Category: Australia Cricket

After the congratulations were complete at St George’s Park on Thursday and the Australians milled on the outfield for a moment, Marnus Labuschagne lingered a few metres behind his teammates and appeared to be taking the whole ground in.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins has conceded selectors will look closely at the positions of several players after a humilating innings defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha.

• Rabada and Mulder lead hosts to victory in second Test

• Boland bats for more than three hours as nightwatcher

It took time, it gently frayed nerves, but ultimately South Africa sealed the second Test at Gqeberha deep into the final day, clear by an innings and 31 runs, levelling the series with one to play. In truth, although Australia made 295 and got within 28 overs of safety, they did not deserve to save this game, even if Scott Boland and Travis Head did. Letting South Africa escape from 40 for four to pass 400 was the first offence, then came Australia’s capitulation for 99 to be forced to follow on. The salvage operation was in waters too deep.

Australia got an early boost from a washed-out morning session that cut the day’s ration from 98 overs to 82. The next boost came from Boland, once again the headliner: having done it all with the ball while nobody else could match him, he then led with the bat. He had the nightwatch job in the first innings, batting briefly on the fourth morning, then had to do it a second time that evening, taking Australia to stumps at 156 for four.

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Australia’s batting is once again in the gun as several greats of the baggy green reveal their frustration with the current crop.

Having swatted away critiques suggesting he was not an opener in a blistering broadside at former players preceding the series, Travis Head has matched his words with a superb century in Gqeberha in a fighting bid to save the Test for Australia.

Travis Head’s century and Scott Boland’s more than three hour vigil were not enough to save Australia from a crushing, innings and 31-run defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha.

Tasmania have secured a thrilling four-run victory over Victoria, led by Gabe Bell’s incredible six-wicket haul in the second innings.

Australian quick Megan Schutt has been suspended for two matches for a rule breach relating to prescription medication.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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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.

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.

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.