Australia started the day just six wickets away from a crushing second Test loss in Gqeberha, with South Africa eyeing squaring the series at 1-1 on Day 5. Live updates below!
Tassie hero’s six-wicket epic sinks Vics; WA batters survive late scare despite Konstas ton – Wrap
Tasmania have secured a thrilling four-run victory over Victoria, led by Gabe Bell’s incredible six-wicket haul in the second innings.
In-form Aussie star cops shock suspension over ‘prescription medication’ rule breach
Australian quick Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches for a rule breach relating to prescription medication.
‘Looking quite good’: Great’s verdict on Aussie batting crisis… and blunt replacement call
Former Australian great Michael Hussey has hit back at calls for major change to the Test team, as pressure mounts following a fourth day disaster against South Africa.
Marnus is in the grips of a cricket curse that once felled Sachin. It may already be too late
Greg Chappell has a theory about batsmen that he suspects applies perfectly to the lament Marnus Labuschagne is experiencing after the Queenslander’s double-despair in Gqeberha on Wednesday placed his career on a knife’s edge.
Aussie coach Andrew McDonald not ‘going to hang anyone out to dry’ after diabolical day in South Africa
With the careers of at least three Australians either in the balance or kaput after a dismal day in Gqeberha against South Africa, Australian coach Andrew McDonald conceded the nation’s batting order was far from a perfect one.
Australia collapse in chaotic fashion to leave South Africa in sight of victory
Tourists all out for 99 and forced to follow on
Batters left to conduct desperate rearguard on last day
There it was, another entry in Australia’s hall of infamy against South Africa. There was 47 all out, in the innocent days when the 2011 Test was the worst humiliation in Cape Town. There was 85 all out in Hobart, 2016, that led to half the side being sacked. Now there is 99 all out in Gqeberha, one day after the home team blew past 400, only for the visitors to follow on halfway through day four. At 156 for four, still 170 behind, Australia could yet save the second Test on its final day, but another batting failure has left the door wide open to defeat, and the table laden with defeat’s favourite snacks.
When Nic Maddinson’s first innings lasted four balls on the third evening, nobody would have predicted that his second innings would be done an hour after lunch the next day. Between times, nine other Australian wickets fell in 38.3 overs. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada bowled spells of ferocity, cranking up the speed gun while beating edges with the ball pitched up, and peppering batters when it wasn’t.
Continue reading...Talking Points — Big changes loom as opener problem ‘people don’t realise’ exposed in batting crisis
Australia suffered one of its worst days with the bat in a long time and as they stare down the barrel of defeat, it raises plenty of questions about where to next for the misfiring batting order.
‘The hell is that?’ Calls for Aussie line in the sand as team scolded over ‘gutless’ surrender
An old foe has branded Australia’s batting performance at St George’s Park on Wednesday “pretty gutless” while there were renewed calls for Marnus Labuschagne to pay the ultimate price after a Day 4 brainfade.
‘Could bat 3 for Aus’: Great’s big call after statement Konstas ton; rising star shines — Shield Wrap
Sam Konstas scored a first Sheffield Shield century since December, while Australian ODI regular Xavier Bartlett inflicted the reigning champions their first defeat in more than a year as Victorian rising star Harry Hoekstra continued to shine.
Marnus brain explosion sums up horror 7-year low as unusual Smith issue rocks Aussies
Australia’s batters will have to produce one of the finest rearguard actions in recent memory after a horrific day with the bat put South Africa on the brink of levelling the series on the final day of the second Test in Gqeberha.
The Spin | Writing a book with Chris Woakes showed the inner steel of the nicest man in cricket
All-rounder and ‘the best teammate you could wish for’ has seen profound change since his first-class debut in 2006
The Spin this week comes from York, where Chris Woakes and I sat down on Monday evening to discuss his new autobiography, The Wizard. There were just shy of 400 international wickets on stage, not a single one mine, and an audience that happened to include one of his old teachers.
It turns out a seemingly clean-cut cricketer was something of a rebel back in the day, with Mr Wager reminding Chris of the time he feigned illness to bunk off school for a long weekend in Newquay with his mates. A bit like Warwickshire’s title win this year that anecdote came too late, frustratingly, for the hardback edition.
Continue reading...‘Thorn in my career’: Star’s nine-hour masterpiece as stunning surge hits new high
If the sight of the Baggy Green inspires the fire within Kagiso Rabada, playing against Australia also brings out the best in Temba Bavuma.
Brutal reason for Hazlewood illness revealed as Starc lifts lid on Lyon’s axe reaction
If Australia is to squander this Test from a dominant position and, Heaven forbid, lose this series to South Africa, the chief villain can already be identified as the dodgy prawn Josh Hazlewood consumed at some stage this week.
21yo prodigy’s stunning 13-year first as Pom’s ‘appalling’ act infuriates legend
All-rounder Arafat Minhas struck a maiden ODI half-century and grabbed a career-best six wickets to anchor Pakistan’s convincing 87-run win over England in the tri-series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.