairman of selectors Rod Marsh, who has somewhat disturbingly shaved off his iconic moustache. He’s probably going incognito the way his selected side has played the last two days.
81st over: South Africa 256-2 (Elgar 92, Duminy 122)
New ball, new beginning? The Australians will certainly hope so as Josh Hazlewood reappears, but he strays onto Duminy’s pads first up and if not for some smart work by Siddle sliding into the boundary it would have been a boundary and not three. Bizarrely, Smith has only two slips in place for Elgar. Shaun Marsh is standing at short cover, probably wondering why the hell he’s there.
Elgar edges short of gully, then glances another straight one to the rope at fine leg and makes it two boundaries in as many balls with a crisp cover drive to move into the 90s. Unhappy with himself, Hazlewood comes around the wicket, which is a grim admission that he’s made a meal of the rest of the over. The Australians end it complaining about the ball (hitting the fence too often?) but Nigel Llong is having none of it.
80th over: South Africa 245-2 (Elgar 84, Duminy 119)
With the second new ball an over away, Voges is given another over to try and cause some major embarrassment to the batsmen but Elgar is content to see him off and take his chances against the shiny Kookaburra as he approaches three figures.
79th over: South Africa 245-2 (Elgar 84, Duminy 119)
Nathan Lyon was the unlucky bowler out of that Mitchell Starc pratfall from two overs ago, but he soldiers on. “C’mon boys, crack it open!” yells Peter Nevill behind the stumps. By that I assume he’s talking about a glass case containing the mid-2000s versions of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. In lieu of such a development, Duminy cuts late from a middle stump line to collect the kind of boundary that enrages bowlers. Lyon just looks a bit deflated for now.
78th over: South Africa 239-2 (Elgar 83, Duminy 114)
That desperation I spoke of earlier reaches new levels with the introduction of Adam Voges to the bowling attack. His left arm orthodox spin is accurate enough and a bit of a novelty, and both batsmen look a little scared at the prospect of getting out to a part-timer, so maybe it’s not the worst idea.
Reader Phil Withall doesn’t like what he sees. “The Australian bowling attack is slowly starting to resemble a group of men at the end of a long night on the town. Lots of threats but nothing of any substance. What can they do?” Bowl two balls at once? Underarm? Or something even more outlandish: some Steve Smith leg-spin?
77th over: South Africa 237-2 (Elgar 82, Duminy 113)
Australia have sunk to the point where they’re rejoicing at successful dives in the field, as per Marsh’s to start the over, but there’s a far more depressing sight to come when Elgar skies a lofted drive towards mid-off and Mitch Starc circles around like Phil Tufnel before crashing to the ground without laying a finger on it. Duminy rubs it in further by thumping Lyon for six through the same region to finish the over. Australia are an absolute rabble at the moment.
76th over: South Africa 229-2 (Elgar 81, Duminy 106)
There’s a puzzling moment here when Duminy sends an inside edge through his legs for four, because it results in a straight-faced appeal to the umpire by Mitch Marsh. Exactly what he’s asking for is anyone’s guess. Marsh is even more chagrined at the end of over when Duminy works a single from the final delivery and looks to continue his hot hand in the next over.
If anyone is wondering, Dean is still not my favourite E Algar.
75th over: South Africa 223-2 (Elgar 81, Duminy 101)
Duminy shows his hand now, putting aside the milestone celebration and dancing down the track to Lyon’s spin, though he can’t beat mid-off and gets only a single for his audacious play. Anything he can do, Elgar can do better. The latter takes two half-skips down the track and unfurls one very effective straight drive to pick up a boundary. Having faced 217 deliveries now, he’s just about earned himself squatters rights once they’ve shuttered the Waca for good.
JP Duminy brings up his century!
