Riding high and on cloud nine after a 214-run win in Durban, Australia were given a brutal reality check at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha, as South Africa dominated the rain-affected Test match to win by an innings and 31 runs. Despite losing around 145-160 overs due to rain, South Africa managed to beat the elements to win the Test on the final day and level the series 1-1. Australia were found wanting in various aspects of the game, whether with the bat or with the ball. We will try to deep-dive into why Australia lost this Test match so convincingly.
Inability to stop Temba Bavuma and allowing South Africa to score over 400 runs changed the complexion of the match
It was Australia who won the toss and decided to bowl first with overcast conditions and rain around. The Aussies dominated the first two days in the sense that, with the little play we had, they reduced South Africa to 97/5 and then 110/6 in 50 overs at the early exchanges of Day 3. When Marco Jansen joined Bavuma in the middle, it was all doom and gloom for the Aussies. But things changed after that.
Bavuma was solid as a rock, as Australia had no answer to getting rid of him. But it was Marco Jansen who played the decisive knock, changing the tempo of the game, and he added 132 runs with his captain, with him scoring 85 off 100 balls. Jansen fell, but then Simon Harmer joined him, and the duo took their time before putting on 183 runs between them. These two partnerships dented Australia. It did not help that Josh Hazlewood was off the field and had to wait for his turn on Day 3.
But Josh was not the same bowler that he was before sickness. Boland and Starc bowled well, but Pat Cummins, the captain, too, went wicketless as the Proteas recovered to get to 425/9 declared to be in a safe position. Australia lacked incisiveness with the ball post the first 50 overs, and the plans against Bavuma did not work. He was solid as a rock and was the main difference in the end. Going into the decider, Australia will aim to be more incisive with the ball in hand and not let the Proteas off the hook like in this Test match.
Getting skittled out for 99 in the first innings sealed the fate of the Australians
Even after conceding 425/9, the Test match was heading towards a draw when we got underway on Day 4 after so much time was lost due to weather issues. The only way this Test was going to end in a result was if one team batted horrendously and collapsed. Guess what, it happened on Day 4 as Australia collapsed like a pack of cards. It was a batting failure of the highest order, and they fell like a pack of cards. There was no one who took responsibility as the Test match turned on its head.
After Kagiso Rabada removed Nic Maddinson on Day 3, Marco Jansen breathed fire as he removed night watchman Scott Boland and later Travis Head as well. Marnus got a start and once again failed to kick on while Smith battled hard despite developing chronic neck issues. Matthew Renshaw missed out this time and so did Alex Carey. There was no stopping Jansen as he picked up 5 wickets while the others, like Mulder, chipped in as well. It was such a horrendous batting performance that Australia could muster only 99 runs in 42.3 overs and trailed by 326 runs.
This innings turned out to be the game-changer as Australia had to follow on. Suddenly, time was not a factor anymore, although rain came in to join the fun on Day 5. The Aussies, through Travis Head’s ton and Scott Boland gritty 40, put in a spirited batting display in the second innings to score 295. But it was not enough to stop an innings loss. The batting unit has a lot to answer for this performance and the loss. Some changes could happen at Cape Town in that department. The 99 all out was the clincher, and these things need to be avoided in such a high-stakes series.
Marnus Labuschagne’s continuous drought of centuries is not helping Australia’s cause at all
While the batting failed when it mattered the most, questions will be asked of them for sure. It is a collective failure for sure, but still one needs to ask about certain individuals who keep their place in the side despite repeated failures with the bat in hand. No doubt, Nic Maddinson had a tough outing as well. But we are talking about Marnus Labuschagne. Marnus, who has been labelled by the Australian and Western Media as the next Ricky Ponting, is anything but that if we go by recent statistics.
Marnus got identical scores of 37 in the first Test match in both innings. In this Test match, he got 14 off 25 balls before being dismissed nicking off in the first innings. Thereafter, in the second innings, he got a start and looked good for more, getting maybe a ton. But on 39*, he threw his wicket away to Simon Harmer and opened the door for South Africa in the second innings. Marnus last scored a Test ton in July 2023 against England in Manchester. After that, it’s been a barren run.
Yet despite that, on the insistence of George Bailey and the coaching staff, he gets regular chances in the team. The buck has to stop somewhere. Maybe Australia feels their backup is not as strong as the playing XI, and hence Marnus gets continuous chances. There is a possibility that he may well play the Cape Town Test. But the issue is him not converting his starts. So, this is an area Marnus and Australia need to work on ahead of the next Test match in Newlands.
What Lies Ahead
So, the series is nicely set up after South Africa’s dominating win over Australia in this 2nd Test match. It is 1-1 with one Test to play. The 3rd and final Test is set to be played at Newlands in Cape Town from 27th October 2026 onwards, i.e. from Tuesday. It will be a winner-takes-all contest. Which team wants it more? The series is on the line. Crucial WTC points as well. All roads lead to Newlands, Cape Town next week.
Also Read: SA vs AUS: Temba Bavuma’s Gritty Ton Floors Australia To Square Series