The rush of wickets that led to this innings defeat is a sign of bigger problems with Australia’s ageing and patched-up batting order.
Pat Cummins admitted his team were uncompetitive in the humiliating innings defeat to South Africa, adding that selectors will consider the positions of several players for the decider.
How Australia rated in their innings and 31-run humiliation by South Africa in Gqeberha.
The series will head to the third and final Test in Cape Town next week level at 1-1 after South Africa’s victory in the final session.
Marnus Labuschagne’s Test career is again hanging by the slimmest of threads after he was out twice in a single humiliating day for Australia.
This was arguably Australia’s worst single day of Test cricket under Pat Cummins, bad enough to flip the series from one the tourists held in their hands to a contest now wide open.
South African fast bowling great Vernon Philander described Australia’s first-innings capitulation in the second Test as “gutless” on a horror fourth day in Gqeberha.
Mitchell Starc says Josh Hazlewood’s stomach bug left the Australians pining for another bowler at times, and addressed Nathan Lyon’s omission.
Temba Bavuma stopped Australia in their pace-bowling tracks with a masterful innings that has ensured the series will still be alive when the teams travel to Cape Town.
Maddinson’s wicket came in the toughest circumstances to bat in with fading light, but will again raise questions about his spot in the team for next week’s third Test.
