- South Africa build lead after day one of second Test in Hobart
- Australia fold for 85 before Mitchell Starc leads fightback with ball
The final analysis
The tale of the day is this: Fifteen wickets fell and 10 of them belonged to Australians, who bar their captain Steve Smith (48 not out) surrendered meekly in conditions favourable to swing bowling but not as devastatingly so as the scorecard would have you believe. Vernon Philander overcame a collision with Smith to end up with 5-21 from 10.1 overs and was ably assisted by Dale Steyn’s replacement Kyle Abbott, who mustered 3-41 off 12.4 at the other end. Other than Joe Mennie, no other batsman reached double figures for Australia in a putrid performance.
Related: South Africa build lead after Australia's first innings capitulation in Hobart
55th over: South Africa 171-5 (Bavuma 38, de Kock 28)
And that is day one at Hobart, which ends with South Africa leading by 86. Quinton de Kock faced up to Mitchell Starc’s final over and clipped a single to mid-on before Temba Bavuma does much the same to place South Africa on a score exactly double Australia’s paltry first innings effort of 85. What a miserable day for the Aussies, tempered slightly by a mini-recovery lead by Mitchell Starc’s three wickets
54th over: South Africa 168-5 (Bavuma 37, de Kock 26)
Nathan Lyon has turned it plenty today but failed to take a wicket, and he’s back now for one final twirl. Bavuma is on strike and there’s a huge shout for LBW but the Australians forego the review when Richard Kettleborough turns it down. Replays reveal it was passing well over the top of the stumps. Bavuma waits a few balls and latches onto some width, slapping a diagonal-bat drive for four through cover. We’ll have one more over.
53rd over: South Africa 164-5 (Bavuma 33, de Kock 26)
Hmm, it appears as though we’ll have three more overs, actually. Starc fully believes he’s nicked off Bavuma but when it’s knocked back he doesn’t call for a review. Replays reveal it might have been the bat flicking the pitch as Bavuma tried to drive one that angled across him.
52nd over: South Africa 163-5 (Bavuma 32, de Kock 26)
Joe Mennie has bustled away and bent his back all afternoon but still has nothing to show for it as he enters what might be his final over of the day. He’s slanting it across de Kock and searching for an edge but de Kock is solid as a rock. At least Mennie musters a maiden.
Huge credit to both teams for helpfully moving game forward with 15 wickets in knowledge that we may not play tomorrow...
51st over: South Africa 163-5 (Bavuma 32, de Kock 26)
South Africa lead by 76 runs as Mitchell Starc makes a surprise appearance with just under ten minutes to play today. Bavuma waits patiently and leans into another cover drive for two but there’s not much else happening. The batsmen will be happy to see this through to stumps now.
50th over: South Africa 160-5 (Bavuma 30, de Kock 25)
It’s not an entirely convincing stroke but de Kock hooks one out over deep square leg to pick up a boundary off Mennie, who is driven for four more off the next delivery when he over-pitches. Mennie’s got 0-47 from 13 overs but has yet to muster up a maiden. He’ll be a little disappointed with that given he was brought in to play the containment role vacated by injured Peter Siddle.
Eight of the nine wickets to fall to South Africa's seamers pitched in a 2.1m range between 5.1m & 7.2m from the batsman's stumps. #AusvSApic.twitter.com/vUh18hsLok
49th over: South Africa 151-5 (Bavuma 30, de Kock 16)
Crash! Quinton de Kock gets going with a sublime straight drive to the fence off Hazlewood. Apparently the Proteas keeper once reached 170-odd in a school match and asked his coach if he could start wearing an eye patch to make it a little more difficult for himself. Maybe that’s what the Australian batsmen were doing this morning.
48th over: South Africa 146-5 (Bavuma 30, de Kock 11)
Joe Mennie returns with an over of all-sorts to the left-hand/right-hand pairing. He’ll have better days at the office than this one, the debutant, but certainly hasn’t looked out of his depth at any point.
47th over: South Africa 142-5 (Bavuma 29, de Kock 8)
Another maiden over to Hazlewood, who has been a Trojan today with his 2-31 from 15 overs. He wouldn’t have bowled more than half a dozen loose ones all day.
Australian Batsmen's Heat Map pic.twitter.com/dXLPa5FgjH
46th over: South Africa 142-5 (Bavuma 29, de Kock 8)
As the day enters its final halfhour ’m wondering whether we might see our 16th wicket for the day. Fifteen is pretty decent going, I guess. The takings at MONA will probably get a boost on Tuesday, or maybe even Monday afternoon. Lyon appears with another maiden and he continues to lock down his end pretty well.
45th over: South Africa 141-5 (Bavuma 29, de Kock 7)
Is the Bellerive Oval outfield a bit rough? No Joe Mennie gets in on the mid-fielding act, latting one trickle through his legs for two when it should have been a single only. There’s been a lot of ground fielding errors today by both sides, despite the quality of the catching.
44th over: South Africa 138-5 (Bavuma 29, de Kock 5)
As Lyon continues, de Kock gets off the mark with two and then dices with danger in playing a late cut in the air through the fully region. Hazlewood hurls himself at the boundary to keep it to three, which doesn’t seem an advisable physical activity for a fast bowler.
43rd over: South Africa 132-5 (Bavuma 28, de Kock 0)
Australia still need to watch that things don’t get away from them in this final 40 minutes, because Quinton de Kock is in form and the local bowlers will be hanging out to have a rest.
Amla goes! Well, I was just about to tell you how low on energy Hazlewood looked as he returned for one final spell but he’s immediately gone and nipped out Amla, tempting the previously disciplined veteran into a real waft outside off stump, which sends an edge through to Nevill. This session was drifting a little for the Aussies but that brings them right back into it.
