Perth: Elite honesty, meet elite performance. Australia’s home summer without their best two batsmen began in sickening style for the hosts, shot out for 152 by South Africa’s high quality pace attack and consigned
to a six-wicket hiding on a fast and fiery Perth Stadium pitch in front of a disappointing crowd.
Where 53,781 had been present at the new venue for a January ODI against England, only a fraction of that assembly were in attendance as the side captained by Aaron Finch were sent in to bat after Faf du Plessis
won a more than useful toss. They were to be witness to Australia’s lowest total in a home ODI against South Africa for 21 years, since cobbling 125 at the MCG in 1997.
A target of 153 was to prove a simple task for South Africa, guided with some panache by Quinton de Kock with the assistance of Reeza Hendricks. Their calm and positive approach to Australia’s new ball attack
contrasted greatly with that of Finch’s team, reflecting a mental gulf between the two sides that will take some bridging in the remaining two matches.
The bounce and seam on offer was exploited brilliantly by Dale Steyn and company, as the Australians slid to 3 for 8 then 6 for 66 against bowling perfectly suited to the conditions. Even so, the technical shortcomings
recently bemoaned by the coach Justin Langer were on show as batsmen went hard at the seaming ball outside off stump, resulting either in edges behind the wicket or miscues in front of it.
Granted five overs of their pursuit before the full innings break, the visitors were swiftly into gear through the positive footwork and shot selection of de Kock, while there was also a curious call in terms of Australia’s
new-ball combination. Not since the 2015 Ashes had Mitchell Starc not taken the new ball in an international match, but here he was consigned to first change. Nathan Coulter-Nile served up a nervous first over that
went for 16, and Starc was on for the fourth over, but many were left to wonder at the choice.
After dinner, Starc and Josh Hazlewood drifted into de Kock’s cover driving and leg-side flicking zones, either side of a raucous lbw appeal by the left-armer that replays showed to be comfortably missing leg stump.
When Hendricks chimed in with a percussive cover drive of his own, the 50 was raised well inside eight overs.
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