South Africa vs Australia 2018: 4th Test, Day 2, Talking points

#2 The ‘new’ Australian top order crumbles

Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns have opened for Queensland together but they couldn't handle the Proteas pace attack as they fell cheaply

With David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith banned, three of the top-order batsmen were playing their first Test in South Africa. Even though all three of them (Matt Renshaw, Joe Burns and Peter Handscomb) were a part of the Australian Test team during some part of the last three years, this was going to be a totally different ball game.

A new opening pair (Matt Renshaw & Joe Burns) for Australia in Tests. The last time Aussie had two right handed opening pair - Michael Slater & Greg Blewett at Wellington in March 2000 - 18 years ago spanning 207 Tests!Since then Australia have used 27 opening pairs 😱#SAvAus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 31, 2018

Against the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, and Morne Morkel, it was going to be a tough ask for these (relatively) new-comers. Joe Burns (4) was the first to depart as the No. 1 ranked Test bowler nicked him off to second slip.

Philander who has been relatively quiet in this series picked up two wickets in two overs. He first dismissed Renshaw for 8 as the latter chased a wide delivery and nicked it to de Kock. Handscomb then chopped on as indecision led to an inside-edge shattering his stumps. His return to Test cricket was a poor one as he was dismissed for a golden duck.

With these three new-comers gone, Australia were reeling at 38/3.