Australia snap five Test losing streak with South Africa win

Peter Handscomb (1 not out), the debutant, hit the winning run with fellow newcomer Matthew Renshaw on 34 as Australia finished on 127 for 3. The fact that Australia won here at the Adelaide Oval should not matter a one bit.

Australia steadied from 64-2 and Renshaw survived another review, he and Smith putting on 61 before the skipper departed with just two needed, edging a beauty from Kyle Abbott (1-26). “It’s been great to have these guys come in, create that energy and have that hunger and character about them to want to win and fight”.

Chief selector Rod Marsh retired, and five players were discarded.

Head coach Darren Lehmann conceded that only Smith, vice-captain David Warner and new-ball pair Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood were guaranteed of selection for the third test.

In another poor use of the DRS, Faf du Plessis chose to review a decision umpire Richard Kettleborough had made against Renshaw.

Australia’s medical staff are confident that Warner will not need surgery on the niggle which was an aggravation of an existing problem. 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, he got on with the job and made them bowl to him. “So, you’ve got to give guys an extended run to find some form, particularly when you’ve got belief in them”.

“And that will be the challenge for every team and the Australian team going forward”.

“Before the series the questions we had around the pink ball and playing day/night [test] cricket were asked out of scepticism”, Du Plessis said. Those innings formed a part of a run of five consecutive Test scores of fifty or more in a year that has seen de Kock come of age. The message from the South African camp is that de Villiers remains their commander-in-chief, and Domingo echoed that, although he also praised du Plessis. He scored an unbeaten 118 in the first innings, when he was booed as he walked onto the field and when he reached his century. “We don’t play a lot of Test cricket at home, so I am really excited for the start of that series”. He says he has been unfairly labeled a cheat for doing something that cricketers all over the world have done.

And it proved to be a turning point – in South Africa’s favour.

“I’m very happy, it’s much better to be on this side of the fence”, he said.

Two-one against Australia, in their own backyard, to complete a third successive Test series win Down Under, is the equivalent – if not of higher value – of capturing any major ICC trophy.

Speaking at the press conference in the aftermath of the Test, du Plessis said he would fondly remember this series despite the setback in Adelaide.

Smith will next lead the test side out against Pakistan in another day-night match at the Gabba on December 15 and admitted he would retain some unhappy memories of the South Africa series.