STUMPS. Australia 121-2 (Khawaja 56, Smith 18). Trail by 120 runs.
In a day where the visitors went the better part of the first session without losing a wicket, that wasn’t a bad fightback from the Australians as the afternoon wore on. During the final session in particular all batsmen were put under enormous pressure by quicks Rabada and Abbott through a marathon stint between the two, but only one wicket fell, that of Warner (45). And even that came in bizarre circumstances, Abbott’s delivery ricocheting off his thigh and arm before landing on the stumps.
Khawaja’s half century came from 91 balls. He was routinely beaten outside the off-stump - as too were Warner and then Smith - but held his nerve before capitalising on some loose deliveries towards the end of play. That end came prematurely on the basis of bad light, seven overs lost. So we’ll be back again at 10am for another long day at Hobart tomorrow.
A long day where Australia will have plenty of work still yet to do knocking off the 120 runs of deficit that still remain, in an innings where Adam Voges may well be batting for his career. In short: be sure to tune in, and follow every over with us here at the Guardian. Thanks for your company. Have a good night.
Updated
That’s it. Stumps. The umpires have called it off. I’ll gather my thoughts for a final wrap in just a jiffy.
I wish I could make a Mount Wellington reference. But truth told, I can’t see it through the clouds. There are patches of blue sky either side of Bellerive, but to get back on now is a tough ask. Would require a lot of wind in a hurry. Three of the four umpires gathered in the middle having a chat, so either way we’ll know pretty soon.
Aus have knocked off half the deficit, with the loss of only two wickets. Two days to go. Game not over yet.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 14, 2016
36th over: Australia 121-2 (Khawaja 56, Smith 18) Ooooh yeah, Khawaja cover driving on the up and doing it with style. You get four runs when doing that. Granted, it came the ball after he was beaten outside the off-stump. Oh and now they’re off for bad light. Let me go outside for a tic and see if I can make a prediction about the likelihood of them returning. For what little that is worth. Stand by.
35th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 51, Smith 18) Just a single from Khawaja in response to a relatively quiet Maharaj over. Just doing a job to give the quicks a rest here, the spinner. Fourth ump Mick Martel is out there to take a light reading. The Australians would relish the chance to get out of there and into the showers a fraction earlier than scheduled.
Updated
34th over: Australia 115-2 (Khawaja 50, Smith 18) Vernon Philander is angry. Okay? Got it? Understand? Okay. He demonstrates this with some more annoyed stares after Khawaja dispatches a long hop through cover point to begin the over. Later in the set he took a second, this time behind point. It was full and swinging, but he did enough. Then a single to mid-on to end the over brought Khawaja’s half-century! Nicely played in rugged circumstances. 91 balls to get there. Good going from the Australian number three. Has to get to stumps though.
33rd over: Australia 106-2 (Khawaja 41, Smith 18) Chris Rogers makes a fair point about the importance of the current two sticking it out: “If I was Adam Voges I’d be praying they get through four more overs so he has the benefit of a nightwatchman ahead of him, with his career pretty much on the line.”
They get through Maharaj’s first over after drinks easily enough, Smith pumping him over midwicket when dropping short. Remember it was Smith who in Perth exposed Voges by getting out when set late in the day. Will he look after him today?
As they take a drink, let’s whip through some comments.
Chris Drew asks if Kettleborough is the best umpire in the world? There’s certainly a consensus forming around that given his freakishly good record in the heavily scrutinised DRS era. Doesn’t hurt that he’s opposite Umpire Dar this week, who is having a shocker of late.
Ian Forth emails in with an OLED TV gag and Warner being able to watch it tonight without needing to worry about batting tomorrow. Gee we’ve got some milage out of the Warner TV advert, haven’t we?
Ian adds, in reference to Rabada’s efforts this afternoon: “Interesting subject – best spells that did not yield a wicket.” That it is. “I remember one from Anderson to Hussey and Haddin at Brisbane, 3rd day, 2010. They both went on to get massive tons as well.”
Any to add?
32nd over: Australia 102-2 (Khawaja 41, Smith 14) A couple to the more set of the two men Khawaja, timing nicely through midwicket to a full delivery on the stumps. Philander repeats his angry fast bowler bit from the previous over, who throws this time around at Khawaja’s stumps. No harm in that. What a great contest this is.
31st over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 39, Smith 13) Maharaj is on with his left arm tweakers from the River End to replace Abbott. He races through his over, broken up by Khawaja who revels in the change of pace by advancing down the pitch to clobber over long-on. Fair enough, too, after what he has been forced to endure out there so far this afternoon. And believe it or not, there is a stat about his success with that very tactic. What a world.
Khawaja has an outstanding success rate coming down the pitch in Test cricket. 101-1 (51 balls). #AusvSA
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 14, 2016
30th over: Australia 93-2 (Khawaja 35, Smith 12) Tough yards for the Australians when Vernon Philander is the man relieving Rabada from underneath us here at the Members/Church Street End. As noted below, the attack leader came very close to breaking through immediately. A bit frustrated, he collected the ball in his follow through to complete the over and did the old pretend-to-throw-at-the-batsmen’s-stumps routine on Smith. As Bill Lawry would say, the tension the drama the buzz the crowd (well, sort of) the atmosphere!
Seriously, it's a matter of record how often umpires get LBWs wrong. A smart team should factor that into DRS decisions. #AUSvSA
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 14, 2016
NOT OUT! Umpires call, Kettleborough gets it right again. What a gun. It was clipping the bails in an umpires call kinda way. Good referral, albeit one that took a lot of convincing, du Plessis using every one of his 15 seconds to determine whether he was going upstairs.
Review! Has Philander picked up Khawaja leg before? We’ll find out in a tic.
29th over: Australia 91-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 11) Abbott into the ninth over of his own spell, and has dropped off just a tad. Reckon that might be his last one, confirmed in all likelihood by a stray delivery onto Smith’s pads to end the over. The home captain makes no mistake in putting it away.
28th over: Australia 86-2 (Khawaja 33, Smith 7) “Rabada will bowl far lesser spells and take many wickets,” is ABC caller Gerard Whateley’s assessment of the nine over stint that has probably just concluded if body language is anything to do by. Without a wicket. Sure enough, his final set is just as magnificent as the eight that came before it, concluding with yet another legcutter that beats the Australian captain by a significant margin. Smith did strike a boundary through point earlier in the over, however, meaning that Australia have passed their first innings total! You little beauty! Beneath the Southern Cross I stand!
