Gqerberha (the city formerly known as Port Elizabeth) turned on a wildly tempestuous welcome for the visitors. Captain Pat won the toss again and inserted South Africa. Unsurprisingly, since he had omitted his specialist spinner again and brought in Boland. Normally this would be regarded as an outrage, but there were extenuating circumstances. Thanks to Jupiter Pluvius only 43 overs were bowled on days 1 and 2. The pitch is piebald, with odd patches of suspicious vegetation. Cummins has backup spin (three part-time offies). And the fourth seamer? Boland the miraculous: a fast-medium bowler who doesn’t seem to do much except plant the ball exactly where he wants it every time and make it seam both ways off a good length.
In any other team Boland would be among those first picked. His record is exemplary. His Test bowling average is currently well under 20. He has only been collared once in his late-blooming career, when the English marched down the pitch and clubbed him off his length. Since then Alex Carey has decided that anyone wanting to leave the crease to Boland will be met by him standing up to the stumps, ready to whip off the bails if they miss. Even that stratagem is now off the table. The laconic Victorian never complains when he is omitted. Rarely has he been known to express emotion beyond a satisfied grin when yet another batsman leaves the crease, disgruntled at having nicked off to the keeper or slips.
He has enjoyed himself at Gqerberha. Aiden Markram did little wrong. He merely pushed forward at an off-cutter and edged it into his middle stump. Bedingham was still less fortunate. Mindful of the previous ball, he played at a fifth-stump delivery which seamed away and edged it to Carey. On the second day, having rendered Ackerman strokeless, Boland induced a careless waft outside off, with a similar result. Starc joined the party by inducing an optimistic wave from Breetzke, again caught behind by Carey. Rickelton – now the wicket-keeper and batting at six instead of opening – shared in a 52-run stand with his captain until in the shadows of dusk Boland returned, and had him edging behind to Renshaw.
At 5/92 South Africa is on the rack. Yet their doughty skipper is still there, unbeaten on 41. Temba Bavuma is a proud man, with every reason to be. Until Australia’s arrival he had captained his side 12 times for 11 wins and a draw. He has shown that the pitch is far from unplayable. But the menace of Boland still lurks in the shadows. Cummins might well congratulate himself for calling the situation correctly, all the more since Hazlewood was indisposed and unable to take the field. There has been no spin as yet. There may not be much for the entire fixture. But he had seam backup in Webster the utility, whose four overs were accurate, testing, and cost his captain just a single. More tomorrow…
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