Australia vs South Africa second Test player ratings: From a determined Scott Boland and Travis Head’s century to a shocker for captain Pat Cummins
Gqeberha: How did Australia’s cricketers fare individually in one of the worst defeats of Pat Cummins’ time as captain of the national team?
Scott Boland – 9
Stood up with the ball to pluck another five wickets on his return to the side, then performed sterling service after being asked to play the role of nightwatchman in both innings. Continues to make the most of his opportunities in Test cricket with humility and quiet determination to succeed.
Travis Head – 8
Well beaten by Marco Jansen in the first innings, Head responded by compiling his first overseas Test hundred in the second to give the Australians a chance of survival. Still scored at his customary good rate, but also showed considerable steel to absorb 190 balls – in many ways it was the kind of innings he had often been asked to play for a struggling South Australia but less so the Test team. Will keep opening.
Mitchell Starc – 5
Bowled presentably after struggling on day one with damp footholds and went past 450 wickets in Tests, the most by a left-arm quick. Could have offered a little more with the bat in each innings.
Steve Smith – 4
A difficult game for Smith on account of a neck problem that severely restricted him in the first innings and then dropped him to number seven in the order in the second. Will be annoyed at himself for skying a pull shot against Kagiso Rabada with the second new ball. Passed 11,000 Test runs, the third Australian after Allan Border and Ricky Ponting.
Alex Carey – 4
Four catches in South Africa’s innings were somewhat overshadowed by a very poor shot to be out second ball amid the first innings collapse. Played better in the second innings but was unable to guide the tail to safety.
Marnus Labuschagne – 3
Australia’s selectors have a decision to make after Labuschagne flattered to deceive yet again. Victim of an excellent slips catch in the first innings, he had made it once more into the 30s when he unwisely tried to beat a strong wind and the tallest man on the field Marco Jansen when lofting Harmer down the ground. It can’t keep happening.
Matt Renshaw – 3
Fell back to earth after his Durban heroics with a pair of low scores under sustained pressure from the Proteas pacemen. Took a blinder of a catch at slip to claim a wicket for Boland. May well find himself back opening in the third Test.
Beau Webster – 3
Appears to have run his race as a Test cricketer after a couple of useful years. This is the fourth game in a row in which Webster has not been able to make a significant mark, and he looked decidedly vulnerable outside off stump in both innings. Bowled tidily but without the wicket threat of his opposite number Wiaan Mulder.
Josh Hazlewood – 3
Affected severely by a stomach illness that he picked up ahead of day two. Came back to bowl but was not a major factor and will want to build up his strength for Newlands.
Pat Cummins – 2
One of his worst games as captain and also one of the poorest individual Tests of his playing career. Was comfortably beaten in his one-on-one battle with Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, who fought his way to 179 and feasted on Cummins’ short stuff. After batting well in Durban, did not last long in either innings here. Has a bit to think about for Newlands.
Nic Maddinson – 1
Unable to resist Rabada in either innings, and on both occasions out edging new ball deliveries that he would have been better off letting go. Apart from a cavalier 48 in the second innings in Durban, Maddinson has looked off the pace, although it was the toughest of commissions to face Rabada under floodlights on night three.
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Daniel Brettig is The Age’s chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via X.