Game situation aside, this is test cricket at its best. Contest between bat and ball, tension on every over.
— Anthony Bieniak (@Bienie) November 14, 2016
Updated
27th over: Australia 82-2 (Khawaja 33, Smith 3) This pair benefitted from a brief rain delay, but they are the only two who have been used since the final session commenced 65 minutes ago. And why would you change them? Abbott starts his set with a delivery that goes underground. Didn’t see that coming a couple of hours ago. He then successfully beats Khawaja twice in a row; that’s six play/misses in three overs if I recall correctly. And I usually do. You’ll rarely see better fast bowling anywhere than these two at the moment. They deserve better. Admirable from Khawaja to not lose his nerve in response.
26th over: Australia 82-2 (Khawaja 33, Smith 3) Rabada is just superb, beating Smith with a ball moving away from him off the seam. Yet another unplayable. Australia were stiff on Saturday, but they’re experiencing some luck today. Oh, and he does it again later in the over! The old-fashioned carbon copy. Hard to criticise the Australian captain there. Is Rabada already the best quick in the world? Look, probably not. But he’s in the frame. And will be soon.
AUS 2/82 "That's like a leg spinner at 140km/h" - @iheals. Still a lot of seam movement out there. #AUSvSA #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/8gmmNLTMJ0
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) November 14, 2016
25th over: Australia 82-2 (Khawaja 33, Smith 3) Smith off the mark with a lovely clip straight of midwicket, he’ll take three. Abbott is enthused from his fortunate second wicket, bending the back and beating Khawaja. It’s been a mighty spell from the River End since Tea. Imagine these blokes in Adelaide next week underlights with a pink ball. Could be ugly (uglier).
Speaking of which, here’s the Warner dismissal from side on.
Seriously?! #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/JBAsOXxtSB
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 14, 2016
24th over: Australia 79-2 (Khawaja 33, Smith 0) The captain charges out past his deputy making that unpleasant trudge from the field. But it is Khawaja facing Rabada. And he very nearly follows Warner into the shed when trying to force off the back foot with limited footwork at a time when leaving the ball should be the priority if they want to have any chance of eliminating this deficit. He’s more comfortable when Rabada is straighter, patting away the remainder of the over.
That's why you don't play a shot like Warner's first innings, the game is hard enough without making it harder for yourself #ausvsa
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 14, 2016
WICKET! Warner b Abbott 45 (Australia 2-79)
Oh what a mess! He tries to take a nondescript Abbott delivery off his hip, it strikes the thigh pad, balloons into his arm, and somehow lands on the woodwork. Warner is gutted. Goodness me. And that ends the 23rd over.
Updated
22nd over: Australia 77-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 32) Rabada continues his over from the Church Street End. The first ball back is a good’un, forcing Khawaja to take his hands off the bat as it arrives earlier than he anticipates. Next up: a delightful delivery that again beats the bat. How often in the 45 minutes since Tea has that happened? Around the wicket the right armer is tailing away from a left-hand bat. Utter class. Reminiscent of Flintoff v Gilchrist in the 2005 Ashes come to think of it.
Stumps are back in. Yet the fourth ump still has his umbrella out. Give it a spell, mate. He’s literally the only human in this cricket ground with a brolly out. Anyway, the players are on. Good news.
The TV commentary use the rain break to run through their classic catches. Cue a camera looking at Mark Waugh, with his 1999 gem at Hobart, turning that pulsating Test Match, included in the selection. What times to be a 15 year old. And Bill Lawry’s call as well: “Phwoooooar what a catch!”
Updated
Rain delay. Australia 77-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 32)
So light that the South Africans are walking from the field rather than the jog you normally expect when people don’t want to get wet. Just the hessian cover down at this stage. Don’t expect we’ll be off for long.
Updated
21st over: Australia 76-1 (Warner 43, Khawaja 32) After being made to look a bit daft by Abbott’s supreme spell here in his previous over, Warner gets back on top with a push through cover to begin the over. And after a couple of good leaves, turns him into the onside for a single. Much better over Warner. Persevere then prosper. Reluctant to say this, but looking pretty dark out here. Rain coming?
20th over: Australia 71-1 (Warner 38, Khawaja 32) That’s better, Usman. Leans into a cover drive when Rabada is too full, as he did at will twelve months ago when he was making tons for laughs no matter what colour the ball or format of the game. The replay reinforces what a pretty stroke it is. Go on, take a look.
Glorious #AUSvSA https://t.co/UbwzgkDoCZ
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 14, 2016
19th over: Australia 67-1 (Warner 38, Khawaja 28) Abbott’s turn to make Warner’s life difficult, as he already has a couple of times since tea. Hitting the seam, he beats the opener’s outside edge with consecutive deliveries. No luck here for the bowler. South Africa will be desperate to strike here while so on top.
This is brilliant Test cricket. Two of Aus's top lefthanders slogging it out v a quality RSA attack on a helpful pitch. Wonderful spectacle.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 14, 2016
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18th over: Australia 64-1 (Warner 36, Khawaja 27) Another eventful Rabada over. He once again squares up Warner with a delightful off-cutter delivered from around the wicket. He’s good enough to repeat the serve a couple of balls later. Utterly unplayable. Way too good. Forced to play due to the angle, but jagging away from the edge after pitching. Warner collects three when driving past point as Rabada slightly overpitches. Khawaja gets on behind square to the last ball when he does again, keeping the strike.
Rabada is fun to watch. Not so fun to face.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) November 14, 2016
17th over: Australia 60-1 (Warner 33, Khawaja 26) Beaten! Warner done off the track again to start Abbott’s. He is trying to drive the ball from a good length and is lucky not to edge to the waiting ‘keeper and cordon. He’s away from danger with a push to midwicket, Khawaja seeing off the rest of the over. Without wanting to mozz him, he’s looking quite good since the break.
16th over: Australia 59-1 (Warner 32, Khawaja 26) Just as he did in the previous set Khawaja turns the strike over to the first Rabada ball, clipping fine. Warner does likewise when driving as he marches down the track. The consensus around the place is that it is getting better to bat by the session, and Khawaja illustrates this by leaving relatively easily through the rest of the over, including a bouncer to finish it.
15th over: Australia 57-1 (Warner 31, Khawaja 25) Abbott continues from the River End with a few and a conventional gully in position. He’s in the right area immediately, Khawaja taking one to cover but the South Africans will be encouraged if he keeps looking to score in that region. Warner content enough to see the over through. Plenty of noise out there, they can sense the pressure this Australian team are under no doubt.
