St George's Park Test becomes a three-day affair as rain claims 137 overs
If a book of that title exists, Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins wouldn't mind a copy on their bedside table by the time they retire on Monday night. With 137 overs of the first two days lost to rain at St George's Park, the second Test is effectively a three-day match, and that changes everything.
Both attacks boast quality bowlers, and dismissing batting line-ups of this calibre twice on a decent pitch is difficult enough over five days. It is far harder when around 30% of the match has been lost to rain and a wet outfield. Declarations become artsy, crafty and never straightforward.
"There's less time to bowl teams out, that's the nature of the beast," Chris Morris told Cricbuzz. "You've got to dangle a carrot if you are going to declare; give a team an opportunity to potentially want to chase it down. But if they are going to chase they're going to have to play aggressive cricket."
A format South Africa know well
Cricketers are creatures of habit, and most involved in this Test have only known matches lasting four or five days. But South Africa are at home with the three-day game. Until the 1991/92 season all first-class cricket in the country was played over three days, and the format still survives in the first-class competition played by second-division provincial sides. Australia, by contrast, have rarely played three-day cricket outside tour matches, which nobody tries to win.
Every player in the home XI has experience of the format, from Kagiso Rabada's three three-day games to Bavuma's 28. Marques Ackerman, Anrich Nortje, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton have each played 20 or more.
South Africa's chances waning
The chances of South Africa winning are fading. They were 97/5 at stumps on Monday and are unlikely to score enough in this innings to spend the rest of the match bowling Australia out twice. Their aim is likely to be to bat for as long as possible. Australia, with more of a stake in the result, might bowl South Africa out cheaply, score quickly and find enough time to dismiss them again.
Ashwell Prince, the South Africa coach, was not ready to write off his side. "We still have to bowl. The ball is moving around and I think it will as the Test match goes on; there are already some divots out there," he said. "There's still quite a bit of time left in the game. So anything is possible."
Khaya Zondo was less optimistic. "If you're South Africa you think [the amount of overs lost] gives you time to regroup, see what you want to do and what sort of result you want," Zondo told Cricbuzz. "But even if Australia are playing better than them they could still earn a draw. Because you have to play really badly to lose in three days." He added: "Time is the enemy. You have to give it time. Or score faster."
A late start and a tense day
Play did not begin until five minutes into what was the original tea interval. Prince explained that the team had been told to stay close to their phones overnight, and that the ground needed preparation after the rain stopped at about 10.20am. The side eventually left the hotel at about 1.25pm. Once play resumed, the plan stayed the same. "It's a session; you have to bat it out," Prince said. "Nothing changes in terms of your original gameplan, which is to build partnerships."
South Africa lost Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton for 77 runs in 43.4 overs on Monday, although Australia were missing Josh Hazlewood, who was off the field with a stomach bug. Rickelton survived when Marnus Labuschagne dropped a chest-high chance at leg slip off Cummins. Thirteen balls later, Rickelton chased an away swinger from Scott Boland, and the outside edge was snaffled by Matt Renshaw at first slip, diving low to end a stand of 52. Boland finished the day with figures of 4/31.
Bavuma digs in
Bavuma was 41 not out at stumps, including six hooked off Cummins with considerable power, the ball landing in Park Drive. "The skipper is out there digging deep," Prince said. "Long may it continue tomorrow. Hopefully he'll have a few partners digging in with him. It's an opportunity for people to make a name for themselves." Wiaan Mulder, on two not out, and Marco Jansen are the men who could help him. Harmer, Nortje and Rabada are not the worst options, but South Africa, once again, need Bavuma to stand taller than the rest.