Australia vs South Africa LIVE: Second Test cricket series match starts in Gqeberha at 7pm local time; scores, results, line-ups

Eight years after Sandpapergate, reverse swing is again playing a “crucial” role in Australia’s Test series in South Africa, with old-ball movement a key to both Josh Hazlewood’s outstanding first Test and the looming recall of Kagiso Rabada.

After what has felt like years of green, seaming surfaces, Hazlewood spoke openly on Friday of the importance of generating reverse swing this series, with all matches being played on traditional cricket grounds with wicket squares that can scuff the ball.

There’s no question about the legality of the methods being used this time to achieve it.

Hazlewood’s 6-49 was punctuated by several moments of sharp movement once the ball had lost its shine, including David Bedingham’s lbw dismissal and Wiaan Mulder’s leg glance into Alex Carey’s gloves. According to CricViz, it was the most old-ball movement Hazlewood had achieved in a Test match since the corresponding Durban Test in 2018.

READ BRETTIG’S PRE-MATCH REPORT HERE