Du Plessis praises young South Africa squad after series win

“There is an opportunity for us tomorrow to try and capitalise on a big partnership to try and push us up past 180-200 lead, ” team batting coach Neil McKenzie said. “To be perfectly honest, I felt in this game, the energy we had in the field was as good as we’ve had for a long time”.

Glenn Maxwell aside, Handscomb is arguably the most unconventional player to debut for Australia since Steve Smith, and that’s no bad thing. “I don’t think we haven’t taken one to the sub-continent”. I’m proud of today, it was a big day for me to stand up as a captain and make sure I lead from the front.

After the loss in Hobart, Smith said he was humiliated and embarrassed by Australia’s batting collapses.

South African thought it had taken the wicket of Renshaw in the second over when it appealed for a catch at slip by Hashim Amla off Vernon Philander.

Then there was the special moment on Thursday afternoon when we all got together as a group, including the families and partners of the three debutants, for the cap presentations prior to the coin toss. The fact that Australia won here at the Adelaide Oval should not matter a one bit. They are at No. 5 now, and Domingo admitted there’s still a “great deal of work” to be done, beginning with the batting.

Especially after a week in which questions were being asked about very fundamental aspects of the Australian system, and indeed whether its production line of powerful, top-handed batsmen who go hard at the ball is a weakness that is exposed as soon as the ball moves laterally. 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.

Usman Khawaja was the Player of the Match for his ton in the first innings.

“I believe in myself that my stock ball is good enough to get anyone out in the world”. We came here to win the series and fortunately for us that was in Hobart. Shaun Marsh could mount a case to be reinstated should he recover fully from a broken finger – the likelihood is he will not be available until the Boxing Day Test – but otherwise there will be stability in the immediate future. That will stay with him as a lesson in the pink ball format.

In another poor use of the DRS, Faf du Plessis chose to review a decision umpire Richard Kettleborough had made against Renshaw. “Everyone stepped up. Everyone put their hands up at different stages”.

The result, fittingly secured when debutants Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb were at the crease, meant Australia avoided the nation’s first whitewash in a home Test series since federation.

Philander was one of Starc’s four victims when he was leg before wicket for 17, losing a review in the process, while Kagiso Rabada lasted just nine balls before he edged a leg-side delivery from Hazlewood to a diving Matthew Wade.

“Play the line and let the balls that nipped go past the bat”.

“We can grow on what we’ve done in this Test match”.

“New players came in and we showed some fight and some character and that’s what I want us to do”. You can’t just play him for two or three games, and if he’s not in form, you get rid of the guy.