New look Australia reduce South Africa to 89-3

He made just seven runs in the second Test, but South Africa won by an innings and 80 runs to open up an unassailable 2-0 lead against a disappointing Australian side. But to find the last occasion that was not caused by external circumstances we must go all the way back to 1936 and Don Bradman’s first Test as captain.

Shamsi was apparently earmarked to play in the Adelaide day/night Test with the ball expected to skid on under the lights.

I believe he is talented enough for Test cricket, it’s just he’s showing himself to have a technical flaw in these conditions and a weakness against spin.

Australia will attempt to prevent the rampant South Africans from claiming an unprecedented series clean sweep at home when their day-night Test begins on Thursday (November 24) in Adelaide. “He took five-for in his last Test match”.

Steve Smith, whose fledgling captaincy is now feeling the strains of pressure, will hope his precocious youngsters can provide a tonic in a desperate bid to avoid becoming the first Australian Test team to ingloriously be whitewashed on home soil. I know of people who carry lip-ice in their pocket and shine the cricket ball or gum. “We’ve played very good cricket, we’ve got something going and it’s important to keep that going”.

Lehmann admitted it was a “tough” selection discussion that ended up with Handscomb, Maddinson, Renshaw, Matthew Wade, Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers being summoned to Adelaide.

“I’m happy with the team that I’ve got”, Smith said.

Instead, all anyone has cared about is what South Africa’s captain sucked in Hobart, and why Australia sucked in Hobart. This follows the ECB’s announcement that there will be a Test staged under floodlights with a pink ball at Edgbaston next summer. Like Australia captain Steve Smith said on Wednesday, every team around the world will do the same, especially with the Dukes ball.

It will be only the second day-night Test in Australia after the home side thrillingly beat New Zealand by three wickets within three days in Adelaide a year ago.

Du Plessis was fined his match fee on Tuesday after being caught on camera sucking a mint and rubbing saliva into the ball during last week’s second Test against Australia in Hobart.

Du Plessis called for the sport’s law-makers to clarify a problematic “grey area” or face dealing with a “can of worms” in the future.

He even brought Richardson’s background into the debate, saying the former test wicketkeeper was part of South Africa’s “ball shining brigade” in his playing days.