South Africa made some bold moves right from their team selection to a surprise declaration late in the day, but honours remained split at the end of an intriguing day’s play at the Adelaide Oval.
Generating lateral movement from the surface with the pink ball, Australia’s Josh Hazlewood created havoc by picking up a four-wicket haul. Faf du Plessis kept his name in the headlines, albeit for different reasons today, as he made a fighting hundred before declaring the innings at 259/9 to let Philander and co. have a go at the Australians under lights.
Trending
However, debutant Renshaw and Khawaja – who opened in place of Warne – who couldn't walk out to open due to a strain in the shoulder while fielding, negotiated 12 tricky overs for 14 runs.
Australia handed a debut to three of their batsmen, Renshaw, Maddinson and Handscomb while South Africa had a debutant of their own in Shamsi, a wrist spinner. Wrist spinners are believed to be hard to read with the pink ball, a decision that handed Shamsi a debut ahead of the impressive Maharaj.
However, it was Hazlewood and Faf du Plessis who stole the limelight on the 1st day of the 3rd Test at Adelaide. Here are the talking points from the day.
#5 Hazlewood shines with the ball
Hazlewood was clearly the best bowler on show on Day 1, generating lateral movement and swing to trouble the South African top order. He had bowled equally well against the Kiwis with the pink ball in the inaugural day-night Test, taking a six-for. Today he had to settle for four.
His impressive lines got rid of Hashim Amla, who has been struggling right through the series against Hazlewood. His subtle movement caught Amla off guard and he edged to the slips. He followed that up with the wicket of the dangerous Duminy, who also edged behind an inswinger from the tall fast bowler.
Possibly the biggest breakthroughs by him came in the session post tea, when he had de Kock caught behind. The wicketkeeper had troubled Australia right through the series with his counter-attacking batting.
#4 Faf Du Plessis steals the show
The South African captain generated huge controversy before the game, and he looked to be determined to make up for the negative press on Day 1. He was greeted by boos from the crowd but after 5 overs it was clear that he looked the most comfortable of the South African batsmen of the day.
He put the boos behind him and got into his groove, punishing the Aussie bowlers whenever there was width. His cover driving in the innings was impeccable and a couple of fours off Bird and Hazlewood in his 90s stamped his class and furthered his reputation at Adelaide, where he made an unforgettable debut in 2012.
The captain led from the front, anchoring South Africa to a good total on a difficult pitch with his sixth century in Test match cricket. The same crowd who booed him stood up to applaud a special knock, that is sure to make headlines tomorrow.
#3 The bold declaration
If du Plessis had surprised the Aussies with his temperament in the wake of booing and controversy, they were in for more surprises. With 9 wickets down and 259 on the board, the South African captain, who was forming a fine partnership with no.11, Shamsi, decided to declare the innings.
The move was to give his fast bowlers a go at the Aussie openers under lights with the new pink ball, the time when it is expected to swing the most. The Australians were least prepared too as they did not even have Warner on the field for enough time to let him open. They were forced to open with Khawaja and Renshaw, both of whom ensured the Proteas’ plan did not work.
Though the ploy from the South African captain did not reap rewards, it was a bold move and a one so un-South African like. Never before had a South African team come Down Under with such confidence and made such brave moves. Despite the failure of the plan, it remains the right move under the given circumstances.
#2 Khawaja and Renshaw hold Australia together
If 12 overs under lights against Philander, Rabada and Abbott with the pink ball, is not threatening enough, Australia also had to contend with sending out Khawaja ahead of Warner to open. The lefties negotiated the Proteas pacers extremely well, despite them being right on the money.
Renshaw may have taken 19 balls to get off the mark, but he showed fight to survive at the crease, something that was missing in this line-up in the first two Tests. Khawaja, taking a leaf out of the debutant, buckled up too and tightened his defences to prevent a wicket fall.
The duo negotiates 12 tricky overs, including some good ones from the chinaman spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi. Khawaja remained unbeaten on 3 off 39 balls and Renshaw on 8 off 34 balls.
#1 Pink ball surprises under lights
All the pre-match talk revolved around du Plessis’ controversial ball tampering, but it was just the third Test to be played with the pink ball, a notorious ball under lights. However, contrary to wide belief, the ball held its own pretty well, not generating extra zip or swing as seen in the first ever day-night game between Australia and New Zealand.
When the South Africa declared, du Plessis would have been hoping for the pink ball to misbehave under lights. But none of that happened as the ball swung around, as a new ball should, but never did too much. Philander, Abbott and Rabada toiled to no effect with the new ball.
When Nathan Lyon and Shamsi bowled, the ball turned and even dipped well, to establish that in no way is the pink ball unfriendly to the spinners. In fact, Shamsi and Lyon might come into the picture even more on the 3rd, 4th and 5th days of the Test.
Looking for fast live cricket scores? Download CricRocket and get fast score updates, top-notch commentary in-depth match stats & much more! 🚀☄️
