AUSTRALIA stares down the barrel of a historic throbbing on South African soil after wrapping up day two in a compromising position.
The tourists struggled to dismiss the Proteas in the first session as the home side’s tail wagged to an imposing 488 total with the help of Temba Bavuma (95*) and Keshav Maharaj (45).
The Wanderers deck was already showing promising signs for the bowlers as Nathan Lyon played tricks on the batsmen’s minds with his tweakers, but it was Pat Cummins who gleamed the brightest with 5-83 from his 28.5 overs.
Australia saw through the new ball but weren’t able to build any significant partnerships from the top of the order as replacement stars Matt Renshaw (eight), Joe Burns (four) and Peter Handscomb (golden duck) all fell flat on their Test returns.
Usman Khawaja provided the only meaningful resistance with a hardy 53 as the top order collapsed to 6/110 at stumps.
If Australia loses the Test, it will be the nation’s first series loss in South Africa post-apartiehd.
Here were the major talking points from the day’s play.
SPONSOR’S SAVAGE AUSSIE BURN
Media organisations, journalists, former cricketers and fans have been out in droves lambasting Australia following the earth-shattering ball tampering controversy which saw the heartbreaking fall of Steve Smith and David Warner’s captaincies.
The humiliating controversy saw the nation’s reputation tarnished in what is being described as the darkest week in Cricket Australia’s history.
Jokes about Australian cricket earning sponsors from Bunnings for the team’s apparent love of sandpaper ran rampant on social media after footage of Cameron Bancroft roughing up the ball surface. The backlash was so widespread even a bookstore was caught joining in on the action.
After a painful start to the fourth Test, we guess all the embattled touring side can do now is laugh.
Tour sponsors Sunfoil, a cooking oil company in which the series is named after, took a hearty swing at Australia in a newspaper advertisement ahead of the Johannesburg Test.
“The perfect swing. Simply take 3 batsmen. Add one ball. Allow to simmer for 12 months. For a little flavour add a pinch of Lehmann,” the advertisement read.
Some fans took aim at the major sponsor for its “tasteless” jab at the tourists, claiming they made a huge corporate blunder for wading into the sea of ball tampering insults.
“Tasteless (pun intended) and not clever at all. A huge corporate blunder, IMHO! Major series sponsor #Sunfoil should not lower itself to that level,” one user tweeted.
WARNE’S CHEEKY JAB LEAVES EVERYONE IN STITCHES
Temba Bavuma was all over Australia after lunch, knocking the touring attack around the ground on his merry way to a second Test century on day two.
The 27-year-old was particularly patient to Nathan Lyon, catching the eye of commentators Shane Warne and Mark Nicholas.
Warne noted Bavuma wanted nothing more than to send the Aussie spinner over the fence.
“I used to get out to (spinners) all the time,” Warne said, casting his mind back to similar situations spent batting at No. 8 in his Aussie Test career.
Nicholas pulled the Aussie leg-spinner up, recalling a moment in his career where he slapped former English spinning rival Ashley Giles around the park.
Frank as always, Warne took aim at the Englishman with a not-so-veiled jab.
“Yes, but we’re talking about spinners,” Warne replied to a howling commentary box. “Not slow left-armers. (But) Ashley hit me miles.”
Warne tried covering up his obvious jab at the former England star, claiming he did “a wonderful job” in his career, but the rest of the commentary team weren’t buying it as booming laughter echoed in the background.
“Nah he was a good bowler, always great playing against him. He bowled beautifully during the 2005 Ashes. I remember one that (dismissed) Damien Martyn … but I’m just trying to remember another one.”
Warne quickly tweeted out apologising for “having a bit of a laugh”.
AUSSIE TRIO FALLS FLAT
Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns and Peter Handscomb were all rushed into the side after the past week’s explosive ball-tampering controversy saw David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith all sent home — but the trio weren’t able to make a significant stamp on the match in their Test comebacks.
Burns fell for four after edging Kagiso Rabada to the slips, Renshaw departed for eight after rushing a drive and nicking a ball to Quinton de Kock, and Handscomb was sent on his way fo a golden duck after chopping on Philander early in the innings.
To be fair to the returning trio, nobody expected big things from them considering the nature of the situations, but there will no doubt be questions raised in the Australian camp as they prepare for the next 12 months without Smith and Warner in the order.
PROTEAS CROWD CHANT TO AUSSIES
South African supports at the Wanderers have starred in a brutal chant against Aussie cricketers in a sledge that reverberated around the entire stadium.
Video has emerged of fans at the Johannesburg venue chanting: ‘Where’s your captain? Where’s your Warner”.
It comes after the former Australian captain and vice-captain were earlier this week banned for 12 months following the Cricket Australia integrity unit’s investigation into the ball tampering scandal.
It was a hard day in the field, but the Aussies held it together on and off the field.
Even when some of the local banners were shown on the ground’s big screen to huge applause around the stadium, the Aussies continued to fight.
The banners included one which cleverly poked fun at Cricket Australia’s admission that dumped opener Cameron Bancroft used sandpaper to try to tamper with the Kookaburra during the Third Test.
“Sandpaper special only R10!,” one sign said.
Another asked if Bancroft needed a ball wax.
