Report from day two:
Stumps: Australia trail by 378 runs with four first-innings wicket remaining
South Africa are going to win a series at home to Australia for the first time since readmission. That’s the logical conclusion to draw after they totally dominated the second day. Temba Bavuma made an unbeaten 95 before Vernon Philander knifed through Australia’s rejigged batting line-up. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
38th over: Australia 106-6 (Paine 5, Cummins 7) There is time for one more over from Morkel. Paine leaves a series of deliveries outside off stump; Morkel overcompensates and Paine tickles him for four. That’s the end of a wonderful day for South Africa.
37th over: Australia 106-6 (Paine 1, Cummins 7) Paine receives treatment between overs, so this may now be the last over of the day from Maharaj. Cummins slaps airily past extra cover for four, misses a big heave and then settles down to play out the rest of the over.
Updated
36th over: Australia 100-6 (Paine 1, Cummins 3) Paine’s first delivery is a vicious lifter from Morkel that smacks him on the bottom hand. Both batsmen get off the mark, with Cummins bringing up the Australia hundred. We should have time for two overs before the close.
35th over: Australia 96-6 (Paine 0, Cummins 0) A wicket maiden from Maharaj. Australia have lost three for six in the last six overs.
WICKET! Australia 96-6 (S Marsh c de Villiers b Maharaj 16)
This is turning into a grim last hour for Australia. Shaun Marsh edges a defensive stroke off Maharaj to slip, where de Villiers takes the catch. Maharaj has his first wicket. Marsh battled hard, making 16 from 74 balls.
Updated
34th over: Australia 96-5 (S Marsh 15, Paine 0)
WICKET! Australia 96-5 (M Marsh b Morkel 4)
Morne Morkel replaces Philander and gets the first wicket of his farewell Test. Mitchell Marsh tries to thump a drive through extra cover but instead drags it back onto the stumps. Australia are in a mess.
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33rd over: Australia 95-4 (S Marsh 15, M Marsh 4) A short ball from Maharaj is hammed for four by Marsh, Mitchell.
“If you were thinking of reading the new Sean Penn, DON’T,” says Robert Wilson. “I’m halfway through it. Jesus effing Christ...”
Will you finish it? I never know what to do if I hate a film/book/boxset/meal. There’s a certain nobility and achievement in finishing, but there’s also considerable satisfaction in thinking, Bugger finishing The Assassination of Versace, I’ll just watch the Sopranos again.
Updated
32nd over: Australia 91-4 (S Marsh 15, M Marsh 0) Philander has moved to 198 Test wickets, so you’d expect him to reach 200 during this match. And you would certainly expect South Africa to win a home series against Australia for the first time since readmission. Their comeback from that towelling in Durban has been really admirable.
31st over: Australia 91-4 (S Marsh 15, M Marsh 0) Shaun Marsh survives a missed stumping chance. He charged Maharaj, who slipped it a bit wider and beat the outside edge, but the ball kept low and raced between de Kock’s legs. de Kock rubbed his arm afterwards, which confused everybody until replays showed he’d been stung by a bee as he tried to complete the stumping. How thoroughly bizarre.
“I guess now that I’ve been promoted to correspondent I need to keep checking in with you:-)” says Eva Maaten. “The game seems to be drifting a bit, and so is the attention of the audience; there’s definitely a (dare I say it) slightly drunken restlessness about the remaining crowd - which is thinning out. The families are drifting away... unsettled weather forecast for the next couple of days, I’d be surprised if we get a result. A draw is enough for the South Africans, of course. Did I read correctly that you’ll also be covering England-NZ? That sounds like a very long shift...”
I am, but working from home means I can sleep for England (and New Zealand, Australia and South Africa) between games.
Updated
30th over: Australia 90-4 (S Marsh 15, M Marsh 0) “Just back from watching my beloved Fremantle Dockers win the footy at the absolutely stupendous new stadium in Perth,” says Martin Turnbull. “Just wondering if the Aussies are behaving themselves at the cricket.”
Indeed they are. They’ve been exemplary.
WICKET! Australia 90-4 (Khawaja c de Kock b Philander 53)
Khawaja has gone! Philander has his third wicket! Quinton de Kock came up to the stumps for Philander and the tactic worked straight away. Khawaja tickled one down the leg side and de Kock moved smartly across to take a brilliant catch.
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29th over: Australia 90-3 (Khawaja 53, S Marsh 15) Khawaja saunters down the track to chip Maharaj classily for four and reach a superb, counter-attacking fifty from 77 balls. Australia have been aggressive against Maharaj, using their feet to almost every delivery. His four overs have gone for 27.
Updated
28th over: Australia 81-3 (Khawaja 47, S Marsh 12) Marsh, padding up to a straight one from Philander, survives another huge LBW shout. As is often the case on this ground, bounce saved him. Faf du Plessis decides not to risk South Africa’s last review, and I think he’s right.
“Great call about Graeme Smith,” says Robert Wilson. “An exemplar of the dogged and cussed. Bavuma is not quite there yet because, yes, I agree, both indomitable deciders, but sometimes Smith went further and insisted...”
And at Edgbaston in 2008, he went so far as to decree.
27th over: Australia 79-3 (Khawaja 47, S Marsh 10) Maharaj returns to the attack and has a very big LBW shout against Marsh turned down with his first ball. Maharaj had no interest in a review, which suggests there was an inside edge because it was otherwise an extremely good shout. UltraEdge confirms that was the case. That’s terrific umping by Ian Gould because it was barely perceptible even on the replays.
26th over: Australia 78-3 (Khawaja 47, S Marsh 9) Khawaja is beaten, swishing loosely at a wide half-volley from Philander. The ball has beaten the bat so much in this match, an does so again later in the over when Khawaja feels tenatively outside off stump. Brilliant bowling from Philander, whose figures are 9-5-15-2.
25th over: Australia 78-3 (Khawaja 47, S Marsh 9) A short ball from Rabada is whisked to the point boundary by Khawaja. He has bowled a few loose deliveries, though nobody really minds as they are all part of a spectacular package. That’s drinks.