Chris Rogers again, on ABC radio: “I am liking this from Davey Warner. Sometimes he is the kind of guy who gets to 20 or 30 quickly and then settles into his innings. It looks like he has has settled down a little.”
14th over: Australia 56-1 (Warner 31, Khawaja 24) Rabada is outstanding from the get go. The highlight the third delivery where he squares Warner up to the point where both his feet are off the ground when the ball sails by his outside edge. The bowler remains full, with plenty of oohing and aahing from his teammates. Warner has been far from fluent so far this afternoon, but he’s still there. He picks up a couple into the covers to end the over.
Updated
The lads are out there. “The South Africans do that stupid team huddle,” says Chris Rogers on the radio. Strong views, we like them. Wunderkind Kagiso Rabada has the ball in his hand. Davey Warner is facing at the River End. Let’s play.
A little scoreboard discovery. During that middle session it bobbed up saying if you run on, you’ll have $6000 lifted from your bank balance and could spend up to six months in the slammer! From memory the same crime last year carried a $500 fine, or thereabouts. Bloody inflation. And dare I say, Un-Austraaaaayan.
Question asked, question answered. Six large and six months prison for Livin' La Vida Loca at Bellerive. ~$500 last year. Cop that. #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/URQrkJgV8o
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 14, 2016
There’s a flight at 8:55pm tonight. Back to the mainland. Melbourne to be precise. After a week in Hobart, gorgeous as it is, that may work as motivation for the South Africans to wrap this up tonight. They’ll have a session to take the nine required wickets.
It’s Adam Collins with you here perched up the top of the Members Stand here in the Bellerive press box and looking forward to enjoying (or enduring) whatever comes next.
You know the drill - keep me company. Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com on the electronic mail and @collinsadam if brevity is your thing.
At Tea on day three
...Australia remain in a significant amount of bother, still 187 runs short of making the Proteas bat again. Will they manage it? We’ll be close to knowing once Adam Collins has taken you through the final session. That’s all from me but thank you for your company today. Adam will be with you soon.
Tea on day three - Australia trail by 187 runs
13th over: Australia 54-1 (Warner 29, Khawaja 24)
That is tea on day three and it ended up a decent enough session for Australia after plenty of drama in the final over. Kyle Abbott comes back to bowl it and there’s a truly off moment when Warner gets a thick edge over the cordon as Dean Elgar ducks rather than jumping in the air for the catch. What in the name of Kepler Wessels was that? At full stretch he would have caught it but he never picked it up and instinctively ducked. Bizarre. Warner picked up four in the process and Australia get to tea without further loss.
12th over: Australia 46-1 (Warner 24, Khawaja 21)
With tea only moments away Kagiso Rabada appears for one over of pace and it’s a decent one, forcing both batsmen into false strokes as they adapt to the new line of attack. We’ll have one more over by the looks of things.
11th over: Australia 44-1 (Warner 23, Khawaja 20)
JP Duminy comes into the attack now for some spin, and as he does so Shane Warne sets about debunking the Scott Muller ‘Can’t bowl, can’t throw’ scandal one more time, though nobody actually asked him to. Khawaja twice creams Duminy through cover for four.
10th over: Australia 36-1 (Warner 23, Khawaja 12)
There’s a single to Khawaja early in this Philander over but not much else as Warner goes into his shell with tea only ten minutes away. Perhaps wanting to eek out another over in this spell, Philander is taking mini-breaks between deliveries, but it’s much ado about nothing.
Cleverly Photoshopped image seems to show an Australian batsman not being dismissed https://t.co/pAZVvO2YAD pic.twitter.com/Axoa86iJAU
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 14, 2016
9th over: Australia 35-1 (Warner 23, Khawaja 11)
Khawaja drives Abbott for one to start the over by the bowler is liking what he sees, because there was minimal footwork from the left-hander and if he’d missed he would have been in trouble. Speaking of which, Khawaja was in all sort a ball later when Warner pushed one to Bavuma at cover and ran through for a quick single. Bavuma had only a single stump to aim at but Khawaja wasn’t even in the frame when it bounced past the stumps. A few deliveries later Warner unfurls a majestic drive wide of extra cover and it rockets away to the boundary.
8th over: Australia 28-1 (Warner 18, Khawaja 9)
Related to all this: where Aleem Dar has had a dismal Test so far, Richard Kettleborough has been nailing calls like that one. With two to Warner, an eventful over comes to its conclusion.
Not out! David Warner survives
Yep, far too high. I guess you could call that a strategic review by the Proteas but it’s also a wasted one.
Review! South Africa think they've trapped David Warner in front
But...they don’t look entirely convinced. It looks high to me.
7th over: Australia 26-1 (Warner 16, Khawaja 9)
Rabada has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous here, bookending his superb stop off the last ball of the Philander over by doing the old ‘harbour bridge’ at mid-on when Warner drives one straight at him. With tea 25 minutes away, the Australian pair have settled into their task well. With the gloom setting in over Bellerive, the lights are also back on at Blundstone Arena.
Joe Burns' batting average has dropped from 49.29 to 37.95 in the course of three Tests.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 14, 2016
6th over: Australia 23-1 (Warner 13, Khawaja 9)
There was some stinging criticism of the Australian batsmen in the last few days and rightly so, but so far, for what it’s worth, Usman Khawaja is batting with circumspection and control. He finishes this Philander over with a handsome cover drive but Kagiso Rabada reminds his skipper of his presence by diving athletically to save any runs.
5th over: Australia 22-1 (Warner 12, Khawaja 9)
Usman Khawaja has settled in reasonably well and picks another three off Abbott when he flicks to the on side. Abbott is happy to tempt Warner into a wild swipe outside off stump and Warner is happy to confirm stereotypes by throwing the kitchen sink at them. He’s far better when he presses forward measuredly to push three through cover, minimal back-lift enabling him to control the stroke.
In case there was any doubt about the national mood surrounding his dismissal earlier, Joe Burns is now trending on Twitter.
3 previous cases of a 241-run first inns lead in all Tests have resulted in two 10-wicket wins, and one by an inns and 9 runs.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 14, 2016
4th over: Australia 14-1 (Warner 7, Khawaja 6)
Philander’s line and length have been impeccable since he started with that half-tracker, and the stump-to-stump approach is forcing David Warner to leave a few, which is not his forte. It’s a maiden, and a probing one.
