123rd over: South Africa 344-7 (Mulder 76, Harmer 1) That was Starc’s ninth wicket of the match. He’s the dictionary definition of a champion fast bowler.
“I don’t remember who it was, but didn’t an English batsman once play at Lord’s with a bout of malaria?” asks Anthony Bradley. “Came in before lunch on the first day, could barely see the ball, so decided to hit through the line and hit a six over the pavilion. It being Lord’s, no-one applauded for the rash shot. I think he went on to make a ton, having spent the lunch interval gulping brandy.”
Was that W Mitty RHB LBG? (I jest. It may well be true, I just can’t recall it in my current state.)
WICKET! South Africa 343-7 (Jansen c Lyon b Starc 0)
Another twist in this marvellous Test match. Marco Jansen is the latest South Africa to fall on the pull, hoicking the new bowler Mitchell Starc straight to Nathan Lyon on the square-leg boundary. After waiting an age for a wicket, Australia have taken two in quick succession.
122nd over: South Africa 342-6 (Mulder 75, Jansen 0) Lyon is back on for Labuschagne. His last ball to Jansen turns and takes pad, possibly bat, before flying past short leg. No dice.
“Where on earth are we in this game?” sniffs Will Ellen. “I can’t figure it out. Both teams want to win. Both teams still can. All four results are still possible. South Africa would love six or seven overs at the Aussies before the end, but I cant see them declaring, or Bazballing themselves out. Travis Head is the joker in the pack that scares any team from dangling too tasty a carrot… so there’s so much to weigh up here.
“A bit like Gary Cooper’s High Noon, the role of time is very much coming into consideration here.”
Spot on. I feel like either team could win comfortably and it would make sense, which is pretty unusual.
121st over: South Africa 340-6 (Mulder 74, Jansen 0) Mulder pulls Hazlewood majestically for four. Mad to say, for a man who almost broke Brian Lara’s record, but this might be his best Test innings.
“Hello Rob,” says Tim Sanders. “Talking of Eddie Paynter, as we were, he merits a place on the list of great Test performances in spite of illness. It was on the third day of the fourth Test at Brisbane, on the Bodyline tour, when he came straight from hospital to bat No8 and win the Ashes.”
120th over: South Africa 336-6 (Mulder 70, Jansen 0) “In the matter of best Test performances despite illness,” begins Stuart Middleton, “Garry Sobers’s century against England in 1973, completed in the midst of what was reportedly a hangover of epic proportions, must be pretty high on the list.”
See also: Botham, Sir Ian, in the Jubilee Test.
WICKET! South Africa 335-6 (Rickelton run out 101)
Australia have the breakthrough! Mulder steers Labuschagne to backward point, stands his ground and then realises Rickelton is almost alongside him. Rickelton tries to get back but is well short when Labuschagne takes Josh Inglis’s throw and breaks the stumps. A frustrating end to a quite brilliant innnings.
Ryan Rickelton’s third Test century!
119th over: South Africa 327-5 (Rickelton 101, Mulder 65) A huge roar from the home crowd as Rickelton flicks Hazlewood through square leg for two to reach an outstanding hundred. This has been a proper Test innings, played under extreme pressure: 218 balls, 12 fours, no sixes. We don’t need sixes.
118th over: South Africa 327-5 (Rickelton 98, Mulder 64) And now Marnus is back! He’s turning it a fair bit, particularly to the left-handed Rickelton, who thick-edges a single round the corner to move to 98.
Mulder laps and sweeps consecutive deliveries for four to lift South Africa’s lead to 227. At the start of play they were effectively 40 for 4.
117th over: South Africa 318-5 (Rickelton 97, Mulder 56) Hazlewood comes on to replace Cummins. Apologies, I’m really struggling here. There’s a hint of reverse swing, which was so important in the first Test, but Mulder shows good judgement of what to leave and what to defend. One from the over.
117th over: South Africa 317-5 (Rickelton 96, Mulder 56) Rickelton drives Head down the ground for a single to move to 96. He’s been in the nineties for ten overs, but there’s no sign yet of nervousness.
115th over: South Africa 315-5 (Rickelton 95, Mulder 55) Apologies, I had to run to the bathroom during that over – I don’t think we missed anything of note.