42nd over: South Africa 130-4 (Amla 45, Bavuma 28)
Another quarter-chance is flicked past the outstretched hand of Burns at short leg and for Amla, Australia also has Warner standing at leg slip. It’s at least keeping the batsmen honest as this partnership passes 5o and tips the day’s honours further in favour of the tourists, who now lead by 45 runs with as many minutes left in the first day’s play.
41st over: South Africa 128-4 (Amla 44, Bavuma 27)
Bavuma was rubbing the Aussies up the wrong way last over and now he annoys them with his blade, capitalising on a rank half-tracker from Starc and cutting it with vigour to pick up four. Why is Starc even coming around the wicket? He’s reverted to his pre-Tea mode. Not good, in other words. He finishes the over slinging down aimless bouncers well over the head of the pint-sized Protea.
40th over: South Africa 121-4 (Amla 44, Bavuma 20)
Nathan Lyon continues to Hashim Amla, who is rugged up like the Michelin Man on this chilly Hobart afternoon. He whips a single to leg and David Warner again misses the stumps with a throw. Maybe I should just update you when he hits. There’s a little bit of angst between the sides when Bavuma starts marking his leg stump guard in the danger area, which annoys Joe Burns at short leg and then his captain too. Aleem Dar moves in and tells them all to cut it out, though the Australians had a point.
Crowd is 7,849 #ausvsa
39th over: South Africa 119-4 (Amla 43, Bavuma 19)
Starc comes around the wicket to Bavuma and does claim a thick outside edge, but the batsman had cleverly softened his hands and angled the bat, and you could convince me it was an intentional shot after watching the replay. It’s four biscuits regardless. We’re into the final hour now and South Africa lead by 34 runs on Australia’s dismal first innings of 85.
38th over: South Africa 115-4 (Amla 43, Bavuma 15)
Lyon comes around the wicket to Amla, which seems ill-advised when he’s immediately belted through mid-wicket for a boundary. “Fruit for the sideboard,” says Ian Chappell. Dave Warner has half a run-out opportunity but can’t hit, and a ball later Joe Mennie gives us the novelty of an Australian throw actually hitting the stumps, though it’s too late to endanger the batsman.
37th over: South Africa 109-4 (Amla 38, Bavuma 14)
Joe Mennie gets a rest now so Mitchell Starc comes back for one more blast with just over an hour left in the day’s play. His line is all over the shop first up and Bavuma has no trouble glancing a loose one to pick up four. It’s safe to say that Starc bowled a little better at the start of his last spell.
36th over: South Africa 102-4 (Amla 35, Bavuma 10)
Ooft. Lyon is getting some serious purchase now, turning one at right angles with bounce and turn to beat both Bavuma and Nevill, so the Proteas get three byes down to fine leg. There’s another ‘catching’ chance for Burns but it’s a full-blooded stroke from Amla that glances his left leg on the way through for a single. Bavuma finishes with a pretty little drive to pick up two and the hundred is up.
35th over: South Africa 96-4 (Amla 35, Bavuma 8)
Amla doesn’t mind how long he has to wait for a loose one but Mennie delivers it early in the over this time, straying onto the pads to be clipped for three. Mark Taylor is complaining there isn’t a fifth bowling option here, which is a none-too-subtle doff of the cap to Mitchell Marsh. Remember when Mark Waugh said he wouldn’t be dropped for this Test? Good times.
ALL OUT FOR 85. ONLY ONE MAN CAN SAVE US NOW #AUSvRSApic.twitter.com/3kpvNrz3mc
34th over: South Africa 92-4 (Amla 32, Bavuma 7)
Lyon continues and Bavuma almost perishes when he turns one at Joe Burns in short, but the Australian short leg can’t hold the tough chance. It was more a case of it hitting his hand rather than a drop per se. It’s a maiden for Lyon.
33rd over: South Africa 92-4 (Amla 32, Bavuma 7)
As Shane Warne grinds through the story of his first Test wicket for the 8,176th time, Joe Mennie goes looking for his own and momentarily thinks he has it when Bavuma clips his pad with his bat before the ball passes the outside edge. The noise was promising but Peter Nevill wisely counsels the bowler against a review. The Mennie over costs just a single and pleasingly, he avoids the late loose one, which has blighted his earlier efforts.
32nd over: South Africa 91-4 (Amla 32, Bavuma 6)
Josh Hazlewood takes a well earned rest, which means Nathan Lyon is back with some of the appreciable spin he offered before tea. Bavuma takes a good look and then slashes a square drive through point when he’s given some width, picking up his first boundary in the process.
31st over: South Africa 86-4 (Amla 32, Bavuma 1)
It’s another bright start to an over from Mennie, who ducks one back in off the pitch to square Amla up before drawing an outside edge that runs away for three. Cruel. He cuts Bavuma in half too, but my main point of interest is how he finishes the over, which hasn’t been his strong suit today. Again he strays onto the hip of the batsman but Bavuma doesn’t cash in, only managing a single when he might have biffed it through square leg for a boundary. It does at least get him off the mark and also allows South Africa to take the lead in this game. They didn’t have a big total to pass.
30th over: South Africa 82-4 (Amla 29, Bavuma 0)
Bavuma’s still not off the mark but he gets off strike with a leg bye off Hazlewood, who continues to chug in productively for Australia. Surely he needs a rest after this one though?
29th over: South Africa 80-4 (Amla 28, Bavuma 0)
This is a nice little scenario for Mennie, who will be more and more anxious about getting his wicket tally under way as the overs progress. Hmm, in saying that, he won’t have much luck giving Hashim Amla width outside off stump with a length ball like the one that gets punished through cover for four now. Again Mennie transgresses late in the over.