74th over: South Africa 218-2 (Elgar 77, Duminy 100)
Perhaps I was being a little harsh on Mitch Marsh before. He is tailing it around a little and certainly not costing many runs, but he’s powerless to stop JP Duminy driving two to bring up a classy century. It took him 237 minutes, 169 deliveries, featured 17 boundaries, and has put his side in a commanding position in this Test. Marsh ends the over with the pained expression of a man with plenty of hard labour ahead.
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73rd over: South Africa 213-2 (Elgar 75, Duminy 98)
Nathan Lyon continues with the same field as his last over and similar lines of attack, which is to say mostly defence. It takes Elgar five deliveries to work a single and that’s the only damage. Lyon is clearly being tasked with building some pressure, so hopefully a strike bowler appears at the other end soon.
72nd over: South Africa 213-2 (Elgar 75, Duminy 98)
Hmm, there was absolutely nothing wrong with Josh Hazlewood’s last over but he’s now punted from the attack in favour of Mitch Marsh, whose medium pacers before lunch were so military he should have been wearing a baggy green beret. Is Steve Smith just swapping the ends Hazlewood and Lyon bowl at? You’d hope so. Duminy moves to 98 with a single and Elgar gets one too but there’s little else happening.
Reader Chris Langmead arrives with a question. “I cannot work out if KP is an erudite addition to comm box or I am grading on the “Brayshaw Curve”. Thoughts?”
I think he’s very good, Chris, though he needs to get over this idea that he’s not there to criticise anyone, as stated yesterday. KP, that literally is your job. But let’s be honest, any new accent or personality is a welcome change in this commentary team.
71st over: South Africa 211-2 (Elgar 74, Duminy 97)
Perhaps lulled into a period of private contemplation as to which cartoons David Warner likes watching on his OLED TV, Dean Elgar is a little loose with a cut shot off Lyon, but all ends well for the batsman when the thick edge runs away for four. Lyon has a slip and a short leg but nobody else in close, which seems remiss of Steve Smith. The Australians remain in the holding pattern we saw before lunch.
70th over: South Africa 207-2 (Elgar 70, Duminy 97)
Hmm, Duminy is perhaps a little toey now with the milestone approaching. Hazlewood endures and the Proteas batsman almost chops him on trying to force a length ball that’s probably a little too far away from his body. It’s a typical Hazlewood over: nagging; always asking something of the batsman; occasionally catching him between defence and attack. Jammed up a couple of times, Duminy eventually calls for a new bat at the end of what turns out to be a maiden over.
69th over: South Africa 207-2 (Elgar 70, Duminy 97)
After Starc’s nightmare start, Smith wisely gives him a rest and brings Nathan Lyon on for a trundle. KP thinks he’s been under-bowled and I tend to agree, though right as I type that he starts with a half-tracker that gifts Duminy a boundary through point and moves the South African within one blow of a ton. The batsman is a little more circumspect thereafter, and moves to 97 with the kind of innocuous but uppish drive that excites wicket-starved cricket teams. That’s Australia, lest there be any confusion.
Australia haven't won a Test since Warner started advertising OLED TVs. Not saying it's to blame. Saying we should burn all Harvey Normans.
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 5, 2016
68th over: South Africa 202-2 (Elgar 70, Duminy 92)
A single off the final delivery of Starc’s first over gives Duminy strike for the next, and it seems a pretty solid plan when he twice pastes Hazlewood through cover to collect twin boundaries at the start of the over. He’s had his struggles in the past, Duminy, but he’s looking like Brian Lara as the Proteas move past 200. With that the South African lead reaches 200, and Steve Smith looks like he wants the game relocated to Burswood pronto.
67th over: South Africa 193-2 (Elgar 70, Duminy 83)
Mitchell Starc is tossed the ball after lunch and granting JP Duminy some generous width at half-volley length, he’s duly dispatched through cover for a boundary – a dose Duminy doubles a ball later when Starc transgresses again. It’s a genuinely poor over from the big Australian, whose pitch map will end up looking like a Jackson Pollock if he maintains these efforts.
