That, my dear friends, is the end of another very good day for South Africa. You’d expect them to wrap up a 3-1 series victory tomorrow, weather permitting. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
The umpires have decided the light isn’t good enough and the players are leaving the field. That will be it for the day.
30th over: Australia 88-3 (Handscomb 23, S Marsh 7) This is a sparkling cameo from Handscomb, who walks down the track to clip Maharaj through midwicket for four. He reminds me of a young Michael Clarke in the way he plays spin. (And the way he swaps his helmet for the Baggy Green.)
29th over: Australia 84-3 (Handscomb 19, S Marsh 7) The umpires again discuss the light before deciding to allow Markram another over. Handscomb, who has played with eye-catching intent, steals another single to mid-off.
Here’s Kandukuru Nagarjun. “During South Africa’s Test summer against India and Australia, they have picked these bowlers:
28th over: Australia 83-3 (Handscomb 18, S Marsh 7) Handscomb, now batting in the Baggy Green against the spinners, is denied four more when a drive hits the bat of the non-striker Shaun Marsh. Marsh then edges Maharaj wide of slip for three.
“This will bring back happy memories, no doubt,” says Richard Mansell. “The cut shot is displayed first ball. I don’t remember that cut shot as well as the pulls and hooks (or Mark Waugh’s sublime leg glances). Daryll Cullinan had a beautiful cut shot too (except against Warne…) Here we go! First ball again is a cut. Against England too! Funny that.”
27th over: Australia 78-3 (Handscomb 16, S Marsh 4) Aiden Markram comes on to bowl his off spin. Handscomb, a light-footed player of spin, swaggers down to drive through extra cover for four.
26th over: Australia 73-3 (Handscomb 11, S Marsh 4) Shaun Marsh gets off the mark by belting the new bowler Maharaj for four. The umpires are worried about the light, so we are going to see spin from both ends.
25th over: Australia 68-3 (Handscomb 10, S Marsh 0) This is the first time since 2010 that Morkel has dismissed two batsmen LBW in the same innings of a home Test. That reflects the fuller length he has been forced to bowl.
Two wickets for Morne Morkel! Burns gets too far across and is trapped in front when Morkel spears a yorker into the pads. That was fine bowling, a clear plan in response to Burns walking across his stumps, and Morkel celebrates with that familiar Golden Retriever smile.
24th over: Australia 68-2 (Burns 42, Handscomb 10) Maharaj is replaced by Philander, a smart move given Handscomb’s fragility against high-class seam bowling. For now he’s bowling to Burns, who clips nicely through midwicket for three.
23rd over: Australia 64-2 (Burns 37, Handscomb 10) Handscomb is beaten again by a fullish delivery from Morkel. As the commentators have just said, Morkel may as well have one long spell while his body is warm rather than two shorter ones. That was his seventh over.
“Robert Wilson’s ode to Bavuma and short batsmen in general reminds me of David Boon,” says Richard Mansell. “Short, and god help you if you bowled shortish to him. That pull! That hook! Here is a wicked over from Courtney Walsh where Boon has no idea about the first three balls but that has the chance to pull - which he certainly does.”
22nd over: Australia 63-2 (Burns 37, Handscomb 10) Burns smacks a sweep for four off Maharaj.
21st over: Australia 58-2 (Burns 33, Handscomb 10) Burns is beaten by another jaffa from Morkel, full and seaming away. Then Handscomb edges another superb delivery over the leaping de Villiers at second slip for four. In his 86th and final Test, Morne has discovered the joys of a full length.
20th over: Australia 53-2 (Burns 31, Handscomb 6) A gorgeous shot from Handscomb, who charges Maharaj and threads a drive between extra cover and mid off for four. That was as near perfect as dammit. The floodlights have come on at the Wanderers.
19th over: Australia 44-2 (Burns 29, Handscomb 1) Burns drills Morkel through the covers for four, another terrific shot, and fiddles another boundary to third man. The more replays we see of that Khawaja dismissal, the more it looks like a fair decision from Nigel Llong. Khawaja did start to play a shot but seemed to abort it at the last minute when he realised how far the ball was turning.
“Andrew Hurley (10thvOver) needs to lay off my beloved Bavuma - especially after that sensationally scratchy and indefatigable 90 in the first innings,” says Robert Wilson. “ It’s early days for Temba. You put four or five runs on that average and it’s more than decent. Additionally, very tiny batsmen are just more fun (as any fule kno’). Not since the glory days of Vish and Gav have we seen such tinkertoy excellence. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a defiant munchkin facing up to macho beanpole quicks and cutting away like a pirate eighteen inches above his eyeline. Plus, his helmet is immense.”
18th over: Australia 35-2 (Burns 20, Handscomb 1) Handscomb avoids a king pair, charging down to defend his first delivery, and then avoids a pair with a quick single to mid off.
Khawaja falls LBW to Maharaj. He was hit well outside the line of off stump but the umpire Nigel Llong adjudged that he was offering no stroke. The ball turned a long way from the rough and would have hit off and middle stump. Khawaja reviewed the decision to no avail. He and Joe Burns are not happy; Burns protests to the umpire Llong that Khawaja was playing a shot. I don’t think he was. Burns might want to look at himself as well - he turned down a single off the previous delivery, which meant Khawaja stayed on strike.