“How much Bavuma-love is reasonable do you think?” asks Robert Wilson. “Catching up on his innings, I’m choking with emotion. Clearly in absolutely stinking nick, he just wasn’t having it. How the hell did he get ninety-odd? That’s immense. There’s a plague of Nietzschean spaff in professional sport about the imposition of your will (by which people seem to mean toddler-level acting out and posturing). I’m thinking little Temba there just showed us the real truth of it. The guy just decided. That’s immense.”
Ha, yes. Graeme Smith, who did a lot of deciding during his career, would surely have approved.
24th over: Australia 73-3 (Khawaja 42, S Marsh 9) The Vern returns, in place of Morkel. He finds his line straight away, forcing a couple of slightly desperate defensive strokes from Marsh. A maiden.
23rd over: Australia 73-3 (Khawaja 42, S Marsh 9) Too wide from Rabada, and Khawaja plays a flowing extra-cover drive for four.
22nd over: Australia 69-3 (Khawaja 38, S Marsh 9) Oof. Marsh leaves a delivery from Morkel that jags back and just misses the off stump. Actually, on reflection Marsh left that on height which was fair enough.
Updated
21st over: Australia 68-3 (Khawaja 37, S Marsh 9) Rabada almost bursts a nipbacker through the defence of Marsh, who does well to adjust and get in line. It’s a quiet spell, with three consecutive maidens from Rabada and Morkel.
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19th over: Australia 68-3 (Khawaja 37, S Marsh 9) Rabada replaces Maharaj, whose two overs went for 17, and zips a fine delivery past Shaun Marsh’s outside edge. Although Khawaja and Marsh are batting pretty well, there is no sense of permanence about their partnership.
18th over: Australia 68-3 (Khawaja 37, S Marsh 9) Khawaja misses an extravagant pull stroke off Morkel, whose radar has been a bit askew in this spell. A straight delivery is tucked fine for four more.
https://t.co/5EEyExXxWd.ukk/easter-opening.oaspxillaihhumoolkoo
— Tim Bresnan (@timbresnan) March 31, 2018
17th over: Australia 64-3 (Khawaja 33, S Marsh 9) Khawaja saunters down the track to crunch Maharaj through mid-off for four, and then Marsh does the same to punch a boundary between extra cover and mid-off. Excellent batting.
16th over: Australia 51-3 (Khawaja 26, S Marsh 3) Marsh, on the walk, is beaten by a sizzling delivery from Morkel.
“Hi Rob,” says Pete Salmon. “Good to have terrible, terrible Peter Handscomb back in the side. Something different to get angry about! He’s terrible.”
Updated
15th over: Australia 50-3 (Khawaja 26, S Marsh 3) “Although there is an undeniable pleasure in seeing the Aussies receiving a sound thrashing (yes, I’m counting chickens) it almost feels unfair in the circumstances,” says Richard Mansell. “I’d rather an SA victory was really earned, so I’d prefer that Australia not wholly collapse but manage to make a game of it.”
REVIEW! Australia 50-3 (Khawaja not out 26)
Keshav Maharaj replaces Philander. Khawaja offers no stroke to his final delivery and survives a big shout for LBW. There was a lot of guesswork involved for the umpire - but du Plessis decides to review. This is close. It turned a long way from the rough and hit Khawaja on the back leg. Height is the issue - and Hawkeye suggests it was just bouncing over the stumps. Khawaja survives and South Africa lose a review.
Updated
14th over: Australia 46-3 (Khawaja 25, S Marsh 0) Khawaja slams a pull through mid-on for four off Morkel. That’s a belting stroke. He has played with impressive intent at a time when everyone else has just tried to survive.
13th over: Australia 38-3 (Khawaja 18, S Marsh 0) Shaun Marsh survives the hat-trick ball, offering no stroke outside off stump. But it’s a wicket maiden from Vern, who has lovely figures of 7-3-15-2. He is a sensational new-ball bowler.
“Handscomb in and out faster than the last time he was on as a message boy,” says AB Parker. “No smiles this time around either...”
But maybe the same question from Darren Lehmann.
WICKET! Australia 38-3 (Handscomb b Philander 0)
Handscomb goes first ball and Philander is on a hat-trick! Handscomb tried to shoulder arms outside off stump but was too late in doing so and deflected the ball onto the stumps.
Updated
12th over: Australia 38-2 (Khawaja 18, Handscomb 0) Morne Morkel replaces Kagiso Rabada. There are still 29 overs remaining today, so it could get a lot messier for Australia. Morkel starts with a maiden, though his first ball did go for four leg-byes.
11th over: Australia 34-2 (Khawaja 18, Handscomb 0) That was the last ball of the over. The new batsman is Peter Handscomb.
WICKET! Australia 34-2 (Renshaw c de Kock b Philander 8)
This is an unusually poor shot from Renshaw. He had left well but chased a very wide delivery from Philander and thin-edged it through to de Kock, who took a good catch to his left. Australia are two down.
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10th over: Australia 32-1 (Renshaw 7, Khawaja 17) Renshaw, having been stuck on six for seven overs, steals a quick single off Rabada. Khawaja places a nice drive for a couple, promoting Rabada to switch over the wicket. After a fraught start, Australia’s batsmen are starting to look slightly more comfortable.
9th over: Australia 29-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 15) Khawaja gets a leading edge for four off Philander. He’s living pretty dangerously, and is beaten twice later in the over. Philander is bowling majestically and could easily have a couple of wickets.
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8th over: Australia 25-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 11) Khawaja and Rabada continued to trade blows, with expansive drives for four and three sandwiched by a play and miss. Sooper cricket.
7th over: Australia 18-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 4) Philander slips consecutive deliveries past Renshaw’s outside edge, the second a monster that growled off the seam. This is quite an interrogation for Renshaw, but we know he has the temperament to cope. It’s another maiden.
6th over: Australia 18-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 4) A snorter from Rabada takes the splice of Khawaja’s bat and flies right between third slip and gully at catchable height. Another sharp delivery is inside-edged onto the body by Khawaja, who is getting a fair working-over. Rabada is pure gold, just so good to watch. He is everything you could want in an elite sportsman.
5th over: Australia 10-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 0) Renshaw is batting outside his crease to Philander, an interesting and confident tactic designed to negate the impact of any late nibble. There’s so much to like about this kid, and he will surely be a key player in Australia 2.0.
