South Africa held on for a draw at the SCG on Sunday to stop the Australians from claiming a series whitewash, albeit with a massive helping hand from the Sydney weather.
Australia walks away with a 2-0 win, and will now quickly turn its attention to next month’s blockbuster tour of India.
They will do so after Pat Cummins boosted his captaincy resume further, while the Proteas have been left with a major Test dilemma on their hands.
All this and more in our Talking Points from the three-Test series between Australia and South Africa.
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TALKING POINTS: Flop exposes cricket’s big problem; Aussies’ Green truth a blessing, and a curse
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PROTEAS FLOP EXPOSES WORRYING GULF IN WORLD CRICKET
South Africa are fourth in the ICC’s Test rankings, and entered this series sitting in second on the World Test Championship ladder.
There’s hardly been a series that better exposes the shortcomings of world cricket’s official yardsticks.
Needless to say that South Africa isn’t the second-best Test nation in the world. It might not even be the fourth-best.
That much is clear given how limply the Proteas’ batters repeatedly crumbled in this series, with the exception of when it was too late in Sydney.
Known as their overwhelming strength, their bowlers were somewhat underwhelming, with Australia comfortably posting big totals in Melbourne and Sydney.
Playing in away conditions is so often used to excuse poor results for visiting teams, but the discrepancy between conditions in Australia and South Africa is minimal.
The fact South Africa had won three-straight series in Australia is proof of that.
Australia was expected to brush aside the West Indies this summer, but South Africa was meant to be a sterner test.
That examination never materialised – which speaks to the worrying gulf that continues to widen between the haves and the have-nots in world cricket.
Shocking review sums up Proteas tour | 02:03
As cricket’s powerhouses, Australia, India and England continue to dominate the landscape. Other nations need them, hence why South Africa has been overseas in the middle of its own Test summer instead of at home.
But what happens next if these trips continue to deliver such one-sided results? Will they become nothing other than a stopgap before the next Ashes or Border-Gavaskar Series, and a box-ticking exercise for the ICC?
Can these series genuinely spark excitement and inspiration in the way that they used to?
The answer is still yes, although there is undoubtedly work to be done, especially in the case of South Africa.
The nation’s home affairs simply aren’t in order after a tumultuous period for the game’s administration, and the ongoing neglect of the Test format.
First class cricket in South Africa has been on life support for some time, with a recent restructuring around a two-tier system hoped to change its fortunes. Meanwhile, the batters don’t have the opportunity to face the nation’s best bowlers who seldom feature domestically.
Adding to the dilemma is that the nation has only 28 Tests scheduled under the ICC’s Future Tours Program between now and January 2027 – an average of seven every 12 months.
For comparison, Australia has 44 – an average of 11 every year.
Speaking to foxsports.com.au before the series, South Africa legend Shaun Pollock called the situation “massively concerning”.
“The major concern is the Test cricket,” Pollock said. “Obviously we’re going through a bit of a transition phase now with our team, where some of the guys are coming and trying to establish themselves.
“I’d be desperate for more tours to happen, and obviously for Test cricket to grow from strength-to-strength, rather than be in jeopardy of losing a bit of a fanbase.
“I hope they do manage to sort a few issues out. There’s been change in the structure and admin-wise, some people have come in. So it will be interesting to see what they lay out over the next six months.”
Proteas captain Dean Elgar expressed similar sentiment after losing the three-Test series in Melbourne.
Asked if defeat was the start of a spiral South Africa would find difficult to climb out of, he said: “Hopefully that spiral can come to an end come next season where first-class cricket will be looked after a bit better.
“I know that is in the plans, that we do potentially have more first-class cricket back home. But yes, it’s a tough one. I’ve got to bite my tongue.
“We need to be playing more Test cricket and our players need to be exposed to this level. Even though we’re taking a hiding like we’ve had in the first two Tests here and the England series that we had, our players need to be exposed to that.
“Unfortunately we are all learning in the most ruthless and brutal way but I think there are more learnings out of this than going out and playing against a team that’s of similar strength and we beat.”
IS SANDPAPERGATE WELL AND TRULY BURIED?
Probably not.
The reality of the situation is that through manager comments, future books and interviews, the sorry saga is unlikely to ever completely go away.
But in terms of what plays out on the field, it was hard to believe that these were the same two nations involved in such a spiteful series last time they met in Test cricket.
True, we aren’t privy to everything that’s said out on the field, but there was a distinct lack of bite to the rivalry that’s endured decades.
Most of the South Africans involved in the 2018 series had moved on, with the exception of Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, but most of the Australians remained.
That includes key antagonists David Warner and Steve Smith, as well as teammates Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja.
There was an expectation pre-series that the Proteas might try to get under the Australians’ skin, particularly Warner who was in poor form heading into the series.
That expectation grew as Warner entered the series with scars reopened after he opted to withdraw from the appeal process to have his lifetime leadership ban revoked.
Nonetheless, he heads out of the series without a scar, and with his Test future his to decide. The same could be said for Smith, who also had a strong series.
The fact South Africa proved to be such a weak opponent for the Australians played a big role in diffusing any potential flashpoints between the teams.
It’s hard to offer much lip when you’re being comprehensively beaten from the first ball of the series until the last.
These two cricketing nations will remain enemies, especially with South Africa still harbouring a grudge over Australia’s aborted Test tour in 2021.
But if you’re looking for Sandpapergate-related tensions on the field, they are now hard to find for those on the outer.
“Definitely, there hasn’t seemed to be any animosity out there between the two teams out in the middle,” Mike Hussey told foxsports.com.au. “It seems like everyone has moved past Sandpapergate and certainly the acrimony between the two teams.