17th over: Australia 34-1 (Burns 20, Khawaja 7) Morkel is bowling fuller because of his side injury, floating the ball up rather than banging it in, and he looks dangerous. Burns is beaten by a fine delivery that straightens off the seam.
16th over: Australia 34-1 (Burns 20, Khawaja 7) Khawaja is going to go down swinging, or at least driving: he walks down the track straight away to put Maharaj away to the cover boundary.
15th over: Australia 30-1 (Burns 19, Khawaja 3) Khawaja gets off the mark with a lovely stroke, waving Morkel through extra cover for three. Meanwhile, there’s some sad breaking news: Winnie-Madikizela Mandeal has died at the age of 81.
Related: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela dies aged 81
14th over: Australia 26-1 (Burns 19, Khawaja 0) Burns drags a sweep round the corner for four off Maharaj. He’s playing nicely here, and knows a decent score will ensure this isn’t a one-off return to the Test team.
“Bavuma, I suspect falls very much into the ‘hope’ category,” says Don Mihsill. “He seems to possess a reasonable technique, is electric in the field. They have much to gain from him doing well (apart from the systemic benefits).Remember, Kallis averaged 30 after his first 22 Tests. Then, there’s that other end of the spectrum: Duminy. We like to think of sport as reflective of merit but the systemic biases (access to resources, coaching, mentorship, teams to play for) go a long way in determining who gets to ‘display’ merit. Whether the quota system is the ‘better’ or ‘best’ way to reengineer historical deprivation and discrimination depends a lot on the objectives we have in mind and the values we want to uphold. We’re never going to satisfy everyone.”
13th over: Australia 21-1 (Burns 14, Khawaja 0) How can you not love Morne Morkel? In the world of fast bowling, he’s a big dumb Golden Retriever among Rottweilers
“One thing the ICC could do to stop cheating is insist that all international players have a full course of media training,” says John Starbuck. “That way, they’ll learn that there are more cameras than ever before and any mischief will be immediately detected. The penalties will include even more media training.”
Morkel strikes! Renshaw walks across his stumps to a ball that angles in and traps him LBW. No review; that was plumb. Morkel has his 308th Test wicket, and a moment to cherish in his final appearance.
12th over: Australia 21-0 (Renshaw 5, Burns 14) There’s a short break in play due to the presence of a couple of streakers - or, as Mikey Holding calls them, “nincompoops”. When play resumes, Burns waves Maharaj through backward point for four. He looks good.
11th over: Australia 15-0 (Renshaw 5, Burns 8) Big Morne is going to bowl! Great stuff. He’s clearly not fully fit but this is his last Test so he has a free pass to get injured. (English county suitors may disagree.) He has a biggish LBW appeal against Renshaw second ball, and turns round so sharply to address the umpire that he hurts his injured left side. From taking wickets off no-balls to exacerbating injury through sheer enthusiasm, he is adorably accident-prone. Test cricket will miss him a helluva lot.
10th over: Australia 15-0 (Renshaw 5, Burns 8) Keshav Maharaj comes into the attack and starts with a maiden to Burns.
“You just said Bavuma doesn’t (even, my emphasis) field at gully very often,” says Andrew Hurley. “He doesn’t bowl. He barely averages more than 30. One century. And he’s had a long go at it. Should his skin colour really keep him in the team? Isn’t it a little bit degrading?”
9th over: Australia 15-0 (Renshaw 5, Burns 8)
8th over: Australia 13-0 (Renshaw 3, Burns 8) Renshaw pushes Philander for a siongle, his third run from 26 deliveries in this innings. I like that he could not care less about the workload of the scorers.
“Speaking of Duncan Spencer, I wonder why certain countries produce a conveyor belt of fast bowlers,” says Duncan Mihsill. “One theory is it is to do with the pitches. Then why does Pakistan produce speedsters? Another theory is to do with nutrition but that does not explain why, for the most part, England and New Zealand rarely produce express bowlers. Another explanation I’ve heard is to do with ‘machismo’ being a cultural value. Certain parts of India are definitely famous for their, ah, macho behaviour. Yet that large chunk of the cricket-playing population has not produced an express quickie. It can’t be talent identification either because good players with other skill sets keep popping up. Where are the lost Duncan Spencers?”
7th over: Australia 12-0 (Renshaw 2, Burns 8) This is some fine new-ball bowling from Rabada and Philander, especially as they are both carrying injuries. An inside-edge saves Burns from being LBW to Rabada; he responds with a stunning flat pull for six. What a shot!
6th over: Australia 6-0 (Renshaw 2, Burns 2) Renshaw is dropped by Bavuma, a straightforward low chance at gully off the bowling of Philander. I don’t think he fields at gully very often; even so, I’m surprised he put that down.
5th over: Australia 6-0 (Renshaw 2, Burns 2) There may not be much sideways movement but Rabada is getting plenty of bounce from a length. Burns survives an LBW appeal when he offers no stroke, probably because of that bounce. It was a good shout though. Replays showed it was just clipping the outside of the off bail, so it would have been umpire’s call had South Africa reviewed.
“Good day to you, Rob,” says Don Mihsill. “Cricket is the perfect way to meet the Monday after Easter. I’m sitting here, having tea, quietly hoping that Markram is not a shooting star. You know, the kind that start out real bright and burn up even quicker. I don’t know which leaves me more disappointed: giving a player with promise a long rope in the hope that they’ll eventually come good (hello, Mr.Ramprakash) or a long rope for a player who started well but petered out (hello, Mr.Kambli). With ODIs and T20s the list of ‘hope’ may only increase: players we hope can transfer form from one, erm, form of the game to another.”