3rd over: Australia 14-1 (Warner 7, Khawaja 6)
Oof, David Warner is done in by perhaps the delivery of the match, an in-swinging, off-cutting wonder-ball from Kyle Abbott, which somehow snakes its way past his off stump after doing him all end’s up. A ball later he gets well forward to drive three through cover and he and Abbott share a laugh. Neither can work out how Warner’s still there, but Abbott is less pleased a ball later when Usman Khawaja languidly caresses him to the fence at deep cover. That was a gorgeous shot.
2nd over: Australia 7-1 (Warner 4, Khawaja 2)
Bang! Philander is short and wide outside off stump to start with and Warner gets across with his bat but not his feet to clatter a boundary through cover. That was eerily similar to the ball that got him out in the first innings and the footwork was no better, but he made firm contact with the stroke.
This session, if you’re wondering, will go through until 3:40pm local time, rather than 3:10, meaning that we’re headed for a 7pm finish in Hobart. Good for fans returning from home from work, as long as Australia’s batsmen last.
Updated
1st over: Australia 2-1 (Warner 0, Khawaja 2)
Khawaja pushes a couple to get off the mark as Kyle Abbott’s opening over finally ends and Vernon Philander walks across to take the second..
They’re back out there
...and we’ll have play in a couple of minutes.
The covers are coming off
...and not before time. We’ll re-start in ten minutes and it could be bracing for the home side. Good time to be a South African paceman.
A weather update
Aleem Dar is strolling around with an umbrella but my snouts at the ground tell me the rain has now stopped, so it’s possible we’ll have some more Australian wickets to describe shortly.
Rain stops play
1st over: Australia 0-1 (Warner 0, Khawaja 0)
Oh dear. Moments after Burns is sent packing the rain starts tumbling at Bellerive and out come the covers. Consolation: this could have gotten very ugly very quickly without intervention from Mother Nature.
Australia's second innings commences. Assume viewing positions.#AUSvRSA pic.twitter.com/wWFdeBH6Sa
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) November 14, 2016
WICKET! Burns c de Kock b Abbott 0 (Australia 0-1)
Burns departs in the first over of Australia’s innings! Kyle Abbott does the job for South Africa and does so with the worst ball of his over! It’s wide down the leg side and Burns tries to flick it down towards fine leg, but instead feathers an edge through to the keeper. Disaster strikes early for Australia!
Updated
The task in front of Australia
...is immense, and in large part because of calm and mature batting by the likes of Temba Bavuma, who made the bowlers bowl to him throughout his long stay at the crease, and Quinton de Kock, who raced along by comparison but actually did pick his mark well and was never reckless when he attacked.
Have Australia got it in them to leave their egos in the change rooms and build an innings? They’ll need to in order to push this game into a fifth day. Right now, with an hour until tea on day three, they’re on the ropes.
South Africa all out for 326! They lead by 241
Philander c Nevill b Hazlewood 32 (South Africa all out for 326)
Hazlewood gets a thick edge through to Nevill and finishes the South African innings with 6-89 from 30.5 overs of high quality fast bowling. That leaves Australia 241 runs in arrears and facing a real battle just to get South Africa to bat again.
“I don’t know that Dave ever changes his approach to batting,” says Michael Slater of David Warner, and I have the sense he thinks that’s a good thing. Surely if any situation dictated caution, it’s the one that will confront Warner when he soon takes strike in Australia’s second innings. Could be wrong...
Updated
100th over: South Africa 321-9 (Philander 28, Rabada 4)
Starc returns to the attack but it’s the same stuff from Philander, who promptly clatters him through cover for another four runs. If he wasn’t set in stone as Australia’s bogey man before this summer, he’s well and truly confirmed it across these first two Tests. As if to re-emphasise that he gets down on one knee and hammers Starc through cover for four more. South Africa lead by 236 now but I really think they should declare.
99th over: South Africa 313-9 (Philander 20, Rabada 4)
Philander is taking them any way he can get them now and after a streak boundary to start the over he thumps Hazlewood to the fence with a disdainful pull shot. Bang!
98th over: South Africa 304-9 (Philander 11, Rabada 4)
Mennie continues and so does Philander’s attractive stroke-making, which includes another flick off the pads to start the over and bring up South Africa’s 300. Then Rabada plays a positively Gilchristian square drive to pick up four runs and get off the mark. He looks a far better batsman than Abbott.
97th over: South Africa 297-9 (Philander 8, Rabada 0)
As the Hazlewood over finishes, reader Michael Tilley weighs in on Australia’s spin issues. “Re: the Lyon Question, I would give Zampa a go,” he says. “We will lose this Test, so why not try something new? Zampa has proven himself very difficult to score from in T20 as a leg spinner, Adelaide is his home deck and it’ll be half under lights to boot. Give him a crack.”
But is it wise to drop a man with 213 Test wickets for one who averages 50 runs per wicket in first-class ranks? As good as Zampa is in limited overs cricket, I worry about the message that sends to other bowlers, and to the opposition. At first-class level he just hasn’t cut it.
WICKET! Abbott LBW Hazlewood 3 (South Africa 297-9)
Now Abbott goes! “I really don’t see why South Africa are still batting,” grumbles Ian Chappell, and he’s absolutely right. Even worse, Abbott reviews the LBW decision but he was trapped dead in front so Hazlewood has five wickets to his name and a broad smile. This is just lifting Australia’s spirits if anything. Puzzling.
Updated
96th over: South Africa 297-8 (Philander 8, Abbott 3)
Mennie starts his next over by going perilously close to claiming another wicket when Philander tries to leave one but instead edges it inches past his leg stump. Abbot then improvises three runs in a manner that would impress MacGuyver, so South Africa lead by 212.
“Dear Old Rusty,” starts Robert McLiam Wilson, a good friend of the OBO. “Belated greetings from cold, dark Paris. Continuing our tradition of my tearfully clutching onto the unkept promise of Australian cricket for psychiatric help in dark times, I’ve just caught up with the highlights. Two things I noticed. It’s incredibly good for a wounded soul to see a batsman miss a prime straight one just after scoring a ton and I can’t help loving Bavuma. I like a batsman so diminutive that it renders his helmet bizarrely outsize and thus makes him look like an incredibly deft and clever baby. I hope he scores a million. Even the rain is cheering me up.” Good to have you back, Bob.