“And that’s good. I think both teams just want to move forward from all that and put it behind them and look forward to playing good cricket here.”
He added: “It’s been played in really good spirit, but I think Australia have probably been just too strong.”
ANOTHER TICK FOR CAPTAIN CUMMINS
Another series, and another win for Australia captain Pat Cummins.
Of course, winning games of cricket is an overly-simple, and often inaccurate, measure for how good a captain is. Winning really is more of a reflection of the players than the captain.
That said, Australia certainly is enjoying a hot run of form since he took over from Tim Paine.
Cummins is unbeaten in five Test series as captain, while Australia has lost just one of 15 Tests under his reign.
That includes against England, West Indies and South Africa at home, as well as Pakistan and Sri Lanka away.
What’s more is that it feels like Cummins’ brand of captaincy is beginning to become clearer.
Having been arguably guilty of being a little conservative last summer, Cummins was more aggressive this season, particularly against the Proteas.
Cummins twice elected to bowl first, including in Melbourne when it was far from an obviously decision to make. Both times it paid off.
Cummins torments RSA with special spell | 04:58
In Sydney, after all of day three and half of day four was lost to rain, Cummins was up against it to try and produce a result.
But he just about pulled every right rein in South Africa’s first innings, with a number of smart bowling changes somehow giving Australia a sniff of victory, despite the mammoth task of taking 20 wickets in five sessions.
And that says nothing of how well he bowled himself, delivering a brutal spell late on day four that opened the door to the Australians.
Asked how impressive Cummins’ captaincy has been against the Proteas, Hussey noted that his value has gone beyond Australia’s winning record.
“It feels like there’s a really good feeling in the team, which is part of his job,” Hussey said.
“I think he’s been brave with a few of his calls, obviously winning the toss and bowling first a couple of times, particularly in Melbourne, and it’s proved to pay off. So I think tactically he’s been really good.”
He added: “But having said that, I think captaincy sometimes comes down to how well your team plays. And the team has played really well this summer.”
GREEN IS IRREPLACEABLE
Cameron Green is just 18 matches into his Test career, but he’s already one of the most irreplaceable members of the Australian team.
The West Australian’s ability to bat at No. 6 and bowl crucial spells is a rarity; not since Keith Miller has an Australian cricketer juggled both disciplines so consistently.
Green averaged 39.84 with the bat in Tests last year, earning player-of-the-match honours for a crucial 77 against Sri Lanka in Galle.
The 23-year-old then claimed a maiden five-wicket haul during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, pushing his career bowling average down to 29.78.
Only two Australian Test cricketers have scored more runs and taken more wickets before their 24th birthday – Stan McCabe and Steve Waugh.
Green’s importance to the Test side was glaring during the New Year’s Test in Sydney, where Australia were tasked with claiming 14 wickets on day five for an unlikely victory.
Cummins and Josh Hazlewood bowled commendably at the SCG, but it was noticeably more challenging for the pace duo without a third seam option for variation.
SUPER SPELL! Green bags first Test 5-fa | 01:20
Green, who suffered a finger injury during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, is at risk of missing next month’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener against India in Nagpur.
Australia will effectively lose a batter and a bowler if he’s unavailable for the first Test, ruining the team balance.
The nation is incredibly lucky to have Green, but
“We’ve probably been saying it since he first came in and trying to get the message out there that they’ve got to back him in, give him every opportunity to grow, even if his performances aren’t brilliant right from the world go and to keep sticking with him,” Hussey said.
“Because having that balance, and having someone who can bat in the top six but also give high quality overs, you’re almost getting two players for one. And that’s just so valuable for the balance of the team.
“Those type of all-rounders are just worth their weight in gold.
“You can tell he’s missed (in Sydney). It means that the faster bowlers have to do a fair bit more, so he can help out in that respect.
“He’s an important player and he seems to be getting better and better the more he plays.”
CAREY STAKES HIS LONG-TERM CLAIM
Australia lost its Test wicketkeeper less than three weeks out from last summer’s Ashes series, and Alex Carey was named the last-minute replacement.
The South Australian played commendably during his maiden Test series, but he couldn’t silence any lingering doubters. He averaged 20.33 with the bat against England and put down a couple of regulation chances low to his right.
National selectors were committed to Carey as the long-term wicketkeeper, but some Australian cricket fans were adamant West Australian gloveman Josh Inglis deserved a call-up.
But then, Carey fell in the Karachi hotel pool.
Since footage of his unplanned swim went viral in March, Carey has averaged 71.83 with the bat in Tests, which is bettered only by Usman Khawaja (76.91) in the Australian team.
The 31-year-old slapped a maiden Test century against South Africa during the Boxing Day Test, becoming the first wicketkeeper to achieve the feat at the MCG since Rod Marsh in 1977.
Unsung Carey scores sublime maiden ton | 02:29
Carey’s glovework has also improved drastically since last summer. Dropped chances are few and far between, while his twin catches off Michael Neser’s bowling while up to the stumps in Adelaide were nothing short of extraordinary.
“As we said, he is one of the really, really good people of Australian cricket and he should be immensely proud of that moment,” former Australian coach Justin Langer said on Channel 7 commentary.
“The reason that you love seeing people like Alex Carey get rewarded, is because he works so hard as well.
“He is an incredibly fit athlete. That doesn’t come on the shelf. You have to work hard for that.
“He works hard on his wicketkeeping. He works hard on his batting and being the consummate team man.
“You’re just really happy for people like Alex Carey who achieve these milestones.”
Australia has found a long-term wicketkeeper in Carey, but his glovework will still be tested in India next month.
