Category: Australia Cricket

Just before Australia’s tour of South Africa began in Durban earlier this month, Steve Smith was in a mood at Kingsmead Stadium, cursing for every ball that found the edge of his bat.

St George’s Park in Gqeberha is unlike most other cricket venues around the world, in that cricket is the only sport played professionally there.

• Just 12.2 overs possible on first day of second Test

• Bowler seizes his opportunity with two wickets

If there is a theme to Scott Boland’s Test career, it’s making the most of limited opportunity. Finding a way into the team in 2021 when it seemed that chance had passed him by, remaining fourth in line for three spots, playing at the whim of absence, yet in those moments becoming a wrecking force, causing rashes of wickets, taking first-over strikes, threatening hat-tricks and once making good.

So began the second Test in Gqeberha, another match he wasn’t supposed to play, on a day that didn’t get 13 overs bowled, yet there he was. Making the score 20 for two. Squeezing into the game through the tiniest gap, like Eugene Tooms escaping from a cell.

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Scott Boland’s recall in place of Nathan Lyon was the big talking point on an opening day of the second Test in Gqeberha ruined by rain.

Australia overcame a mighty scare to defeat New Zealand by two wickets with seven balls to spare in the opening T20 of their three game series at North Sydney Oval.

Scott Boland repaid the selectors faith, taking two wickets in two balls to put Australia on top on a rain-affected opening day of the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha.

Jake Fraser-McGurk has reignited his quest for an international recall, shattering records with a spectacular century to lead South Australia to victory in the One-Day Cup.

• ‘There’s no hate,’ says bowler ahead of return to St George’s Park

• Pair clashed in Gqeberha during heated series six years ago

Kagiso Rabada insists there is no lingering bad blood with Australia as the South Africa speedster prepares to return to the site of his controversial clash with Steve Smith.

Rabada has been declared fit to come back from his hamstring tear and face Australia in the second Test at St George’s Park, in his first match since May. The South African’s return comes at a crucial point in the series, with the hosts fighting to stay alive after their 214-run pumping in Durban last week.

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As Cameron Green was batting in Gqeberha on Saturday, a bloodcurdling howl had heads turning swiftly towards the net where the angular Australian was facing for fear he has suffered another foul blow.

Pat Cummins doubts it will matter how the Australians approach Kagiso Rabada in his return to Test cricket in Gqeberha on Sunday given the sight of the Baggy Green is enough to incite an inspired response in the Protea superstar.

Marques Ackerman loves nothing more than fighting fire with fire and will provide a significant boost to South Africa’s middle-order, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma said on Saturday in Gqeberha.

Refusing a captain’s order usually guarantees a swift end to their stint in a side for a cricketer, but former Australian fast bowler Paul Reiffel was prepared to take that risk after finding himself in a position he never imagined on a South Africa tour.

Josh Hazlewood has his swing back and says there is a freedom that comes with approaching every Test as though it may be your last as he prepares for the second match in the series in Gqeberha on Sunday.

It is the photograph of Kagiso Rabada that should put the fear of God into Australia’s brittle top order.

The general mood of the hardcore on the tour groups around the baggage carousel oscillated between trepidation and pessimism.