4th over: Australia 6-0 (Renshaw 2, Burns 2) Both batsmen get off the mark - Burns with a work to leg, Renshaw with a leading edge. It’s fairly quiet there, with not much movement for the bowlers so far.
Kagiso Rabada & Vernon Philander, South Africa's opening bowlers, average 16.7 & 19.4 respectively with the ball in fourth innings of Tests since 2010.
That's the best and the fifth-best average for seamers in the final Test innings (min. 10 wickets).#SAvAus
3rd over: Australia 1-0 (Renshaw 0, Burns 0) Renshaw is leaving everything he can from Rabada, with good awareness of his off stump. Australia get their first run through a no-ball.
2nd over: Australia 0-0 (Renshaw 0, Burns 0) Vernon Philander shares the new ball, so his tight groin cannot be too problematic. He also starts with a maiden, this time to Joe Burns. While this match is over for Australia, this is a big innings for Renshaw, Burns, Khawaja and Handscomb, who probably all need runs to guarantee their place in Australia’s next Test team.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Renshaw 0, Burns 0) Rabada might not be fully fit but his pace is decent, just under 140kph. He starts with a maiden.
Kagiso Rabada, stiff back and all, starts the innings with a brutal delivery that roars from a fullish length at Renshaw. It hits something on the way through to de Kock and Renshaw is given out. But he reviews instantly and successfully, with replays showing it him on the arm as he tried to get out of the way.
I’ll never forget this moment. They have declared on 344 for six, which means Australia have a banterous target of 612 to win the match and square the series.
Joie de vivre update There are 41 overs still to bowl today.
If you are so inclined, you can spend the tea break reading about England’s latest series defeat.
Related: Bad light hampers England's search for a win over New Zealand in second Test
105th over: South Africa 344-6 (Bavuma 35, Philander 33) South Africa go off for a nice cup of tea with a nice lead of 611. I would offer some analysis of the match situation, but to do so would be an egregious insult to your intelligence. See you in 15 minutes for the evening session.
104th over: South Africa 341-6 (Bavuma 35, Philander 30) This passage of play comes to you in conjunction with Brian Eno. Bavuma provides a briefly diverting chord change with a good sweep for four off Lyon.
103rd over: South Africa 335-6 (Bavuma 30, Philander 29) There are a lot of weary bodies and minds on both sides, particularly among the pace bowlers. Mitchell Marsh is limping through this spell; Rabada, Philander and Morkel all have injuries. And Pat Cummins could probably bowl a 10-over spell if required.
102nd over: South Africa 333-6 (Bavuma 29, Philander 28) Philander heaves Lyon for a couple to take South Africa’s lead to 600.
101st over: South Africa 328-6 (Bavuma 28, Philander 26) An errant delivery from Marsh to Philander goes away for four leg byes. It’s easy to forget how valuable Philander’s batting has been over the years - an average of 24.79 is extremely good for a No8. And those two innings in the epochal Test at Lord’s in 2012 should never be forgotten.
“Who exactly,” says Andrew Hurley, “does Shane Warne suggest South Africa hurry up and bowl with?”
100th over: South Africa 322-6 (Bavuma 27, Philander 25) “I was at the Wanderers when Waugh and Blewett batted all day,” says Richard Mansell. “Worst cricket day ever. At least the weather was good, as I recall. So I don’t really mind SA batting on, especially in the circumstances!”
It’s a great achievement but it was against an appalling attack.
99th over: South Africa 321-6 (Bavuma 26, Philander 25) An unwanted hat-trick for Mitchell Marsh, who is edged through the slips for four by both Bavuma (twice) and Philander.
“With the injuries, and the fact that it’s Australia, I wonder if Faf should declare at all,” says AB Parker. “Have some fun at their expense. Lyon’s got a ton; maybe there’s a fifty for Philander or Bavuma too. They’ve won the series, they’ll still likely win the Test, over 120 overs left even if they bat till tea anyway.”
98th over: South Africa 308-6 (Bavuma 17, Philander 21) Lyon brings up his second hundred of the match, and Philander salutes him by swiping another huge six. Lyon has bowled better than match figures of 5-288 would suggest.
97th over: South Africa 300-6 (Bavuma 16, Philander 14) This is a kind of enforced sadism from South Africa, who are grinding Australia into the dirt out of necessity rather than spite. These, since you asked, are the highest targets that have been set in the fourth innings of a Test match.
South Africa set Australia 632 to win at Perth in 2012-13, so they’re only just warming up here. It’s also notable that six of the top nine targets were set by Australia, a reflection of their traditional excellence and uncompromising nature.
96th over: South Africa 299-6 (Bavuma 16, Philander 13) Philander slog-sweeps Lyon for a big six to cow corner. The lead is 566.
“I’ve often wondered why cricketers can choose any bat that’s legal but that teams in Test matches have to use the type of ball provided by the hosts,” says David. “I believe that the Kookaburra is more difficult to shine than the Duke making it easier to legally improve its swing potential.”
95th over: South Africa 290-6 (Bavuma 15, Philander 5) This is a muted end to an explosive series, with injuries to their seam attack forcing South Africa to bat on despite a lead of 47 million. It’ll all be forgotten tomorrow when they celebrate a first series win at home to Australia since readmission. They have endured some misery in that time - Greg Blewett and Steve Waugh batting all day, Adam Gilchrist going for gold and the rest. This will mean so much to so many people.
