ALL 10 WICKETS! Aussies Collapse to 99 | 09:55
Courtney Walsh in Gqeberha and Dane Heverin from Fox SportsOctober 22nd, 2026 3:12 am
Australia suffered one its worst days with the bat in a very long time and as they stare down the barrel of defeat, it raises plenty of questions on the place to subsequent for the misfiring batting order.
There may be still a job at hand to try to survive day five with six wickets up there sleeve – perhaps solely five if Steve Smith doesn’t bat due to the neck problem that saved him in the change rooms wearing a neck brace in the course of the Australian second innings.
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The guests’ frailties towards high-class quick bowling were brutally uncovered as they were bowled out for 99 halfway by the second session of day 4.
Travis Head (87*) then led the fightback to be 4/156, trailing by 170 runs, at stumps as the shortcomings of his teammates as soon as again has the make-up of Australia’s prime order in the spotlight.
Scroll down for the most important talking points from day 4 of the second Take a look at!
WRAP: Marnus brain explosion sums up horror 7-year low as uncommon Smith problem rocks Aussies
Khawaja analyses Maddinson Take a look at 2 duck | 01:26
CHANGES ARE COMING…
It’s a day of reckoning for Australian cricket, perversely coming just a week after one of many finer overseas triumphs in the course of the Cummins, McDonald and Bailey tenure.
An outdated antagonist Vernon Philander branded it “gutless batting”, although that does a disservice to the threat posed by an assault led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.
And anybody who watched Steve Smith batting with a neck harm and Travis Head struggling to stroll whereas at the crease will bristle at the phrase utilized by Vernon Philander.
What’s indeniable is that the Australian prime order batted without self-discipline, showing nerves and succumbing without summoning a fight in a humiliating show.
The enduring excellence of Australia’s beautiful bowling assault has enabled the Saggy Greens to string collectively 4 years with no series loss and which will but proceed.
And it isn’t just with the ball. With out the self-discipline of the bowling pack in the first Take a look at at Kingsmead Stadium to stick with Matthew Renshaw, the series may be passed by now.
The Australians have been ghastly in Gqeberha. But the reality the Proteas were dusty in Durban means it all rests on Cape City. But even a win there will not cover the cracks.
Australia needs to rethink its approach to the opening positions who just isn’t lengthy retired, and identify two specialists to blunt the new ball
Simon Katich says playing Travis Head as an opener robs us of a match-winner at No.5.
The short-term reserves are in action and there was a welcome sight in the nets prior to play when Cameron Green was seen bowling in the course of the warm-up. It doesn’t imply he will bowl in Cape City, however it is a good sign he has overcome his stomach problem.
That solves the dilemma at No.5, for surely Renshaw returns to the top of the order to develop into the opener he was brought back in as when replacing Jake Weatherald.
Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly have been batting in the nets, so too Victorian wicketkeeper Sam Harper, who has excelled at the prime of the order for his residence state.
Whereas the large scores out of the Sheffield Defend from Sam Konstas and Kurtis Patterson are encouraging dispatches from residence, an emergency flight over is highly unlikely.
As Katich famous on SEN at St George’s Park Oval, it is one factor to score runs at residence in the Sheffield Defend, however one other factor altogether to face a rampaging Rabada and the jagging and jolting of Jansen.
“Does one good score change something? The important thing query is are they capable of face this high quality of assault under stress towards a new ball whenever you first stroll to the crease?” he mentioned.
It is unlikely that Nic Maddinson will not be the only casualty in Cape City. The selectors will assess the pitch, however how the assault shapes up is also attention-grabbing.
What happens with Beau Webster is also a query. He made runs when batting without stress in Durban however has failed in both first innings of the series thus far.
Whereas he held down an end as Temba Bavuma, Jansen and Simon Harmer put the match beyond Australia on Wednesday, he didn’t look particularly threatening.
The first innings debacle is unlikely to prompt related choice carnage to that which unfolded in Hobart a decade in the past when the Proteas routed the Aussies, however perhaps solely as a result of this series is being performed away and remains to be live. But changes are coming.
Every Boundary! Konstas’ unbeaten 151* | 04:12
‘A BIT SKEWED’: MARNUS REALITY LAID BARE
Australia’s No.3 Marnus Labuschagne will come under intense scrutiny leading into Cape City following his second innings dismissal.