“Great match so far,” says Eva Maaten, our Bullring correspondent. “The (very predominantly South African) crowd is fired up and full of expectations for an early wicket. Or two. Or three. There’s s a slight sense of baffled disappointment that the two new openers can actually play cricket and haven’t both been out for duck in the first over. Lovely to watch.”
4th over: Australia 10-1 (Renshaw 6, Khawaja 0) Kagiso Rabada is just magnificent. That was his 141st Test wicket. He’s 22 years old. I suppose it was a fairly loose stroke by Burns but it did move late.
Here’s Robert Wilson. “(Sweeping Generalisations and Baseless Assertions Alert). I’ve always found Australians easy to like and hard to hate. I’m not alone. Australians are the Italians of the English-speaking world. There’s something irresistible about their chilled-out, scabrous allergy to pomposity or pretention. Of course, there are outliers. For every Hugh Jackman or Jim Jefferies, there’s a Julian Assange or a Rupert Murdoch (when they go dark, they don’t hold back, the Aussies). I feel that recently the cricket team has tended to this dark side, kicking against the pricks of chipper Oz warmth and charm. It’s time to redress the balance and select a coach on likeability alone. Dizzy Gillespie definitely squeezes in but Tim Minchin is the funnier choice for me.”
WICKET! Australia 10-1 (Burns c du Plessis b Rabada 4)
Gone! Joe Burns falls to a fine delivery from Rabada. It swung away, took the edge and was nicely claimed to his left by du Plessis at second slip.
3rd over: Australia 10-0 (Renshaw 6, Burns 4) Philander scurries in to bowl to Burns, who fences a straight delivery a fraction short of Markram at short leg. This is a testing start from Philander, who as ever is making the batsmen play at almost everything. But when he goes a bit too straight, Renshaw flicks handsomely over square leg for four. That’s a cracking shot.
“I just hope it’s not Justin Langer,” says Paul Dickinson. “Cut from the same cloth as Lehmann and Warner. Key player in the odious Waugh/Ponting ‘mental disintegration’ era. Jason Gillespie talks a lot of sense and would bring a fresh, and dare I say, intelligent, approach.”
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Renshaw 2, Burns 1) Kagiso Rabada shares the new ball, with three slips and a gully. There’s a hint - nay, a suggestion - of movement, and Renshaw is beaten on the inside by a fine delivery that snakes back off the seam.
“If the goal is to play (and behave) like NZ, why not Mike Hesson?” says Kandukuru Nagarjun. “It was he, along with McCullum, that led the cultural regeneration of the Black Caps... There’s plenty of time before Australia’s next Test. Even with less money from TV, a Big Three nation ought to be able to offer a deal a man can’t refuse. It would hurt NZ, but surely the Australian way is to act like Big Brother in Trans-Tasman matters?!”
I suppose there is a precedent for underhand behaviour towards New Zealand.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Renshaw 2, Burns 0) Australia’s replacement openers stride to the wicket to face an interrogation from Vernon Philander. Matt Renshaw gets off the mark with a couple before being hit near the box by a nipbacker. The last delivery of the over takes the edge and falls just short of gully. A good start from Philander.
“Speaking as someone who loves watching cricket, but can’t claim to follow it closely (and thus always feels faintly like a fraudster on the OBO), it seems hard to look past Dizzy,” says Matt Dony. “Even a casual observer can see he’s proved himself, been successful, seems very knowledgeable and respected, but importantly has spent the last few years on the other side of the world from the current team/set-up. Young and dynamic, but with an outsider’s viewpoint. Failing that, I might fire off a CV to CA.”
And he’s vegan. Think of the potential for cultural change there.
Well deserved 5 wicket haul for @patcummins30 fast, bouncy,a lot of play and misses and the cracking inswinger to Du Plessis 👏 @Chaddsayers27 handy debut he swung and seamed the ball with skill very similiar to Philander 👍 #NowCmonBatsman 🏏 #SAvAUS
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) March 31, 2018
Something to watch during the tea break
“Dizzy as coach please,” says Eamonn Maloney. “Just right to redress the hard/fair balance, evolutionary not revolutionary. Speaking of fine South Australians am looking forward to nay-Sayers being silenced. Has dominated the Shield for yonks but those perceptions about pace and conditions wouldn’t go away. Now that sheer weight of results has given him his chance you’re about to see the intelligence that completes the puzzle. It’ll be Aldermania all over again if he can get a regular gig, albeit that’s only likely through long-term injury.”
I agree about Gillespie; he’s almost custom made for this situation.
Tea
The umpires will take an early tea due to the change of innings. That was a manic, emotional few minutes, with Bavuma stranded and Morkel out for a golden duck in his final Test. Cummins ends with outstanding figures of 28.5-5-83-5.
WICKET! South Africa 488 all out (Morkel c Handscomb b Cummins 0)
The Australians get together to applaud Morkel onto the field for what will probably be his final Test innings. And it lasts one ball! Morkel edges Cummins to Handscomb at second slip, so Bavuma is stranded five short of a century. He played beautifully. That wicket also gives the heroic Pat Cummins a five-for.
Updated
WICKET! South Africa 488-9 (Maharaj c Paine b Cummins 45)
Maharaj goes, caught behind having a zesty slap at a wide delivery from the new bowler Cummins. That was a breezy innings, 45 from 51 balls, but he has fallen with Bavuma still five short of a hundred.
Updated
136th over: South Africa 486-8 (Bavuma 94, Maharaj 43) Maharaj is taking Lyon to the cleaners. He drives four past short midwicket and then picks up a huge six over square leg. A steer for two makes this his highest Test score, and then Bavuma reverse sweeps for four to make it 17 from the over! South Africa are having all kinds of fun out there.
135th over: South Africa 469-8 (Bavuma 90, Maharaj 31) That’s a strange one. Maharaj seemed to miss a flashing cut stroke off Marsh, and nobody on the Australian team appealed for a catch behind. There was a clear sound on the replays, but nothing on Ultra-Edge.
134th over: South Africa 463-8 (Bavuma 89, Maharaj 26) Bavuma flashes Lyon to third man for three to bring up the fifty partnership.
133rd over: South Africa 458-8 (Bavuma 85, Maharaj 25) There is no sign of Bavuma trying to rush towards a hundred. He likes to play each ball on its merits and rarely deviates from that approach. When Marsh drops short, he swivel-pulls for a single. That’s your lot.
