With photos taken in the SCG dressing room…
Weird considering that the test is being played in Melbourne.
Also i have to say it’s been completely farcical that every day of this test match in Durban has ended because of bad light. Especially as they have had the floodlights on. Perhaps the red ball has had it’s day.
1 Like
Nah, it’s the timezone in Durban that is the issue here.
2 Likes
Australia have defeated South Africa by 214 runs in the Durban test. Chasing 421 runs to win after Australia declared their second innings closed at 6/314, the home side was dismissed for 206 after lunch on day five today, with Josh Hazlewood grabbing 6/49 (his best test bowling figures), while player of the match Matt Renshaw chipped in with 2/30 after scoring 190 and 82 in this match.
2 Likes
A sudden, horrible collapse for South Africa with all 4 wickets lost in the span of 17 balls.
They gave up. There’s no other way to sugarcoat it.
1 Like
Yes, play should have started half an hour early at 9 am. That’s what they used to do for Tests in Durban through the 90s. That didn’t guarantee them not going off for bad light in the afternoon due to the low-hanging cloud that floats in often before dusk, but they would usually get more overs in by starting half an hour early. For some reason, I am assuming television, they changed it for play to start later during the early 2000s and bad light has been a bigger issue ever since. It’s a bit crazy as Durban is almost on the same meridian as Cairo, which is an hour ahead.
It’s similar on the east coast of India in Kolkata and other cities near the Bay of Bengal, where the timezone discrepancy means the sun sets around 5 pm. I remember the BCCI pre-empted that last year for the Test with South Africa by allowing play to begin 30 minutes earlier.
1 Like
Australia took a clean sweep of the women’s ODI series against Bangladesh, winning game three in Brisbane tonight. For the third time in a row, Bangladesh were sent in to bat first, and were bowled out for 172, with player of the match Megan Schutt taking 4/16 (her second best ODI bowling figures). Schutt was also named player of the series for her ten wickets.
The home side lost their openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney early, but Ellyse Perry (65) and Annabel Sutherland (74) put on an unbeaten stand of 137 to guide the team to reach the target in 22.4 overs.
4 Likes
1 Like
Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in the first women’s T20 match at North Sydney Oval tonight.
This is part of a six match Rose Bowl series with three T20s this month and three ODIs in March next year.
Fielding a relatively young team, the Kiwis recovered from a shaky start to post 2/162 from 20 overs, with player of the match Georgie Plummer (85 not out) and Maddy Green (56 not out) putting on 127 from 80 balls for the third wicket.
The home side made a fast start in the run chase, thanks to Beth Mooney (38) and Ellyse Perry (52), but collapsed from 2/102 in the 11th over to 8/159 at the end of the 17th over, before Kim Garth scored a boundary off a square drive to secure victory with only seven balls to spare.
2 Likes
Australia defeated New Zealand by 40 runs in the second T20 game at North Sydney Oval tonight.
Sent in to bat, Australia recovered from 3/41 in the 7th over to reach 7/167 at the end of 20 overs, led by Ash Gardner who smashed 84 from 45 balls including 10 fours and 4 sixes. Beth Mooney was dropped twice on her way to 39.
In reply, the White Ferns were in front of Australia in the run rate before the home side put the brakes on, taking wickets regularly and restricting NZ to 8/127 from 20 overs. Gardner was named player of the match with her 84 and 2/17 from three overs.
Australia retain the Rose Bowl with the series win, however the trophy will be back up for grabs next March when the two teams meet for three one-day matches.
2 Likes
We’re cooked.
1 Like
South Africa have turned the Gqeberha test on its head thanks to brilliant batting by captain Temba Bavuma (179), Marco Jensen (85) and Simon Harmer (82) yesterday, and now are making up for lost time (more than one day of lost play due to rain).
UPDATE 10.40pm AEDT: South Africa have bowled out Australia for 99 in the first innings and have enforced the follow-on, even though Proteas pace bowler Anrich Nortje has a suspected groin injury, having only bowled 3.3 overs before walking off the field.
326 runs behind. That's the biggest first innings lead Australia have conceded (when they have bowled first) since 1984
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 21, 2026
2 Likes
Day 4 concludes with 170 runs and 6 wickets in hand.
Australia not definitively lost but I have no confidence in this squad to actually pull it off.
1 Like
What a disappointing day. The first innings was utterly dreadful and then just as it looks like we might stage a fightback we go and collapse at the end of the day.
I’ve stayed a member Team Marnus for a long time now, I still think the side is better with him in it, but that lofted shot to throw his wicket away given the game situation was an absolute shocker. Hang your head in shame, mate.
3 Likes
Is Steve Smith even a chance of batting?
1 Like
No…too busy buggerising around with Stan and Roger. 
1 Like
The story goes that he’s had treatment on his neck injury and should be right to bat today.
2 Likes
UPDATE: tonight’s third and final T20 match between Australia and NZ at North Sydney Oval was abandoned due to rain. The match was reduced to 14 overs per side due to earlier showers. Australia won the toss and elected to field. NZ were 2/11 after 2.4 overs when the sky opened again, with Kim Garth and captain Sophie Molineux each taking a wicket. Ash Gardner was named player of the series with 107 runs and two wickets.
1 Like
South Africs have won the 2nd Test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs. Bavuma was player of the match for his 179.
Didn’t see that coming after SAF were 6/110 in their first innings. Can’t remember the last time Australia lost by innings. Even more remarkable after being asked to follow on.
3 Likes
As soon as I saw that I knew he’d be crucified for it.
1 Like