One more update before we’re under way after lunch
I can’t bear watching this advert once more, and it’s only day three of the first Test. Overseas readers: imagine having this thrown at you after EVERY SINGLE OVER. I guess it’s at least “on brand” for Warner.
And also a bit on Dale Steyn’s unfortunate injury
It will put him out for six months but with Shaun Pollock’s South African Test wicket record up for grabs, Steyn says he’ll be back. How sad that his career could peter out with injuries. He’s been a hell of a bowler for the Proteas. One thing is for sure: Morne Morkel will be coming straight in for the Adelaide Test.
An update on some other candidates for this Australian side
Glenn Maxwell is in the runs for Victoria and Moises Henriques is setting himself well too. More on that below.
And hello
Russell Jackson here to relieve Adam Collins of his duties and let him take a welcome rest at fine leg. You can get me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com with all your comments and quips. Chris Rogers is doing a masterclass on TV right now and spruiking his new book, which I’m yet to tuck into but can at least recommend for its Lillee/Marshesque pun title: Bucking the Trend. It’s not quite “Gloves, Sweat and Tears,” but I like it.
Mini-boof-mentum?
Jake Lehmann is in the runs and, you sense, anyone else who fits that bill might be in for an interesting phone call this week if Australia keep playing as they have in the last 24 hours.
Jake Lehmann smashes 4 for 5th f/c ton as SA 9/430 hammers TAS 98. #SheffieldShield @theTiser
— richard earle (@RichardEarle7) November 5, 2016
LUNCH: South Africa 183-2 (Elgar 69, Duminy 74)
The third day promised to be one for the survivors, and so far it has been just that. Australia haven’t made a breakthrough, and in turn - with South Africa adding 79 without the loss of either Elgar (69) or Duminy (74) - their lead is now getting to a worrying stage for Smith and co.
Which isn’t to say the bowlers didn’t create chances. On half a dozen occasions or more bats were beaten, Elgar’s more often than not. Hazlewood was outstanding and deserved at least something, while Mitchell Marsh looked the next most likely; both, instructively perhaps, coming down from the northern end. Starc and Siddle were less convincing, while the offspinner Lyon didn’t get on at all. That’s certain to change in the middle session as the temperature builds to a forecast top of 37 before the afternoon is out.
Right, enough from me. Russell Jackson is taking up the attack after the interval. Thanks for the good times today and enjoy the remainder of it. It’ll be exhausting, but worth it. See you tomorrow.
66th over: South Africa 183-2 (Elgar 69, Duminy 74) A shout for leg before when Hazlewood beats Duminy’s bat from around the wicket. It has come back a long way, but hit high on the flap. Dirk Nannes expressing enormous respect for the Hazlewood spell on radio. It’s a maiden. And... it’s lunch.
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65th over: South Africa 183-2 (Elgar 69, Duminy 74) Siddle draws a false kind of stroke from Duminy, but the edge is along the ground. No dramas there. Other than that, Siddle is preferring to be full and straight, other than when he changes up with a bouncer - easily handled by Duminy with a single to long leg.
Of interest to the Australian coach, his son Jake has just entered the 90s for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. Not entirely crazy that by the time Lehmann Snr gives away the coaching gig (contracted until after the 2019 Ashes) that his son could feature in the national side he is overseeing.
Smith : I see what ya did yesterday Aleem : It was out Smith : You know what i wanna do? Just what Kato did to Pup https://t.co/2rsGdlAIwS
— Isabelle (@Pacebouncy) November 5, 2016
64th over: South Africa 182-2 (Elgar 69, Duminy 73) In comes a second slip now for Hazlewood. Good from Smith. Then a third, after the NSW quick leaves a ball at the very last moment close to his off stump. Then beaten, by a long way. Maybe so far that it was actually a leave? Now Hazlewood drops short, Elgar has a crack at it, but misses. Hazlewood stares. What a contest! Test Match Cricket! And a maiden, in case you were wondering.