“Bayliss might have been available before this Test?” says AB Parker.
Get your filthy hands off him, damn it. He’s ours! Forever! Or at least until the end of the 2019 World Cup!
132nd over: South Africa 457-8 (Bavuma 84, Maharaj 25) Maharaj goes on the attack after drinks, belting Lyon for 14 in the over! There were two fours, cuffed through the off side, and a lusty swish for six over midwicket.
Here’s a question for you all Who should be the next Australia coach and why?
Drinks
131st over: South Africa 443-8 (Bavuma 84, Maharaj 11) Mitchell Marsh returns to the attack and has an adequate LBW shout against Maharaj turned down. I suspect it was sliding down. With every passing over, Australia’s task becomes stiffer. A victory from here, to draw the series, would be astonishing.
130th over: South Africa 442-8 (Bavuma 84, Maharaj 11) Bavuma charges Lyon and whirls a one-bounce four to deep midwicket. Shot! He’s such a nice player; I can’t quite fathom why his Test average is in the low 30s.
129th over: South Africa 438-8 (Bavuma 80, Maharaj 11) There’s no need for South Africa to declare - they have a series to win, and a Bavuma hundred would be a feelgood bonus. Maharaj, who is batting relatively sensibly, misses an attempted uppercut off Hazlewood.
“Bavuma has been excellent today,” says AB Parker. “Missed so many, but so composed and bouncing back from every miss. Some English batsmen could learn from that.”
True that. In fairness, Cook is one of the best I’ve ever seen at forgetting what has gone before. When he’s beaten, the ball is behind him in more ways than one.
128th over: South Africa 436-8 (Bavuma 79, Maharaj 10) Thanks Jonathan, hello everyone. As I ease into the OBO chair, Bavuma slams a sweep for four off Lyon. He’s 21 away from a second Test hundred.
That’s enough from me for now. Over to Rob Smyth until the close of play. Thank you for your company, as always. Catch you tomorrow.
127th over: South Africa 429-8 (Bavuma 74, Maharaj 8) Maharaj continues to handle himself with aplomb, seeing off a very Hazlewood over. He nicks a single from the fifth ball of the over allowing Bavuma to pull powerfully for four from the sixth. It has been a chastening day for Australia’s trio of quicks. All have bowled well but all have been devoid of luck.
Another excellent question to chew over... “It is clearly necessary to dissect all of this poor culture and bad behaviour, but who can Australia learn from as they look to improve?” asks Daniel McDonald. “What are some positive models of elite athletes in high profile sports not only avoiding controversy but maintaining their integrity and composure alongside their humility and popularity? I guess Federer and Usain Bolt lead the field. I don’t think Nadal is too far behind. Linsday Davenport and Kim Clijsters maybe? Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott in golf? Despite “The Deicsion” Lebron James has been very good for a long time. Messi? Paolo Maldini? Jurgen Klopp? 05 Flintoff was magnificent, but 07 Flintoff not so much. Mark Taylor was very good very often, but then incidents by McGrath and Warne and Healy probably count against him. Brendon McCullum’s NZ team?”
126th over: South Africa 424-8 (Bavuma 70, Maharaj 7) No breakthrough for Lyon. Maharaj looking switched on. Can he accompany Bavuma to a ton?
@JPHowcroft Responding to both Aditi and Robert Wilson, Dravid actually HAS done it (ball tampering) so he's out. The actual Good Place will probably have a lot of BlackCaps. Also, Aditi's (probably) a "she".
— Pack up the moon (@snigdhaarun) March 31, 2018
Yep, realised that error too late (although since corrected) - still not enough to prevent me from The Bad Place. I will go willingly.
https://twitter.com/patto_mike/status/980041521650159616
Yep, realised that error too late (although since corrected) - still not enough to prevent me from The Bad Place.
@JPHowcroft we need a good place XI vs a bad place XI. Current climate dictates instant selection for Smith and Warner. Jardine a shoo-in also.
— Michael Pattison (@patto_mike) March 31, 2018
125th over: South Africa 422-8 (Bavuma 69, Maharaj 6) Josh Hazlewood is given another opportunity to improve his figures of 0-79 but Maharaj only makes them worse with a wristy cover drive that skips to the boundary.
“To compliment my earlier comment,” writes David Griffiths (99th over), “I have surprised Australian fellow cricket tragics by not being too worried over a level 2 offence. I think we are all agreed the response has been way over the top with a level of hatred from online trolls that has been extreme (or perhaps to be expected in today’s climate). But my take is that Warner has been designated fall guy by CA from the first. They have reason to dislike him since his robust negotiation over players pay and he is the least “nice” of the three in the frame. Of the three he is the only one not to lie (admittedly by only apologizing for any wrong he has done). And he has far fewer miles in him than the other two. Incidentally it’s widely believed in Australia that Bancroft is the designated ball “conditioner” for Western Australia; if so an obvious choice to be asked (if somewhat incompetent).”
124th over: South Africa 418-8 (Bavuma 69, Maharaj 2) Lyon continues to extract plenty of turn and bounce, all of which will please Faf du Plessis greatly. Maharaj again survives and the lead ticks over to 418.
@JPHowcroft objectionable as he is, it’s difficult to buy the ‘Warner as main baddie’ narrative. Beyond credibility that only the three knew of this or that hasn’t been going on for a while.
— Tom Wellman (@pauliewalnuts2) March 31, 2018
123rd over: South Africa 416-8 (Bavuma 69, Maharaj 2) Bavuma accepts the single first ball, exposing Maharaj to Sayers and the number 10 survives, just, despite edging agonisingly short of the diving gully. Sayers and the rest of the pace attack cannot believe their misfortune today.
David asks: “How long do you think it will take Australia to re-coach and motivate their bowlers to take wickets without the assistance of Warner and his sandpaper?” Ignoring the obvious snark, Australia have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to pacemen, although it will be interesting to see who emerges in Warner’s stead as the Duracell bunny in the field. There are no obvious candidates for that roll.
122nd over: South Africa 413-8 (Bavuma 68, Maharaj 0) Australia have deserved that wicket, and for the second time today Lyon is the beneficiary of an unnecessary shot. The seamers must be fuming.