28th over: South Africa 76-4 (Amla 24, Bavuma 0)
Bavuma is the new man at the crease and he cops a beauty first up – one that cuts back in off the deck and hits him high on the pad. There’s a big appeal from the Aussies but when it’s turned down they forego a DRS review. That’s wise, I think. It looked high.
Hazlewood strikes! It nips back in to du Plessis and he plays around it, falling forward as the ball cannons into his front pad and pins him in front. The Protease skipper calls for a review but there’s no dice on that front – he’s gone!
27th over: South Africa 69-3 (Amla 17, du Plessis 7)
Joe Mennie does indeed appear now and variety is the spice of life, because he immediately sends a leg-cutter past the outside edge of Faf du Plessis. It’s a promising over from Mennie but in unfortunately similar style to much of his first spell, he undoes the good work with a ropey finish and du Plessis cashes in by clattering four through extra cover.
South Africa trail by just 16 runs after this lovely shot from Faf.
LIVE: https://t.co/QmfguPZUJH#AUSvSAhttps://t.co/tb8v6rzxc7
26th over: South Africa 65-3 (Amla 17, du Plessis 3)
Might be time for Josh Hazlewood to take a rest. He had 0-11 off nine overs heading into this over but Amla is working his way in beautifully now and swivels to send a rasping pull shot crashing into the fence. There’s two more when he clips one off his pads out to deep square leg, and it’s probably the point at which Nathan Lyon and Joe Mennie should be warming up for a trundle.
Amla and Faf being tediously sensible here. #AUSvSA
25th over: South Africa 57-3 (Amla 9, du Plessis 3)
It’s been a subtle change in momentum in the last ten minutes, or perhaps just a halt to Australia’s, but the Proteas pair has done well to stonewall the last three overs and force Starc to come around the wicket and pursue another line of attack. The sting might have gone out of the spell now.
24th over: South Africa 54-3 (Amla 9, du Plessis 1)
Bang! Amla steps forward again and drives attractively through cover to pick up a boundary off Hazlewood, and it’s the first runs of the right-arm paceman in 20 minutes or more. He won’t get the plaudits tonight but it’s been a vital spell for his country.
23rd over: South Africa 50-3 (Amla 5, du Plessis 1)
Starc’s charging in to Amla now and comes over the wicket to square him up with one that rises awkwardly off the pitch. Amla waits patiently before driving three when the bowler over-pitches, and does so with perfect balance and an effortless grace. Starc might be nearing the end of this spell and it’s changed the complexion of the afternoon.
22nd over: South Africa 47-3 (Amla 2, du Plessis 1)
Another tidy over from Hazlewood, who is keeping the pressure on at the other end as Starc does his thing. It’s a maiden. Meanwhile, this makes interesting reading.
21st over: South Africa 47-3 (Amla 2, du Plessis 1)
Faf du Plessis turns a single to leg to get off the mark and settle the nerves, but Mitchell Starc is cutting a swathe through this Proteas batting line u at the moment and is suddenly pushing his speeds into the high 140s. What did they put in his Lucozade during the break?
The collapse continues! Now JP Duminy departs, driving at the fastest ball of the game so far and sending a thick edge through to Steve Smith at second slip. Mitchell Starc looked a man out of confidence before tea but now he’s breathing fire over the South Africans!
20th over: South Africa 44-2 (Amla 1, Duminy 0)
Now Hazlewood is looking to get into the action and curves one away from Amla’s outside edge to start the over. There’s three slips in place Joe Burns has come in to square leg for the catch off the inside edge. Suddenly the Aussies are all attack and it’s a probing over from Hazlewood.
19th over: South Africa 44-2 (Amla 1, Duminy 0)
Duminy is the new man at the crease and there’s a spirited LBW shout against him from his first delivery, which is the last of the Starc over, but Aleem Dar turns it down. But there’s now two new batsmen at the crease for the Proteas and Australia have some wind in their sails for the first time today.
Starc strikes again! He’s on fire! I take back everything I said earlier! He sends one angling across Cook at the right-hander fences at it to send a featherlight edge through to Nevill behind the stumps. The Australians are going wild and whooping it up now. They’re back in the game!
Starc gets Elgar with the first ball of the session! Oh my, Mitchell Starc is back in town with a ripping yorker and the Proteas opener is on his way. That is precisely the kind of ball you don’t want to receive first up and Australia finally have their breakthrough.
Australia lose a wicket every 20.9 runs over last nine innings. #ausvsapic.twitter.com/dzioLdOjbS
Lunch Aus 6-43
Tea RSA 0-43
Hmmm.
18th over: South Africa 43-0 (Cook 23, Elgar 17)
My prayers are immediately answered as Nathan Lyon appears for his first spell of the day with tea approaching. The first couple from Lyon are innocuous but then he gets one to grip and rip to take Elgar by surprise. That spun a long way and he likes what he sees. Might Steve Smith have erred in not trying this earlier? Only with a misfield by Voges can Elgar score a single. With that out of the way, the umpires call tea and an end to another dismal session by Australia. Half their total has been overhauled and we’ve still got a full session to play.
17th over: South Africa 42-0 (Cook 23, Elgar 16)
The Channel Nine commentary team have become so dispirited they’ve started talking up Australia’s new pocket warmers, which they’re using to thaw out their hands for the catching opportunities that will presumably come when they start bowling well. For now it’s a matter of containment and building pressure, which Starc does until over-pitching his final delivery and being driven for three by Elgar. Time for some spin?
SA showing this pitch is not as bad as a lot of people think.
