Aiden Markram could end South Africa’s 27-year hoodoo as Steve Smith’s Caribbean dream slips away — WTC Final Talking Points
Saviour could end 27-year hoodoo as Smith’s Caribbean dream slips away — Talking Pts
South Africa is 69 runs away from winning the ICC Test Championship Mace off Australia following a clutch performance from opener Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma on day three at Lord’s.
Chasing a 282-run target for victory, the Proteas are 2-213 at stumps with Markram (102*) and captain Temba Bavuma (65*) unbeaten in the middle.
Australia’s world-class bowling attack proved ineffective on the lifeless deck, with vice-captain Steve Smith dropping a costly chance that damaged his finger and put him in doubt for the upcoming West Indies tour.
The World Test Championship final will resume on Saturday at 7.30pm AEST.
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Aiden Markram of South Africa. Photo by Paul Harding/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMARKRAM THE MARVEL AS SOUTH AFRICA SHAPES TO END A HOODOO
Should South Africa shed its World Championship hoodoo as appears near certain on Saturday, Aiden Markram will be a legend in his country from here on after a superb century on Friday.
Much rested on Markram’s shoulders as he walked out to bat after lunch on Friday, with the South African opener tasked with spearheading his nation’s quest to chase down Australia to win his nation its biggest ever trophy.
His first over dismissal for a duck when bowled by Mitchell Starc in the opening innings put the Proteas on the back foot after their strong start with the ball on Wednesday and also went against the grain for Markram given his strong record against Australia.
The 30-year-old had scored two of his seven centuries against Australia and his average over 62.33 from 10 innings is his best against any nation other than Zimbabwe, where he made 125 in his one innings. And he delivered again when bringing up a fabulous century before stumps in one of the finest centuries recorded for his country, as ex-English captain Nasser Hussain said.
“It is one of the most clutch hundreds you will ever see. Batting on a pair, in a final, after two years hard work to be here, Aiden Markram delivers,” Hussain said.
From the opening delivery South Africa was on the march, batting with far more intent on a pitch that was now far easier to bat on than the minefield it proved in the first two days when 28 wickets fell.
Although he lost Ryan Rickelton early on, Markram batted with conviction alongside Wiaan Mulder, who fell for 27, and than Bavuma (65 not out) in a brilliant performance that will secure his legacy as a South African hero should the Proteas clinch victory.
Aiden Markram of South Africa. Photo by Paul Harding/Gallo Images/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images“It is a fantastic performance here from Aiden Markram. It has been a fantastic knock by the South African opener,” Kevin Pietersen said.
“The ultimate stage. The ultimate arena. A Test match at Lord’s and he has got himself up on the board.”
Credit must also go to the South African skipper for playing the perfect support role to the inform opener before flourishing as the day progressed and batting became even easier. As ex-English captain Nasser Hussein said; “The conditions have changed so much today.”
What did change was the amount of spin the pitch was producing, with Nathan Lyon and Travis Head able to extract significant turn on occasion. But balls did beat the bat did not clip the stumps and others ultimately bothered Alex Carey more than the SA batters.
“While the headlines will rightly say Markram, let’s not forget Bavuma. This was true captaincy,” former New Zealand captain Ian Smith said.
DOUBLE DISASTER — SMITH SPILLS SKIPPER AS CARIBBEAN DREAMS SLIP AWAY
The sun was shining and the temperature rising as Usman Khawaja fetched his helmet for a session at Lord’s on Friday in what proved an ominous portent of the turmoil that was about to unfold for Australia.
But the veteran Australian did not have his bat with him. Instead he was going out to practice slips catching while wearing a lid in an indication of just how strangely the Lord’s pitch has played during the WTC Final.
The signs were clear on Thursday night as Australia struggled to eke out a target that the Dukes ball was struggling to reach the slips cordon. The South Africans drew edge after edge from the tail, but were frustrated by the lack of carry through to the cordon.
With the pitch slowing further on Saturday, Steve Smith was forced to stand in front of Alex Carey at first slip to the pace bowlers, mirroring the approach of Aiden Markram and the Proteas during Australia’s second innings, as Matthew Hayden noted.
“Nothing has carried now for a day and a half now, very unusual. It’s very rare to see second slip with a helmet on,” he said.
Steve Smith of Australia. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesBut the problem with fielding so close is that the ball can still fly on occasion, as Smith found out to his immense regret when dropping Temba Bavuma in the infancy of the South African skipper’s innings.
The Australian batter had assumed the role at first slip and was standing just 14 metres from the stumps when a delivery from Mitchell Starc bucked the trend by flying at a regulation height, which clearly caught Smith by surprise.
“They had to come up tight. A ridiculous amount of catches have landed short. But this one flew,” ex-Kiwi wicketkeeper Ian Smith said.
“This one has taken off. There is very little time to react and he has hurt himself badly. He was taken totally by surprise.”
DISLOCATED AND DISCOMBOBULATED
At different stages at Lord’s this week, one could have imagined the red ball game being reported on involved a Sherrin instead of a Dukes.
On Thursday Pat Cummins was shirt-fronted by South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne while making an LBW appeal, while Keshav Maharaj delivered a flying hip-and-shoulder to Alex Carey while trying to avoid crashing into the stumps. The latter, given his history with the GWS Giants prior to returning to cricket, is at least used to handling the contact from an opponent.