James Calder speaks for us all. “When all’s said and done, I’m just glad Mark Nicholas didn’t go “Ohhh hello! Massive!” when he saw Bancroft pop the sandpaper in his pants the other day.”
Aditi spotted The Good Place reference earlier. “Which cricketers do you think would get a spot there?” she asks in response. “Would ball tampering cause a massive drop in one’s score?”
Great question!
Updated
WICKET! Philander c Khawaja b Lyon 12 (South Africa 412-8)
Lyon teases Philander from over the wicket and after a couple of inside edges onto pad he decides to try attack as the best form of defence. He succeeds only in larruping across the line into the hands of Khawaja on the midwicket fence.
Updated
121st over: South Africa 412-7 (Bavuma 67, Philander 12) Despite the amount of edges and plays and misses, Bavuma remains calm as you like at the crease and still with the clarity of mind to leave anything he needn’t poke at from Sayers outside his off peg. Maiden.
Good darts on Warner's presser @JPHowcroft, but as has been said, I think he was never going to prejudice himself, however much we wanted it. Contrition isn't his thing anyway, but it's hard not to feel this will be both an almighty fudge by CA, and simply kick the can far away.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) March 31, 2018
120th over: South Africa 412-7 (Bavuma 67, Philander 12) A less eventful Lyon over than usual, just two singles from it as South Africa continued to rack up a healthy first-innings total.
@JPHowcroft Re Adam Collins' photo at 11.26, it's disgraceful of CSA to recruit the crowd to search for an incriminating strip of sandpaper.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) March 31, 2018
119th over: South Africa 410-7 (Bavuma 66, Philander 11) Yet another narrow play and miss to start Sayers’ latest over. Bavuma again the luckiest man in Johannesburg. And he cashes in that luck for four runs, finally edging a Sayers outswinger but getting enough wood on it to beat the despairing dive of the gully fielder.
“All these tears are a poor spectacle, clearly designed to make people feel sorry for them,” writes Alexander Agranovsky. “The difference between Smith’s first press conference after they were spotted and the one yesterday was astonishing. Instead of a still quite arrogant Steve Smith telling us that “he is not proud of what they have done” and that “it will never happen again on his watch”, we saw a supposedly broken down man who asks for second chance. In between those two events, Smith did not do much wrong on the field, so clearly he was now significantly more upset not because of his cheating, but because he was caught and punished for it. For a 5 year old kid, that’s understandable. By his age, he should have known that crime is inevitably followed by a punishment.”
118th over: South Africa 406-7 (Bavuma 62, Philander 11) Big test of Paine’s captaincy credentials now to keep his tired troops in the game despite a morning full of near misses. He’ll be looking to leaders like Lyon to make his job easier and the offie teases Philander on a few occasions without inducing the error.
117th over: South Africa 405-7 (Bavuma 61, Philander 11) Maiden from Sayers to Philander. Not much to write home about.
Some fine advice from Robert Wilson (or is it Chidi Anagonye?). “As this sticky-pocketed, lachrymose cautionary tale goes into its nine hundred and seventy second consecutive day, I have some advice for the spiritually lost and ethically abandoned. Whilst no dilemma is a truly binary proposition, this particular moral conundrum is a piece of cake. All you have to do is ask yourself the two absolute questions of ethical measure. Would Rahul Dravid have done it? And what does Gideon Haigh say about it? Everything else is goonish slapstick.”
116th over: South Africa 405-7 (Bavuma 61, Philander 11) Nathan Lyon begins after lunch and he starts with a strong appeal for a catch down the legside. No appealing the next delivery which is cut with finesse by Philander just beyond the dive of backward point and away for four. Lyon is then desperately unlucky. Bavuma flicks meatily into the onside but picks out leg slip but Joe Burns under the lid can’t hold on despite two or three desperate grabs.
Updated
The players are back out on the field at the Wanderers. It’s a much brighter, sunnier scene after lunch with the floodlights off and patches of blue sky over the Bullring.
Gonna be tough for Australia to win from here. No team has lost at the Wanderers after posting 400 in the first innings of the Test. Might have happened once in an ODI... #SAvAUS
— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) March 31, 2018
“Every kid knows that when you’re up to no good and you get rumbled you have to come clean,” reckons James Calder. “The biggest mistake the three of them made (apart from coming up with and executing the plan in the first place) was not appearing at the first press conference together and explaining exactly what happened, blow by blow. Warner should have been there, and Smith and he should have fallen on their swords there and then. Owning up and doing the decent thing is usually the best course of action, even today.”
I think that’s the thorny issue at the moment James, there’s still an uncertainty about what happened, who knew, and (to quote Ace) how long it had been going on. A situation not helped by a CA-marshalled press conference today that was a lesson in obfuscation.
“Whatever the commentary on the press conference of the players punished for the ball tampering, the punishment is severe, and the personal cost to each of the players is quite high,” argues Peter Brook. “I understand the interest in finding more information about the event, however, it is likely that it was a one off event given the clumsy implementation of the action to alter the condition of the ball. It was a serious breach of the rules, hence the very severe punishment. Let’s see what happens in the course of further investigation by CA rather than just speculate.”
Love this stuff. #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/QpNKYZYT0x
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) March 31, 2018
“Did the cricket media smile at Warner being marshalled through his fake press conference by Malcolm Conn?” asks Ross McGillivray. “The Conn I remember, the man who exposed the coverup of the Warne and M Waugh fines, would never have tolerated that charade. Remember this from Broadcast News?”
Lunch - South Africa 400-7
South Africa’s morning in Johannesburg. They’ve taken this Test match from even to firmly in their favour courtesy of Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 61. It’s far from the cleanest of innings but despite numerous near misses and only one run off his bat during the opening hour he remains at the crease and on course to guide his side to a sizeable first-innings total.
Australia have bowled well and deserve better than the solitary wicket of Quinton de Kock. Pat Cummins in particular has whistled deliveries past Bavuma’s outside edge as though there are magnets positioned deliberate to repel expected contact.
With the pitch turning and now showing signs of uneven bounce, don’t expect a declaration any time soon. South Africa will now want to bat again on this surface. There remains the threat of rain too but thankfully the showers have held off so far despite gloomy conditions at the Bullring.