16th over: South Africa 39-0 (Cook 23, Elgar 13)
Mennie is approaching Cook from very wide on the crease to the right-hander and has a throaty LBW shout to start the over, but the angle and the bounce was taking it well past leg stump and Aleem Dar waves it off. This is at least something different from Mennie, but it rather limits his potential modes of dismissal. Should containment be the aim so early in this Proteas innings?
15th over: South Africa 37-0 (Cook 23, Elgar 12)
With Hazlewood taking a well-earned rest, Mitchell Starc returns now with the hope of producing something a little more threatening than his first spell, but Elgar is immediately leaning into a relaxed drive to pick up two. It’s a tidy enough over thereafter, but Starc just doesn’t look fully fit to me. He just seems a bit anaemic.
Philander's delivery to dismiss Voges in the first innings swung & deviated more than any other delivery in the innings. #AusvSA
14th over: South Africa 35-0 (Cook 23, Elgar 10)
Mennie’s coming around the wicket to Elgar now, which is more than a little puzzling given the troubles he was giving him from over the wicket and his failure to really get it through at pace. He finishes the over with another jaffa past Cook’s outside edge, but those have been few and too far between in the last half hour. We’re approaching tea on day one and the South Africans are in complete control.
Good to see the Hobart curator has flicked the switch. #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/lhKda4AFnD
13th over: South Africa 33-0 (Cook 22, Elgar 9)
Hazlewood keeps nagging away at the McGrath line and there’s a hairy moment for Elgar when he chops one into his pads, but it doesn’t quite wriggle through towards his stumps. If you can’t judge a pitch until both sides have batted on it, I think we’re now approaching the hour in which it’s time to admit that Australia have bungled this one badly.
12th over: South Africa 33-0 (Cook 22, Elgar 9)
Joe Mennie is sending them down in the 130kpmh region, but if it’s possible to bowl a “heavy ball”, then it should also be possible to bowl a light one, and the latter seems to apply in this case I’m afraid. He strays onto Cook’s pads to be turned for two, and the rest of the over is much ado about nothing.
Philander's bowling speeds for his five wickets: 127.1 km/h, 126.3 km/h, 126.1 km/h, 129.5 km/h, 129.4 km/h #AUSvSA#novelocity
11th over: South Africa 31-0 (Cook 20, Elgar 9)
Josh Hazlewood produces a beauty to Elgar but it shapes away from the left-hander too dramatically to claim an edge; 1.5 degrees doesn’t sound impressive but it was. The rest of the over is tidy enough and results in a maiden, which have been infrequent so far. IN other Australian fast bowler news, a decent option has returned to action in club cricket.
A second wicket for James Pattinson, the sure hands of Tom Donnell accepting a catch in slip. Nathan McNally out for 16. Patto has 2/13.
10th over: South Africa 31-0 (Cook 20, Elgar 9)
At the present rate of progress being made by the Proteas openers, this game will be out of Australia’s grasp by stumps tonight. Elgar punches Mennie down the ground for three and the debutant paceman screws every inch of his face into a giant frown, mirroring what the rest of his countrymen are currently experiencing on sofas around the country. Warnie is talking up the excitement Mennie must be feeling and he does almost claim an outside edge from Cook to finish the over, but at present he looks like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
9th over: South Africa 26-0 (Cook 19, Elgar 5)
There’s a big LBW shout from the penultimate delivery of this Hazlewood over as Stephen Cook is jammed up and stuck in his crease, but the bowler’s height and the length of the delivery dictated its likely path over the top of the stumps.
8th over: South Africa 26-0 (Cook 19, Elgar 5)
Oof, Mennie sends an absolute peach away from Elgar’s outside edge to start this over. He looks a genuine wicket-taker with the lefty on strike but not so much when Cook is facing him. But...this is all a bit docile at the moment. Australia jumped around like they were batting on a minefield earlier. Now it looks like a lazy afternoon on the village green.
7th over: South Africa 22-0 (Cook 19, Elgar 3)
Mennie’s introduction has also enabled Hazlewood to switch ends here, so Mitchell Starc takes a break after his uninspiring start. Unlikes his comrades, Hazlewood actually applies some pressure to the batsmen with a stump-to-stump approach to things, though he’s a little too straight with his final delivery and Cook clips two to leg.
6th over: South Africa 20-0 (Cook 17, Elgar 3)
Joe Mennie’s on for the first bowl of his Test career now, and Cook bunts him to short cover and sprints through for a quick single to start with. Mennie slips in his follow through to the second delivery of the over but it’s a decent enough ball, squaring the left-handed Elgar up from over the wicket and taking a leading edge. That’s what he’s there for I guess. He’ll take it away from the left-handers but Stephen Cook clips him for three to finish the over when he pursues the same line to the right-hander.
For the first time today, we have had 5 overs where the batsmen have been totally in control. Unfortunately, Aus have already lost 10 wkts.
5th over: South Africa 15-0 (Cook 13, Elgar 2)
Mitchell Starc is hardly setting the world on fire early in this spell and he over-pitches here to allow Cook to turn three runs through mid-wicket. Not to go all Warnie on you, but I’m not filled with confidence by Starc’s body language as he sends them down at 137kmph. He finishes with a yorker and half a shout, though I’m not sure why, because Elgar simply blocked it down the pitch at him.
4th over: South Africa 12-0 (Cook 10, Elgar 2)
There are three slips and a gully in place as Josh Hazlewood continues to Dean Elgar, in addition to a short leg for the one angled into his hip. Elgar is looking as solid in defence as he did in Perth though, and there’s nothing like the heart-in-mouth vibe of Australia’s early-innings struggles. The sun is out just a little and whatever of it is piercing the Hobart clouds is shining on the tourists.
