Boland v Lyon: Who SHOULD get the nod? | 04:16
Courtney Walsh in Gqeberha and Dane Heverin from Fox SportsOctober twentieth, 2026 3:33 am
Australia are nicely on top after one other rain-reduced day in Gqeberha with South Africa 5/97 at stumps on day two.
Solely 30.4 overs have been potential on Monday, largely as a consequence of a moist outfield, but the guests made up for lost time with Scott Boland doubling his overnight wicket tally to have four for the innings.
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The Victorian has definitely repaid the selectors faith after Nathan Lyon was dumped for him, while Matt Renshaw’s screamer at first slip rubbed salt into the Proteas’ wounds with their skipper unable to seek out teammates keen to come alongside for the experience.
Scroll down for the most important talking points from day two of the second Test!
PROTEAS CAPTAIN’S WORDS FALL ON DEAF EARS
As Temba Bavuma assessed the difference between his team and Australia in Durban within the first Test, he implored the batters to shelve the shoddy shots and put a price on their wicket.
It sounded familiar, for Pat Cummins had been banging on about it for weeks as nicely and within the first Test, Matt Renshaw and the bowlers rose to the event in disciplined fashion.
Bavuma endured a lean start to the collection when failing in both innings in Durban, however he had shown main into the second Test he was ready to match his deeds to his words.
The South African skipper was the last Protea to leave the nets on both Thursday and Saturday at St George’s Park and then after rain lower the first day short, he headed to the indoor nets for an prolonged session, dealing with throwdowns as Fox Cricket’s The Observe On podcast canvassed the major information strains for the first day.
“He simply must bat time, to spend trip within the center, and the runs will come. The bowlers will tire,” former Proteas fast Vernon Philander stated.
The subject of discussion for Day 2 might be the fact that these teammates have didn’t comply with the instance set by their leader given the dismal shots that led to a couple of dismissals.
Opener Marques Ackerman and No.5 Matthew Breetzke, who both got here into the aspect for this Test, might be lamenting the manner with which they obtained out on the rain-marred day.
The latter’s wild waft to a large one from Mitchell Starc, specifically, was lamentable.
But Katich stated it was a symptom of a broader issue for the South Africans, who’ve played a naked minimum of Test cricket since winning the World Test Championship last June.
“He has joined the club of South African gropers,” Katich stated on SEN.
“They simply can not management their hands exterior off stump. We noticed it last week in Durban. Now we have seen it once more this week. There are technical points with a number of players in this batting order.”
Kayo Sports knowledgeable analyst Mark Waugh stated throughout the Durban Test the most important issue for the hosts was that the batting order was filled with cheap, however not great, batsmen.
He harassed the identical factor once more throughout the rain delays on the first day when saying he was not convinced within the class of the Proteas top-order.
“They don’t have a world class batter,” Waugh stated. “They all average 35 and it’s what they actually lack.”
Boland strikes twice earlier than rain hits | 02:31
HISTORIC LYON CONCERN AFTER LATEST AXING
Former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe warned on day one that leaving out Nathan Lyon in this Test set a “dangerous precedent”.
Now, the Fox Cricket knowledgeable analyst is deeply concerned that Australia’s second main all-time Test wicket-taker will miss out on the chance to don the baggy inexperienced on one of many grandest stages of all as a consequence of Australia’s selectors’ willingness to forgo a specialist spinner.
“I really feel desperately sorry for him because I do know he wants to play the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary Test in opposition to England in Melbourne,” O’Keeffe stated on Kayo Sports.
“It’s a pink ball Test. It’s March. The ball will transfer. I used to be the spinner in that Test 50 years ago. It’s unlikely Nathan Lyon plays in that Test.
“It’s one of many iconic video games in a profession and I think he’ll miss it.”
O’Keeffe’s fear is definitely not unfounded.
Lyon has been overlooked of Australia’s two most recent day/night time encounters – in opposition to the West Indies in Jamaica and in opposition to England on the Gabba.
His file with the pink ball is powerful, taking 43 wickets at 25.62 in 13 Exams, however in his most recent day/night time appearance, Lyon despatched down just one over in opposition to India in Adelaide in 2024.
Grassy, seamer friendly conditions have meant Australia have opted for a four-man tempo assault, as they have carried out this week in Gqeberha.
But the truth Lyon has been overlooked thrice within the last 12 months based mostly on conditions, doesn’t imply the 38-year-old’s profession is finished, based on O’Keeffe.
With the collection finale in Cape Town, four house Exams in opposition to New Zealand, 5 Exams in India and an away Ashes to come throughout 2026/2027, O’Keeffe believes Lyon still have loads more Test wickets to take.
“It’s not pretend outrage,” O’Keeffe stated.
“I think it’s a dangerous precedent to keep dropping the spinner. I can see why they’ve carried out it, without query.