114th over: South Africa 312-5 (Rickelton 94, Mulder 53) Travis Head comes on for Nathan Lyon. Mulder drives him for four to bring up a fine half-century from 138 balls. South Africa were under so much pressure when he came to the crease, but he has played beautifully.
113th over: South Africa 307-5 (Rickelton 94, Mulder 48) Cummins tries to tempt Rickelton, who needs six for his hundred, into something injudicious by floating a few tempters outside off stump. Rickelton isn’t interested and it’s another maiden.
“You wondered how Starc has managed to get even better at this stage of his career,” writes Ian. “Could it be that multi-format cricket makes batters worse at facing certain types of Test bowling? As with most things in life, it’s probably a bit of both. I’m looking forward to seeing him in England next summer, hopefully not being as deadly.”
It feels like Test batting is weaker than it has been for a long time, but I also think Starc’s improvement outstrips that trend. Wobble-seam has made a big difference.
112th over: South Africa 307-5 (Rickelton 94, Mulder 48) Lyon continues to wheel away without success: his figures are 38-10-77-1. Very tidy, but Australia need more in that final column.
“Hi Rob,” writes Tom Paternoster-Howe. “You asked in over 109 how do you take 350+ Test wickets then get better in your mid-30s. Isn’t that a question you should direct to Jimmy Anderson, one of the few men who could actually answer it with any knowledge? I understand he’s got a bit of free time nowadays, so might have time to answer!”
When I’m awake at 4am, one thought distracts me more than any other: had England picked Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson last winter, they might have won the Ashes.
111th over: South Africa 305-5 (Rickelton 93, Mulder 47) Starc off, Cummins on. He bowls a maiden to Rickelton, who tries to pull a leg-side bumper and is beaten. Careful now.
“Is there an argument for SA to try and push on a little now?” wonders Phil Harrison. “Australia have been in the field for 108 overs, the second new ball is 28 overs old and Jansen is in next. Time to reverse the pressure?”
There’s certainly an argument for that. I think I’d keep playing at a natural tempo – especially as the next man in is Marco Jansen, who will score quickly if he spends any time at the crease. It’s beautifully poised.
110th over: South Africa 305-5 (Rickelton 93, Mulder 47) A maiden from Lyon to Mulder.
“Is this your equivalent of Michael Jordan’s flu game?” asks Daniel McDonald. “OBOing a great test match despite terrible indisposition. What are the best Test performances despite illness? Dean Jones in the tied Test springs to mind.”
I’m not that bad. Are we talking illness and injury, or just the former? Either way, Dean Jones – “you weak Victorian” – is right up there. Rick McCosker and Anil Kumble batting with a broken jaw come to mind if we’re including injuries.
109th over: South Africa 305-5 (Rickelton 93, Mulder 47) A beautiful bouncer from Starc whistles past Rickelton’s nose. Australia haven’t taken a wicket since the morning session but know that one could bring two, three, even five.
Since the start of 2025, Starc has taken 86 wickets at 18 apiece. How do you take 350+ Test wickets and then become even better in your mid-30s?
108th over: South Africa 303-5 (Rickelton 92, Mulder 46) “Poor Robbie,” writes Robbie Robert Wilson. “There’s nothing ersatz about your Gary Coopertude. You’re our idéal maximal, our archétype, notre chevalier errant. You’re Aragorn with a bargain haircut and a decent forward defensive. We all model ourselves on you.
“I’m very sorry about your Covid glums. Since (remarkably) no one trusts vaccines any more you could always start smoking or get pregnant (both bizarrely protected populations). Just a suggestion.
“This is an absolutely wonderful match. I continue to maintain that it’s all about the pitch. I just don’t know how or why. It’s still an insight, buddy.”
This is me right now. No, the left.
107th over: South Africa 302-5 (Rickelton 91, Mulder 46) Rickelton steers Starc past gully for four to move into the nineties. Then he has a moment of fortune when a length delivery keeps low, hits the bottom of the bat and deflects just past the stumps. Rickelton fell over himself but went backwards rather than towards the poles.
“If we’re talking four-man attacks, what about Harmison, Hoggard, Jones, Flintoff?” says Andrew Cosgrove. “People went on about Vaughan’s captaincy, but it must be fairly easy to look like a good captain if your available options is to bring one of those four on.”