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115th over: South Africa 400-7 (Bavuma 61, Philander 6) 400 up for South Africa and the ball immediately after the milestone is reached is, you guessed it, a play and miss by Bavuma at Cummins. Hmmm, a couple of deliveries later and another close shave favours the batsman but it’s from a worryingly low bouncing delivery. This pitch has shown no inclinations to keep low thus far but South Africa will have no problem seeing misbehaviour like that with 400 on the board. And that will be lunch.
114th over: South Africa 399-7 (Bavuma 61, Philander 5) Bavuma is not grinding his way to lunch, taking Lyon over the infield on the onside for a couple then driving powerfully on the front foot through extra cover.
@JPHowcroft I almost felt sorry for Smith after his presser, but then I remember how he colluded in and savoured the stitch up of YJB. Hard to buy the naive mistake line.
— Paul Speller (@Norbertsdad) March 31, 2018
113th over: South Africa 393-7 (Bavuma 55, Philander 5) Deary me, poor Pat Cummins. Another over, another selection of ‘how did that miss?’ rictus grins. At village level this would be called bowling too well, with plenty of encouragement from the cordon to the bowler to make it easier for the batsman. We’re left to wonder what Paine and Renshaw are saying in this new era of clean cut Australia cricket.
Felix Wood is back. “Re: Naylor’s point (105th over). Of course he’s right, there has to be innocence until - unless! - guilt is proven or admitted, and the court of rumour and innuendo is unlikely to get us anywhere. But the only people to have given the story are the three who lied from the start and officials who weren’t there. Would it kill anyone to allow Starc and Lyon to give their side? Because frankly, assuming they are innocent, they must be stewing. Can you imagine what the outcome would have been if one of the bowlers had taken it on themselves to make sneaky adjustments to Warner’ s bat?”
112th over: South Africa 391-7 (Bavuma 55, Philander 3) Vernon Philander doesn’t look at ease facing Lyon first up, but he survives and picks up a two and a one with soft hands into the on-side.
111th over: South Africa 388-7 (Bavuma 55, Philander 0) Even with that wicket of the previous over Australia have been desperately unlucky today. Here again Cummins does Bavuma all ends up twice in quick succession but he can’t find an edge. The diminutive batsman then deftly uppercuts for four to rub salt into the wounds.
“It’s improbable that this was the first time or a one-off (9:41),” writes Ravi Raman. “I mean the TV guys were told to keep a close watch, remember? That said, the guy I feel for the most is Bancroft. Blighted at the beginning of his national career. He’ll need strong JuJu to overcome that.”
WICKET! De Kock c M Marsh b Lyon 39 (384-7)
110th over: South Africa 384-7 (Bavuma 51) He’s ridden his luck and struggled for form during the opening hour, but Temba Bavuma has reached 50. Since the drinks break South Africa have played with much more intent, Bavuma in particular, and fortune has favoured them. De Kock is getting in on the act now too, sweeping Lyon powerfully for four and then cutting for two.
Lyon exacts his revenge eventually though, getting one to grip and bounce, converting a de Kock whip into a leading edge taken easily at mid-on. Australia have deserved wickets all morning and they’ve been gifted one with a lazy shot.
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109th over: South Africa 375-6 (Bavuma 48, de Kock 33) Another delivery whistles past Bavuma’s outside edge, forcing a rueful smile from Cummins’ lips. That smile turns to disbelief two balls later when Bavuma launches one over extra cover like Virender Sehwag in his pomp, and then snatching four more with a thick edge that scoots wide of gully.
“While I can’t feel sorry for Warner, the positioning of him as the villain compared to the other two as poor innocents sadly led astray started indecently early in the piece,” suggests Allan Hobbs thoughtfully. “He wasn’t at the original press conference talking of tape and I don’t think Smith and Bancroft were since asked if anyone else was involved the way Warner was. Similarly, contrast their refusal to talk about him, with their ‘I’m just here to take responsibility’ lines, seen as almost noble, compared to the suspicion and scorn when he said the same thing. While he instigated this particular crime, the real villain is the culture, both around the team and in the way the team is treated, but that’s a much less comfortable situation to resolve. And a bit too close to home for many in the media to be able to discuss.”
108th over: South Africa 366-6 (Bavuma 39, de Kock 33) Better from Lyon this over, working the outside and inside edges of de Kock’s bat, as well as the shoulder. There’s turn, bounce, and a half-appeal for a catch at slip but no breakthrough for Australia.
107th over: South Africa 366-6 (Bavuma 39, de Kock 33) Pat Cummins returns to the attack and he induces another big air swing from Bavuma. We’ve seen the ball beat the outside edge on numerous occasions today. Cummins overcorrects and Bavuma just nudges a four fine of fine-leg.
@JPHowcroft By the end of this week, Warner will have already served 1 of the longest ever punishments for ball tampering. Terrible action and he is paying for it; let's let it go now
— herescliff (@herescliff) March 31, 2018
It could (should?) have been this straightforward but alas it no longer is.
106th over: South Africa 362-6 (Bavuma 35, de Kock 33) A much less threatening Lyon over, South Africa nurdling runs around the infield.
“I spent yesterday not going on the internet,” begins Peter Salmon, “so have missed any chat about THE FUTURE! The main question I have is how is Paine going as captain? Is the gig his from now on? And what sort of team is likely to be going out there in our next home test? I assume the bowlers are locked in, but the batting looks completely open... Thoughts?”
Lots of water to flow under many bridges before the summer Peter. You’d think Paine is the preferred captaincy candidate for the time being and he’s done a decent job so far. He’s definitely at home leading the culture change CA have talked about. As for batters, I think the three called up here plus Glenn Maxwell are at the front of the queue but for one of the few times in modern history the Sheffield Shield may actually count for something come October/November.
105th over: South Africa 359-6 (Bavuma 34, de Kock 31) Who is this man at the crease!? Since drinks Bavuma has looked a different player and he confirms his return to form by square driving Hazlewood for four. He reverts back to type later in the over though, playing inside a beauty from Hazlewood that was worth a caught-behind every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
“I’m beginning to get a whiff of a witch hunt because (surprise, surprise) three press conferences have not answered every question about Australian cricket culture since 1877,” writes Gary Naylor. “In that Cape Town dressing room, just say Starc looks at the guilty three plotting and says to Cummins, “I think they’re going to have a go at the ball.” What would Cummins do? Every side has a go at the ball - so does he (and the other eight) do an Inzy and refuse to take the field?