63rd over: South Africa 182-2 (Elgar 69, Duminy 73) Right, so it is Siddle again. Really chopping and changing now Captain Smudge in search of something. It won’t be this offer, Siddle taking his second boundary in the space of a few balls via the gully region; maybe fifth slip on this occasion. Broadly in control, with only one slip in the cordon as it is. Duminy miscalculates next delivery and nearly spoons back to the bowler, but is safer in defence for the remainder of the over. Probably three overs to lunch. Maybe four if they sneak Lyon on for a couple of 90-second specials.
62nd over: South Africa 176-2 (Elgar 68, Duminy 68) Big Josh Hazlewood™ back into the show from the Prindiville. I learned today that Mr Prindiville was the President of the Association when they popped up the stand. Great little room over there called the “Stumps” gallery where every Test Match the players from both sides sign a stump. Simple, but effective. This is the 43rd Test played at the Waca ground since the first in 1970. Okay, enough of that. After finding his range outside the off stump Hazlewood brings it back towards the woodwork and there’s a big should for lbw. Unfortunately for the Australians an inside edge came first, as it likely would have hit Duminy’s valuables. A good end to the over for the batsman, taking three behind point with a bit of that old deft touch of his. And he’s caught up to Elgar, 68 apiece. Their stand 131. Clutch.
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61st over: South Africa 173-2 (Elgar 68, Duminy 65) After a string of dots Duminy takes one into the offside to a delivery he was merely defending at. That’s good, alert running. And good running is good batting. Then some filth from the Australians: Starc spraying it badly down legside from over the wicket to left-handed Elgar, the angle so marked that Nevill has no chance to stop it, so he doesn’t dive. Four byes. Probably no point, but doesn’t look great. On the plus side: loads of reverse swing. Not just that ball either. What he’d give to sneak one through before lunch.
"Sliding down the leg side with a bit of reverse tang." Why do you get the feeling Warnie also says that outside a cricketing context?
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) November 5, 2016
60th over: South Africa 168-2 (Elgar 68, Duminy 64) Full, full, full, full, bouncer, full. Maiden. Can’t question Marsh’s approach, even if he’s taking the crack out of play by targeting the stumps. No spin yet this morning. Let’s see if I can predict my second change of the day: Lyon to replace Marsh for a few ahead of lunch?
59th over: South Africa 168-2 (Elgar 68, Duminy 64) Duminy has this under control. Hasn’t been on strike much of late, but twice in this over strikes strong drives through cover, a couple added to the score on each occasion with limited risk. A half-shout for leg before from Starc ends the over, but going well down the legside.
Just under half of Duminy's runs have been scored through mid off and cover. He has driven beautifully. #AusvSA
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 5, 2016
58th over: South Africa 164-2 (Elgar 68, Duminy 60) I like Mitch Marsh this morning. He takes a while to work into this set, but then beats Elgar with pace crashing into his pad and warranting a loud shout. It is denied and nothing more is said of it, certainly not DRS-worthy. He does follow it up with a yorker. The man most likely just at the moment.
Enjoyable Test Cricket, this. A well established pair fighting hard and staying in control against some very good bowling. #ausvsa
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) November 5, 2016
57th over: South Africa 163-2 (Elgar 68, Duminy 59) So, Starc it is. He struggled this morning, but doesn’t take long to find his yorker. It’s the type that so often nets him a wicket, but Elgar is up to it. He’s up for this. Gerard Whateley observes that there have been “half a dozen wicket taking moments with an ounce of luck here or there.” A bit like South Africa in the first hour yesterday. Until their luck changed, significantly. The lead is 162, something I am certain Smith will have an eye on looking up at the old scoreboard here.
I took a look up there myself before play today. A beautiful old thing with history throughout. Scribbled on the walls are the scoreboard operators favourite days (the Waugh/Waugh NSW partnership from 1990), and least enjoyable (an India v Zimbabwe ODI in 2004).
