4th over: Australia 9-1 (Warner 3, Labuschagne 0) A small psychological blow then for South Africa, and they would love another with the in-form Labuschagne now at the crease. Nortje lets his former countryman know he’s in the contest with some searing pace, making the new ball launch off this capricious Gabba track like an old school catching cradle. WICKET! Khawaja c Maharaj b Rabada 2 (Australia 8-1)That was very odd from Usman Khawaja. Kagiso Rabada was all over him early in the over, rapping the opener on his gloves, then making him inside-edge onto his thigh. The Australian then left a delivery that missed the off bail by a bee’s wing, swiped an ugly hook that top-edged for two, before stepping to leg and cutting straight to point. Not an innings suggesting a batter with a clear mind.
2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Khawaja 0, Warner 2) Warner looks urgent and focussed against Nortje, defending aggressively, calling loudly, and getting off a pair with a freeing flick off his hip for two. The scoreboard also benefits from four byes when the giant bowler flings down a wild bouncer. The sideways movement on this Gabba pitch has not been an outlier, with the 0. 77 degrees of average seam movement ranking it 11/87 for Tests in Australia since 2006.
Rabada doesn’t look as comfortable, but he does enough to see South Africa through to tea with the scores level. 29th over: South Africa 64-7 (Zondo 13, Rabada 0) One over remaining before the tea interval. South Africa trail by two runs. We’re not seeing day three. WICKET! Maharaj c Carey b Starc 12 (South Africa 64-7)Boland gets a breather, allowing Mitchell Starc to send down one of the greatest deliveries you will ever see not take a wicket. Fast and full, angling in from around the wicket, hitting the pitch and cutting away like an off break to beat the edge of the bat and the off stump. That was outrageous. Maharaj retains his composure and punches a full toss to the cover fence for four. Starc then bowls another ‘how-did-that-not-take-a-wicket’ delivery that ends up cutting the batter in half, clipping the inside edge and scampering away for another boundary… Inevitably, inevitably, Starc gets his man.
Maiden. Now, over to David Warner. It’s been fun but it’s all happened too quickly. Pitch too grassy and green especially when you have two outstanding bowling units who don’t need generous conditions to have an impact. #AUSvSA— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2022 Usman Khawaja on strike as Australia begin the completion of the formalities. On average in Test cricket, a defensive stroke leads to a wicket once every 67 balls. In the #AUSvSA Test, that figure has been just 18, the third lowest for any match in the CricViz database (2006-present). Two elite attacks, in testing conditions, and some very poor batting.
37th over: South Africa 95-9 (Zondo 36, Ngidi 5) Ngidi is on strike at the start of Starc’s 11th over, but he’s off it second ball with a slap towards the covers. Somebody on the telly just said, and I kid you not, “a tricky little run chase coming up for Australia”. 36th over: South Africa 94-9 (Zondo 36, Ngidi 4) Cummins continues, searching for a five-for, but Zondo refuses to give his wicket away. He declines the single first ball after pulling into the legside, then he hits a hat-trick of boundaries, the first an inside-edge down to fine-leg, the second a lovely pull miles in front of square leg, and the third a stand-and-deliver straight drive over the bowler’s head. Zondo now has his highest Test score, and survives a very optimistic REVIEW for a catch behind after missing a delivery that cuts in considerably.
They couldn’t drop Scott Boland on his home track, could they? I shall leave you with Geoff Lemon’s thoughts from the press box, but stay tuned for plenty more reaction over the coming days. I’ll see you back here in a week or so, full of Christmas pud. For South Africa to compete in the next two tests they need to add another specialist batsman and back Keshav Maharaj to play a bigger role. #AUSvSA— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2022 Of course, what all of this analysis of the surface reinforces is how incredible Travis Head’s first innings 92 was. In a match dominated by the ball, with some gaudy bowling figures, it has to be a batter who averaged just 46 across the two innings - and was caught down the legside twice on the same day – who wins the player of the match award. Steve Smith says it was probably the toughest pitch he’s ever played on in Australia.
46% of deliveries have been on a good line & length, the third most for a Test in Australia since 2006. #AUSvSA— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 18, 2022 However, as often the way with 'extreme' pitches, it's the multiple threats which cause chaos. Our PitchViz model, which uses ball-tracking data from the venue, suggests the bounce in this Gabba contest is the fifth most inconsistent for any Test in Australia since 2006. #AUSvSA— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 18, 2022 1st over: Australia 0-0 (Khawaja 0, Warner 0) Rabada’s rhythm and intent are good with the new ball, but the length is just a fraction short, allowing Khawaja to defend from the crease or leave on height.
#AUSvSA— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) December 18, 2022 How are you all feeling about this out there? Are you enjoying watching South Africa be skewered like this? Or, like me, is it leaving you a little queasy about the state of Test cricket? Apropos of nothing, mangoes have been particularly delicious this year. Fruit of the Australian summer so far. Tea: South Africa 66-7 (Scores level)30th over: South Africa 66-7 (Zondo 14, Rabada 1) Zondo looks secure defending on the front foot to Lyon, then rotates the strike with an easy single on the 45.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 18, 2022 @JPHowcroft this weekend we’ve seen Sydney Thunder all out for 15 in the BBL, and the Second Test completed in just under two days. If this is the start of a trend, it’s not one I’m enjoying. — gavin robertson (@gavin_robertson) December 18, 2022 Don’t worry Gavin Robertson (not that one) England’s brave new Ben-and-Bazball is here to save the day. The Proteas could land a couple of psychological blows in the next few minutes, but the result is now no longer in question. Perhaps the only thing we may learn before Australia go 1-0 in front in the series is the frame of mind of David Warner.
