Australia secure consolation victory in Adelaide

After convincingly losing the opening two Tests against South Africa, Australia sought renewal and underwent a transformation highlighted by three batting debutants playing in the team’s seven-wicket victory in the third Test in Adelaide.

South Africa resumed at 194-6 and lost Quinton De Kock (5) early, the wicketkeeper given out lbw to Jackson Bird (1-54) after a review.

With a target of 127 runs, David Warner (47) and Matt Renshaw (34 not out) took Australia to a solid start of 27 for naught at the end of the first session.

“It’s pretty disappointing to lose the test match but it’s hard to look past the fact that we’ve played great cricket”, said South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who has overseen a third successive series triumph for the Proteas in Australia.

Cook can now consider that job done, even though that relief will be dulled by knowing what it feels like to finish on the losing side for the first time in his six tests.

The selection panel, itself rejigged following chairman Rod Marsh’s sudden resignation, made five changes in total.

“That big hundred they had, take that away and it would have been a similar sort of game where we would have had them under pressure so credit to him (Khawaja) for a really good innings”. “They showed a bit of fight, character and resilience”.

Du Plessis had a tumultuous last week, being found guilty by the International Cricket Council of ball tampering, after he was seen putting his fingers in his mouth while he was sucking a mint, then shining the ball in Hobart.

Renshaw’s grinding batting was a desperately needed characteristic after Australia’s rudderless efforts in Perth and Hobart. Take the last round of the Shield where Renshaw sealed his baggy green with a dogged century before making 50 at close to a run a ball in the second innings when quick runs were required.

“He didn’t seem fazed by it all”. “They’ve just got to be really fit and fresh, as much as you possibly can”, he said. “When they got a bit straighter he picked them off and that’s the way he goes about his game and it was nice for him and Petey [Handscomb] – two guys on debut – to be there at the end”.

Added to the way Australia batted was the team’s best fielding display for some time.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was the most successful among the Australian bowlers with figures of 3/48 while fast bowler Mitchell Starc returned 2/71.

Before the Adelaide Oval clash, opener Stephen Cook was probably the favourite to go, but then he came back to light in commendable fashion with a defiant personal sequence of 40 and 104 to help delay the defeat.

This team, led intelligently by Du Plessis, have played for each other and the Proteas badge. “Just proud of his character that he showed”.

The bare numbers of the series certainly endorse Du Plessis’s claim. Some in the crowd booed when he reached his century. He says he has been unfairly labeled a cheat for doing something that cricketers all over the world have done. I would definitely like to see it in South Africa. “It was an incredible series and to do it three times in a row is awesome”, Du Plessis said on Sunday night.

Smith was unbeaten in his first 11 tests as captain and the Australians were ranked No. 1 in February.