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56th over: South Africa 160-2 (Elgar 66, Duminy 58) Marsh with another ripper to Elgar, who has seen off his fair share today. Watching live it looked an outside edge between Nevill and Smith at more a second slip than a first. The replay shows that it was actually off the thigh pad, four leg byes signalled by Umpire Dar. But Marsh won’t mind that, and nor should Smith. And here is Mitch Starc coming back. Didn’t expect that. I also didn’t anticipate a Jason Krejza reference, but it is well on point.
Gives Krejza a bowl. That always work well against SA at the WACA.
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) November 5, 2016
55th over: South Africa 155-2 (Elgar 66, Duminy 58) Siddle isn’t quite on it today. Not doing much wrong, but every over seems to give the batsmen something. This time around Duminy gets one on the pads and takes it fine for a boundary.
Chris Rogers explains on the radio: “What has been noticeable today, Australia have tried to attack the stumps more and as a result they have been picked off.” He goes on to say that’ll be largely about trying to profit from any variable bounce; a couple to shoot through and hit the stumps or pads. Makes sense, just isn’t working yet.
“The afternoon (middle) session is an absolute killer,” Rogers goes on to say as it hits 33 degrees outside. Before the famous Fremantle Doctor comes in later on for a bit of respite. All ahead of the Australians, especially if they can’t break this up.
@collinsadam So, is it a "laptops in the fridge" sort of day at the WACA yet, Adam?
— Messy Jez (@messyjez) November 5, 2016
Not in the new media centre here, Jez. Air con doing its job well.
54th over: South Africa 151-2 (Elgar 66, Duminy 54) Marsh looks fairly potent so far today, evidenced by the fact that he enticed Elgar - for no reason at all - to waft at a wider one. Thankfully for the batsmen, he missed it by some margin.
And that’s drinks. Excellent session for South Africa, adding 47 without loss. Big hour coming up for Australia. Hazlewood the best of the home bowlers so far this morning, while the biggest factor could be how quickly this track opens up. When the cracks are hit, they’re flying all over the place.
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53rd over: South Africa 150-2 (Elgar 66, Duminy 53) Very full this morning, Siddle. But then when he brings it back his line is amiss, Elgar hopping onto a nothing delivery on the body, four taken behind square. Hard hit, he’s well on the way to a fifth Test ton here. And that’s the Proteas’ 150.
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52nd over: South Africa 146-2 (Elgar 62, Duminy 53) A direct hit from Warner at mid-on generated some excitement, but thrown upstairs for a second look the third umpire saw that Duminy was home by a foot and a half. With that single it is a 100 run stand between these two. Coming together at 2-for-45, and their best player Amla the man departing at the time for just the one run, it could have been messy for the tourists had this pair not prospered. But they have. Duminy the more dominant of the two, but Elgar the man largely steering the ship. If they can just find a way to bat until lunch it could be the defining partnership of this entire Test Match.
Meanwhile we have a reader comment in from my old boss, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan. Afternoon, Swanny. To be fair, he’s just having a pop at the bowling so far today and suggesting I take up the attack myself. I’ll take that as a comment.
51st over: South Africa 144-2 (Elgar 61, Duminy 52) Back to back maidens, Siddle into his happy place making Elgar play each and every time. Good contest emerging between the two.
Siddle and Marsh have started really well here. Some movement for Siddle and Marsh is getting pace and bounce. Sense a wicket ... #ausvsa
— Andrew Faulkner (@AndrewFaulkner9) November 5, 2016
50th over: South Africa 144-2 (Elgar 61, Duminy 52) Mitch Marsh replaces Hazlewood after a very good spell. A big couple of days for the West Australian. The beauty of his all-round craft is that he has more than one redemption opportunity, today’s with the ball. It’s essentially what happened last summer, he wasn’t making any runs but at Melbourne in particular he was the best of Australia’s bowlers in the second dig. And it is a good start from him here, hitting a consistent line and presumably successful in hitting the crack a couple of times - one going low, the other high. That’s his job from that Prindiville Stand end: hit the crack. Oh and a ripper to finish the set, legitimately too good for Duminy across his body. Say what you will about Marsh’s batting, he’s a competitor. I’d back him in today. A maiden.