3rd over: South Africa 12-0 (Cook 10, Elgar 2)
Kevin Pietersen is really enjoying Australia’s misfortune here, which is at least a novel variation on the banter-fest of the Nine commentary box. Personally I’d like to have his strange, high-pitched giggle as my phone ringtone. Meanwhile, Cook is clipping an over-pitching Mitchell Starc to the fence at deep square leg to pick up a boundary in what has been his brightest start of the series. The Proteas have also knocked off one-seventh of the Australian total in three overs. Laughing.
2nd over: South Africa 8-0 (Cook 6, Elgar 2)
You sense these conditions could really favour Josh Hazlewood, who pairs with Starc now, because he’ll get movement through the air and also plenty of bounce. He should aim to be slightly fuller than normal on this surface, if Philander’s happy hunting is anything to go by. He coaxes Cook half-forward and the out-of-form opener sends an edge between third slip and gully to pick up a fortunate boundary. It’s an understatement to say he needs a score here, Cook.
This is the seventh time in the past 3 years Australia have collapsed to lose all 10 wickets for less than 90. #ausvsa
1st over: South Africa 3-0 (Cook 1, Elgar 2)
OK, we’re off and away in the South African reply and Cook is straight off the mark with a single to cover. Mitchell Starc has the ball in his hand and soon goes searching for Dean Elgar’s timber with a yorker tailing in towards the left-hander, but he keeps it out. Elgar is a little less convincing pressing at a follow-up, which swings its way past the outside edge of his thrusted blade, but he gets off the mark by pushing a couple through cover.
Good on Australia for bringing some interest back into a Test that most thought would be ruined by rain. #AUSvSA
Keep calm and carry on, says KP
But he’s loving it, let’s be honest.
Let's all calm down! Judge this wicket after SA has batted please! CALM DOWN! EVERYONE!
The indignities keep piling up for Australia
That was the worst 85 since the Ashes series starring Bob Holland and Murray Bennett.
Australia's lowest Test total on home soil since 1984 (76 v WI in Perth). Another record for Steve Smith's lifetime. @FOXSportsNews
In the words of a Sheffield Shield cult hero...
Joe, are you available?
Australian cricket? WTF !!! Shambolic !! #embarassing
Australia all out for 85! Lyon c de Kock b Philander 2 (Australia out for 85)
It’s all over and it’s a superb diving catch to de Kock to finish it off. Philander claims Lyon to end up with 5-21 from his 10.1 overs of superb swing bowling. Australia’s shambolic first innings is done and dusted with only 85 on the scoreboard and they’ll return to the middle in ten minutes with their tails between their legs and the ball in Mitchell Starc’s hand. What a calamity this has been for them on day one in Hobart.
A classic catch to finish the Aussie innings #AUSvSApic.twitter.com/SyfJzVtsEQ
32nd over: Australia 85-9 (Smith 48, Lyon 2)
Lyon gets off the mark with a single and Smith takes the opportunity to slap a few quick runs, sending an ungainly pull to the fence at cow before belting back foot cover drive for a badly-run three in which Lyon is almost caught short from a relay throw. Forget commentary, this needs the Benny Hill theme tune. Lyon bunts a single to retain the strike, which doesn’t seem like a Mensa-level tactic in the context of this innings.
Hazlewood nicks off! And again Abbott does the trick, sending one across him to claim the edge before Amla falls to his right and holds a sharp chance. Smith is going to be stranded here, and it’s a truly awful batting display from Australia. They’ll be bowling an hour after lunch. Incredible scenes.
31st over: Australia 75-8 (Smith 40, Hazlewood 8)
It might also be time to look at that classic stat about the highest percentage of a team total going to one batsman, though right as I say that Hazlewood sweats on some width from Philander and cuts attractively to pick up a boundary, then crunches another off the final delivery with a crisp drive down the ground. Meanwhile, Rod Marsh and James Sutherland sit in a corporate box looking like their lunch has been poisoned.
30th over: Australia 66-8 (Smith 39, Hazlewood 0)
Geez, the Duminy catch gets better and better with each replay. He took it in one hand (his right) and it was only an inch off the ground when he snaffled it. Superb. Hazlewood sees off two deliveries to finish the Abbott over and his skipper will be imploring him to hand around as long as possible here. It’s a debacle for Australia otherwise.
What a catch! JP Duminy has dived to his right to take an absolute gem and dismiss Mitchell Starc. Wow. Off the bat it didn’t look a hope of going to hand but the Perth centurion flings himself into the air like a salmon and plucks it. A ball earlier Starc had belted a textbook cover drive to the fence but now he’s on his bike. The chaos continues in Hobart.
29th over: Australia 58-7 (Smith 36, Starc 0)
Philander is running amok today and has half a shout against Starc first up when he gets one to duck in off the pitch and thump into the Australian’s pads, but it was heading a fair way down leg. Starc sees off the rest of the over but I can’t help but ponder the likelihood of a sub-90 score here. To resort to a Guardian OBO tradition, is it cowardly to pray for rain?
Run into him again, Smith. Show some damn leadership. #AUSvSA
Philander does the trick! Poor Joe Mennie. It wasn’t meant to be his job to avoid Australian embarrassment with the bat but he was doing a decent job until Philander got one to nip back off the seam and castle him. Australia are staring down the barrel of a dismal double-figure score here.
28th over: Australia 58-6 (Smith 35, Mennie 10)
Kyle Abbott’s not sending them down at express pace – 130-132kmph – but he’s bang on target nearly every delivery and forcing Mennie to defend, which he does so with a minimalist and effective technique. There’s a big LBW shout from Abbott, for which he asks for a review after Aleem Dar refuses to raise the finger, but the Proteas strike out this time and have no more reviews left after replays reveal it was passing over the top of the stumps. Worth a go.
