By South Africa’s 12-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering stop in Durban, and coach Shukri Conrad isn’t pretending everything is fine. After Australia wrapped up victory inside five days to go 1-0 up in the three-match series, Conrad admitted: “I would like to see more fight… I don’t know if it is alarming, but it is concerning.”
Josh Hazlewood (Credits: BBC Sport)
The world champions held on until an hour into the final day’s afternoon session — Aiden Markram fought admirably for 237 deliveries for his 75 — but Australia, led by Josh Hazlewood’s career-best figures of 6-49, eventually broke through. It was the first time Temba Bavuma had tasted defeat as captain, and it leaves the Proteas with serious questions before England visit over Christmas.
Rusty — or Something More?
There is mitigation. This was South Africa’s first Test in almost a year, and the majority of their batters had just one domestic red-ball match to prepare. It is worth remembering how they qualified for last year’s World Test Championship final playing only 12 Tests — the fewest of any side — and they have proven they can beat the world’s best, with last summer’s famous win over Australia and a 2-0 triumph in India.
But this Test reinforced a worrying trend among the batters. Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton are fine white-ball players, yet Stubbs’ two Test centuries came against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and Rickelton’s against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Both were dismissed playing loose strokes. Wiaan Mulder’s epic 367 not out against Zimbabwe aside, Bangladesh are the only other side he averages more than 30 against — though his 110-ball 29 on the final day was at least a step forward.
First-Dig Failure and the Fight Ahead
“The real disappointment was the batting in the first dig on a really good wicket,” Conrad said. “Yes, a world-class attack, but quite a few guys getting starts and not kicking on.” David Bedingham looked comfortable in his new role at number three, but fell after promising starts of 49 and 46, while Kyle Verreynne lasted just three balls before nudging part-timer Matt Renshaw to slip.
Markram’s defiant fourth-innings knock, spanning nearly six hours before he edged Mitchell Starc through to Alex Carey, was one genuine positive. Anrich Nortje was another — the quick took four wickets in his first Test since March 2023, bowling quicker in his final spell than his first and striking Steve Smith on the helmet with a bouncer on day four.
Conrad was keen to note that Australia themselves came off an eight-month break and lost to Bangladesh in home conditions. But with so little red-ball cricket on South Africa’s calendar and England looming, the next few months will reveal whether Durban was rust — or something more.
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
