Scott Boland repaid the selectors faith, taking two wickets in two balls after he was recalled in place of spinner Nathan Lyon on a rain-affected opening day of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
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It is the fifth time Australia has opted to not play a specialist spinner in their last ten Tests, but it is the first time since he was recalled to the side in place of Ashton Agar for the third Test of the 2013 Ashes in England that Lyon has been left out of a red-ball Test when fit.
He was omitted for day/night clashes in Jamaica and at the Gabba last year, and then was injured for the Melbourne and Sydney Ashes Tests when understudy Todd Murphy was in the squad, but not named in the Australia XI.
Nic Maddinson has held his place at the top of the visitor’s order, while Matt Renshaw is listed to stay at No.5 following his 190 and 82 in Durban.
Boland for Lyon is the only change made by the Australians on a grassy, damp pitch.
In a pre-game chat with Kayo Sports, Steve Smith said he spoke to the head curator at St George’s Park and was shocked to find that he does not use hessian underneath the covers.
The curator told Smith he likes to have a bit of moisture in the surface.
“I was taken back by that. I don’t think I’ve seen that before,” Smith said.
Before also saying it “could be tricky for the batters early doors”.
Kagiso Rabada has been an Australian nemesis since playing a central role in the hot-tempered Sandpapergate series eight years ago and the fiery quick is one of three changes to the South African side – along with debutant Marques Ackerman, who will open the batting, and ODI run machine Matthew Breetzke.
Rabada has 58 wickets in just 11 Tests against the Aussies at an average of just 21.39, with four five-wicket hauls – including nine scalps in the Proteas’ World Test Championship final win at Lord’s last year.
His return is a major boost for the home side as they look to recover from a humbling loss in Durban with a major reshuffle, including Ryan Rickelton being handed the wicketkeeping gloves.
“Now to have him on the field, that’ll be a massive boost within our bowling attack,” captain Temba Bavuma told SEN of Rabada’s comeback.
“But also him as a leader, the guys will feed off his confidence.
“He’s a natural leader – obviously also the success that he’s had against Australia, that’s something that he’ll be feeding off and looking to replicate in terms of performances.”
Victory would secure Australia an unassailable 2-0 series lead, and a first victory at the venue since 1997.
They have lost their past two matches in Gqeberha, with Rabada taking 11 wickets as the Proteas secured a six-wicket win in 2018 that squared the series, and set the tone for the infamous Cape Town scandal that followed.
Match details
Venue: St George’s Park, Gqeberha
First ball: 7pm (AEDT)
Watch it live: On Fox Cricket (channel 501), and streaming on Kayo, from 6pm (AEDT)
Teams
Australia: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabda, Anrich Nortje