South Africa vs Australia 2018: 4th Test, Day 5, Talking points

At 88/3, there was very little hope for Australia. They had a very small chance of salvaging a draw but that hope was still alive as Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb had done it before. However, all that hope was squashed as Vernon Philander took 6 wickets in less than an hour in the first session and demolished Australia.

Australia were bowled out for just 119 as they didn’t even last one session on this final day. South Africa clinched the series 3-1.

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#5 Morne Morkel gets a Guard of Honour and then leads the team off the field

Morne Morkel had surprised a lot of people when he announced his retirement just before the Test series against Australia started. He is just 33 years old, but the injuries have taken a toll and family responsibilities have grown.

Hence, the tall pacer decided to hang up his boots after the fourth Test against Australia. In this Test, Morkel suffered a side strain in the first innings and it put a doubt whether he will further bowl (and take part) in his farewell Test match. However, he came back and bowled a terrific spell yesterday in the third session.

And this morning when the South Africans walked out on the field, they gave Morne a deserving Guard of Honour. The entire Australian dressing room was also up on its feet applauding. The tall pacer sported a big smile as well.

After South Africa wrapped things up, Morne Morkel led the team off the park. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and he was understandably emotional as he walked off for one final time in his career. It was a very emotional moment for him and he went out on a high.

#4 Disastrous start for Australia

Shaun Marsh was dismissed on the first ball of the day.

Resuming at 88/3, Australia needed their two overnight batsmen to show some fight and take this game long if they were to have any chances of salvaging a draw. Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb had done it in the past. They had helped Australia draw a game in Ranchi last year against India batting valiantly.

However, it was a disastrous start for the Aussies as Vernon Philander got rid of Shaun Marsh on the first ball of the day. Marsh got an inside-edge while he tried to defend and the ball lobbed up to gully. Marsh departed for a 20-ball 7. On the fourth delivery of the day, Mitchell Marsh followed his brother as he nicked off. He fell for a three-ball duck. And it was certainly not the start Australia hoped for on the final day of the Test match.

#3 Vernon Philander runs through the Aussies

Vernon Philander was superb as he was impeccable with his line and length.

Vernon Philander had a terrific start to 2018. He took 15 wickets in the series against India and won the Man of the Series award. However, he was a little under-par in this series. In the first three Tests, he played the holding role and picked up 7 wickets in those 3 games.

However, the Philander came back strongly in this Test. He showed his class. After taking 3/30 in the first innings, he started well very well in the second innings with figures of 5-2-9-0 yesterday. He was unfortunate not to take a wicket. But he completely turned things around as he ran through the Aussie batting line-up.

He dismissed Shaun Marsh on the first ball of the day and then got rid of Mitchell Marsh in the same over. He then dismissed Handscomb and Tim Paine before taking two wickets in two balls (Pat Cummins and Chadd Sayers) to pick up 6 wickets inside the first hour. His figures of 6/21 were his career-best.

#2 Darren Lehmann’s tenure ends on a sour note

This was Darren Lehmann's last Test as head coach.

Darren Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur as Australia’s coach and things started to change for the Aussies. They won the Ashes 5-0 at home and then went onto to lift the World Cup in 2015. Despite losing the Ashes in 2015 in England, Australia continued to do well under Lehmann. They won their second consecutive Ashes at home earlier this year when they beat England 4-0.

Everything was going well before the ball-tampering saga unfolded in Cape Town. Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using a sandpaper on the ball, Steve Smith and David Warner stepped down from their captaincy roles before they were banned by Cricket Australia. Even after CA and Smith denied Lehman’s role in the ‘planned’ ball-tampering, the Australian coach decided to step down after the fourth Test of this series.

However, it was not a fitting end to his tenure after all the controversies, Australia couldn’t stand up and fight in the final Test as they lost by 492 runs. Hence, it ended his tenure on a wrong (sour) note.

#1 South Africa end 25-year wait with a 3-1 series win in a controversy-marred series

South Africa came back superbly after being 1-0 down in the series.

Ever since their readmission, South Africa had never beaten South Africa in a Test series at home. Their best effort came when they drew 1-1 in 2011.

Also, with Australia in form and South Africa high on confidence after a 2-1 series win against India, this was tipped to be one of the best series’ of 2018. Australia started off superbly with a thumping 118-run victory in the first Test in Durban. However, South Africa came back strongly to level the series in Port Elizabeth as they won by 6 wickets. The hosts then romped home with victories in the third and fourth Test to win the series. It was their first ever Test series win against Australia since readmission.

However, despite witnessing riveting test matches, there were controversies. First, David Warner and Quinton de Kock were involved in a verbal duel while Kagiso Rabada was banned for his shoulder contact with Steve Smith. But everything broke loose in the third Test when Cameron Bancroft was caught tampering the ball with a sandpaper. Steve Smith and David Warner were also involved in the plan which led to the trio getting banned by Cricket Australia.

Hence, this was a series marred by controversies and the riveting cricket that was played throughout the 4 Test matches was overshadowed. Nonetheless, it is a fine moment for South Africa as a cricketing nation as they ended a 25-year wait.