Day 1 of the WTC final between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s had its share of ebbs and flows. On occasions, South Africa seemed to be ahead in the contest. Australia then fought back with the duo of Beau Webster and Steven Smith notching up fifties. Although Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen ran through the middle and lower order, Australia’s pace bowlers ensured that they would take the day’s honours by ripping through the cream of South Africa’s batting unit. Here at RevSportz, we list out the highlights from the day’s play.
Kagiso Rabada – Cometh the hour, cometh the man
The fast bowler once again made an impact in the longest format when his team needed him the most. He blended wobble-seam deliveries with some good pace and control to send both Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green back to the hut. Khawaja was also done in by a delivery that bounced a little extra, while Rabada angled one in from mid crease and got it to leave Green on a full length to force the edge. Some sharp catching in the slip cordon also helped his cause.
At 192/5, just when it seemed as if Australia were running away with the game, he ran through the batting order, removing Pat Cummins, Webster and Mitchell Starc to provide the finishing touches to the innings. In the process of plucking yet another five-for, he went past the legendary Allan Donald to become South Africa’s fourth highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.
South Africa and their DRS woes
The umpire’s call might just haunt Temba Bavuma and co. right through the night. Initially, in the 22nd over, Jansen got one to jag one back from round the wicket and rapped Steve Smith on the pads. The loud appeal was turned down. South Africa then opted for the review. Unfortunately for South Africa, the ball was just clipping the leg-stump and the decision stayed on the basis of the umpire’s call.
Worse was to come for South Africa. In the 28th over, Webster was hit on the pads. This time around, it felt as if the batter was in some trouble, but the umpire yet again declined to answer the appeal in the affirmative. When South Africa opted for the review, it showed that the impact was an umpire’s call. The little bit of shuffle across the stumps and the stride helped Webster to sow the seeds of doubt in the mind of the umpire.
In the very next over, Rabada’s vociferous appeal for an LBW was turned down. To the naked eye, Webster looked dead in front of the stumps. Replays too confirmed the same. Unfortunately for South Africa, Bavuma didn’t ask for the review. It didn’t stop there as a while later South Africa decided to trust their instincts and went for the review for an LBW. However, Webster had clearly got some bat on it and the Proteas ended up losing one of their reviews.
The rescue act
At 67 for 4, Australia were clearly in a spot of bother. The South African pace bowlers were employing the wobble seam to good effect, alongside using the slope at the Pavilion End to their advantage. Smith and Webster, however, shared an alliance of 79 to resurrect the innings. The approach of the duo also was the right one as they looked to play with some intent.
In that respect, the pair scoring at a run rate of over 4 runs per over ensured that the pressure was back on the opposition. Smith scored at a strike rate of nearly 60 while Webster accumulated his runs at a strike rate of almost 80. Smith’s shot-making also was supplemented by his double trigger movement, which in turn nullified the threat of the away-going delivery.
The Australian pace trio’s mastery of the wobble
In the final session, the famed troika of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins also put on a masterclass in wobble-seam bowling, supplemented by exemplary control and bounce. Mitchell Starc was perhaps the best of the lot as he employed the 3/4 seam ball and swing to tease and tempt Aiden Markram and Rilee Rossouw to their respective downfalls. Cummins accounted for Wiaan Mulder’s wicket while Hazlewood sent Tristan Stubbs trdging back the pavilion with his own version of the wobble-seam delivery.
Were the South African batters too defensive?
It is a foregone conclusion that the unpredictability factor of the wobble delivery makes it tougher for the batters to defend for long. If the wobble seam is aided by moisture or grass, it makes the job of the batters even tougher. At Lord’s, with natural variation from the Pavilion End also coming into play, it was always going to be an uphill task for the inexperienced South African batting unit. Maybe, just maybe, they could have tried to play with freedom in order to upset the Australian troika’s rhythm.
Instead, South Africa aggregated just 43 runs off 23 overs; Eight of those runs came off the last two deliveries of the day. In fact, at one point, Bavuma was on zero of 30 deliveries, while Mulder had just a solitary run on the board after facing 35 deliveries.
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