After nicking off for 14 in the first innings, Labuschagne threw away a golden opportunity to make a score of note in the second dig.
The Queenslander determined to run at spinner Simon Harmer and try to launch him over mid on for six towards the breeze, however solely managed to be caught by Marco Jansen running back with the flight like a centre-half ahead in Aussie rules football.
It was a whole brain explosion and it sealed Labuschagne’s third dismissal in the 30s from 4 innings on this tour.
The 32-year-old has performed 47 innings since his final Take a look at ton – at Outdated Trafford in the 2023 Ashes – and averages 25 in that time.
Those numbers are why Labuschagne’s former teammate Usman Khawaja believes the one-time No.1 Take a look at batter on this planet has deceived the Australian public.
“I believe he’s playing to the place he’s,” Khawaja mentioned on Kayo Sports at lunch on day 4.
“He’s averaging around 42 in Take a look at cricket proper now. He’s averaging around 39 in Defend cricket. When he performed for Australia, as a result of he took over (from) me (at No.3) in 2019, he was averaging like 33 in Defend cricket back then.
“I believe we acquired a bit skewed of the place he was at the first two or three years by averaging 60. We thought now we have one other Steve Smith, however what number of Steve Smiths are there?”
“I believe you’ve acquired to place it in perspective,” Khawaja added. “Is he a 60 (common) player? Perhaps not. But he ought to in the 40s and he hasn’t been there the previous few years.”
Whereas Labuschagne’s second innings self-inflicted demise came towards spin, his struggles towards the seamers have been most startling.
Speedster Anrich Nortje discovered his outdoors edge in the first session of day 4.
It was a near duplicate of lots of Labuschagne’s dismissals at worldwide degree lately, and Khawaja believes the South African-born batter simply has not discovered the answers to the new questions posed to him by opposition bowling assaults.
“He doesn’t really play it late,” Khawaja mentioned.
“You take a look at past dismissals, he comes out and slices it in entrance of his entrance pad. That’s the way in which he likes to play balls.”
Former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe added: “Now, he flirts a lot on seventh or eighth stump. He’s nicking all the time,” O’Keeffe mentioned.
“They’ve seen what the stats say they usually’ve type of honed that,” Khawaja replied.
“At first of his profession, you’re not quite sure about how this man bats, how he scores. He had a little bit of luck too – numerous dropped catches.
“And he obviously made hay with that luck – which is what you must do as an excellent batsman, not taking away any credit.
“But it surely’s the nuance of Take a look at cricket. You score for a short time, however you can all the time stay doing the identical issues. Bowlers will determine what your weaknesses are and hone in on that.
“Then you definitely’ve acquired to maintain evolving with it.”
Meanwhile, Travis Head showed he can evolve his recreation with a fighting half-century.
Head endured a lean run of scores with 14, 11, 9, 22, 17 and 22 – because the begin of the Bangladesh series in the High Finish – earlier than Australia’s second innings.
His struggles sparked debate concerning the left-hander returning the middle order, however Head showed he can grind and discover other methods to score his runs.
“I’ve seen the Bangladeshis bowl to him and I’ve seen the South African bowl to him, and noticed what number of balls are going down leg aspect,” Khawaja mentioned.
“They don’t seem to be giving him any room. There’s a number of balls going down leg aspect as a result of they know the way strong Head is sq..
“For those who bowl off stump to him, he’ll reduce you, he’ll sq. drive you. He’s so strong there.
“They’re willing to bowl down leg aspect to him now to stay straight. That’s why you’re seeing much more chop ons, lbw.”
“They realised that England tried to bowl hall to him in the Ashes and acquired nailed,” Khawaja added.
Khawaja: ‘Opening is a specialist spot’ | 02:36
EX-AUSSIE OPENER CALLS FOR SPECIALISTS
There may be no higher time to be an opening batter in Sheffield Defend cricket with aspirations of wearing the saggy green.
After all, they should put their title ahead.
Sam Konstas despatched a reminder of his abilities with an unbeaten 151 for New South Wales at the WACA on Wednesday, however no matter who it is, former Australian opener Usman Khawaja believes the selectors must turn their consideration to specialists.
“We should always fill that opening spot first,” Khawaja mentioned on Kayo Sports.
“Plenty of guys can score runs in the middle, however we don’t have many guys who can bat at the prime.”
After Australia’s prime order crumbled in their first innings Gqeberha, Khawaja urged selectors to abandon their experiment of make-shift openers.