But heading into the tea break on Friday, the focus turned to reporting on injuries with good reason as the toll from the final mounted.
Smith was the clear concern after spilling Bavuma in the infancy of his innings, but it was not long before the focus turned to the South African skipper, who injured a hamstring not long after and was worked on during tea.
It was evident Bavuma was hampered in his movement. Yet he was able to take off when called on and, given the enormity of the prize at stake, was understandably keen to bat on at a critical time as he proceeded to partner Markram in superb fashion.
But Smith was the big news. Before long it was confirmed he was off to hospital for scans on a compound dislocation of his finger.
Australia's Steve Smith reacts in pain. AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthSource: APAs Ian Smith noted, with South Africa making significant inroads in their pursuit, the absence of Smith was an issue given his catching prowess — even though the injury occurred while dropping Bavuma — but also with the experience he offers in the slips cordon.
With the nation’s No.s 1, 2 and 3 failing to fire against South Africa, and with Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis waiting in the wings, the prospect of a reshuffle was always in the wings with the tour of the West Indies looming.
Should Smith be unavailable for even a Test, as appears likely given the diagnosis, it adds another factor to consider.
There is an obvious solution at hand, with Konstas coming into to open, Marnus Labuschagne returning to No. 3 and Cameron Green moving back to No.4, the position where he excelled against New Zealand last year when Smith was serving a stint as opener.
But Inglis made a century on debut in Sri Lanka and there is little doubt the Australians would love to have him in the team.
THE LONGER TERM DILEMMA
Further into the horizon looms the Ashes against England in just under five months time.
Khawaja has had five opening partners in nine Test matches, and that merry-go-round could continue in the Caribbean later this month.
Following the retirement of veteran opener David Warner, Australia trialled several candidates at the top of the order – Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas and Travis Head have spent brief stints there before sliding back down the order or falling out of the XI.
Labuschagne became the latest guinea pig this week, opening alongside his Queensland teammate in the WTC final at Lord’s. But after posting scores of 17 and 22, the national selectors have been left with more questions than answers.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTo make matters worse, the returning Green, who filled the vacancy at first drop, failed to survive more than three deliveries in either innings and was dismissed by Proteas star Kagiso Rabada on both occasions.
Playing his first Test match in 15 months, the young West Australian looked out of his depth against the swinging Dukes despite some strong form in County cricket after returning from a back injury that saw him miss the entirety of the summer.
He was caught at third slip on both occasions when pressing in front of his body with hard hands. The 26-year-old made a change to his stance on day two, walking down the crease to Kagiso Rabada in the hopes of throwing the Proteas quick off his lengths.
But the adjustment proved more a distraction for himself rather than the opposition.
“He’s changed quite a bit going from first innings to second innings,” former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik said in commentary.
“He was standing deep in the crease (on day one), while in the second innings he decides to walk. And the one thing that’s common to both dismissals is the hard hands with which he plays the ball, hence it carries to slip.”
The injury to Smith will require Australia to reshuffle the top order for the West Indies, but with a home Ashes campaign looming, the identity of Australia’s top three is anything but a certainty.
There are seemingly five players fighting over three spots, but none of the configurations will instil confidence in the selection panel. That adds extra fascination to the Caribbean summer.
‘NO MUG’: STARC’S TIMELY EIGHT-YEAR BEST
Overshadowed by South Africa’s stirring pursuit and the Smith saga is Mitchell Starc’s superb innings with the bat.
When he walked out to bat at Lord’s on Thursday evening, the Australians were in dire straits at 7-73.
The reigning champions had just lost five wickets in 45 minutes, with South Africa’s pace attack on a rampage with the swinging Dukes ball.
After combining with wicketkeeper Alex Carey for a crucial 61-run partnership, Starc was tasked with extending Australia’s lead when play resumed on Friday morning.
In arguably the most batting performance of his Test career to date, the New South Welshman delivered for his teammates when they desperately needed him, in the process ensuring the decider would enter a fourth day, if not the result Australia was after.
Starc cracked a team-high 58 not out, his highest Test score in over eight years, when forming a 59-run partnership with tailender Josh Hazlewood.
Australia's Mitchell Starc. Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFPSource: AFPThe left-hander’s defence was reliable, while he wasn’t afraid to slap South Africa’s seamers down the ground when they overpitched. He also soaked 136 deliveries, making it the longest innings of the match prior to Markram’s superb innings.
“It is a very, very important fifty. I wonder where this ranks in the milestone of Mitchell Starc with the bat. He is grinding away and showing the South Africans how hard it is to beat Australia,” Kevin Pietersen said in commentary.
Once considered a genuine all-rounder, Starc’s batting performances have dipped over the last few years, with captain Pat Cummins leapfrogging him in the pecking order.
Between 2022 to 2024, he averaged 14.00 with the bat in Tests, failing to muster a half-century in 41 knocks. But aided by favourable batting conditions on Friday, Starc demonstrated his talent with the willow remains.
“Starc is actually a better player than his record suggests, because technically he’s quite correct. He dominated proceedings, ” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith said.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain was similarly lavish in his praise.
“He is no mug with the bat. We all know what a tough competitor he is also. What an important innings,” he said.
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