49th over: South Africa 144-2 (Elgar 61, Duminy 52) Siddle repeats the crime that got Starc dragged, falling onto the pads of Elgar first ball, who makes no mistake. A bit all over the shop from Siddle, good enough to get an edge once but too straight with a couple of other attempts. That lead is 142 now. To think where they were in this game 24 hours ago. Now? It may not be panic stations quite yet, but it may be if they don’t find a way to break this stand up well before lunch, worth 99 runs.
Aust with only one slip at the WACA ... says as much about game situation as the scoreboard does
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 5, 2016
48th over: South Africa 140-2 (Elgar 57, Duminy 52) Eventful couple of balls to end the Hazelwood set. Another good’un. Surely hitting the big crack I keep going on about, Duminy was beaten by the length of several bat-widths. Huge jag. All the South African would do is smile. But the next ball he played the shot of the morning to bring up his fifty; a straight drive flying past the non-striker’s ankles. Adorable cricket. 90 balls for his half-century, with ten boundaries. I tried to find a YouTube for you of his ton against Australia in 2008 at the MCG to effectively win the series, but it doesn’t seem to exist. How is this the case? And I’m right, here comes Pete Siddle for little jam roll from the Marsh-Lillee end, to replace Starc.
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47th over: South Africa 135-2 (Elgar 56, Duminy 48) Beaten! Starc gets one to jag off a length at pace, Elgar forced to play but for the second time this morning fortunate not to edge behind. He’s not bowling with any real consistency though, the over includes a couple on leg stump, a couple well outside off stump. Given the potentially long day ahead, I reckon we might see Pete Siddle replacing him from the members’ end next time around.
Daniel Paproth has a vernacular hot take on twitter, presumably in response to the TV call. I know it is a position he shares with the great Jim Maxwell. Where are you on this? Let me know. I need to know.
I HATE when cricketers are referred to as 'batters'. It's not baseball. 'Batsman'. Does anyone else in here feel the way I do?
— Daniel Jack Paproth (@pappy90) November 5, 2016
46th over: South Africa 132-2 (Elgar 55, Duminy 47) Hazlewood has been the much better of the two Australian bowlers this morning. Duminy profited from a slightly overpitched delivery, but not the most convincing stroke beyond gully for four.
Guess who is generating plenty of chit-chat on twitter? Glenn James Maxwell. He’s just been dismissed for 81 in the Sheffield Shield. But with Mitch Marsh by any definition struggling at number six, expect plenty of people to big-up the enigmatic Victorian to replace him. Expect one of them to be me.
45th over: South Africa 128-2 (Elgar 55, Duminy 43) Whoa! Starc bangs a bouncer in not just his half but, according to Dirk Nannes on the radio, his “own third.” It flies waaaaay above Elgar at the crease and Nevill with the gloves, four wides appropriately signalled. When Starc strayed onto the same man’s pads next ball he takes him away with perfect timing through midwicket to bring up his half century. 130 balls at the crease, he’s going really well. Worth noting that he looked excellent until getting the faintest feather the first time around as well. And it’s Elgar again for three more when Starc misses his mark for a third time in the wayward over, midwicket once again the destination. South Africa couldn’t have asked for a better 20 minutes to begin the day. 13 from the over, their lead now 125.
44th over: South Africa 115-2 (Elgar 48, Duminy 42) Snorter. Hazlewood does his best Glenn McGrath impression with a delivery that pitches middle and leg just of that good length and spits straight across the edge of Elgar, squared up and stranded. Thankfully for the opener, it is too good for the edge. It missed that big crack down the guts of the track, but I fancy that’s where he’ll be aiming as we get deeper into the day. Lovely areas, as they say. Lovely areas.