94th over: South Africa 286-6 (Bavuma 12, Philander 4) Bavuma reverse-sweeps Lyon for four. Shane Warne continues to complain incessantly about South Africa batting on, like a child forced to endure a four-hour schlep around Ikea so that his parents can look at some duvet covers and wicker baskets. And they didn’t even let him bring is phone!
93rd over: South Africa 279-6 (Bavuma 6, Philander 3) The last person to open the bowling and the batting in a Test was Zimbabwe’s Solomon Mire last year. It’s happened a lot more than you might think, especially with part-time spinners. And Manoj Prabhakar.
Dean Elgar: new-ball bowler
I wonder when somebody last opened the batting and the bowling in Test cricket.
Ok, official word is Vern has a groin issue, that region has been strapped up. As it stands the only fit frontline bowler in the SA team is Maharaj. #BatOn
92nd over: South Africa 279-6 (Bavuma 6, Philander 3) Bavuma is dropped at leg slip by Renshaw, a sharp low chance off the bowling of Lyon. The sharp turn is Shane Warne’s queue to observe that Keshav Maharaj would love to bowling on this. That’s true, but would he love to bowl a 60-over spell across four and a half sessions? I suppose it has happened before.
91st over: South Africa 273-6 (Bavuma 3, Philander 0) In nine Tests this summer Cummins has taken 45 wickets at 23.04 and scored 254 at 23.09. He’s also one away from a first Test ten-for.
At this rate, Pat Cummins might take the declaration out of the equation. He has taken his fourth wicket, trapping Quinton de Kock plumb LBW with a superb nipbacker. de Kock reviewed, though I’m not sure why as that was hitting middle halfway up.
Thanks Jonathan, hello there. I had no problem with South Africa’s approach until now, but I don’t see why they need to bat on now there are no personal milestones to consider. They are doing unto Australia as Johnny Sack did unto Donny K; they are buying them a drink.
Ah, I take it all back. Apparently Kagiso Rabada has a stiff back, so South Africa could be down to two bowlers. If that’s the case I can understand this approach. Shane Warne isn’t happy. Won’t somebody think of the children? Won’t somebody think of Test cricket?
90th over: South Africa 267-5 (Bavuma 0, de Kock 1) Still no declaration...
After all that, it’s time for me to hand over to Rob Smyth. Thank you for your company today. I’ll be back tomorrow to read this series its last rites.
Lyon comes on for a twirl with the newish ball. Elgar’s busy at the crease, sensing he has to find his century sooner rather than later, and it causes his downfall. He tries to loft Lyon over long off but skies it into the hands of Marsh who takes a neat catch over his shoulder with the prospect of a collision with mid-on creeping into his peripheral vision. Another terrific knock from Elgar - 250 energy-sapping deliveries worth.
89th over: South Africa 264-4 (Elgar 78, Bavuma 0) Still no declaration from South Africa, presumably waiting until Elgar has a century. Bavuma survives a huge scare second ball, given out LBW on-field but overturned by DRS courtesy of a thick inside edge.
Du Plessis’ ton was a thing of beauty. Averaging next to nothing this series coming in, golden duck first innings, broken fingers, superb performance.
A wonderful catch ends a wonderful innings. Faf Du Plessis take a bow, that was brilliant to watch. Cummins eventually ends the torture, coaxing an edge that’s taken brilliantly at second slip.
88th over: South Africa 263-3 (Elgar 78, du Plessis 120) Poor Sayers is just cannon fodder with Du Plessis in T20 mode. A blistering pull a la Ricky Ponting was hit with such nonchalance it could scar the poor seamer.
Faf-ulous century that from @faf1307. Leading the #ProteaFire giving a mammoth 512 runs and counting ahead of @CricketAus. #SAvAUS#WhistlePodu
87th over: South Africa 257-3 (Elgar 78, du Plessis 114) “That is remarkable” drawls Michael Holding in response to Du Plessis smashing Pat Cummins for six over point off the front foot. Holding then mentions Viv Richards by way of comparison, it was that good. It is party time out there for South Africa. Many demons are being exorcised right now and Australia will be glad to get on the next flight to Perth.
“How do you determine with any accuracy when the ball begins swinging?” Asks Richard Mansell in response to Chris Brunner (82nd over). “It won’t be in any scorecards.” It will require dedicated analysis, the kind of which will need paying for, and may not to be anybody’s benefit. Which is why it’s such a good idea.
86th over: South Africa 247-3 (Elgar 77, du Plessis 105) Elgar has lined up Sayers a few times today and the latest brutal pull may be the most dispiriting of the lot for the debutant. He dropped just a fraction short and Elgar was on it in a flash slapping the new ball to the midwicket fence. Presumably we’re now only watching South Africa bat for as long as it takes Elgar to make his ton or get out. The lead is 514.
85th over: South Africa 236-3 (Elgar 71, du Plessis 103) Du Plessis on strike at the start of Hazlewood’s over. He’s on 99, gripping his bat handle without any pressure on the mushy index finger of his right hand. Booooo! Anti-climax at the Bullring as the soon-to-be centurion runs a leg-bye. Another single from Elgar gets him back on strike. Can he complete his ton this over? Yes he can! Good nut from Hazlewood, catches the shoulder of the bat and runs along the ground to the third-man fence.
