SA in box seat after dominant batting D3
Cricket: South Africa are in the box seat to win the World Test Championship final after a dominant day with the bat.
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7NEWS
33 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Pat Cummins flags ‘reset' after Australia's top-order capitulation in World Test Championship final
Captain Pat Cummins acknowledges Australia will undergo a 'reset' after another top-order capitulation opened the door for a South African upset for the ages. Not having lost a ICC final since 2010, Australia were upstaged by Temba Bavuma's fighting Proteas at Lord's, a five-wicket defeat crushing their hopes of defending the World Test Championship title they won in 2023. Australia's batting woes were laid bare, particularly in the second innings when only plucky knocks from star quick Mitchell Starc and wicketkeeper Alex Carey saved the No.1-ranked team from utter embarrassment. Batting conditions became ideal at the start of day three when the sun came out, the pitch was suddenly flat, and pace bowlers struggled for the movement they got in the first innings. But it was too late for the Australians, who were already 8-144 to start Friday, a lead of only 212. 'There's probably quite a few people in the line-up that wish they could have done a little bit more,' Cummins said. 'Obviously, the top three was an obvious one in this game.' Promoted from No.3 to open in a Test for the first time, struggling Marnus Labuschagne got starts, but ultimately only made 17 and 22 to extend his century drought to almost 24 months. Labuschagne's opening partner, 38-year-old Usman Khawaja, was again exposed against express pace after falling to Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada for scores of 0 and 7. Khawaja made a career-best 232 on slow pitches in Sri Lanka earlier this year, but his recent history against quality fast bowlers is a concern. Cameron Green, who batted at No.3 in his first Test since March 2024 after recovering from back surgery, was also troubled by Rabada and was out for 4 and 0. Green, aged 26, was the only member of the Australian XI in his 20s in this Test. But after suffering a compound dislocation of his right little finger at Lord's, star No.4 Steve Smith is almost no chance to play in at least the first Test against the West Indies. Teenage tyro Sam Konstas, who announced himself last Boxing Day, is set to be given an opportunity as opener for Australia's first tour of the Caribbean in 10 years. If Smith can't play, Konstas could slot back in to open with Usman Khawaja, while Labuschagne would likely drop down to No.3. But Josh Inglis, who scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year, is also in the squad and could be given a chance. 'In white-ball series a lot of the time, you build on four-year cycles around World Cups for ODIs,' Cummins said. 'Maybe it's an opportunity in the Test matches to do something similar. But it's a little bit early to tell. 'Coming into this match, you've got guys like Sam Konstas and Scotty Boland, Josh Inglis, all those guys who are right on the fringes. 'After this Test match, everyone gets thrown back into the conversation, and it's a little bit of a reset for the first Test against the West Indies. 'Give it a 48 hours, everyone kind of digests and works out if we keep the same squad.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Maharaj in tears after historic win
Cricket: South African spinner Keshav Maharaj couldn't hold back the tears, following South Africa's triumph over Australia in the World Test Championship Final.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Cummins hits team reset button after Australia fail at Lord's
London: As Australia fought to string out the final day of their failed World Test Championship bid against South Africa, they were also raging against the dying of the light for numerous members of the team. Skipper Pat Cummins and his fellow bowlers tried everything to induce one more 'choke' from the Proteas, to the point of a few verbal rejoinders reminding Aiden Markram (136) and Temba Bavuma (66) of their side's history. These exchanges added to the drama of the final day, as the Proteas chased down 282 to forge a five-wicket victory and win the adulation of a huge South African turnout at Lord's. Where the end of the 2023 Ashes Test here had arrived amid ugly scenes of crowd abuse, this time it was unconfined joy for the 'Rainbow nation'. By bowling tightly and slowing South Africa down, Cummins was effectively praying for a miracle from the second new ball, or a change in the weather, to bring salvation. 'It was kind of just draw it out as long as we can, try and for the pace bowlers, just try and go for two runs an over,' he said. '[Nathan] Lyon was looking really likely and you never know, maybe some clouds come over, maybe a new ball does something different, just try to string it out as more and more nerves play into it as well.' Cummins also burned through his three reviews in quick time, for a couple of speculative lbw appeals either side of a possible strangle down the leg side. That meant there were none left for a couple far more legitimate shouts against nervous number seven Kyle Verreynne, who ultimately carved the winning runs to the cover boundary. Loading That moment ended the WTC cycle for Australia in the knowledge that several players in the side may well be out of it by the time the next championship ends in 2027. Top of that list is Marnus Labuschagne, who looks highly likely to lose his place to Sam Konstas in the West Indies. After that, 38-year-old Usman Khawaja cannot be expected to keep playing beyond the end of the home Ashes series this summer, and he will need to find better and more proactive ways to combat top-class pace bowling if he is to get even that far.