95th over: South Africa 293-8 (Philander 7, Abbott 0)
Ian Chappell makes a solid call here: is it not time for Faf du Plessis to declare while the ball is jagging around like this? As it stands, I reckon Philander and Abbott are far better off with the ball in their hand right now than bats and declaring would also strike some fear into Australia’s batting ranks. Abbott fences ineptly at the rest of the over but can’t even get an edge.
WICKET! Maharaj b Hazlewood 1 (South Africa 293-8)
Castled! Moments after I’ve talked up his batting Maharaj cops a peach from Hazlewood and gets cleaned up. It was pitching just outside off and came back in off the deck to castle the batsman, who lunged forward without luck. We’re officially into the tail now.
Updated
94th over: South Africa 293-7 (Philander 7, Maharaj 1)
Maharaj is the new man at the crease for the Proteas and we saw in Perth that his two first-class centuries were no fluke. He’s off the mark with a single down to fine leg and Mennie grabs back his cap and probably sighs with relief. He’s off the mark in the Test wicket column.
Updated
WICKET! Bavuma c Lyon b Mennie 74 (South Africa 292-7)
Joe Mennie gets his maiden Test wicket! And for all his delight, it’s slightly concerning for the Aussies because it came from a delivery that reared up out of nowhere to almost take Bavuma’s head off. Instead he fended it away with an awkwardly raised bat and top-edged to Lyon at cover. The Australians ruffle Mennie’s hair and slap him on the back but I’m not sure their batsmen will be laughing for long. That’s the end of a 204-ball innings of real substance from Bavuma.
Updated
93rd over: South Africa 292-6 (Bavuma 74, Philander 7)
Aaaand we’re back with an absolute howler from Josh Hazlewood, who strays onto Philander’s pads with the first delivery post-lunch and gets flicked out to the rope for four, and it might have happened again a few balls later if Philander hasn’t biffed another straight to Joe Burns at mid-wicket. Bavuma almost gets run out off a deflection at the bowler’s end but that aside, Hazlewood seems unhappy with his start and ends the over feeling his elbow and grimacing. Watch this space.
Updated
Bellerive Oval. Presented without comment. #AusvSA pic.twitter.com/qItVo0Vyjk
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) November 13, 2016
We’ll be back on for some cricket shortly
At 1:30pm local time, to be precise.
Rain stopped play
We should actually be back on now, but the covers remain in place at Bellerive Oval, so South Africa can’t yet add to their imposing 203-run first innings lead. In a positive sign, rain has actually stopped and the umpires have walked out into the middle for a look, though not before Aleem Dar stops to sign an autograph bat for a fan. No dice for Richard Kettleborough. By the looks of things we might actually have some play soon.
The Nathan Lyon debate
Reader Matt Harris writes in now. “Hi Russ, glad you’re back in the OBO chair for another summer. You’re the chairman of selectors: who comes in for Lyon? Agar? Smith to bowl more, so we can include four pace bowlers? Is there a decent leg spinner going around at the moment?”
This is my problem, Matt. The other options just aren’t demanding selection. You’ve got Agar as an all-rounder option, plus Adam Zampa, Victorian leggie Fawad Ahmed (27 wickets in the Shield last year put him 12th overall but first of the spinners), Steve O’Keefe, who doesn’t actually spin it much but whose batting might also appeal (yes, I’m sad as I type that) and lefty Jon Holland, who I like far more but who is often second-choice for the Bushrangers.
So...I reckon you stick with Lyon – a proven wicket-taker who has often benefitted from the backing of selectors. He’ll fight back.
Weather update: it’s raining in Hobart and the covers are back on.
Is this a popular opinion in Australia?
I’m sorry to say it, but it probably is. Personally, I think he deserves a little bit of slack given he’s taken 213 Test wickets and there are few compelling replacements to usurp him as the first choice option.
It must be getting close to the time to start looking at Lyon's place in this team, especially with India tour to come #AUSvSA
— Brett Graham (@worldofBG) November 14, 2016
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It’s all South Africa
That session reconfirmed the Proteas as the team most likely to win this Test and clinch the series, with weather being their only likely obstacle as it stands. Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma dominated the opening session on day three and if not for de Kock’s late dismissal, they looked good to put South Africa into an unbeatable lead. A 203-run buffer still probably is the way Australia are batting, but we shall see.
Australia’s bowling? Acceptable in patches, terrible for most of the time. But for a three-over streak of maidens, there simply wasn’t enough pressure applied. Six or seven overs finished with ‘boundary balls’ and the breakthroughs simply didn’t come. Joe Mennie has really laboured in his first Test, Nathan Lyon only came good when the new ball was due and probably Josh Hazlewood alone can hold his head high out of the first session. Report card: must do better.
Lunch on day one - South Africa lead by 203 runs
92nd over: South Africa 288-6 (Bavuma 74, Philander 3)
Joe Mennie is doing everything bar take a wicket now and again falls agonisingly short of a maiden Test pole when Bavuma chips towards a slow-moving Callum Ferguson at mid-on and the bowler’s South Australian team-mate can’t snare it on the dive. With that the umpires call it lunch and the end of a session that produced the following: 37 overs, 117 runs and only one wicket. Yep, the Proteas bossed it and Australia are well out of the game.
91st over: South Africa 284-6 (Bavuma 70, Philander 3)
Philander gets off the mark with three, which he flicks off his legs when Hazlewood errs but far more eye-catching is Bavuma’s crisp drive towards the boundary at deep point, which gets him three as well. South Africa lead by 199 now. I reckon that’s just about enough against this lot.
90th over: South Africa 276-6 (Bavuma 65, Philander 0)
Mennie soldiers on from the disappointment and as he continues his over the lights at Bellerive Oval are now on full blast. We’re eight minutes away from lunch after a session dominated by South Africa, who lead by 191 runs.
Not out! Bavuma survives
It hit outside the line, so Mennie is still looking for his maiden Test wicket.
Review! The Aussies think Bavuma is out LBW
Richard Kettleborough disagrees but they refer it, hoping Mennie has his first Test wicket.
89th over: South Africa 276-6 (Bavuma 65, Philander 0)
The job isn’t exactly simple for Australia now, as they know well from the Perth batting efforts of incoming Vernon Philander. Hazlewood’s superb over ends with more lift off the pitch, which leaves Philander fencing at thin air outside off stump.
WICKET! De Kock b Hazlewood 104 (South Africa 280-6)
De Kock departs! And he’s absolutely furious with himself after Hazlewood bowls him neck and crop. It was straight and full, and a ball after slashing the paceman through gully for another blazing boundary the batsman tries another down the ground but misses. Thus ends an enterprising and brave knock, which has put the Proteas in the box seat.