Even if they know sandpaper was involved, they may have a pop at Warner and Bancroft, but surely only Smith can say No. At the close they could go to Lehmann and tell him to sort it out, but even that might be hard to do and anyway, it’s too late then. I say let the process continue without conjecture about those to whom we should extend the traditional assumption of innocence until proved guilty.”
104th over: South Africa 354-6 (Bavuma 29, de Kock 31) Bavuma’s on the tear, working Lyon into the leg side for a single and then sweeping hard for what looks like a boundary but it’s kept to just one by some spectacular fielding by Usman Khawaja. There’s plenty of turn and bounce for Australia’s spinner but South Africa are doing a decent job keeping him out so far. The right-hander looks much more comfortable than the leftie.
103rd over: South Africa 351-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 30) A run for Bavuma! His second of the morning, after 44 deliveries - and it was an overthrow... Hazlewood would be disappointed to have to bowl to de Kock, but he almost makes it work to his advantage, rapping the South African on his pads on the crease but his LBW appeal is correctly declined for pitching outside leg-stump.
Steve Ditchburn revisits a topic that continues to resurface. “Are we really to believe that none of the bowlers were told of the plan? Surely if you hatch a plan to change the state of the ball then you have to inform the bowlers because they will - assuming that the plan is successful - notice that the ball state has changed. And on from that, if a bowler notices that the ball state has changed and was not party to ‘the plan’ then is it his duty to inform the umpires that something has happened?”
It was one of the questions David Warner declined to answer at his press conference today. All the information so far indicates none of the bowlers knew. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable question to ask.
102nd over: South Africa 350-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 30) Lyon coming around the wicket to de Kock and he beats his man with an absolute fizzer! Drifting in, spinning and bouncing away, catching the skinniest edge of de Kock’s glove but it ricochets off Paine and loops agonisingly over Renshaw in the slips. Oooh, another one passes the outside edge - Lyon has found his pace here - but de Kock is unperturbed, retaining the presence of mind to dispatch the loose long hop. Terrific over from Lyon. Australia have bowled well enough to take a bagful this morning but South Africa remain six-down at drinks.
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101st over: South Africa 346-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 26) Bavuma is now 26 from 92 deliveries and looking unlikely to hit the ball off the square. As if to prove the point a rare attacking stroke morphs into a wafty play and miss at one from Hazlewood that bounces and seams away on a length.
100th over: South Africa 345-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 25) Nathan Lyon’s turn to have a bowl and he keeps de Kock on his toes during a positive start to his spell.
99th over: South Africa 344-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 24) After a lengthy delay Paine has his gloves back on, Hazlewood has the ball in his hands, and de Kock has the seven best runs of the day, four from a textbook straight drive and three more from a calmly placed cover drive. Bavuma has no such fluency and is almost caught on the crease by one that nips back and catches him near his unmentionables. Without intending to be heightist, replays show that was only a couple of inches away from an LBW dismissal.
David Griffiths wonders on email if “Smith is the better actor?” which I think is an extremely harsh reading of the past few days. Smith’s distress and remorse seems incontrovertible to me. Yes, he made a mistake. Yes, he deserves to be punished. But aside from a horrible error of judgement there’s nothing to suggest he’s as mendacious as some people are making him out to be.
While Paine deals with his pain, a chance to revel in Australia’s tri-series victory secured earlier today.
98th over: South Africa 337-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 17) Paine continues his policy of standing up to the stumps and it costs him four runs and no little pain. Sayers is perilously close to inducing a nick from de Kock but has to watch on as the ball cannons into Paine’s right thumb and away to the fence for four. Paine is now receiving treatment for what could easily be a broken thumb, at the very least a really nasty blow. And unless I’ve missed a memo, Australia haven’t named a vice-captain...
97th over: South Africa 332-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 16) Josh Hazlewood is belatedly called into the attack and he finds Bavuma’s edge almost immediately. It was a very faint nick with soft hands though and it failed to carry to the cordon. Bavuma is in quicksand out there right now.
More crocodile tears ? Would the ball tampering have continued in the currentTest match if they had not been found out ?
— Mike Ulyatt (@mikeulyatt1) March 31, 2018
I have no doubt whatsoever that all the tears we’ve seen so far are genuine, Mike. Smith in particular was distraught, aware of the magnitude of his failings.
As for your second point, we’ll never know. And it’s one of the questions Warner declined to answer at his press conference. Were they desperately unlucky to be caught during a one-off, or was it only a matter of time following a systematic abuse of protocol? England’s post-Ashes comments suggest we would be naive not to at least suspect there have been prior instances, although perhaps not to this egregious level.
96th over: South Africa 331-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 15) Bavuma has gone nowhere this morning and shows no indication he is bothered about getting anywhere in a hurry, continuing to leave or dead-bat everything sent his way like a tailender clinging on for a draw. He’s 26 off 75 now, South Africa’s number six, and he’s allowing Sayers in particular to refine his line and length to the millimetre.
“How wonderful it would be to put the nastiness behind us and focus instead on actual cricket,” emails Felix Wood. “Unfortunately CA and those involved seem determined to mismanage the response in a way that does the opposite. With Warner’s presser today I’m less convinced than ever that a clean breast has been made, and now if it wasn’t for Starc’s long history of injury I’m sure people would be asking whether his going home was entirely coincidental. It still feels like damage limitation is the approach being taken, and that’s not going to get anyone’s trust back.”
I reckon that’s a decent summary of what a lot of people are thinking.
95th over: South Africa 331-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 15) When he gets it right Cummins is finding some spite on a length. He connects with de Kock’s gloves this over, angling the ball across the left-hander from over the wicket. There are plenty of wicket balls out there and you sense one could bring plenty as new batsmen adjust to the conditions.
94th over: South Africa 329-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 13) Tim Paine is now standing up to the stumps to Australia’s new-ball bowler, on a track that is offering pace and bounce. One for The Grade Cricketer chaps that one. It doesn’t put either player off their stride though, Sayers presenting a beautifully proud seam and Paine showing flawless glovework as the ball misses Bavuma’s edge by a gnat’s wing. Sayers shows he’s no one-trick pony later in the over, almost castling Bavuma with one nipping back sharply off the pitch. Excellent cricket.
