Australia vs South Africa: Here are five talking points from Perth Test

Australia vs South Africa: Here are five talking points from the Perth Test where the Proteas defeated the host by 177 runs

Kagiso Rabada spearheaded South Africa registered a historic victory at Perth beating Australia by 177 runs. This victory is significance for the Proteas as they have won the match without any tangible service of veteran seamer Dale Steyn and captain AB de Villiers. Dale Steyn on the second day morning suffered a shoulder injury, as a result, he was ruled out for the remaining series. South Africa came to play this three-match series following a 5-0 ODI series victory against Australia at home. So, banking on the positive attitude they defeated the host on a wearing Perth pitch. Now South Africa took a 1-0 lead over the host.

The next two matches will be played in Hobart and Adelaide. It seems that South Africa found the old resilience in the young and talented bunch of players. Last year South Africa lost their No. 1 Mess to India when the Subcontinent country defeated them by a 3-0 margin and later in December they lost to visiting England side. So, this victory at Perth has a lot of significance to South African cricket. At the same time Australia, coming back from a 5-0 ODI series defeat and 3-0 overseas Test series defeat, lost the first Test at home that raised questions about Australia’s current bunch of Test players.

Here are five talking points of the match:    

Kagiso Rabada’s fifer: 

South Africa’s 21-year fast bowler has become a big name in international cricket. He made his Test debut in November 2015 against India. Over the year he has become a deadly fast bowler. He is now ready to fill the void of Dale Steyn. In the Perth ODI when Dale Steyn received another shoulder injury within one year and ruled out from the series, Rabada took over the responsibility and produced a lively spell in the second innings of the match which decimated Australian batting line up. Rabada, who took two wickets in the first innings, tormented the Australian top order. He was adjudged the man of the match award. Rabada, now, has four fifers in nine Test matches. (Australia vs South Africa: Here are 10 interesting facts about South Africa’s latest debutante Keshav Maharaj)

David Warner’s slackness: 

Australian opener David Warner in the first innings of the match scored a quick fire half century but missed the hundred by three runs. He played a lazy shot against Dale Steyn outside off stump delivery which nicked his bat and went to the slip cordon where vigil Hashim Amla grabbed a superb catch. Warner and his opening partner Shaun Marsh gave Australia built a 158 runs partnership, but Warner’s dismissal opened the gate as a result Australia suffered big collapse. All 10 wickets have gone for only 86 runs. (Australia vs South Africa: South Africa beat Australia by 177 runs in the first Test)

In the second innings, Warner scored 35 off 33 balls and was looking solid to score a big innings. Everything was alright, but at the 13th over of the match, Warner placing the ball towards off side tried to steal a single, but Bavuma grabbed it and acrobatically threw the ball to the no striking end. Warner failed to reach the safe mark before Bevuma’s absolute ripper hit the stumps. Warner was a bit sluggish which cost his superb innings. Warner, who is in good form, again threw his wicket which triggered another small collapse.

Dean Elgar and JP Duminy’s partnership: 

South Africa in the first innings of the match were bowled out for mere 242. In the second they need to post a big total to win the match. But opener Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla lost their wickets quickly. However, Dean Elgar and JP Duminy built a 250 runs partnership which helped South Africa to recover from their early setback. Both Dean Elgar and JP Duminy scored hundred. Elgar, who was dismissed for 12 in the first innings, scored his fourth career hundred-127 and JP Duminy, who was trying to get into the groove, scored 141. Their partnership helped South Africa to set the tone. But stand-in captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bevuma failed to stay long at the crease. Wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and allrounder Vernon Philander scored respective half centuries and built a 116 runs partnership which helped South Africa to set 539 runs target for the hosts who were bowled for 361.

Australia’s batting woes continues: 

Following a Test series defeat to the Sri Lanka; host Australia yet to fix their batting failures. Only opening pair David Warner and Shaun Marsh showed resistance during the first Test at Perth. Captain Steve Smith in the first innings of the match trapped lbw by debutant spinner, Keshav Maharaj, while playing a hilarious shot and in the second innings missed the length and line of Rabada’s outside off stump delivery. Veteran Adam Voges following a great run, now not among the runs. Since the Sri Lanka series, he has not scored a half-century. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh is also out of form while wicketkeeper Peter Nevill showed a little resistance, but his effort was not enough to cover Australia’s batting woes. Before the Hobart, Australia must fix their problem if they want to avoid another series loss.

Dale Steyn’s shoulder injury: 

The South Africa bowling spearhead is not getting rid of his disturbing shoulder. In last December he suffered a shoulder injury and went through a surgery. So this time again following an ODI series he suffered another shoulder injury on the second day morning of Perth Test. He got the wicket of David Warner, but a nasty shoulder injury ruled him out for the remaining series. South Africa won the match, but this veteran bowler, who has 416 wickets to his name, has become a talking point during the series. It was thought that his injury may cost South Africa heavily, but young pacer Kagiso Rabada filled his shoes. Now we have to see how much time Steyn takes to recover from this injury layoff.