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Quinton de Kock reaches his second Test century!
88th over: South Africa 272-5 (Bavuma 65, de Kock 100)
With lunch a mere 20 minutes away Mennie chugs in for another over with the new ball, but there’s very little swing out there at the moment and this partnership is going great guns. Quinton de Kock whips the paceman between mid-wicket and mid-on with ludicrous ease to move to 99 and then reaches a 139-ball century by nudging one around the corner.
Does he jump for joy? Hardly. The Proteas young gun almost looks embarrassed in a moment of genuine modesty, but his team-mates are loving it up on the balcony. His knock has featured 16 boundaries and his side now holds a 187-run lead that might prove decisive. What a star the 23-year-old keeper is becoming.
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87th over: South Africa 267-5 (Bavuma 65, de Kock 95)
Mitchell Starc keeps plugging away and the fourth ball of his over is a real rattlesnake, rising up sharply and catching Bavuma by surprise with its venom. Somehow he gets his gloves in front of his face and fends it away for two. Starc is infuriated.
86th over: South Africa 265-5 (Bavuma 63, de Kock 95)
Crunch! Joe Mennie returns to the attack and de Kock immediately pulls a short one for a boundary to move into the 90s before turning two more around the corner. I don’t want to mozz him but he’s looking good for his second Test century here and it’s twice as admirable for the injury limitation he’s had. It might also make it possible for his side to snare an innings victory, though drizzle is now falling at Bellerive.
85th over: South Africa 257-5 (Bavuma 63, de Kock 87)
Temba Bavuma has been biding his time for a while here but gets going a little by tapping a neat cover drive for two off Starc, though he does also have an impetuous moment heaving at a wide one that jags away too much towards first slip to even get bat on. Never mind, a ball later he gets a juicy half-volley and creams it through cover for a boundary. Weather update: it’s very dark in Hobart and rain might be close as we approach the last half hour before lunch.
84th over: South Africa 251-5 (Bavuma 57, de Kock 87)
A quirk of this de Kock innings is that the thumb injury he’s carrying has meant a lack of strength in his bottom hand, so he’s often turned the face on straight and on-drives and failed to pierce the field where he otherwise would. He’d be 100 now without the problem, though does drive attractively through cover to pick up a couple off Hazlewood here. Better comes later in the over when he moves to 87 by finessing another through cover and beyond a diving David Warner on the boundary. This is a gem of an innings and de Kock now leads Australia by two runs.
83rd over: South Africa 245-5 (Bavuma 57, de Kock 81)
A bit of spice in the bowling now as Starc decks one back in appreciably to rap de Kock on the front pad. There’s another desperate appeal but more to let the batsman know that he was done in than a realistic shout for a wicket. Starc has also cranked up his pace a decent amount and the third ball of the over fizzes in at 147.2kmph. De Kock gets off strike eventually and it’s a probing over from Starc.
82nd over: South Africa 244-5 (Bavuma 57, de Kock 80)
No surprises as Josh Hazlewood returns to the attack, and his line is well outside Bavuma’s off stump to start with as he gets a decent amount of lift off the pitch. His fourth delivery moves away off the deck but it’s so far outside off stump it could nearly be taken by first slip and doesn’t bother Bavuma in the slightest.
Then a review! Hazlewood is fuller and straight and Bavuma plays a false drive from which the Aussies think he’s sent a nick through to Neville, but replays reveal the sound was bat on ground. No dice. That’s a wasted review, but the Aussies are pretty desperate at this point so you can understand it.
81st over: South Africa 244-5 (Bavuma 57, de Kock 80)
As Starc grabs the new pill, South Africa lead by 157 runs and Quinton de Kock is approaching a breezy century. Starc’s first ball is disappointing, angling down towards fine leg for a couple of leg byes. Starc bowls a few different lengths in this over, which doesn’t seem ideal, and if not for a de Kock drive cannoning into the stumps at the bowler’s end, might have conceded a boundary. The speed is up around 145kmph but there’s minimal swing or seam movement.
80th over: South Africa 242-5 (Bavuma 57, de Kock 80)
He’s had a luckless and joyless start to the summer, Nathan Lyon, and it seems fairly typical that right as he’s established his best moment of rhythm in this Test he’ll have to take a rest from the attack. Bavuma provides about a 1/8th of a chance when he turns one past the left knee of Joe Burns at short leg. As expected, Steve Smith calls for the new ball at the end of the over and Mitchell Starc will duly return to the attack.
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79th over: South Africa 239-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 78)
Steve Smith brings himself on for an over of spin and with the new ball two overs away it’s probably not the worst idea. The worst idea would be David Warner fielding with both Smith and his own baggy green cap on his head at slip. What if he has to dive for a catch? Quinton de Kock cashes in on a full toss, thumping it to the rope at deep mid-wicket before picking up a single as well. There’s no ropey wicket from the skipper and we’ll probably have one more over of Nathan Lyon’s off spin before the shiny new Kookaburra is plucked from the box.
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78th over: South Africa 234-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 73)
A single to de Kock breaks the scoreless streak but this has been far better by Australia after drinks. There’s been a near-miss with the non-stumping and the bowlers are actually asking something of the batsmen. Bavuma in particular is being tied down now, with his strike rate now in the low 30s. Australia wouldn’t mind a batsman like that right now, mind you.
77th over: South Africa 233-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 72)
Ooh yeah, that was definitely a missed chance by Nevill off Lyon. As Ian Healy points out in support of his brethren, barely anything Lyon has bowled today has actually beaten the bat so it would have come as a surprise to have any work to do. Anyway, Mennie produces another tight and it’s also a maiden. Three in a row. I’m about to keel over in joy but understand if you’re a little less impressed.
76th over: South Africa 233-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 72)
OK, refuelled and hopefully re-energised, the Australians are back from drinks with the ball in Nathan Lyon’s hand and Quinton de Kock on strike. Lyon bowls some tight, stump-to-stump stuff and has his best moment of the morning when he tempts the lefty into a late stroke when he’s skipped out of his crease but Peter Nevill has a ‘mare behind the stumps, where the ball bounces out of his gloves and denies the bowler the half-chance of a stumping. Oh dear. At least it was a maiden. Two in a row now. Crazy times.