That’s true, though I reckon his man-management got the best out of at least three of them. I think Harmison called Vaughan “the best liar I ever played with”, and it was meant as a compliment.
106th over: South Africa 297-5 (Rickelton 86, Mulder 46) This is Mulder’s highest score since his 367 not out against Zimbabwe last year, and the fifth-highest of his 27-Test career. In context it is such a valuable innings. South Africa were in all sorts, effectively 81 for 5, when he came to the crease.
“I think Stephen Fleming could be an excellent foil to many of this England Test team,” writes Guy Hornsby. “I still find so much of the opprobrium towards Brook baffling as time goes on. Bazball allowed him to be ultra-aggressive, but it’s hardly like he can only play one way. We’ve seen lately in white-ball cricket how destructive he can be but the shots he plays aren’t that frenetic any more. They’re calculating and brilliant.
“He’s a generational talent, and I’ve accepted this is how he is. But Fleming can accentuate playing the situation, and feels like a good fit. We’ll find out soon enough because playing this team at home is going to be a huge task. They’ve rebuilt superbly, and Australia look a little short of ideas. Another 100 and they will feel very happy with where they are.”
105th over: South Africa 296-5 (Rickelton 85, Mulder 46) Mitchell Starc replaces Marnus Labuschagne and digs in a few short balls to Mulder, who politely ignores a couple and then misses a slightly frivolous pull.
“Why are we taking about Harry Brook?” asks Adam Foster. “Love him, but I have paid no attention to the tri-series while this has been on. There is just no comparison to a tight series and a five-day decider, regardless of who you support (SA of course). We cannot lose this. Magic.”
I just cut and paste the emails. But yes, I agree, Test cricket is the purest form of sport in the whole wide world. Imagine if this was a five-Test series!
104th over: South Africa 295-5 (Rickelton 84, Mulder 46) Nathan Lyon returns to the attack after tea, slip and short leg in place for Rickelton, who waves a single off the final ball of the over to keep strike. Sheesh he’s played well.
“This Australian attack must be the best balanced and most accomplished four-bowler unit for the ages?” says Brian Withington. “Obviously Warne and McGrath were peerless, but I’d put both Cummins and Hazelwood ahead of Lee and Gillespie, never mind the X-factor of the left armed Starc. And Lyon right up there as a top-drawer finger spinner.”
If you exclude the 1980s West Indies on the grounds of balance, I guess Australia are the attack with the strongest weak link. Brett Lee was bloody good, terrifying at times, but ultimately he averaged over 30. Mind you, do does Nathan Lyon. I can see both sides!
(I think you underestimate Gillespie btw – at his best, from 1997 t0 2004, he was a monster.)
The evening session
The players are wandering back onto the field. By the way, I should apologise for the relative poverty of today’s coverage – I’m sick as a dog (weirdly, this being the year 2026, I think I have Covid for the first time) but am soldiering on like an ersatz Gary Cooper.
“It’s wild how dismissive and almost scornful so many England supporters routinely are of Harry Brook,” writes Phil Harrison. “He averages 53 after 41 Tests ffs. Everyone gets out. Do these weirdos not expect him to play a shot in anger?”
I can understand the frustration, because a computer-game version of Brook could average 70 in Tests. But as with his spiritual forefather, Kevin Pietersen, I’m just grateful to watch an unfettered genius at work.
Tea: South Africa lead by 194 runs
103rd over: South Africa 294-5 (Rickelton 83, Mulder 46) Rickelton and Mulder complete a wicketless session, one that has arguably made South Africa favourites to win the match. They’ve added 113 for the sixth wicket, and Australia have tried eight bowling options in an attempt to break the partnership.
Test cricket > everything, ever.
102nd over: South Africa 293-5 (Rickelton 82, Mulder 46) Mulder top-edges a slog-sweep off Head that lands safely and brings two runs. Australia have always produced a higher class of partnership breaker – Greg Bloody Blewett – and their occasional spinners look surprisingly menacing.
101st over: South Africa 291-5 (Rickelton 82, Mulder 44) And now it’s time for Marnus, the leg-spinning version. He gets a couple of deliveries to really rip from outside the left-hander’s off stump. Rickelton plays one good cut for two but that was a promising over for Australia.
100th over: South Africa 288-5 (Rickelton 80, Mulder 43) Cummins continues to roll the dice, brings Travis Head into the attack. Four singles form a low-key over.