93rd over: South Africa 328-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 12) Cummins is bowling nicely this morning, finding a decent rhythm and occasionally looking for that odd one that climbs off a length. He eventually tries too hard and concedes five wides with one that launches into space from near his own toes.
Jon Millard is happy I revisited Geoff Lemon’s takedown of the blokey C9 commentary culture (18.36). “The emotional depth of a sock puppet during a button shortage,” he emails gleefully. “I’d forgotten that line. Can we have Geoff Lemon when you don’t need him? Also fits Warner’s tears. Smith appeared to be crying for what he’d done to cricket, but Warner only for what he’d done to himself. And that difference was manifest between the two events, despite Warner’s attempts to mimic Smiths words, the non-verbals were stark.”
I think that’s a very astute reading of the situation Jon, and why Smith is already on the road to redemption and Warner still fiddling with his GPS.
92nd over: South Africa 322-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 11) Sayers is full and straight to de Kock, aisde from the one wide half-volley that the batsman doesn’t time as sweetly as he would like, almost offering a catch to short cover instead of drilling the expected boundary.
91st over: South Africa 319-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 8) A maiden for Cummins is the product of Bavuma leaving as much as he dares. That includes declining a couple of wide teasers provoking comment from Graeme Smith and Michael Holding that if Bavuma is going to progress at this level he needs to start putting those kind of deliveries away.
Alex Hales gets his big Indian Premier League chance - has signed for Sunrisers Hyderabad as the replacement for David Warner
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) March 31, 2018
90th over: South Africa 319-6 (Bavuma 26, de Kock 8) Chadd Sayers opens proceedings alongside Cummins and his arrival is met by the floodlights easing their way into life at the Wanderers. A typical Sayers over you’d say; decent line and length, a little wobble, two singles from it.
Amod Paranjape has an interesting angle on cricket culture. “I write this in the office as the financial year in India comes to a close contemplating among other things the reaction to sellotape gate as the OBO community so eloquently puts it. I am one of the people who do not have sympathy for the Australians. This is according to my father a knee-jerk reaction to the in-your-face policy adopted by the Australians for the last many years. (My Dad is one of the most balanced individuals I know. All his life he has yelled at me once, once only). I will be interested to see if the Indians under Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli who are fans of the Australian way will be changing to the ways of old. Though considering the monetary clout of BCCI I do no think they will deem it necessary.”
It will be fascinating to see exactly how radical Australia’s changes turn out to be, and whether they attempt to implement them unilaterally or look to resuscitate the moribund Spirit of Cricket. It would surprise me if India changed what is proving to be a successful strategy. Let’s be frank, none of the big three have shown much regard for the rest of the cricketing world in recent years.
89th over: South Africa 317-6 (Bavuma 25, de Kock 7) Good start by Cummins, into his rhythm early and getting one to bounce and seam from a length that reared up menacingly at the diminutive Bavuma, landing a glancing blow to the batsman’s right elbow. Bavuma, hard as nails, doesn’t even pretend it hurt him. Four leg-byes from the final delivery get the scoreboard operator moving for the day.
I was moved by Smith’s press conference. Not so much by Warner’s.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) March 31, 2018
The players are out on the Bullring as the clouds look increasingly ominous overhead. Pat Cummins has the ball, Temba Bavuma is on strike.
Warner’s tears landed differently to those of Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft earlier this week. Here’s my reaction immediately following an unsatisfying press conference that did nobody any favours.
In case you’re overseas and just waking up, or you’ve been busy so far this Easter long weekend, today’s agenda has been dominated by David Warner’s press conference in response to allegations of ball tampering. Christopher Knaus was at the SCG to watch the latest tearjerker unfold.
Congratulations to Australia’s women’s team who have just triumphed in their tri-series final against England. Meg Lanning top scored with 88 and Megan Schutt took three wickets in a 57-run victory.
If you’re looking for more sport, there’s a dedicated Australian sportwatch on the go right here:
Or you could catch up on a decent day for England in their Test match against New Zealand.
The weather is more overcast than it was yesterday and there are showers about, so we could be in for some breaks in play, especially later in the day.
The strip in Johannesburg has played excellently so far. Plenty in it for the new ball bowlers, turn and bounce for Nathan Lyon, and predictable enough for Aiden Markram to make it look like a road.
Day two #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/hkjjeQIWZM
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 31, 2018
Which reminds me, any excuse to revisit this Geoff Lemon tour de force.
Some early correspondence. Please do join in if you have something to share. Contact details are at the top of the page.
Tully Haines thinks that if Cricket Australia is series about culture change then it should extend to its broadcast partners. “I was thinking if Australian cricket really wants to change culture they need to change the tone of the commentary. Channel 9 is almost unwatchable because of the suburban pub tone of the commentary. Now the first day of cricket after the scandal Warnie is is the box telling a ‘hilarious tale’ of Merv Hughes trying to hit a fan with his cricket bat, apparently it’s one of Merv’s biggest regrets that he didn’t get him properly, haha.”
Couldn’t agree more. It’ll be interesting to see how the broadcast rights situation plays out now C9 have invested so heavily in alternative summer sporting content.
South Africa will resume at 313-6 at the start of day two. Temba Bavuma is unbeaten on 25, Quinton de Kock is on seven. Australia are in possession of the second new ball, it is eight overs old.
Need to catch up with anything else from the Bullring yesterday? Adam Collins, the hardest working man in cric-biz, has you covered.
Preamble
If this was a normal Test match we’d be as giddy as an army of toddlers on an Easter egg hunt. We’d be swooning over Aiden Markram’s graceful 152, commending Pat Cummins for his late burst, and patting Chadd Sayers on the back for coming through a tough examination on debut. We’d be gripped by the conclusion of a topsy-turvy Test series that remains in the balance with just four days of play remaining.
But this isn’t a normal Test match. The residue from the ball-tampering scandal has yet to wash away and another layer of crud was added to the mess today with David Warner’s unsatisfying press conference. What continues to happen off the field is refusing to relinquish precedence to events occurring on it.
We’re back again to bring you all the day two action from the Wanderers, once more with one eye on the scandal that is tearing Australian cricket asunder. If you have anything you’d like to contribute to the debate Twitter makes life easy, or email jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk if you require more than 280 characters.
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