Source :- THE AGE NEWS
There is some rain around St George’s Park this morning and the covers are still on pitch.
Daniel Brettig has told us that play is delayed. We will see how long it takes to start play, but each minute helps Australia’s chances of forcing a draw.
Gqeberha: 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, as coach Andrew McDonald admitted speaking “on repeat” about the No.3’s failure to make big scores.
In perhaps the most maddening of all the 13 wickets to fall on day four at St George’s Park, Labuschagne had got to 39 when he tried to loft spinner Simon Harmer against a strong wind, only to watch the ball hold up nicely for Marco Jansen to claim the catch.
It’s now well over three years since Labuschagne’s last Test hundred, and his ninth score between 13 and 48 in the past 14 innings. In parallel, Cameron Green (abdominal strain) and Josh Inglis (broken finger) will both be fit to play in the third Test in Cape Town, while Cooper Connolly and Sam Harper are also available.
“There’s probably some shots that players need to take back,” McDonald said. “He did a lot of hard work once again, and I think it feels like I’m on repeat around the amount of 30s that he has got, and you would say that’s been a danger period for him.
Steve Smith struggled with a neck issue on day four and didn’t bat in his usual position but veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood expects Smith will take the field today.
Hazlewood didn’t confirm where Smith would bat, but that he was fit and ready to go as Australia try to save the match.
“He’s the best in the world, so we will need him,” Hazlewood told Kayo Sports.
“It’s too hard to tell [where he will bat], but if he is not next in, then it will be the one after.
“We will see him.”
Rain around in Gqeberha this morning. It’s windy and cool at the ground.
Play is due to start at 6.45pm (AEDT).
Gqeberha: Travis Head led with 87 not out as Australia finished day four at 4-156 in their second innings in the second Test against South Africa, still trailing by 170 runs.
Head hit nine fours and faced 138 deliveries, with Scott Boland (two not out) also on nightwatchman duty.
South Africa enforced the follow-on after Marco Jansen took 5-33 in Australia’s first innings. The visitors were bowled out for 99 runs, conceding a lead of 326 runs in reply to the Proteas’ 9-425 declared. Skipper Temba Bavuma had led South Africa’s revival with a career-best 179.
It was the fourth-lowest innings’ total for Australia, and the third-highest lead conceded in Tests against South Africa.
Here are the adjusted session times in AEDT for day five:
1st session: 6.45pm to 9pm
2nd session: 9.40pm to 11.55pm
3rd session: 12.15am to 2.15am
AccuWeather says weather conditions today should be similar to day four, although there is a 3 per cent chance of rain between 9am and midday in Gqeberha.
Otherwise, it should be partly sunny with a top of 20 and wind gusts becoming stronger as the day goes on.
G’day everyone and welcome to our live blog for day five of the second Test between Australia and South Africa.
I’m Roy Ward, and I’ll be taking you through all the major moments as Australia try to bat out the day and avoid a loss while South Africa need six more wickets to win the match, or potentially face a short run chase. Or will Australia stubbornly survive for a draw?
Daniel Brettig will be sharing his views from the stadium in Gqeberha.
Play starts at 6.45pm (AEDT). Enjoy the hours ahead.
