South Africa deny Australia in SCG Test

Scott Bailey | January 9, 2023

Australia will need to qualify for the World Test Championship final on next month’s tour of India after South Africa held on to draw the rain-soaked third Test at the SCG.

Bowled out for 255 in their first innings and forced to follow on, South Africa survived 41.5 overs to be 2-106 when the game was called with 5.1 overs left on Sunday.

That left Australia with a 2-0 series win after victories in Brisbane and Melbourne, but still denied them the perfect Test summer that would have guaranteed a spot in June’s final at The Oval.

It means Australia need to win or draw one of the four Tests in India to qualify, or else rely on New Zealand not losing both games to Sri Lanka in March.

Tasked with taking 14 wickets on the final day after almost two days were lost to rain, Australia were met with their firmest resistance of the summer on Sunday.

They took until after lunch to wrap up the tail in South Africa’s first innings of 255 and enforce the follow-on, as only Josh Hazlewood (4-48) could get through lower-order batters Simon Harmer (47) and Keshav Maharaj (53).

But by then the hosts had conceded most hope was gone, with Pat Cummins’ dismissal of Dean Elgar in South Africa’s second innings the one wicket taken with the game still realistically live.

Australia did not help their own cause.

While they were denied three lbw reviews on umpire’s call, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Travis Head and Ashton Agar dropped chances in the Proteas’ first innings.

“It was a shame we didn’t hold those chances and a couple of those half calls didn’t go our way, especially early,” Cummins said.

“Fourteen wickets in a day is always hard work, especially given the wickets wasn’t doing all sorts.

“Realistically, you would like to send them back in before lunch. Ten wickets in the last 40 or 50 overs is always going to be hard work.”

There was also more controversy, when Heinrich Klaasen became the third batsman in the Test to survive an appeal for a catch when Steve Smith claimed a low take at slip.

Klaasen was key in helping South Africa save the match with his 35, while Sarel Erwee’s 42no and Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 17 carried the Proteas to the close.

It helped South Africa ensure Australia’s first innings 4-475 went to waste after Cummins declared on Usman Khawaja midway through day four, leaving the opener unbeaten on 195.

“The players had a conversation last night,” Elgar said. 

“We could lie down and let Aussie roll us here and create a little more embarrassment. Or we could go out and fight on day five.”

For Australia, bigger questions remain ahead of India.

The Sydney wicket did not break up as they expected given the rain, but Ashton Agar’s wicketless 22 overs as Australia’s second spinner will be a point of contention.

Cummins confirmed after the Test Agar would be in the squad for India, but whether Australia play with a second spinner or rely heavily on part-timer Travis Head will be considered.

“I’m sure Ash will be there,” Cummins said.

“This wicket was a lot different to India. It wasn’t really spinning out of the middle.

“I thought he did really well.”