43rd over: South Africa 114-2 (Elgar 48, Duminy 42) Our first boundaries of the day and they a delightful, JP Duminy leaning on a correct looking on-drive, racing away to the rope beneath us in the press box. Then concluding the over with a crisp cover drive to the right of cover point. Very nice start for the tourists, who are now 112 ahead. And with Australia having to bat last, that’s not for nothing.
42nd over: South Africa 105-2 (Elgar 47, Duminy 34) It is Josh Hazlewood from the Prindiville Stand end. I spent an hour over there today in the Waca museum. I might come back to that actually. South Africa collect their first run of the morning, Elgar driving into the offside. Tidy start from all involved.
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41st over: South Africa 104-2 (Elgar 46, Duminy 34) Play has started a minute or so early. I like that, given the minutes we lose in the modern game. As they note on the radio, this is not least the case at Perth with sightscreen issues a regular feature. A gentle start for all involved on the field, Starc immediately hitting a consistent line and length, Duminy happy to get his eye in with a series of leaves and textbook forward defensive. It’s a maiden.
The players are out on the field
Mitchell Starc has the ball in his hand. “Play,” calls Umpire Llong. And play they will.
That collapse. Naturally, the source of much discussion overnight. There’s a bit of a risk in losing in that just how impressive the South African trio of Philander, Rabada and debutant spinner Maharaj were. A trio on the basis that Dale Steyn is no more on this tour, it confirmed overnight that he’ll be going home with a “very rare” should injury at the end of this Test. An injury that, according to reports from South African media and questioning of team management after play last night, may have emanated from a surfing injury. Anyway, Philander was utterly brilliant, Rabada legitimately quick and exciting, Maharaj controlled and confident. Their job is half done, but you’d be bold to back against them.
As for Australia, on the TV pre-game show they are right into them. Michael Clarke went through the significant collapses of late (which, granted, he was a member of most) observing that the focus on batting away from home in particular means their failings are “in their heads.” Interesting.
On the Smith dismissal in particular, where he danced a couple metres down the track to be given out lbw (and upheld by DRS), the consensus on the panel was that they got it right. But, in Warne’s view, it reinforces why every country (read, India) need to play by the same DRS rules at all times. Hard to argue against.
Pietersen was particularly insightful here, saying he had to change his entire game after Monty Panesar nabbed Sachin Tendulkar in 2006 with an arm-ball when well forward.
We’re about five minutes away from seeing the players here. Be sure to keep me company through the course of the morning session. You know the drill: adam.collins.freelance@theguardian.com for your longer notes and @collinsadam on the idiot machine.
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Welcome to day three from the WACA Ground
It’s hot. Getting there, at least. Where the first couple of days of this Test felt a bit more Perth-like as far as the track was concerned, the weather wasn’t following suit with a couple of relatively mild days. But with it forecast to reach 37 of the best today, it’ll be a timely reminder that we’re only an hour or so from the desert.
Another will be the fact that a big old crack looks to be opening up at the Lillee-Marsh Stand end. If you can’t get excited about that, with the first Test Match of the summer well in the balance, then you’re following the wrong sport. This is set up beautifully.
I’m Adam Collins and I’m once again your OBO for the first session today. Looking out the window at the WACA, there isn’t a cloud in the sky. There’s a real buzz about the place this morning.
22-and-a-half hours ago it wasn’t so much the case, with David Warner and Shaun Marsh having tallied an unbroken 150-run stand by drinks on the second morning, a monster first innings lead looking a lock. A 4-for-25 collapse in the second hour changed that. By tea, that collapse totalled 10-for-86, Australia’s worst on home soil since the mid-1980s.
Defending a lead of two, the Australian bowlers held up their end of the bargain with the opener Cook and talisman Amla back in the sheds by time the Proteas were 45. But the last 90 minutes brought together Elgar and Duminy, who navigated them safely through to stumps with an unbeaten 59-run stand, their lead now 102.
So that’s the state of play. If it is anything like the first couple of days you won’t want to miss a moment. Stick with us, and let’s have a bit of fun.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what happened on day two in Perth:
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