84th over: South Africa 234-3 (Elgar 71, du Plessis 99) Du Plessis moves to 99, the lead to 500. This is no longer a cricket match but a statistical modelling exercise.
“Obviously Jonathan Taylor does not think tours to Apartheid era South Africa were of any relevance to how he should view someone’s character,” writes Leon Wylie. “Kind of typical of the moral universe this whole ball tampering is inhabiting.”
83rd over: South Africa 231-3 (Elgar 70, du Plessis 97) Du Plessis is getting better the longer his innings goes on, broken finger or no broken finger. Not many people straight drive Hazlewood with the ease or elegance the Proteas skipper does this over. If that shot was a chocolate egg it would have been one of those unctuous Guylian sea shells.
@JPHowcroft A lot of people, like Frank McDade just now on here, and commentators like Andy Bull, are saying that ball tampering isd not 'the worst' form of cheating in cricket. What, pray, is worse?
82nd over: South Africa 224-3 (Elgar 70, du Plessis 92) Chadd Sayers shares the new ball, sending down only his 11th over of the innings, and it’s one that is unlikely to earn him many more. Elgar cracks him with gusto through midwicket for a pair of sizzling fours.
Chris Brunner raises an excellent question. “Is anyone tracking the average number of overs it takes test teams (including Australia) to achieve reverse swing? I’d be interested in comparing how long it took teams to achieve reverse swing in 2017- to now- to 2019. I realise the conditions affect how long it takes for the ball to swing but given everyone is on heightened alert and cameras are going to be following the ball far closer than usual, it would be interesting to see which teams suddenly find it “harder than they expected” and take much longer than usual to get the effect over the next few months.”
81st over: South Africa 216-3 (Elgar 62, du Plessis 92) Hazlewood is now charging in with the second new ball, somehow convincing his body the 483 run deficit is worth its effort. There’s not much to report. The pitch is still behaving itself.
“I would disagree that science cheats get away with it,” argues Nicholas Clark. “Olivier Voinnet for example had 8 retractions because he made things up and remains a full professor, while the fraud that happened in Korea got the people professionally crucified. I think the same happens in sports, some people get let off things while others for similar things get the book thrown at them.
The research from criminology was that it’s the fear of getting caught not the punishment that stops lots of people and perhaps thats the way to go.”
80th over: South Africa 215-3 (Elgar 61, du Plessis 92) Lyon again enduring a torrid time, conceding four runs when a finer leg-slip than he currently has would have been in position to accept an easy catch. Du Plessis then larrups him with all the sophistication of Jeremy Clarkson over cow corner.
“I like Jonathan Taylor’s team at 11.27,” writes Peter Salmon. “Presumably they would rip through the opposition batting from about the 30 over mark, but then somehow lose the match with a flurry of late wickets?”
79th over: South Africa 207-3 (Elgar 61, du Plessis 84) another tidy over-rate boosting over from Renshaw.
78th over: South Africa 204-3 (Elgar 61, du Plessis 82) Lyon has bowled far better than 1-68 would suggest and this over is another example. Ball after ball spinning and bouncing beyond the outside edge. No luck.
Frank McDade emails in: “Just a quick thought on the post at 11.23 re “cheat and suffer the consequences” - my concern that we seem to be moving to absolutism about everything (and preferably via a tweet). It may be a bad example but is “cheating” worth of losing all funds previous and forever if a scientist ignores one set of results (10% of people agreed this cream made their skin feel great) to instead perhaps focus on the second set (80% of the next group thought the cream made their skin great). Absolutely agree that the worse crime in any given area should result in a significant deterrent. But is ball tampering (or diving in football) the absolute worse crime? Cricket and ethics ! Great way to pretend to be working on a Monday.” Where’s Chidi Anagonye when you need him?
77th over: South Africa 204-3 (Elgar 60, du Plessis 82) The afternoon session takes an age to begin because Faf du Plessis is late arriving out in the middle. Allan Border is pantomime grumpy about it, but it’s somewhat reassuring to hear the now mild-mannered middle-aged silver fox get the hump about something. Renshaw does the bowling when play gets underway and his loopy straight-spinners from around the wicket land reasonably well, one bouncing awkwardly on Elgar.
I know this is a tangent that continues to grow, but still, this is funny.
Alan Pardew leaves West Brom with his players having stole as many taxis as Premier League matches won under his management. Quite the legacy.
Almost time for play to resume at the Wanderers.
Robert Wilson has come out swinging. He’s not taking Amod Paranjape’s trash talk lying down. “Sean Penn has words, he has the best words. Amod Paranjape is not a good person. He needs to have a good, long think about his path in life. The Sean Penn novel is actually work. I’m reviewing it. Though I confess I gave up before the last forty pages when I realised that reading them would MAKE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL. Sean Penn’s grasp of metaphor and simile resembles a hamster’s grasp of algebra. He keeps comparing things to things they do NOT resemble (revolutionary in its way but life-shorteningly annoying). As soon as he describes anything you cease utterly to be able to see it. It’s an extraordinary gift, the opposite of the vivid, the anti-vivid. He’s the Poet Laureate of the Dunning-Kruger Effect.”
“A bit premature? WBA have only lost the past 9 premiership games.” That’s some Black Country humour right there from David Griffiths.