“I really feel for ‘The GOAT’. His numbers usually are not tailing off. His strike rate, his average remains to be superb.
“Okay, his physique’s ageing, however numerically, he’s still the power he was.”
Lyon’s former Australian and New South Wales teammate Moises Henriques agrees that the selection name isn’t any reflection on the country’s most prolific ever off spinner.
“He is still the trump (card) for the Australian team,” Henriques stated on Kayo Sports.
“I think in the event that they have been selecting one other spinner than he’d have some worries.”
RSA vs AUS: Test 2, Day 1 Highlights | 03:57
WARNIE REMARK HIGHLIGHTS BOLAND COMPARISON
Many an Australian cricket fan has likened Scott Boland to Stuart MacGill.
The latter enjoyed a advantageous profession, taking 208 wickets in 44 Exams, however he was always stuck behind the late, great Shane Warne with MacGill’s appearances coming in Warne’s absence or on the uncommon events Australia fielded twin leg spinners.
Boland’s plight has been similar.
Since his whirlwind 6/7 on debut within the Boxing Day Test in opposition to England in 2021, Boland has never been an everyday.
This the 37-year-old’s twentieth Test, however he has ran the drinks in 31 Exams since that unforgettable debut.
Final summer season’s Ashes collection, as a consequence of injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, was the one time in his profession that Boland has played a whole collection.
It’s mind-blowing, and a testament to the quality of Australia’s ‘Huge Three’ that somebody who has taken 84 Test wickets at 18.2 has been relegated to the sidelines so often.
While not taking away from Boland’s brilliance, former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe believes there’s a slight caveat to the Victorian’s unimaginable numbers.
“He does bowl on accommodating surfaces,” O’Keeffe stated on Kayo Sports.
“Shane Warne used to say that Stuart MacGill only plays when it turns. Scott Boland plays on pitches that go well with him.
“Those numbers, he is the genuine article. He is elite.
“But the motive he is playing in this Test match rather than the tweaker is that the conditions are going to go well with him.”
O’Keeffe’s declare is just somewhat true.
Boland has featured in Test matches in India and England on surfaces that have been far from seamer friendly, while his opportunities have mainly come as a consequence of availability rather than conditions like in Gqeberha.
Former Australian quick bowler Brendon Julian stated that Boland reminds him of Ryan Harris – who took 113 wickets at 23.52 in 27 Exams.
Like Harris, Boland earned his opportunities after many years toiling away in Sheffield Defend cricket.
Remarkably given how his Test profession has panned out, Boland was initially thought to be an MCG specialist for his potential to extract life from what was once probably the most docile pitch within the country.
And the important thing to his potential to get the ball to talk with his use of wobble seam, is like Harris, a misleading tempo.
Don’t be fooled by the speed gun being commonly within the 130s or by Alex Carey standing up to the stumps at instances within the Ashes, Boland bowls a heavy ball that hits the bat, and often thigh pads, laborious.
“Ed Cowan rang me after I referred to as him simply medium tempo,” O’Keeffe recalled from when Boland earned his maiden Test call-up.
“He is much better than medium tempo. All those who played in opposition to him in Defend when he made that Test debut endorsed that it is a Test match bowler.”
Former New South Wales captain Moises Henriques added with a laugh: “For someone who’s played rather a lot in opposition to him in first-class cricket, it’s been so good to see him troubling international cricketers and to go, it’s not simply me!”
Ollie Davies’ gorgeous Defend revival | 11:54
YOUNG BATTERS URGED TO PUT MORE ON THE BOARD
It was fitting on a day where a number of of the nation’s brightest younger batting talents obtained good scores underneath their belt within the Sheffield Defend, however didn’t kick on to make it a press release that Moises Henriques had a strong message for the next technology.
“What are you able to say as a selector other than continue to score some runs? Make the choices tougher for us,” the former three-format international all-rounder stated on Kayo Sports.
“Make the choices for us, simply by weight of runs. Obviously, they’ve felt that whoever has been scoring the runs hasn’t been knocking laborious sufficient.”
As the second round of Defend action obtained underway, Ollie Davies backed up his insane 253 with 52 off 58 balls, while his New South Wales opening companion Sam Konstas made a affected person 71 off 142 on the WACA.
It got here as Nathan McSweeney, who was operating out of companions, scored a dogged 54 off 150 deliveries on the Adelaide Oval.
It was an innings that typified former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe’s assessment of McSweeney.
“I think he’s very old school,” he stated.
“He soaks up a lot of balls. He has a limited stroke range, however he values his wicket and that’s the key.
“He’s a one, two or three. He can’t bat any lower than that.
“He’s an choice. He didn’t get sufficient runs for Australia A in India, however he’s come again and obtained runs. So, he’s already placing something within the bank.
“They like him. They see him as a pacesetter.”
Henriques admitted that the decision to call-up his former NSW teammate in Maddison caught him “off guard”, however harassed that the skilled crop within Defend cricket are still probably the most dependable to make the step up to international stage proper now.