Khawaja famous that after David Warner’s retirement in early 2024 – Australia by no means bedded down a regular opening companion for him throughout the following two years.
Khawaja opened alongside Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne in that stretch.
The merry-go-round has continued with Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw and Jake Weatherald all partnering Head in Australia’s final 4 Exams.
Khawaja believes it’s time for the selectors to go looking the nation for a candidate nicely versed in tackling the new ball, and “choose and stick”.
“Yeah, I believe there needs to an skilled opening batter,” Khawaja mentioned.
“People don’t realise this. They take a look at my case they usually say Uzzie was batting 4 for Queensland when he acquired picked.
“But I opened my total life in juniors. I solely started batting 3 for New South Wales after I first debuted. All my under age cricket was opening, even my white-ball cricket for New South Wales and Queensland, I opened the whole time.
“So, I knew what opening was about. I wasn’t like I just acquired thrust in there.
“I believe it is a very specialised position.
“Maddinson has 100% opened, however I’m not convinced that anybody can just go up there as a result of opening is more of a psychological recreation than something.
“It’s important to go out generally with 4 overs left at evening when it’s a horrible time to bat, and you must face their greatest bowlers each time, with the new ball.
“It’s really, really powerful mentally and the most important factor about opening is, you understand you’re going to get low scores.
“For those who get in, it’s worthwhile to cash in since you’re going to get there these low scores.”
Nic Maddinson felt the power of the brutality of these testing durations Khawaja spoke of.
The left-hander, who was recalled in Durban after not playing a Take a look at match for a decade and never having performed a Defend recreation for 18 months attributable to a battle with testicular most cancers, nicked off to Kagiso Rabada for a fourth ball duck late on day three.
Rababa discovered his outdoors edge again when Australia followed on and Maddinson was caught behind for 8.
He poked at an excellent size delivery outdoors off stump after chasing a fuller, wider ball in the first innings.
“He can be taking a look at that shot, thinking I probably ought to have left that,” Khawaja mentioned.
“As an opener, if I acquired out playing a drive like that, I’d be a bit annoyed.
“As a result of I probably ought to have waited for a ball to be a foot nearer to me.”
Khawaja added: “In fading (light) conditions, that shot becomes much more tough since you choose it up that fraction later.”
Bavuma scores a career-best 179! | 04:16
Khawaja’s call for specialist openers might have to wait for the house summer season towards New Zealand, nevertheless, with the ex-Australian batter stressing that there will not be a “knee jerk response” from the selectors after being rolled for 99 in Gqeberha.
On that note, Khawaja dismissed a suggestion of radical change to the top three from former Australian leg spinner Kerry O’Keeffe for Cape City.
O’Keeffe’s proposition would come with a debutant at the prime of the order, a new No.3 and return to No.5 for Travis Head.
“If I threw this to you, Uzzie: Renshaw, Harper, Inglis, Smith, Head, Green, Carey. Is {that a} seven that you simply ponder for the third Take a look at if Australia go down on this one?” O’Keeffe asked on Kayo Sports.
“No, not (Sam) Harper,” Khawaja replied.
“I like Harper, however he’s a wicketkeeper batsman. He’s not an all-out batter and he by no means has been.
“He’s finished fairly nicely – and I’m not being disrespectful, Harper is a terrific player – however he’s not an all-out batsman.”
Victorian gloveman Sam Harper burst into national calculations following scoring twins tons at the WACA opening the batting final Sheffield Defend season.
The Big Bash’s player of the event was reborn as an aggressive opener by Victorian coach Chris Rogers.
But having spent nearly all of his first-class batting at Nos.6 and 7 – Harper scored a century for Australia A in India final month at No.7 – the 29-year-old remains to be a make-shift possibility in Khawaja’s eyes.
He instead wish to see Matt Renshaw return to the top of the order, in place of Nic Maddinson, like he did after initially batting at No.5 when recalled in the course of the 2021/22 Ashes.
He scored twin tons at the SCG, however when Head returned from having Covid, Khawaja moved to opening in place of Marcus Harris for the series finale under lights in Hobart.
The previous fashionable left-hander needs to see the same transfer, saying that his former Queensland and Australia teammate “may have got 250” in Durban if he opened the batting.
“Renshaw is an opener,” Khawaja mentioned. “He’s a terrific leaver of the ball. You can see it when he blocks it. He blocks it really late, under his eyes.