“In light of recent events, I wonder if the gentlemanly Peter Nevill has idly considered a Sliding Doors scenario whereby he wasn’t unfairly dumped as Australian wicketkeeper, through no fault of his own excellent keeping, for the considerably much less accomplished, but aggressive, chirpy, in your face Matthew Wade, and who would now, in this alternate reality, thanks to his being both one of the more senior players in the team and a prime example of how to play the game without being a dick, in all likelihood be the current Australian captain?”
Paul Smith there not the first to raise this hypothetical during this Test match. It will be fascinating to see how far Australia follows though with this plan to reinvigorate the spirit of cricket, especially if it means they don’t win as much.
It’s not cricket, but Alan Pardew has just left West Brom by mutual consent. Thought you might like to know.
Phenomenal stat on Dean Elgar's half-century: 180 DOT balls in the 199 he faced. 30 overs. One session. 19 scoring shots. #SAvAUS
Oh dear, I think we might have some OBO email beef. “Has Robert Wilson finished the Sean Penn novel which he daftly purchased?” asks Amod Paranjape. “Tell him to finish that and comment thereafter.”
Amod is referring to Robert’s 75th over epic.
Isn’t it great that South African grounds allow fans onto the field of play during intervals.
Fans are out on the field at lunch at Wanderers Excitement is in the air with South Africa in control of the 4th Test and well on their way to a victory in the series. Stay tuned @SABC3#SAvAUS#SABCcricketpic.twitter.com/UOVKGpoKY0
Jonathan Taylor, meanwhile, has upped Jim’s ante with this little belter of an email. “A slightly controversial World XI: David Warner, Salman Butt, Saleem Malik, Mohammed Azharhuddin, Steve Smith, Hansie Cronje (c), Lou Vincent, (Keeper), Trevor Chappell, Chris Cairns, Mohammed Amir, Mohammed Asif. Squad: Athers, Bancroft, Kaneria.”
The highlight in there obviously being the affectionate ‘Athers’ rather than his Sunday name.
Bob’s been sucked in by Jim Maxwell’s impeccable clickbait (58th over).
@JPHowcroft Neer mind King Viv on the bench, look where Jim Maxwell has put Warne
“I agree with Robin (60th over),” writes Adrian Goldman. “Professional sportsmen cheat for the same reason that anybody cheats: the risk-reward ratio is wrong. If you cheat and don’t get caught, you win; if you get caught, you must be contrite for a little while and all is forgiven. It would be simple to stamp out: cheat and get caught and you forfeit all of the money that you have ever made, all your titles disappear (so your innocent teammates also suffer), and you never play that sport again. That’s pretty much what happens in my sport (science); if you fake results, you will lose your job and never be able to get funding again. For smaller-scale cheating - diving in football? - maybe a year-long ban would suffice. I think it will be a long time before any professional cricketer thinks about trying to scuff up the ball illegally. It’s not clear to me why sportspeople should have it easier.”
I wish I was an expert in either law or philosophical ethics to do this post justice. Perhaps I could advance the conversation by asking if there are any other areas of life where marginal transgressions are normalised? Clearly science is not one of them...
@JPHowcroft Considering how crap the Aussies were at ball tampering, what's the likelihood of them having done it before? #cheating
I guess you could look at that both ways but right now on Australian TV Michael Vaughan is saying he can’t believe it’s the first time it’s happened.
There ends one of the quirkier sessions of Test cricket. It lasted only 20 overs, began late, stopped for bad light and was delayed by a sickening blow to Faf du Plessis’ finger.
When cricket took place it was a session of two halves. It began with South Africa blunting the pace of Cummins and Hazlewood and then tucking into the supporting cast. Du Plessis was especially brutal as he looked to add an exclamation point to a scratchy series with the bat. Dean Elgar spent practically a hundred balls without scoring but began to make amends as lunch approached.
76th over: South Africa 202-3 (Elgar 59, du Plessis 81) Nathan Lyon has the final over before lunch but Du Plessis is not blocking his way to the break, he’s ecky-thumping Australia’s premier spinner over square-leg for a maximum. “A little bit top-edgey” says Allan Border in the manner of Simon Cowell critiquing Aretha Franklin.
75th over: South Africa 195-3 (Elgar 59, du Plessis 74) Mat Renshaw is having a bowl, the big lad rolling over some nudies from around the wicket. South Africa respect them, nurdling a few singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Robert Wilson has logged on, and I’m nervous everything I’m publishing would pass a second pair of editorial eyes. “Neha Mehta makes a decent point about Warner paying an extra tax for his social class (search pregame, just after the preamble) but, as a fully paid-up chav, I would claim that it’s important to specify the tariff in question. We wideboys and shopgirls live in a moral universe the bourgeois has long abandoned. We have behaviour, you have personality disorders, we’re not autistic, we’re thick, we’re never big-boned victims of fat-shaming, we’re morally obese. We can be weighed, measured, judged and dismissed - you guys must be understood. You orbit in your moral space-station, pathologized, medicalised and ultimately forgiven while we here in Scumbag Central on the planet’s surface trying desperately to breathe the thin, noxious atmosphere of pure Calvinism. Ceci dit, as the French would say, the fact remains that David Warner is a titanic gobshite.”
74th over: South Africa 191-3 (Elgar 56, du Plessis 73) Lyon keeping things tidy at his end still, concedes just a couple of singles as thoughts start to drift towards lunch.
