Summary
144.3 overs, 34 wickets, and six sessions of play, featuring two prodigiously talented bowling attacks, and one poorly prepared pitch. That was an odd Test match.
The inquest into why the Gabba was so difficult to bat on will dominate the three cricket-free days. Thereafter the spotlight will fall on David Warner, whose Test career appears to be rapidly approaching its end. A few thousand miles away the focus will be on South Africa’s top order – weak on paper, disastrous on Queensland soil.
West Indies were dismal a few weeks ago. South Africa don’t look like making over 200 in their remaining four knocks. This summer of cricket is fast becoming a headache for the game’s administrators.
In amongst the doom and gloom credit is due to Travis Head for his match-winning 92 in the first innings. And all the bowlers took advantage of the conditions without getting carried away. Australia’s attack spread the wickets evenly among themselves and selectors now have the difficult decision around whether to recall Josh Hazlewood for the Boxing Day Test. They couldn’t drop Scott Boland on his home track, could they?
I shall leave you with Geoff Lemon’s thoughts from the press box, but stay tuned for plenty more reaction over the coming days. I’ll see you back here in a week or so, full of Christmas pud.
For South Africa to compete in the next two tests they need to add another specialist batsman and back Keshav Maharaj to play a bigger role. #AUSvSA
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 18, 2022