“He’s acquired a way for the new ball. That’s why he’s been opening the batting for Queensland.
“It’s very laborious to teach individuals these expertise of leaving nicely and playing the ball late, which Renshaw has.”
Former Australian quick bowler Brendon Julian joked in response that Renshaw may not be eager on shifting to the top.
“That’s what I’d been thinking. I was making an attempt to bat five for ages,” Khawaja mentioned with fun.
“But they saved placing me at the prime. I acquired two tons of the final time I batted there. Give me a chance. I common like 200 down there.”
Bavuma’s rise in type since captaincy | 08:50
PROTEAS SKIPPER’S GAMBLE PAYS OFF
As Bavuma batted on in good style on Tuesday, there have been loads pondering whether the Proteas captain had delayed the observe on for too lengthy given the hosts wanted to win.
In Durban the Proteas managed to snare solely 16 Australian wickets and given the way in which South Africa’s tail dealt with the bat, surely it would be too huge a task to snare 20 in two days?
But as the Proteas captain informed Kayo Sports earlier than play on Day 4, there was a cause to maintain batting, with local information coming to the fore.
“I was a bit hesitant, to be sincere with you, with the light,” Bavuma informed Kayo Sports’ Mark Howard.
“I type of knew that as soon as the sun settled under these deep clouds, we wouldn’t have much with the quick bowlers.
“I was quite content material to really go the whole method and I believe mentally, as a workforce, type of get our minds around that the majority of the following two days can be in the area.
“With that being mentioned, you understand we made the decision and we were capable of get that wicket late final evening. So now we have one other opportunity right here (and) we’ve acquired a fresh new ball.”
Bavuma made one other level. With Rabada back leading the bowling assault, “hopefully we are able to do one thing particular with that ball.”
So it proved, with the South Africans following his masterful lead with a masterpiece with the ball, helped admittedly by some Australians spilling paint all over themselves, so to talk.
Rabada was superb in his first Take a look at in 12 months. But it surely was Jansen who was dynamic, following his unimaginable knock with the bat at No.8 with a blazing bowling efficiency.
He was quick, hostile and accurate. And that was along with his mouth in addition to his bat. No Aussie appeared settled towards him. And there was no bluster behind his approach. He was lethal.
After Simon Katich declared the South Africans can be an much more formidable aspect if his batting continues to enhance when likening him to Jacques Kallis, former Protea champion Dale Steyn delivered a bouncer when declaring Jansen “the most effective player on this planet”.
Marco Jansen was bristling with fireplace, bellowing to Beau Webster as the “Slug” from Comfortable made the lonely stroll back to the pavilion after snaring the wicket of the tall Tasmanian.
So fired up was the menacing quick, it appeared as if he wanted to be restrained by his teammates as he gave both barrels to the departing Australian No.8.
As he assessed the wreckage of Australia’s diabolical opening innings, former Take a look at star Simon Katich mentioned the Proteas had each proper to be amped by their efficiency.
“They’ve each proper to be chirpy, South Africa, as a result of they’ve themselves into this position by grit and dedication,” he mentioned on SEN.
“Now they have the suitable to be giving it out each time a new batsman involves the crease.”
Temba Bavuma led along with his deeds on Wednesday. And when Kagiso Rababa is in the workforce, it appears the Proteas stroll a step taller as nicely given his brilliance and bravado.
After he knocked over Nic Maddinson on Tuesday evening, the Proteas arrived at St George’s Park on Wednesday sensing the Australians were vulnerable to a pillage. And so it proved.
Rabada was on a rampage. Jansen had them jumping. Anrich Nortje delivered warmth early and Wiaan Mulder was irrepressible. And their aggressive intent was clear throughout the sector.
“They’ve acquired their recreation face on too. The chumminess in Durban is out the door,” Kayo Sports professional analyst Kerry O’Keeffe mentioned at lunch on Day 4.
“Jansen’s having a yap to outgoing batters. It’s feisty now and South Africa are making use of the stress.”
Having let Australia ease their method out of stress in Durban, as soon as the South Africans had their foot on the throat in Gqeberha, they saved pushing all the way down to demonstrate their class.
“That is why they’re the World Take a look at Champions. They may have been humbled in Durban however they have discovered numerous spirit right here to fight back,” Katich mentioned.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au