73rd over: South Africa 189-3 (Elgar 55, du Plessis 72) 50 for Dean Elgar, and what a way to bring it up, levering Marsh over wide long on like a secondary school lad tonking a primary schooler over the vicarage wall. He’s been there 200 balls now and those 180 or so sighters are starting to pay off.
Ravi Raman is multi-commenting. “One of the most idiotic inconsistencies in the Rogues Gallery of ball tampering is that most are batsmen. Not enough that they get to have all sorts of developmental benefits but bowlers have to stick with the same 5 1/2 oz cherry. Bloody batsman’s game. And Akram, Murali instead of Lillee, Warne in the World XI with Lara as skipper.
72nd over: South Africa 181-3 (Elgar 47, du Plessis 72) Despite South Africa’s intent Lyon is proving awkward to get away. He gets away with a maiden to Du Plessis with six deliveries that all turn considerably from outside the off stump.
John Starbuck has fallen for Jim Maxwell’s clickbait (over 58). “Having Warne in both sides looks a bit like ch**ting. Why not Muralitharan, statistically the best?” Oh John...
71st over: South Africa 181-3 (Elgar 47, du Plessis 72) Mitchell Marsh gets a rare bowl in one of those decisions that does not bode well for Chadd Sayers’ Test future. He can’t stem the runs from this end though because Du Plessis stands tall and drives him balletically through the covers off the back foot.
Richard Mansell makes some sense on the email: “Given the match position Du Plessis should retire to prevent further damage to his hand. He isn’t hanging in there to save a match with only the tail to follow.” In the words of The Grade Cricketer, it is an almighty alpha play from Du Plessis.
70th over: South Africa 174-3 (Elgar 45, du Plessis 67) Just the one from this Lyon over bowled largely from around the wicket spinning the ball away from the left-handed Elgar. South Africa’s lead an intimidating 441.
69th over: South Africa 173-3 (Elgar 45, du Plessis 66) Declaration batting now from South Africa, Elgar carting Sayers back over his head for four.
68th over: South Africa 169-3 (Elgar 41, du Plessis 66) Lyon continues, as does Du Plessis’ aggressive mindset. It earns him one swept four and it should have been two but Peter Handscomb wore one between his shoulder blades at short leg. Blimey that is going to sting when he gets in the bath tonight, and every night for a month. I hope he gets danger money for crouching in the line of fire.
67th over: South Africa 165-3 (Elgar 41, du Plessis 62) Time for Chadd Sayers but the poor bloke has come on just as Du Plessis has decided to advance the game. Five more runs from the over as the South African skipper turns a 90-minute grind into a pre-lunch blitz. Even Elgar gets in on the act, lofting Sayers over the infield for two for his first runs in an eternity.
66th over: South Africa 158-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 57) Lyon into the attack and it prompts a bit of biff from the skipper. A couple of meaty fours brings up a much-needed and hard-earned 50.
65th over: South Africa 147-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 47) Thankfully there’s a bit more cricket to report this over. First Du Plessis survives a reviewed catch behind. The ball from Cummins missed Du Plessis’ attempted pull by a fraction of a bee’s wing but grazed the batsman’s helmet on its way through to Tim Paine. That was a good not out decision onfield because it was a tight one and there was a noise. The South African skipper responds by hammering a wide half-volley to the cover fence.
64th over: South Africa 143-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 43) South Africa’s go-slow continues . Just one run from the past four overs now with Elgar content to play out another maiden, this time off Hazlewood. The New South Welshman is bowling from around the wicket to the left-handed opener and Umpire Gould just reminds him to keep off the danger area in his follow-through. I’m not sure South Africa would mind him scuffing up a decent length with a 410-run lead. Elgar, by the way, now has just five runs from his past 86 deliveries. He’s no enigma but he could do with some variations. Boom, tish, try the chicken.
62nd over: South Africa 143-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 43) Cummins sends down his third consecutive maiden of the morning, but one is much more notable than the previous two because Faf Du Plessis has been struck on the right hand by a nasty in-cutter that rose sharply off a length. Du Plessis, built like a Springbok, went down on his haunches immediately, withdrew his glove and revealed an index finger that looked like a sausage that failed Wall’s quality control. It means there’s another lengthy delay to play. Du Plessis has endured issues with his fingers for a while now, and this one from Cummins hit him flush on the last knuckle. His glove has a massive amount of padding on it but it can’t prevent the lightning bolt of pain searing through the South African skipper’s body.
Call him brave, call him stubborn, call him stupid, Du Plessis having his dodgy digit strapped up and he’s batting on.
61st over: South Africa 143-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 43) Hazlewood continues hostilities with Du Plessis but after five deliveries and a single the players are ushered off the field by the umpires with the light fading and drizzle enveloping the Bullring.
Players are off for around 15 minutes, during which time those gremlins took a twisty grip of our technicals and sent us offline. Apologies for the interruption to the service, thankfully we didn’t miss as much as we could have.
Apologies, here at Guardian HQ we have been experiencing some technical difficulties, the type which only boffins in bunkers understand. It seems they’re fixed now. Prepare for a dump of updates, to bring us up to speed. Then it should be business as usual with Jonathan. (Ed)
60th over: South Africa 142-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 42) Cummins to Elgar results in another maiden while Shane Warne fat shames Graeme Smith on TV. As you were.
