South Africa vs Australia 2018: 3rd Test, day 4, 5 things we learnt

Australia turned un-Australia in every possible way on a bizarre day's play at Newlands as they ended up losing the fourth Test in a downright deplorable manner. Spurred on by some lower middle-order fireworks, South Africa took their lead to 430 before Australia, courtesy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, put on a half-century stand to evoke hopes of a silent Aussie fightback.

That did not materialise as the visitors collapsed from 57/0 to 59/4 which soon turned into 86/7 and 107 all out. Morne Morkel was the wrecker in chief, snapping up a five-wicket haul to reduce Australia to tatters in their worst day on a cricket field probably since the inception of the game.

#5 Tim Paine skippers as Smith, Warner go silent

Paine has had a busy few months

From a surprise call-up to the Ashes Test squad to captaining Australia in one of the most fiercely contested series, Tim Paine's career has come a full circle in less than six months.

In the aftermath of the sandpapergate, Cricket Australia decided to ask Steven Smith and David Warner to step down from their respective positions as captain and vice-captain.

"Following discussions with Steve Smith and David Warner they have agreed to stand down as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for the remainder of this Test match," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland commented. "This Test match needs to proceed, and in the interim, we will continue to investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands."

"As I said earlier today, Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion, these standards have not been met. All Australians, like us, want answers and we will keep you updated on our findings, as a matter of priority."

The first session of play saw a rather flat Australian team with some of their most vocal players going mute. Tim Paine, though, would sit down with his grandchildren years later and recount this Test match where bizarre circumstances saw him emerge as a frontrunner to lead the side.

#4 de Villiers, de Kock pile on the agony

de Kock compiled a much-needed half-century

With Australia's energy levels at an unprecedented low, AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock went about taunting them in a partnership that took South Africa's lead sky high. The two swashbuckling batsmen contained their strokeplay and focussed on building a strong stand as Australian bowlers ran in without purpose.

Hazlewood broke the 68 run stand by sending de Villiers back but there was hardly any celebration from the dejected Aussie camp. Quinton de Kock followed after a half-century stand with Philander, falling to Pat Cummins, and yet again muted celebrations followed. By then, South Africa had gotten their lead close to 400.

#3 Nathan Lyon scalps no.300

Amidst all the gloom, Australia had something to cheer about

Only two days after Morne Morkel made headlines with his 300th Test scalp, Nathan Lyon achieved the same feat but under completely different conditions. Despite boasting a rather celebrated career, Lyon could not have had a worse day to reach the landmark, as most of the Aussies were sunk in gloom.

The off-spinner had Kagiso Rabada stumped to complete the feat, and is the sixth Australian to the landmark, aside from being the fifth off-spinner to achieve the tally. He led the players off the field at lunch but that's probably the most he would celebrate.

#2 Keshav Maharaj turns it on the Aussies

Maharaj picked up two in two

With pace and reverse swing hogging the headlines, Keshav Maharaj turned up on day 4 and stamped his presence with two wickets in two balls to seal Australia's fate.

The left-arm spinner came in after Australia had lost Cameron Bancroft to a splendid piece of fielding from Faf du Plessis and David Warner nicked Kagiso Rabada to AB de Villiers. He prised out Usman Khawaja, who has been woeful this series, with a sharply turning ball and then proceeded to remove Shaun Marsh next ball to pile on the agony. From 57/0, Australia collapsed to 59/4, further damaging their reputation on a day it all came apart.

#1 Steven Smith fishes after Sandpapergate

Smith fell to Morkel in

similar

fashion

Steven Smith's turmoils compounded as he was banned from the final Test of the series following the sandpapergate-saga. He also nicked Morne Morkel off to gully in a similar fashion to his first innings dismissal.

The Australian skipper has had a horrendous tour as captain and with the bat. His woes against left-arm spin were well exposed by Keshav Maharaj and in this Test, Morne Morkel, on his last legs, exposed yet another chink in Smith's armoury.

The no.4 batsman couldn't ride the bounce and nicked to gully on both occasions. His tour has gone downhill and he will not be present when Australia take the field in the next Test to try and level the series.