“The sheer resilience of these two teams stands in stark/Starc contrast to what England often serve up in similar situations,” writes Julian Menz. “There have been a few Rourke’s Drift performances to be fair, but chances are we’d be seeing Brook flattering to deceive, holing out for 30-odd. How deeply has Bazball penetrated English cricket’s DNA, despite the encouraging cameos of ‘proper batting’ of late.
“As for Starc (you saw what I did there)….a large part of resilience is the ability to attack, to make it easier for those doing the hard graft to be, well, resilient.”
I still think history will be kind to Bazball, however shambolically it ended. But it’ll be fascinating to see them adopt a more streetwise approach under Stephen Fleming.
99th over: South Africa 284-5 (Rickelton 78, Mulder 41) Mulder is cut in half by a good delivery from Hazlewood. Australia asked for caught behind but it came straight off the thigh. Mulder brings up the hundred partnership with a controlled pull behind square for four. He’s an easy to cricket to underrate, Wiaan Mulder, but I bet his teammates are grateful to have him in their corner.
“If Lyon gets dropped, who takes over?” asks Jurie Schoeman. “It’s not like they’ve prepared a successor, Kuhnemann? Murphy seemed like for like, but for some reason not backed?”
Yeah, that’s the thing. You’ll probably have more knowledge than me, but I really liked the look of Murphy – his skill and his temperament – in the 2023 Ashes. It’s such a huge call to retire Lyon, especially with a tour of India coming up. I can’t see it happening unless his form drops off completely.
98th over: South Africa 280-5 (Rickelton 78, Mulder 37) Cooper Connolly comes on to bowl, with a slip and short leg for Rickelton. Two singles from a pretty accurate over. South Africa lead by Luke Littler’s favourite score.
“Travis Head is the key to this game,” says Phil Harrison. “If he gets going, Australia could probably chase 300. If he gets out cheaply SA probably have enough already.”
Too soon, Phil. It was only 11 months ago!
97th over: South Africa 278-5 (Rickelton 77, Mulder 36) Hazlewood returns and is pulled smoothly for two by Rickelton, who is batting with such authority. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Hazlewood sorted him out in both innings of the first Test.
“A question I’m finding surprisingly difficult to answer,” says Daniel McDonald. “If it all came down to it, which attack would you prefer: McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Warne; or Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins, Lyon?”
This may be old-man nostalgia but, as much as I love the cartel, I’d take the first lot every time. Lee is probably the weakest (relatively – I’m not volunteering to face him, now never mind in 2002-03) of the eight, but Dizzy was a giant and McGrath and Warne would be in my all-time World Test XI.
96th over: South Africa 272-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 33) Mulder waves Renshaw through extra cover for a couple. It would have been four but for a terrific sliding stop by Cummins.
Renshaw has an LBW enquiry rejected after getting one to turn extravagantly from outside off; Simon Harmer will have enjoyed that.
95th over: South Africa 269-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) Cummins has a leg slip in place for Rickelton, who ignores the balls outside leg stump – one of which yields two byes – and defends the straight ones. This pair have been together for almost 30 overs now.
“Hello Rob,” writes Gervase Greene. “There’s been plenty of attention on Marnus Labuschagne’s precarious position, but I think Nathan Lyon’s future is almost as shaky.
“After a poor first Test, and being dropped for the second, his bowling has so far been patchy at best. Throughout his career he’s been (sometimes harshly) judged for not wrapping up enough fourth innings… but this wicket is doing more than enough to justify a nation’s expectations.
“And boy will he be aware of that.”
I didn’t realise he was quite so old – he turns 39 next month. I guess he’s desperate to do the last lap and win in South Africa and/or India and/or England, but maybe it’ll be taken out of his hands.
94th over: South Africa 267-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) Matt Renshaw replaces Lyon and has an appeal for a bat-pad catch turned down. The ball gripped and missed both inside edge and glove. A good over from Renshaw, another maiden.
“Why is Renshaw getting a twirl please?” asks Eamonn Maloney. “Not because he should be behind Head in the part-time pecking order but because we’ve got a second spinner, an all-rounder picked ostensibly in part for his bowling… or is he a part-timer too? If so, he should be picked on the strength of his batting and be in the top six?? He’s bowled three of the 94.”