Australia beat South Africa by six wickets – as it happenedKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureSummaryJonathan Howcroft144. 3 overs, 34 wickets, and six sessions of play, featuring two prodigiously talented bowling attacks, and one poorly prepared pitch. That was an odd Test match. The inquest into why the Gabba was so difficult to bat on will dominate the three cricket-free days. Thereafter the spotlight will fall on David Warner, whose Test career appears to be rapidly approaching its end. A few thousand miles away the focus will be on South Africa’s top order – weak on paper, disastrous on Queensland soil. West Indies were dismal a few weeks ago.
Pretty special. ”Mitchell Starc, who celebrated his 300th Test wicket in this match, has a few words on the TV. Not sure we’ve had a two-day Test before. None of us can recall a two-day Test. Very interesting, let’s leave it at that. The last 18 months, two years, has been a lot more consistent and probably some of the best Test cricket I’ve played. Hopefully that can continue. I’m just enjoying it. It is a great group to be part of. Maybe not always in two days but when you win Test matches, it is great to enjoy successes. “This sort of offal was never served up before they started putting numbers on their backs, ” chirrups Patrick O’Brien, who has presumably never heard of the England cricket team. 19 wickets fell today, on a surface that will be the subject of intense debate over the coming days. Australia win by six wickets8th over: Australia 35-4 (Labuschagne 5, Green 0) Australia reach 29 when Nortje sends down five-wides, increasing the extras tally to 14. South Africa have been full of purpose and intensity with the new ball and they have rattled their hosts.
“Looking at the pitch, the only thing I can say is that if you have such a green top like that it’s not SA that’s getting skewered but the ground staff in Brisbane, ” emails Steve Eggson, not unfairly. “That pitch is way too bowler friendly. Of course, as someone who likes their Test cricket slightly bowler friendly, I’m enjoying this immensely but I don’t think it’s South Africa’s fault. ”The quality of the pitch was discussed in depth by Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, with both concluding it was poor, and the worst either had seen in their professional careers at the Gabba. The view from South Africa is damning. I'll be pleased not to be up at 2am tomorrow but this is comfortably the worst Test I've covered. There's going to be a lot said about the pitch - and yes, it's unfortunate that SA have to bat on surfaces like this a lot - but more should be said about the batting.
Labuschagne does well to withstand the heat, calling his partner through for a sharp single in the process. With Green on strike Nortje goes short again, and once more the ball flies way too high and fast over everyone for five wides that brings this remarkable Test to a close on day two. 7th over: Australia 24-4 (Labuschagne 4, Green 0)SA are not still in with a chance to win this match, but this showing will keep them in the series. A brisk 34-0 from Warner and Khawaja would have been extremely deflating, they can at least now remind themselves of the quality of their pace attack ahead of Melbourne. WICKET! Head c Verreynne b Rabada 0 (Australia 23-4)For the second time today Head gloves down the legside.
Line and length, the batter gets trapped on the crease (understandably) and fends an edge through to Carey. Magnificent bowling. 28th over: South Africa 56-6 (Zondo 13, Maharaj 8) A boundary! Maharaj is quick to rock back when Lyon drops short and cracks the ball behind point for four. This summer so far “has been a disaster for Test cricket” laments Justin Langer on the telly, with the Proteas quickly going the same way as West Indies.
“Echo the disappointment of commentators, ” emails Paul Duggan. “SA batting awful technique to this occasional watcher haven’t seen enough of Aussie batsmen to comment. I wonder if one day and slash bash cricket are influencing modern test play? Bowlers good but hardly a test for them on such a wicket. ” 35th over: South Africa 82-9 (Zondo 24, Ngidi 4) Nice from Zondo, pushing Starc into the covers and running hard for two. A swipe across the line is fortunate to land safely in the on-side, then he accepts the single after repelling a toe-crushing thunderbolt. Ngidi survives his two deliveries, Starc whistling the first just past the off stump, and the second is a full toss. 5+ catches for non-wicketkeeping Australians in a Gabba Test:Sam Loxton vs ENG, 1950Mark Taylor vs NZ, 1997CAMERON GREEN vs RSA, 2022#AUSvSA— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 18, 2022 34th over: South Africa 79-9 (Zondo 21, Ngidi 4) The hat-trick ball is rank, allowing Zondo to flick a short delivery off his hip down to fine leg.
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AUS vs SA 1st Test Live stream: How to Watch Australia vs
AUS vs SA LIVE Streaming: Australia vs South Africa 1st Test
Carey does the rest. Simply magnificent bowling. 31st over: South Africa 69-7 (Zondo 15, Rabada 3) Starc’s second ball after tea is too quick for Rabada who fends at thin air. The left-arm pacer is bowling over the wicket to the left-handed batter, and he almost sneaks a yorker through Rabada’s defence but the South African gets his bat down in the nick of time. The Proteas hit the front! The players are back out for the final session of the day match. Scores are level, South Africa have three second innings wickets remaining. Mitchell Starc has the ball in his left hand.
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He retains the strike this time, and demonstrates the logic next ball by guiding an upper cut over the cordon for four. A couple of dots follow then a squirty inside-edge allows Zondo to walk to the non-striker’s end and leave Ngidi just one delivery to face – which he defends competently. 33rd over: South Africa 74-9 (Zondo 16, Ngidi 4) Zondo accepts a single from the first ball of Starc’s over. That is Boycottian levels of someone playing for their average. Ngidi holds his end up though, just, even equalling his Test average with a thick edge that scuttles down to third for four. Cummins will have that hat-trick opportunity…32nd over: South Africa 69-9 (Zondo 15, Ngidi 0) Alex Webster is “definitely feeling a bit queasy. There’s an argument that Test cricket peaked about 20 years ago and we’re sliding fast down the other side now.
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