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Smith likely to sit out day five
Steve Smith looks likely to sit out day five of this Test after failing to field late last night.
Smith was hit on the helmet early in his innings by an Anrich Nortje rocket, but was passed fit and continued to bat before being dismissed for 27.
But when the South African innings began, Smith was not on the field.
Cricket Australia has not yet revealed whether the veteran was officially diagnosed with concussion or not, but if he was he will be forced to sit on the sidelines again when play resumes tonight, given a mandatory 24-hour stand down rule.
Given his history with concussion, there is also a chance Smith will miss the second Test.
“I’ve not seen him since I’ve been off the pitch, so I’m hoping he’s OK,” teammate Beau Webster said after play.
“He obviously copped a nasty knock in the head there, (so I’m) wishing him all the best, and hopefully he’s back out with us either tomorrow or in the next Test.”
Josh Hazlewood was also unaware of Smith’s condition when asked by ABC Sport.
“I’m not sure to be honest, I haven’t been up there to see him,” Hazlewood said.
“No doubt the staff are looking after him.
“It was a nasty blow, so we’ll see.”
Teammates loving Maddinson comeback
There was plenty of criticism towards Nic Maddinson’s selection in this Test.
But no matter what you thought of the selectors and their puzzling decision, no one could begrudge the veteran batter being back in a baggy green after a tough few years that included a cancer battle, injuries and mental health issues.
After a painful duck in the first innings, Maddinson belted 48 off 38 balls yesterday and looked mighty comfortable before being rissoled by a Anrich Nortje yorker.
“It is obviously a fantastic story, Maddo, he’s a well-loved guy,” Beau Webster said after play last night.
“He always has been and everybody knows his talent. We saw a glimpse of it today. He’s quite destructive when he gets going. He hits the ball in some odd spots and when he gets in some moods, he can be really hard to stop.
“We were all hoping he could go on and and get a big one there (but) it’s an amazing achievement to get back to Test cricket from where he was in the last 12 to 18 months.
“Everybody knows how good he is. Me, personally, I have been on the end of some absolute hammerings from him in domestic cricket. He’s a class player, he has started the series well and (hopefully he) goes on with it.”
New Test rule could have stopped light issue
Australia and South Africa have failed to adopt a new cricket rule which could have solved the bad light issue that’s plagued this Test.
Just last week the ICC ratified a rule change which allows two teams to agree to use a pink ball, rather than a red ball, before a match starts.
But Australia and South Africa failed to utilise the rule, and about 60 overs have been lost to bad light so far in Durban.
“They say (the pink ball) moves too much,” South African legend Shaun Pollock said in commentary.
“The pink ball would have meant we played 45 more overs of Test cricket and that is why I am keen to introduce it, and not just for day-night games.”
Former Proteas fast bowler Vernon Philander says it’s silly to put that decision in the hands of the two captains.
“They have to take it out of the hands of the players completely and enforce it from the umpires’ point of view that the pink ball will become in play when the light has faded enough,” Philander said.
“You are always going to have the argument of who is ahead of the game.
“I would like to see the ICC enforce it on to the officials to make that call.”
Renshaw’s century thwarted by great catch
Matt Renshaw’s search for back-to-back hundreds in the first Test against South Africa ended in a stroke of luck for Keshav Maharaj after the spinner’s miraculous juggling catch on day four in Durban.
In Australia’s second innings, Renshaw had moved to 82 and looked certain to score his third Test century after 190 in the first innings.
The Queenslander had hit Maharaj for six with the fourth delivery of his over before going hard again with the next ball.
Renshaw played his shot straight back to the bowler who juggled it multiple times before claiming the catch while on the ground.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Renshaw adds a wicket to comeback Test
Matthew Renshaw is certainly making the most of his Test comeback!
He starred with the bat and banked 272 runs across Ausstralia’s two innings, and followed it up with his first Test wicket.
Bowling his right-arm off breaks, Renshaw snared the wicket of Proteas captain Temba Bavuma, who was caught by Nic Maddinson for 1.
Renshaw is making a few of his teammates jealous as he steams towards player of the match honours.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood picked up two wickets overnight but was impressed by Renshaw’s.
“That his first one is it?” Hazlewood laughed to ABC Sport after stumps on day four.
“He looks good, rolled down a few overs now. Bit of rough there for him, tall off-spinner – he’s going well.”
The match situation after day four
Australia has a firm grip on this Test match after declaring at 6-314 last night.
The Aussies then took four South African wickets before stumps and the hosts are in giant trouble at 4-102.
They still trail by 318 runs and now only have six wickets in hand.
In short – South Africa’s best hope now is to dig in and try to make it to stumps on day five and secure a draw.
Australia is expected to mop up the final six wickets and claim victory, barring bad light or rain ruining those plans.
Aiden Markram (45) and Wiaan Mulder (9) are at the crease.
Play resumes at 6.30pm AEDT tonight.
Welcome back!
Morning!
We are back to wrap up day four of the Durban Test.
I’ll get you up to speed with all the post-stumps reactions and all you need to know.
We’ll leave it there for now
We’re going to close up our LIVE coverage of day four for now because re-heating this blog in the early morning with more reaction from the day’s play.
Right now there’s no confirmation around Steve Smith’s concussion status after he was hit on the helmet earlier.
The thirsty drinks break is back
The golf cart’s out there again.
South Africa is 1-41 with David Bedingham not out on 20.
The Proteas haven’t looked too bad apart from that Rickelton dismissal but Pat Cummins is always sniffing around for a wicket.
Smith not on the field at the moment
Steve Smith isn’t at his usual second slip position right now.
He’s off the field after being hit in the helmet during his innings and is being tested for concussion.
Michael Neser was warming up before the fielding session started, and looked like he was practicing a run-up too.
Could be an ideal concussion replacement.
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First Test live updates: Smith concern lingers as Cricket Australia stays silent
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‘Not human’: Legends, teammates stunned by ‘freakish’ Smith display
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First Test day three RECAP: ‘No doubt’ over Aussie order despite selection gamble
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‘Slice of luck’: Miraculous catch stops Renshaw’s ton before Smith concussion worry
Source: www.nine.com.au