75th over: South Africa 233-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 72)
C’mon Joe, give us a maiden. Dot. Yessss. Another dot. Woo. Third dot. I’m getting a bit expectant now. Fourth dot. Sitting up very straight. Fifth dot. Salivating. Then....a dot! He’s done it. It’s drinks on day three and Joe Mennie has bowled a maiden!
74th over: South Africa 233-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 72)
Nathan Lyon battles on but is again powerless to stem the tide of boundaries and de Kock makes it a 100-run partnership between he and Bavuma by turning one delivery into a full toss and cracking it through mid-wicket for four. Steve Smith brings Joe Burns in to a short mid-on beside the non-striker and Lyon at least finishes the over with a touch of dip when he slows his pace a little.
73rd over: South Africa 229-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 68)
As Joe Mennie gets his line wrong and watches on ruefully as de Kock cracks him for four, reader Phil Withall arrives with a slightly unkind but not entirely innacurate appraisal of the Australian skipper: “During the fifth Test of the 2010-11 Ashes series I described Steve Smith have having the appearance of a child on the verge of bursting into tears. Here we are nearly seven years later and that look seems to be returning.” I’m getting close myself, Phil.
72nd over: South Africa 224-5 (Bavuma 56, de Kock 63)
Nathan Lyon is no chance of bowling a maiden with Quinton de Kock in a mood like this. The first ball of the over isn’t terrible by any means, but the batsman skips down the track and flogs it over the head of the man at mid-off to pick up another boundary. Lyon’s job here is to bowl Australia through until the second new ball and pick up a wicket or two, but that the latter aim looks a pipe dream at the moment. Steve Smith is forced to push mid-off and mid-on deep, so de Kock pushes a single to the former to finish the over. It’s too easy for him right now.
TIM LANE: "Nathan Lyon is in the horrors. You wonder about his state of mind at the moment"
— Macquarie Cricket (@MRNCricket) November 14, 2016
SA 5/223 #AUSvRSA
71st over: South Africa 217-5 (Bavuma 55, de Kock 57)
Now Hazlewood takes a rest and Joe Mennie returns, conjuring a near-chance when de Kock gets an inside-edge onto the pad in the act of driving towards cover when the ball was too straight. Maiden update: this wasn’t one.
70th over: South Africa 216-5 (Bavuma 55, de Kock 56)
Nathan Lyon arrives for his second over and again errs, dropping culpably short outside off stump and being pummelled to the fence by a grateful Bavuma. Those are the only runs of the over but such an analysis tells a tale of this South African innings so far, because they know a bad ball is never far away.
69th over: South Africa 212-5 (Bavuma 51, de Kock 56)
There’s something very appealing about watching this batting pair: Bavuma reminds us that batting at Test level is very hard work, while de Kock makes it look misleadingly easy. Reader Ian Forth has some opinions on the most pressing issue of the day: cap fraying. “I can see how collars and cuffs get frayed, by constant friction. But doesn’t a cap just stay put on top of the owner’s head? What’s it rubbing against? I’ve got various caps and can’t see much sign of fraying. Maybe there’s something magical about the baggy green that makes it fray and invests it with mystical properties.” Spraying beer all over it can’t help.
68th over: South Africa 211-5 (Bavuma 50, de Kock 56)
Nathan Lyon does appear for his first trundle of the day now and immediately concedes a boundary when de Kock immediately tucks in, thumping the off-spinner over cow corner with an imperious slog-sweep to bring up his half-century off 70 deliveries. Maybe he should hurt his thumb more often. Lyon regroups for a few deliveries but to his last ball of the over, de Kock skips down the track and deposits him over long-on and one bounce later it’s over the rope. The Proteas are dominating this opening session.
67th over: South Africa 203-5 (Bavuma 50, de Kock 48)
Again de Kock gets a single off the first over and hands Bavuma the strike. Nathan Lyon continues to loosen up in the outfield, though he might just be sending his captain a very unsubtle message. Shane Warne makes a decent point, and one I’ve been probably mentioning over and over: so far Australia’s managed only 10 maidens in this innings and never built the pressure they needed from at least one end. Josh Hazlewood, bowling now, is the only one who has managed it, contributing seven of that 10 himself. People knock Peter Siddle but it often goes unmentioned how well he fills the role of ‘partnership’ bowler.
66th over: South Africa 202-5 (Bavuma 50, de Kock 47)
By his own frenetic standards, de Kock has been moving at a glacial strike rate this morning but he gets his adrenaline pumping with a quick single to mid-off. Again Mennie is angling it in towards Bavuma’s pads and that seems to suit the batsman just fine, though there’s no further damage in the Mennie over. I hope he gets his wicket tally going soon but geez, he’s not looking like it right now.
65th over: South Africa 201-5 (Bavuma 50, de Kock 46)
Starc takes a rest but it’s Hazlewood and Lyon who replaces him, allowing the paceman to switch ends. There’s a hairy moment for Bavuma when he transfers his weight onto the back foot but doesn’t actually shift his feet, which means his backward defence almost rolls back onto the stumps. He survives and reaches his fourth Test half-centiry a ball later. It came from 119 deliveries and featured six boundaries. With that, South Africa pass 200.
64th over: South Africa 198-5 (Bavuma 48, de Kock 45)
Mennie’s had his moments in this South African innings, but hasn’t often looked the prodigious wicket-taker he was in the Sheffield Shield last year, where 51 poles put him top of the heap in domestic ranks. His delivery is all shoulder and chest, and the natural path of the ball swerving in to right-handers like Bavuma, but he’s never looked like taking it away towards the cordon. Bavuma is watchful until the final delivery of this over, which he impetuously drives in the air towards mid-off, but it falls fractionally short of the man there. Maiden.
You’d think this is factored into the bowling plan:
In Test cricket Bavuma's average playing off the front foot is 66.75 compared to 36.83 off the back foot. #AusvSA
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 13, 2016
63rd over: South Africa 198-5 (Bavuma 48, de Kock 45)
Mitchell Starc continues for a fourth over but Nathan Lyon is starting to warm up at point, which gives you the impression he’s been given the nod to come on soon. Starc strays onto the pads of de Kock with his final delivery and it’s expertly steered wide of mid-wicket for another four. Australia have bowled too many of loose ones this morning and the Proteas are happy to wait for them.
