AUSTRALIA’S week of turmoil endured another day after South Africa controlled and dominated the opening day of the fourth and final Test.
After the tumultuous week the players have been through, the atmosphere from the new look Australian team was akin to what you’d see in a library.
A quiet and lacklustre day in the field saw South African star batsman Aiden Markram take full advantage and pile on a staggering 152 runs, a new career-high.
The 22-year-old took his series tally well north of the 400-run mark and helped carry the locals to 6/313 at stumps.
Pat Cummins played a lone hand and led a mini Australian fightback on his way to claiming 3/53, taking him to 16 wickets for the series.
Here’s the talking points from the opening day’s action.
WARNE OPEN TO COACHING AUSSIES?
Shane Warne has regularly maintained he’s happy imparting his knowledge to cricket teams and players in a consultancy capacity rather than as a head coach, but didn’t rule out making a play for the Australian mentoring position that will become vacant after this series.
Darren Lehmann announced he will resign at the conclusion of the fourth Test and when former South African skipper Graeme Smith asked Warne of his interest in the job in commentary, the legendary leg-spinner left the door ajar.
“For me, I’ve always being able to help out any team, any young spin bowler, any captain, anyone,” Warne said. “I love being involved in the game, I’m passionate about the game so I’m happy to be involved.
“Whether it’s a head coaching position … I’m happy to help out the Australian team whenever.
“Whether I’m going to put my hand up to do that, umm, I’m not sure.
“I haven’t given it much thought until you just asked me.”
MARKRAM A ‘ONCE IN A GENERATION PLAYER’
If this series is to be a precursor for future success, South African opener Aiden Markram could go down as one of his nation’s best players.
He made headlines at the beginning of the series for running one of his teammates out and copping a verbal barrage from David Warner. Since that moment, Markram has caused the Aussies endless pain with the bat in hand.
Markram has scored a total of 443 runs through seven innings, with two scores over 140. He also became the first South African to score more than 400 runs against the Aussies in a Test series.
Former South African skipper Graeme Smith labelled him “the best young batsman going around at the moment”.
The future of cricket in South Africa looks bright with 22-year-olds Markram leading with the bat and Kagiso Rabada attacking with the ball.
AUSSIES NAME SHOCK DEBUTANT
Paceman Chadd Sayers made his Test cricket debut in Johannesburg.
Former batsman Adam Voges presented Sayers with his baggy green amid expectations Mitchell Starc will miss the series finale against South Africa.
While three players were flown over from Australia to replace the banned trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after the cheating scandal, Sayers — who was part of the original touring party — emerged as the first bolter to make the XI in Johannesburg.
Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell arrived in South Africa this week with Renshaw and Burns set to open the batting, while reserve batsman Peter Handscomb takes Smith’s place in the middle order.
That leaves Maxwell carrying the drinks.
There was a school of thought but the visitors may have decided to promote either Usman Khawaja or Shaun Marsh to the top of the order, which would open up another middle order slot the Victorian all-rounder could have taken, but they opted against that.
Everyone knew a team reshuffle was coming, but few would have known Starc would sit out and give South Australian quick Sayers the chance to realise his dream of wearing the baggy green.
Sadly his debut didn’t garner much fanfare and in particular didn’t sit well with former Aussie cricketer Shane Warne. Warne pointed out Sayer’s lack of pace and lack of change up deliveries as being major issues.
“International cricket, you’ve got to be able to do something with the ball, you’ve got to have some pace as a bowler,” Warne said.
“If you don’t do much with the ball and only bowl 120kmh on a good pitch, you aren’t going to cause too many batsmen some problems.
“Sayers looks to me like a flat bowler, like you can line him up a bit. I’m just a bit worried about what I see at the moment is the best way to sum it up.
“I was hoping to see a nice clever bowlers in Chadd Sayers and I’m not seeing that cleverness I suppose. What other tricks has he got up his sleeve? What X-factor? (Bowling) wide of the crease, what has he got?
“Someone like a Jhye Richardson might bowl a few half volleys, a few short wide ones, but he might just take a few wickets, so he’s a bit more of an X-factor. So I think when you’ve left Mitchell Starc out, I think a like-for-like would have been more like a Richardson (who would) maybe knock the tail over with his pace.”