Wonder if Smith knows about New Balance endorsing Trump? #ausvsa
27th over: Australia 58-6 (Smith 35, Mennie 10)
As expected, Vernon Philander is straight back into the attack following his injury break. Owing to the fact it was an external injury acquired in that pre-lunch collision with Steve Smith, he’s able to bowl immediately. On the strength of his first few deliveries there’s still some pain in his shoulder and he drags one short, allowing Smith to clatters a back foot drive through cover for four, and an uncharacteristic Bavuma misfield later he gets two more. Smith is positively galloping along after lunch.
26th over: Australia 50-6 (Smith 27, Mennie 10)
Aaand we’re back. Kyle Abbott is right on the money with his first delivery, which tempts Smith forward and has him chopping an inside edge onto his pads. Smith has a the better of him a ball later, firmly planting his front foot and cracking a well-timed drive to the rope at long-off after starting well outside his crease. There follows a leading edge through cover, which runs away for two more but won’t displease the bowler. Finally Australia’s 50 comes up with a single to Smith but the cheers in the crowd are not exactly wild.
James Sutherland hits back at Graeme Smith
This just in via AAP:
Confirmed: Vernon Philander is OK
...and will be back into the attack after lunch, based on this and the fact that it was an “external” injury:
Vernon Philander is back out and bowling on the field during lunch break. Showing no obvious signs of shoulder discomfort #AUSvSA
The sad truth of the first session
...is that Australia were undone by a combination of canny bowling and self-sabotage. Joe Burns and Adam Voges were unlucky to cop jaffas, but David Warner’s crazy swipe in the first over and the Callum Ferguson run-out were entirely avoidable. The tail end can’t do any worse.
The next generation playing Kanga Cricket @BlundstoneArena during. Lunch. Might need them by Boxing Day pic.twitter.com/B9bS2jcDja
25th over: Australia 43-6 (Smith 20, Mennie 10)
And that is lunch on what has been a truly disastrous first morning for the Australians. Rabada takes the final over of the session with Mennie on strike and with those drives of the past two overs fresh in his mind, peppers the Australian with bouncers. Mennie survives the onslaught, jamming out a yorker to finish and picking up two. He’s in double figures! That, I’m sad to say, constitutes outrageous success in the context of the dismal showings of his mates. South Africa couldn’t have bowled better in that session and have a stranglehold on the contest.
24th over: Australia 41-6 (Smith 20, Mennie 8)
Maharaj races through another over to Smith, and it’s a maiden as the batsman is having to stretch forward to defend and occasionally shuffle back too, such is the variation of line and length. And like I said, Joe Mennie puns are all we’ve got now.
Genius selection. Mennie Driver. #AUSvSA
23rd over: Australia 41-6 (Smith 20, Mennie 8)
Further good news has arrived for the Proteas with confirmation there’s no serious damage to the shoulder of Vernon Philander, following on from his mid-pitch collision with Steve Smith. Joe Mennie is doing even better, and cashes in on some width from Rabada by leaning into another superb drive to pick up four through cover. He’s putting the specialist batsmen to shame in the last few overs.
Official word from SA - no structural damage for Philander. Receiving treatment to his shoulder blade but expected to return. @FOXSportsNews
22nd over: Australia 36-6 (Smith 19, Mennie 4)
This is a decent little spell by Maharaj, who gifts Smith a single five balls in, but is otherwise varying his pace and line beautifully to keep the batsman guessing. To be honest, I’m still just trying to process what we’ve seen in the last two hours. Remember when Australia were flat-track bullies at home?
21st over: Australia 35-6 (Smith 18, Mennie 4)
What a task confronting Joe Mennie now, and he starts with as correct a stroke as we’ve seen all day when he pushes forward with a determinedly straight bat and sends the ball rocketing past Rabada fro a straight boundary. The bowler finishes the over with a ripping yorker, but Mennie can handle himself with the bat and keeps it out.
Mennie rivers to cross at 6/31#ausvsa
Nevill departs! Blimey, that didn’t look out to the naked eye and it seemed justified that Aleem Dar didn’t give it, but replays reveal it was crashing into leg. I spoke far too soon on that pre-lunch wicket then. Australia’s first innings is in tatters.
The Proteas don’t seem dead keen but it’s certainly worth a go if there’s a chance of nipping out the Aussie keeper.
20th over: Australia 31-5 (Smith 18, Nevill 3)
This is an ideal scenario for Maharaj, who can settle in to his spell right while the batsman are focused on survival and that alone. Steve Smith is driving him attractively on a couple of occasions but neither results in runs. We’ll have three or four more overs until the lunch break and Australia simple cannot afford to lose another wicket.
19th over: Australia 31-5 (Smith 18, Nevill 3)
As Abbott continues, Michael Clarke’s attention turns to the need or not for substitutes in Test cricket, which Mark Nicholas isn’t buying. Peter Nevill is typically busy at the crease, twirling his bat around like a fencer as he inspects and leaves much of Abbott’s accurate over. It’s a maiden.
Australia 5/31. But the best of the batting still to come.#AusvSA
18th over: Australia 31-5 (Smith 18, Nevill 3)
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj makes his first appearance of the morning now, which perhaps wouldn’t have happened if Philander was able to return. Nevill has a decent look at Maharaj’s bowling and dabs a single.
17th over: Australia 30-5 (Smith 18, Nevill 2)
Crunch! Smith latches onto another one here, this time from Abbott. It’s full and shaping away from him and he plants the front foot before lathering it to the fence at deep extra cover. No Philander, no South Africa? Abbott is on the money for the rest of the over. With just under half an hour until lunch, there’s still something a little surreal about the madness we’ve seen this morning. Philander update: they’re icing his right shoulder but haven’t sent him off for scans or hospital treatment.