Sam Harper, who Kerry O’Keeffe thought to be one of the best opener of last Defend season, can also be in South Africa, however Henriques named three players with Test cricket experience as those who might be front of mind for the Australian selectors if change is needed.
The timing was fitting given one in all them scored a century on the WACA on Monday.
“For those who’re talking, who are your most skilled batters I can decide from to come out here and play this Test match, I think it’s Nic Maddinson, (Peter) Handscomb and Kurtis Patterson,” he stated.
“They’re the three. I don’t understand how Handscomb and Kurtis really feel concerning the resolution given Nic hasn’t played much Defend cricket, however for me, if you happen to’ve obtained a contented and confident Nic Maddinson, you’ve obtained someone who can win a recreation for you.”
Henriques added: “Have in mind, Nic Maddinson’s come off 100 within the one-day recreation simply earlier than he went away. Scott Boland played in that recreation. It was a low-scoring recreation. The wicket was doing just a little bit.”
Maddinson could must lean on that performance in opposition to the white-ball on the Junction Oval in Gqeberha.
The early signs present that life could also be powerful for batters in opposition to the brand new Kookaburra, and like Jake Weatherald previously, O’Keeffe believes Maddinson might quickly discover himself on the scrap heap if he doesn’t rise to the problem.
“Maddo’s expendable,” he stated.
“This’ll be totally different gravy when he bats in this innings.
“When he batted within the second innings after the 33-ball duck within the first, they gave him width for a start. Australia had a 106-run lead, momentum within the recreation and no Rabada.
“It’s a unique circumstance when he goes out to bat (this time). He’s ok. We all know that. His temperament is phlegmatic.
“He did a job in that second dig. He started the party and Australia rattled alongside at five-and-a-half an over and gave themselves loads of time to bowl them out.”
Hazlewood praises Renshaw Test revival | 01:04
MORE BATTING ORDER CHAT…
Following on from Kerry O’Keeffe’s comments about Nic Maddinson being “expendable”, Moises Henriques believes Matt Renshaw must return to opening.
“I desire him on the top of the order,” Henriques stated.
“He’s carried out a unbelievable job at 5, however he’s a type of guys that you could construct a batting order around. He’s a ball soaker.
“I think for that Australian batting order, he can allow the opposite boys to play while he soaks up the pressure on the different end.”
But that doesn’t imply necessarily imply Maddison should make means.
In fact, Henriques is a giant believer that Travis Head should return to No.5 and dismisses any recommendations of Steve Smith batting at No.3 if Marnus Labuschagne was to be displaced.
“I like Steve at four and Travis at 5,” Henriques stated.
“Travis can flip the game so quickly at 5.”
Usman Khawaja made no secret of the fact he would have most popular to bat within the center order than open following his recall to the Test aspect throughout the 2021/22 Ashes.
Henriques sees similarities between Khawaja’s resurgence and Renshaw’s.
“We noticed Usman Khawaja deliver his Test profession again on the again of his reverse sweep and his sweep when he went to Dubai in opposition to Pakistan (in 2018),” Henriques stated.
“We’ve seen Renshaw here, in his second part of his Test profession, start to deliver out some shots he didn’t have in his first part.
“But there’s a giant difference between simply bringing a shot out since you’ve obtained it and bringing it out because I’ve obtained this shot down to an art where it’s now a secure choice.
“He was capable of transfer the ball around. The ball was spinning last Test match, however he was simply capable of maintain their spinners underneath fixed pressure.”
With Renshaw on the top and Smith and Head acting as key pillars within the center, Henriques believes Australia would be nicely structured for his or her big collection to come.
Henriques is aware of Smith nicely having come by means of the ranks of NSW cricket together, and is certain that Australia can continue to plan around the 37-year-old – who has scored 10,972 Test runs at 55.69, behind only Allan Border (11,174) and Ricky Ponting (13,378) among Australians.
Henriques stopped in need of “promising” that this summer season’s SCG Test is not going to be Smith’s last on house soil, however believes he is well-placed to increase his profession past subsequent 12 months’s Ashes in England.
“I think he’ll maintain going so long as he thinks he’s adding value to the cricket team,” Henriques stated.
“The time where he looks like he’s not doing what he ought to be doing for that Australian cricket is when he’ll step away.
“I don’t assume that’ll be any time soon.
“He’s obviously playing rather well. He’s shifting rather well. Nonetheless wants it in a subject, the starvation is there.”
While O’Keeffe believes that Smith and his spouse Dani’s resolution to relocate abroad might be a key factor in prolonging his time within the baggy inexperienced.
“Manhattan, New York has been good for him. It appears to have freshened him up,” O’Keeffe stated.
“He spends a lot of time there. He loves the anonymity, but it freshens him up for hard-nosed cricket when he comes again to Australia.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au
