Australia v South Africa, 3rd Test Day 3: 5 Talking Points

Mitchell Starc managed a wonderful half-century as Australia are now four wickets away from what seems to be a win that would certainly erase the problems to an extent that have been prevailing for a while now. As for South Africa, this has been one defeat after another as far as the outset of the Test match is concerned, something that now sees them on the brink of defeat.

Kyle Abbott, sent in as a nightwatchman, was the last wicket to fall on the day as the Aussies now stand six wickets adrift of bowling out the Proteas with the pink ball. Stephen Cook, the South African opening batsman has also impressed quite a bit thus far with sime impressive batsmanship as he stands on the brink of another Test ton. That said, here are five talking points from the recently-concluded day.

1. Mitchell Starc completes half-century as South Africa left red-faced

At the start of play on Day 3, it was Mitchell Starc and Usman Khawaja, the southpaw partenrship that was making plans on taking the Aussies forward in terms of building a lead. The way the duo batted was rather impressive given the simple fact that the South Africans were left frustrated and red-faced for the most part of the encounter. While Usman Khawaja was dismissed five runs adrift of what seemed to be a well-deserved 150, it was clear that the crusade from Mitchell Starc had not ended.

The 27-year old southpaw continued on his merry way as the South Africans were made to grovel for his wicket. Needless to say, Starc smashed 53 runs and was well supported by the tail-enders before he was eventually dismissed by Kagiso Rabada.

2. Dean Elgar falls for outswing yet again

This series has seen most of the batsmen capitulate to the late reverse swing. Dean Elgar was one of the few who fell for the reverse swing, and given the fact that this was the pink ball they were playing with as well. Elgar was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc. However, the nature of the dismissal itself makes it a talking point with many batsmen falling to the outset of the ball pitching on the fifth stump. Needless to say, the batsmen will have to come up with a remedy for this issue before anything worse happens.

3. Stephen Cook holds the innings together

Stephen Cook has been rather subdued when it comes to plying his trade of batting down under. However, the fact of the matter remains that the 33-year old is perhaps one of the best batsmen there is in the current South African lineup despite his obvious predicaments against the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood. However, the change of setting as well as the change of venue and the pink ball has seemingly helped the South African batsman as he smashed an unbeaten 81 and was perhaps the only South African batsman who looked to be somewhat settled in his role. He waited it for the best part of his innings and managed 81 well deserved runs from 199 deliveries.

4. Amla and Cook stitch an important partnership

While Stephen Cook was making it when it came to plying his trade as a batsman, Hashim Amla, his batting partner at the other end was also eclipsing some poor form with the bat.Hashim Amla, for his part, managed an impressive 45 runs as he helped opener Stephen Cook as the duo dug the Proteas out of a hole. Amla also displayed somewhat of an aggressive brand of cricket only witnessed from him in the T20 format of the game. His 45 runs included an impressive 5 boundaries and a massive heave over mid-wicket into the stands.

5. Nathan Lyon strikes into the night as Proteas on the brink

While the day had belonged to the Proteas for the most part, the fact of the matter remained that the Aussies would eventually have the final say when it came to playing the final session of the day. Nathan Lyon, Australia’s much under-appreciated off-spinner went about his business of making the ball do the talking. The tweaker picked three wickets in the final session all of which were seemingly high profile wickets. JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, and nightwatchman Kyle Abbott were the ones who fell to the impressive Lyon.