This is really beginning to remind me of Yallop's "Lambs to the Slaughter" team of 78/79. You expect a wicket every ball! #ausvsa
16th over: Australia 26-5 (Smith 14, Nevill 2)
It’s completely against the run of play this morning but Smith has some bright moments here, picking up two to the leg side off Rabada when the bowler is a little straight, then unfurling a textbook cover drive for three. In double figures now, he’s also managed more than half of Australia’s score. Nevill sees off the rest of the over without further disaster. That’s the best Australia can hope for right now. They still need 11 runs to avoid their worst ever total in a Test match. You wouldn’t put your house on it.
15th over: Australia 21-5 (Smith 9, Nevill 2)
Poor Kyle Abbott is just about bowling from both ends at the moment, and with Vernon Philander off the ground and receiving treatment, he’s officially back into the attack to take advantage of favourable conditions. He almost castles Nevill with his penultimate delivery, which nips back off the pitch and cuts the batsman in half, passing the top of middle and leg stump.
Has their ever been a stranger debut? First delivery at 4/8 with bowler on a hattrick, then run out by a sub fielder who's a keeper.
14th over: Australia 20-5 (Smith 8, Nevill 2)
Replays of the Ferguson run-out add another sub-plot when vision emerges of the batsman’s father and brother watching the nightmare unfold. His brother stands in disgust and marched off out the back of the grandstand. Oh dear. Peter Nevill, meanwhile, has Kagiso Rabada to deal with and if you were putting a positive spin on this horror story, at least the Aussie keeper has an opportunity to bat for time again and do so with a specialist batsman to help him out.
Look on the bright side....Bellerive is where Nevill made a record score...and he's in form
13th over: Australia 18-5 (Smith 8, Nevill 1)
One thing I didn’t mention amid the chaos: with Philander off, Abbott returned to bowl out the rest of his over, and it finishes with Peter Nevill tucking a single towards fine leg to get off the mark.
Come on South Africa. 5-7 please. Let's take that record of 26 off NZ #ausvsa
Ferguson is gone! This is just madness. A run out! What are they thinking? Ferguson benefits from a misfield at point but in turning for two he’s soon in trouble and a direct hit does him in at the keeper’s end. This is just lunacy from the Australians. They’re 17-5 and facing the prospect of a Cape Town 2011 level embarrassment. What the hell is going on out there? That is a genuinely awful way to get out in your first Test innings. Callum Ferguson is surely livid with himself. Further drama: it was the sub-fielder Vilas who got him! Gary Pratt, eat yer heart out! Or not. Vilas is a wicket-keeper, after all.
It was passing leg stump so Smith lives to fight another day but replays reveal the bowler got an elbow in the back in his follow-through. Smith did everything he could to get out of the way, too. Philander is now leaving the ground. Drama! The more replays you see the more you’d conclude it was more the bowler’s own fault than anything. He turned in the process of appealing and kept running backwards at pace, straight at Smith.
13th over: Australia 15-4 (Smith 7, Ferguson 2)
It’s all happening here. Sheesh. Philander thinks he’s got Smith trapped in front when the Aussie skipper moves across his stumps and then he’s collected by Smith - who sets off for a single - in the process of appealing! He’s in agony, the fast bowler.
12th over: Australia 15-4 (Smith 7, Ferguson 2)
Kyle Abbott has bowled a treat this morning but Faf du Plessis is understandably eager to bring Perth destroyer Kagiso Rabada into the attack, which he does now. Smith tucks a single around the corner five balls into the over and walks down the track to counsel his debutant team-mate. Rabada gives him an absolute gift on his pads, and Ferguson turns two runs into the deep to get going. A big relief.
11th over: Australia 12-4 (Smith 6, Ferguson 0)
Quinton de Kock is nothing if not optimistic here with a celebr-appeal when Philander jags one back and it brushes Ferguson’s hip on the way to the keeper. Nobody else in the arena thinks it’s out, not even the bowler. Ferguson really dices with danger a ball later when he leaves one that cuts back off the surface and passes over middle and leg stump. The batsman tries to angle one past fourth slip to end the over but he can’t quite get off the mark for his first Test run.
10th over: Australia 12-4 (Smith 6, Ferguson 0)
The ball is really swinging all over the place and Smith is not entirely convincing as he tries to drives towards mid-on and ends up edging between gully and the cordon to hit the rope. Abbott is only mildly displeased about that, because he’s shaping the ball beautifully right now and knows there’s wickets on offer while the conditions give him such a helping hand.
9th over: Australia 8-4 (Smith 2, Ferguson 0)
Ferguson survives another gem of a delivery from Philander, which squirts off the outside edge but low towards cover. The next nips back in off the pitch and raps Ferguson just about the roll of his pads. Welcome to Test cricket!
Biggest cheer of the day is for @calferguson12 surviving the hat trick ball. From little things big things grow.
Voges goes first ball! Vernon Philander is on a hat-trick after sending down an absolute peach to the new batsman. It squares him up slightly and shapes away, kissing the outside edge and sailing through to the keeper. Voges doesn’t even stop to look at the umpire, walking off safe in the knowledge that he’s been done in by the perfect first ball. Australia are in disarray here at Bellerive. Callum Ferguson has a nightmare first ball to face on his Test debut.
Khawaja nicks off! That one reared up at him and he fenced at it, sending a thick edge through to Amla at second slip. This is a disastrous start for Australia. They’re reeling as Adam Voges heads out to the crease to join the skipper. Khawaja laboured to 4 from 25 deliveries and tried to tough it out with the ball jagging around, but now he’s gone.