Robin Hazlehurst wants us to consider the butterfly effect of ball tampering. It’s worth chewing over. “One thing I haven’t seen discussed anywhere is any possible victims other than the culprits themselves. There may not have been any here, but ball-tampering is not necessarily a victimless crime. Try the following thought experiment:
59th over: South Africa 142-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 42) The first short ball of the day becomes the first boundary of the day. Du Plessis rolls his wrists over a compact pull shot leaving fine-leg no chance on the rope.
58th over: South Africa 136-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 36) Cummins is next to have a bowl and he sends down a maiden to Dean Elgar from around the wicket. Largely dry lines outside off stump carefully left alone by one of the most patient batsmen in the world.
Jim Maxwell's all-time Australian XI and World XI, of the players he's seen. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/6j2c5s7koS
57th over: South Africa 136-3 (Elgar 39, du Plessis 36) Two runs from the opening over of the morning sent down by Josh Hazlewood.
“Nice to hear its cheering up in SA because here in England it’s bloody snowing again. Just when the last of the snowdrops had died down and the daffodils were coming out, Spring is delayed again.” John Starbuck reminding me why I emigrated to Australia ten years ago.
The players are out on the Bullring. It’s 15 minutes later than planned but play is about to get underway. Huzzah!
“The fog as to why this happened seems to be clearing,” emails Tony O’Hanlon. “Some sections of the media are reporting that The Australian Cricket Team have been left as a shag on a rock for some years. Media reports and comments on many blogs are stating that the “Men in Suits” not only managed the business affairs of team but also had a presence in the shed. No way do I excuse those involved in the ball scandal but if media reports are true it would seem Cricket Australia became a business model with a total focus on profit that put enormous pressures on players to “WIN’ at any cost, leaving players to find their own way to achieve that result. I am afraid that we are witnessing this result in many sports worldwide.”
Agreed Tony, the comparison between the decades-old turned blind eye with the draconian overreaction of recent days is stark.
It’s brightening up a bit over the Wanderers, the umpires are shuffling about like white shirted wombles and - hold the phones - play will get underway at 10.15! It’s an Easter miracle.
Let’s check in with some emails while we wait for a call on an acceptable level of gloom.
“Going back to the ball tampering saga,” writes Neha Mehta, “don’t you now feel that Steve Smith is going to be rehabilitated a lot more easily whereas David Warner has got a battle on his hands.” Yes, absolutely.
This pitch has offered pace, bounce and plenty of sideways movement for seamers and spinners alike, yet it hasn’t provoked an avalanche of wickets. South Africa will hope the low bounce that crept into the game yesterday continues to develop so they have a greater chance of winkling out ten Australian batsmen over the next 180 or so overs.
Day four deck #SAvAUSpic.twitter.com/WjOz0xKv51
Update: play delayed due to bad light. Not a great sign. We’ll keep you posted on #SENTestCricketpic.twitter.com/iUE7WHJqqa
The floodlights are fully on in Johannesburg but the players are not yet out. We’re hearing the umpires will take a light reading at the scheduled start of play to establish a base measurement for what is acceptable for the remainder of the Test. This is all very cricket.
“It’s not looking great for him, but he’ll be there if we do need him” says AB de Villiers about the injured Morne Morkel. “He’ll slot in if it’s an emergency.”
And bang on cue word filters through that the umpires are unhappy with the light situation and play may not begin on time.
There’ll be plenty of weather chat over the next two days as showers continue to dance around the Wanderers. It’s remarkable how the Test has gone unscathed so far, let’s hope that good fortune continues.
It is overcast on the morning of Day 4. Covers are off as final preparations are made before the start of play at 10 at the Wanderers. #SAvAUS#SABCcricketpic.twitter.com/amiEw7e65k
Clive Darwell starts the ball rolling on the emails. “Of all the articles I read in the last week this one (below) really hit the nail on the head - I think they’re just bullies, even Bancroft who cynically and miserably twisted innocent, good-natured friendliness (i.e. Bairstow - a wonderful example of how to live life I’d say) into ‘head-butting the line’. I don’t wish them any ill but as Oscar Wilde said: ‘You’d have to have a heart of stone not to laugh’.”
Related: Ball tampering scandal could be Australian fans' tipping point | Paul Connolly
Since Jan 2000, the longest Australia have batted in the 4th innings of a Test is 119.1 overs & that came v SA in the 2016 series. The longest they have batted to not lose a Test is 110 v NZ in Perth, 2001.
There are a possible 180 overs remaining in this game.#SAvAus
Over in New Zealand, the final Test with England is set up for a cracking fifth day after an eventful fourth in Christchurch.
Related: New Zealand v England: second Test, day four – as it happened
Day 4 loading... who’s ready for #ProteaFire?! #SAvAUS#SunfoilTestpic.twitter.com/IUuWszvMgB
Missed anything yesterday? Catch up on all the action here.
Related: Dean Elgar helps South Africa steam into formidable lead over Australia
Hello and welcome to live OBO coverage of the fourth day’s play from Johannesburg, host city of the fourth and final Test in this series between South Africa and Australia.
The Proteas are in a dominant position at the start of play, leading by 401 runs with seven wickets in hand. All that remains is a declaration. Quite when (or if) this arrives was complicated yesterday by a side strain to Morne Morkel, limiting South Africa to just three frontline bowlers. His fitness will likely determine how long Faf Du Plessis can risk exposing his undermanned attack. Leading 2-1 in the series Du Plessis is not required to take any unnecessary risks.
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