62nd over: South Africa 194-5 (Bavuma 48, de Kock 41)
Perhaps sensing a growing comfort among the batting pair, Steve Smith gives Josh Hazlewood a rest and brings Joe Mennie into the attack. Three days into his debut the South Australian is still looking for his maiden Test wicket and tails it in appreciably to the right-handed Bavuma and a thick edge when the batsman drives falls just short of gully. Bavuma is batting a long way out of his crease to break up Mennie’s line and length and picks up two through mid-wicket to finish the over. Half an hour into the third day it’s all South Africa.
61st over: South Africa 192-5 (Bavuma 46, de Kock 41)
The South African lead is now in excess of 100, if you were wondering. Match-winning, probably. Starc keeps charging in to Bavuma and the word on de Kock’s injury is that it’s his thumb, not his wrist. He injured it before the Test even started, which adds another dimension to his stellar work behind the stumps in the first innings. There’s a single to Bavuma but otherwise Starc avoids conceding anything else and threatens to ping the ball at the stumps after de Kock drives his last delivery straight down the pitch.
Australia have won only six Tests at home when conceding a first-innings deficit of >100 runs
— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) November 13, 2016
SA 5-187, lead of 102 #AUSvSA
60th over: South Africa 191-5 (Bavuma 45, de Kock 41)
Quinton de Kock is really struggling with this wrist injury, twisting his hand around and massaging himself at every opportunity while grimacing in discomfort. He’s on strike to Josh Hazlewood and Kevin Pietersen wonders aloud whether the problem is preventing the batsman from playing attacking strokes. Hazlewood’d final delivery is aimed into the ribcage of de Kock but he deftly swerves out of the way and again glides a boundary between third slip and gully.
59th over: South Africa 187-5 (Bavuma 45, de Kock 37)
Now de Kock gets in on the action again, adjusting a late cut when Starc gets a bit of unexpected bounce and angling the ball into the gap between third slip and gully to pick up a boundary. But...de Kock is still worried about his left wrist, so maybe he did a little more than jar it a few overs ago. Not ideal for a keeper. It’s all a bit easy for South Africa otherwise, and after a single to de Kock, Bavuma clips a pretty cover drive through the field for two. Starc gets a lot of lift off the pitch with his final delivery and that excites his team-mates, but Bavuma can’t even reach it, let alone get an edge on it.
58th over: South Africa 180-5 (Bavuma 43, de Kock 32)
It’s been a low-tempo start so far but the second ball of this Hazlewood over tails in wonderfully and almost takes the right-hander’s outside edge, and there’s three slips and a gully hovering should he get a nick on one. A ball later Hazlwood strays onto the pads and Bavuma has no trouble whipping him to the fence at deep mid-wicket. This is Test match batting: wait for the bad ball and pounce.
57th over: South Africa 176-5 (Bavuma 39, de Kock 32)
No surprises here as Mitchell Starc pairs with Hazlewood. He was a bowler transformed after tea on day one, taking three for not much in the space of a few overs to tilt the momentum of this contest, but he’ll take an over to wind up here and sends the first few down at around 137-138kmph to Bavuma. The batsman doesn’t get much chance to free his arms but drives attractively for no run from the penultimate delivery before squirting a single to fine leg to finish the over. Bavuma ends it flat on his back at the non-striker’s end after slipping in his attempt to turn for a second. There’d be laughter in the crowd if there was a crowd.
56th over: South Africa 175-5 (Bavuma 38, de Kock 32)
Hazlewood first delivery is full and pitching on or slightly outside leg and thuds into de Kock’s front pad. It doesn’t look a realistic chance of LBW but Hazlewood goes up in full voice anyway, perhaps shaking off 36 hours of inactivity. Not out. Not reviewed. Hazlewood is full for the rest of the over and de Kock looking to drive, but in a reassuring sight to all club cricket duffers, a mishit leaves him shaking his bottom hand from the jarring of the bat. He does a bit better off the final delivery, creaming an on drive into the gap between mid-wicket and mid-on to pick up a boundary.
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The Australians are now out on the ground
Well, standing at the edge of the arena waiting for the batsmen, anyway. Joe Mennie is grinning away in his brand spanking new baggy green, as is Callum Ferguson. The rest look like they’ve stolen their caps off tramps. I’m with a few of the old-timers on that one: they should wear new ones each season. There’s nothing intimidating about sweat stains and frayed fabric.
OK, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock are now striding out to the centre and Josh Hazlewood will bowl the first over of the day. Let’s do this.
Did I say the sun was breaking through in Hobart?
Perhaps not. Channel Nine are clearly applying more filters to their vision than SK Warne uses on his Instagram posts.
As grey as the dead in Hobart. Light may be an issue but only because cricket is insane. pic.twitter.com/2XExOscoms
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) November 13, 2016
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I am assured this is amusing
Though cannot verify it, as SK Warne wisely decided – perhaps for my own good – that I’m not allowed to see his tweets anymore. Are the readers feeling thirsty? Are the boys feeling thirsty? Actually, I should probably grab a coffee now while I have a chance. Thanks Shano.
Update: I can now actually see this Twitter masterpiece after all. A thought: if Warne is genuinely considering penning his third (or fourth?) autobiography, let’s just hope he has a decent proof-reader.
There coming #warniemojis pic.twitter.com/8P3HoWE1Vb
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) November 13, 2016
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As predicted
...there’s moisture in the pitch, according to Michael Clarke. In saying that, perhaps we shouldn’t take his pitch predictions as Gospel.
A short story #AusvSA pic.twitter.com/ymsk9VwwTM
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) November 12, 2016
Preamble
Hello all and welcome to day three of the second Test in Hobart, where we’re hoping there will be something other than rainfall to watch. Yesterday was a total wipe-out, so the local broadcaster resorted to a replay of the 1993-94 Sydney Test, which was novel to everyone in Australia bar Damien Martyn, who probably curled into the foetal position once more for old time’s sake.
If anything, the day off has favoured South Africa, because there’s a high chance that some moisture has worked its way into this Bellerive Oval pitch, and remember they’ve already got a handy 86-run lead. Add 50-60 runs to that this morning and get Australia in while it’s still seaming about and we could be done and dusted today, the way the locals are batting. The Bureau of Meteorology are saying there’s a 50% chance of showers this morning and throughout the afternoon, but right now in Hobart the sun is shining just a little and there’s no rain as the players warm up for the start of play in just under half an hour.
Anyway, until I have some action to report on, let’s get into the Tasmanian spirit and soak up local hero David Boon’s star turn as David Byrne in this early-90s musical segment on The Late Show.
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Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s what happened yesterday. Spoiler: it rained. A lot.
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