8th over: Australia 8-2 (Khawaja 4, Smith 2)
That rain delay wasn’t ideal for the Australians, as it’s given the Proteas bowlers time to stretch and regroup, probably lengthening their spells. Khawaja gets three by angling Abbott left of point towards the boundary at third man, the third coming primary due to Smith’s urgency running to the danger end. Abbott troubles Smith for the rest of the over but he survives. This is why they call it Test cricket.
7th over: Australia 5-2 (Khawaja 1, Smith 2)
To the joy of Vernon Philander, play resumes now and he’s right on the money to start with, a fraction outside off and forcing Steve Smith to play. There’s three slips and a gully and they coo in appreciation when the Aussie skipper is squared up by a shorter one that moves away off the pitch and cannons into the thigh guard on his right leg. Two balls later he’s squared up again. Batting is very tough right now. Survival is the only priority for the Australian pair.
The comparison between Blundstone and the WACA. #AUSvSA#9WWOSpic.twitter.com/WZl9BRYl3v
Play will resume in five minutes
But in the meantime, here’s a succinct analysis of David Warner’s dismissal in the first over of the Test.
Dirk Nannes on @abcgrandstand
"The ball that got Warner was a genuine pie!"
7th over: Australia 5-2 (Khawaja 1, Smith 2)
Aaaand we’re off for a bit, one ball into Vernon Philander’s fourth over, as that rain gets a little heavier. The batsmen will be rapt, you would assume. South Africa have started brilliantly with two early wickets and the Australian pair are setting about the task of stopping that momentum.
6th over: Australia 5-2 (Khawaja 1, Smith 2)
Geez, South Africa really need to get a short leg in place for Khawaja, who continues to prod inside edges into that area. With that, Temba Bavuma calls for his helmet and box. There’s three slips and a gully in place with Abbott bowling, and light drizzle slants across the ground now. Khawaja survives the rest of the over but doesn’t look entirely comfortable at the moment.
Mitch Marsh 'not cooked' and won't be dropped by Australia, says Mark Waugh https://t.co/X5tCLvQeeJ
5th over: Australia 4-2 (Khawaja 1, Smith 1)
For all the joy of watching him in full flight, Usman Khawaja does have a troublesome penchant for leaving balls that look capable of castling him, and sometimes do. At the start of this Philander over he lets ones pass his off stump and it does so by no more than a single coating of linseed oil. The Philander over is another maiden and also raises the possibility of bringing in a short leg to Khawaja after he jams down on one and gets an under-side edge into that region. Nervous times for the batsmen.
4th over: Australia 4-2 (Khawaja 1, Smith 1)
As Steve Smith gets off the mark with a single, reader Phil Withall is choking on his cornflakes. “That was an incredibly lazy shot from Warner,” he says. “It’s that type of shot you might play having batted all day, not in the first over and yet Shane is defending, nay justifying it. Strange times.”
Australia just another Bellerive Oval 449 run partnership from a decent total here. #AUSvSA
3rd over: Australia 2-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 0)
Hmm, replays show the Burns LBW did cut back a long way off the pitch but Burns was happy not to call on DRS. Philander bowls a maiden here and there’s plenty of oohing and ahhing from the Proteas, who know they create utter mayhem in the next half hour unless these two settle. Australia’s batsmen are bringing to mind the old Jimmy Breslin book title: Can’t anybody here play this game?
2nd over: Australia 2-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 0)
That wicket was the end of the Kyle Abbott over. Australia, it’s safe to say, have started as badly as they finished in Perth. Callum Ferguson is batting at six in his debut but he better get his pads on.
Burns goes as well! Now Kyle Abbott gets into the action, pinning the Queensland in front when he’s neither forward nor back, and can’t get his pat in the way of a full one that is shaping away from the right-hander and then jagging back in off the pitch. There’s two noises but Burns doesn’t bother with a review because he knows it’s case of the ball clipping both his pads. He basically got out twice. Chaos for the Aussies in the first two overs.
Warner departs! That’s a disastrous start for Australia as the in-form opener chases a wide out-swinger and nicks off to the keeper. Oh dear. He and Burns were both off the mark with singles and Philander was struggling to maintain his line with the left-hand-right-hand combo in place, but he’s got the breakthrough! Replays confirm it was a real slash from Warner. Just as often those come off for him and crash into the fence on the off side, but he’s flirted with danger early and come off second best.
The covers are off
...and we’ll get under way on time. The Australian anthem was really something.
When the anthem singer finishes by plugging his Soundcloud. #AusvRSApic.twitter.com/wdTT2rp482
Hmm, maybe scrap what I’ve just said
The players are out for the anthems but the ground staff look to be preparing for rain, as the covers are back out. Related: there are no meteorologists in the building, clearly.
Covers off, covers on. Just the hessian at this stage. Lights are on too. 10 minutes to start.
The conditions today
Personally, I reckon this was a pretty good toss to lose, as Steve Smith did. There’s cloud cover for now and the standard greenish tinge to the Hobart pitch, but if sunshine breaks through the conditions for batting could improve dramatically. Rain is not an imminent threat at the moment, with the darkness the main problem. The Blundstone Arena lights are on, in fact.
Australia have only lost two of their last 20 Tests when they have batted first. #AusvSA
Preamble
Hello all and welcome to the second Test in Hobart, coming to you live all day. I was going to hit you with a lot of waffle on the weather and the need for the Australians to bounce back in what promises to be a rain-affected Test, but there’s too much going on.
Russell will be here shortly, but in the interim here’s his very lovely feature on the wonderful Jim Maxwell.
Related: 'It feels very strange': ABC cricket doyen Jim Maxwell on his summer absence
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