‘Gutless’ Aussies flamed for meek surrender after ugly collapse

Australia is staring down the barrel of an innings defeat after a “gutless” batting performance on day four of the second Test against South Africa at St George’s Park.

And to add to the Aussie pain, mystery surrounds a neck injury to Steve Smith that has so far kept him from batting in the second innings.

Having started the day already a wicket down after Nic Maddinson was dismissed before stumps for a duck, the Aussies were rolled for just 99 before tea.

"It's almost like they've just thrown in the towel. It's a pretty gutless batting performance," former Proteas fast bowler Vernon Philander said on SEN.

Asked to follow on for the first time since 2019, Australia then lost another four wickets to make it to stumps 4-156, still requiring another 170 just to make the Proteas bat again.

The 13-wicket calamity easily marks Pat Cummins′ worst day as Test skipper.

Trapped lbw by Marco Jansen in the morning, Travis Head made the most of an early chance when he was dropped on five in the second innings, but stood up to make it to the close of the play an unbeaten 87.

A loss would mark the first time in history Australia has lost 19 wickets in the final two days to lose a Test.

But the Test career of Maddinson, and possibly even Beau Webster and Marnus Labuschagne could be hanging by threads after more disappointing failures.

Out for a duck late on day three, Maddinson again fell cheaply in Australia’s second innings. Webster also made scores of just 13 and 8 and barely looked threatening.

But it was Labuschagne’s second innings dismissal in particular that has attracted the heaviest scrutiny.

He and Head had put on 92 for the second wicket and looked comfortable. He got a reprieve on 36 when he was given out lbw by the on-field umpire, before the decision was overturned on review after the Simon Harmer delivery was shown to have spun too much and would have just missed leg-stump.

But not long after, he appeared to suffer a brain fade when he charged down the wicket to Harmer and holed out to Jansen at mid-on. He threw his head back in disgust with himself and then trudged off the field.

“I think he’d have to be critical of himself for the choice of shot because you’re hitting into the wind,” Mark Nicholas said on SuperSport.

“It’s the one area where that’s exactly where the wind is coming from so you’re giving yourself the least chance of clearing the man.

“I think he’ll hate himself for that.”

In commentary for SEN, former Australian opener Simon Katich suggested it was time for Marnus to be dropped once more.

“What the hell is that? He can hang his head backwards and think he’s unlucky, but you’re trying to hang on for a draw, and you try and go down town over mid-on, into the breeze, after getting a reprieve? You have to wonder what’s going through his mind,” he said.

“And it’s not like it’s a one-off – it’s been happening for three years.”

The ugly dismissal stretches his Test century drought to 47 innings.

“How many players in the history of Australian cricket have been given this many opportunities without scoring a hundred? Back in the day you were lucky if you didn’t get dropped after missing out 10 times, let alone nearly 50,” Katich said.

After play, Australia coach Andrew McDonald gave a one-word answer when asked to sum up the day's play: "disappointing".

When asked to elaborate, he seemed to point straight at Labuschagne.

“Some of the shots we played in the scenario. We knew we had a lot of work to do at the start of the day, and I think some of the shots some players played today they would take back,” he said.

And when asked about Labuschagne's dismissal directly: "You saw what we saw".

“For me, the option is there if the ball is in the right area. It is a strength of his,” he said.

"… He did a lot of hard work once again, but it sort of feels like I'm on repeat with the amount of 30s he's made. That's been a danger period for him.

"What they had was a good partnership, they were starting to claw their way back, albeit a long way behind the game … for me when you do that hard work, you've got to cash in and unfortunately that wasn't the case."

There are injury concerns for the Aussies, however.

Smith top scored with 28 in the first innings but visibly struggled with a neck injury throughout his time at the crease.

Smith was then bowled uncharacteristically through a gap between bat and pad by Wiaan Mulder to leave Australia reeling at 8-86. He did not appear in Australia’s second innings.

McDonald confirmed it was “a neck issue that’s giving him some grief”, but did not give any more detail. He said he would bat on day five.

“It’s not something that will rule him out of the innings, but it took a bit more time than we expected off the back of the first innings,” he added.

The Aussies started day four already down a wicket after Maddinson was dismissed overnight for a duck and were bowled out for 99 before tea.

Several of the lower-order batters were out nicking balls they could have left.

Marco Jansen was the hero for South Africa, finishing with 5-33, which prompted another former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn to declared on X Jansen “is currently the best cricketer in the world”.

Australia’s second innings was then off to a horror start when Maddinson was caught behind off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling for 8.

The two dismissals for Maddinson make for an interesting dilemma at selection ahead of the third Test which shapes up as a series decider.

Maddinson did enough in the first Test when he scored 48 in the second innings to hold on to his spot, but his shock selection will now come into question.

Cameron Green’s fitness will be the deciding factor as he aims to return for the final Test. He was spotted bowling in the nets during day four.

David Warner also suggested on X Sam Konstas could come into the side at No.3 in the future, after he scored 151 not out for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield against Western Australia.

McDonald refused to be drawn into selection discussion for the third Test in Cape Town – the scene of the infamous sandpapergate scandal of 2018.

But speaking on Fox Sports, former Australian opener Usman Khawaja said Matthew Renshaw needed to return to the top of the order.

"Renshaw is an opener," he said.

"He's a terrific leaver of the ball. You can see it when he blocks it. He blocks it really late, under his eyes. He’s got a technique for the new ball. That’s why he’s been opening the batting for Queensland.

"It's very hard to teach people those skills of leaving well and playing the ball late, which Renshaw has."

The Aussies will resume on day five with Head (87*) and nightwatchman Scott Boland (2*) at the crease, hoping to bat out the day to salvage a draw.