It’s a very English selection, though we usually do it in South Asia rather than South Africa.
93rd over: South Africa 267-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) Rickelton flashes at Cummins and is beaten. A maiden.
92nd over: South Africa 267-5 (Rickelton 74, Mulder 30) A rare full ball from Lyon is scrunched down the ground for four by Rickelton. Lovely shot. He’s playing seriously well.
“Clouds gathering ominously overhead, barely a breath of wind to blow them away,” says Duncan Bonnett. “Luckily, I’m in Joburg, so no chance of it affecting the cricket. So, here’s the deal: if we’re still batting at tea, it’ll be a great comeback and put the match back in the balance, although still pretty much in Australia’s favour.
“If we can bat for an hour after tea, with some lusty swinging from Jansen et al, it’s pretty even. However, one big partnership from the Aussies, and it’s all over. So, we need to bat until halfway through the evening session, then get at least three wickets, maybe four before the close. Not gonna happen, is it?”
91st over: South Africa 261-5 (Rickelton 69, Mulder 29) Mulder squirts Cummins through point for a couple. Cummins decides to go to the short-ball ploy, which has worked so well in this series. Mulder takes it on and gets a single to long leg. South Africa lead by 161.
“That blitskrieg by Starc on day one is probably undervalued,” writes George van Zijl. “Add another 50 runs for SA to this total and we have a big game on, perhaps even advantage SA.”
90th over: South Africa 257-5 (Rickelton 68, Mulder 26) A maiden from Lyon to Mulder, who is playing a vital hand at No7. He has 26 from 67 balls, Rickelton a very neat 68 from 136.
“A lot of talk that 200 will be a lot to chase but is the wicket really that tricky?” asks Graeme Burton. “Lyon is bowling well without breaking through and the seamers are not looking particularly threatening. 200+ is tough in the fourth dig no matter the pitch but I dont think SA are that far ahead yet. What do you think?”
My instinct is that anything over 200 will be tricky, though I’m basing that more on historical precedent than this particular pitch.
Thanks Geoff, hello everyone. After two ultimately one-sided games, the series decider has developed into the most compelling arm-wrestle. Ryan Rickelton has a highest Test score of 259, against Pakistan last year, but in context this could become his best innings.
89th over: South Africa 257-5 (Rickelton 68, Mulder 26) The Rickelton cover drive again! This one more conventional. Cummins the bowler, but it doesn’t matter. Cummins pulls the length back a notch, puts everything into finding some seam movement, and there is just a touch. A scintilla. An iota. But the work required to get it is notable. Rickelton is beaten by one that goes away, then leaves one that nibbles back. Tight line to the off stump, length not full enough to hit it though, and Rickelton is this confident now.
With that, it is time for the drinks break, and with the drinks break, it is time for Rob Smyth, rubbing his little hands together with glee like a raccoon about to dive into a bin.
88th over: South Africa 252-5 (Rickelton 64, Mulder 25) Not much in the way of attack against Rickelton now. Most of the catchers have been sent to sun in the fields of their youth. Only short leg remains. Around, the lone and level sands stretch far away.
87th over: South Africa 252-5 (Rickelton 64, Mulder 25) This is creeping into Advantage South Africa territory. Even if a wicket falls now, a Jansen flurry can take their lead from 150 past 200, and 200 will take some getting. Rickelton shows his growing confidence with a handsome cover drive from Starc, not an overpitched ball but on the up. There’s been very little lateral movement from this pitch all match.
86th over: South Africa 246-5 (Rickelton 59, Mulder 24) Lyon gets the new ball now, with the hope that it will give him more bounce. He is a bounce bowler. He’s bowling well, too, lots of loop and drop. Gets one that jumps at Mulder, beats the edge, hits the pad, loops up to leg slip. There’s no one there, and no touch on the ball, but the batter had little idea what was happening.
85th over: South Africa 244-5 (Rickelton 58, Mulder 24) Has to react quickly to Starc’s bounce and pace, but Rickelton is able to deflect his cut shot behind point for two, then gloves a ball down for a run to the leg side. I wouldn’t fancy wearing Starc’s pace on the gloves. That hurt Rickelton too, he’s shaking his fingers at the other end with the glove off.
84th over: South Africa 241-5 (Rickelton 55, Mulder 24) He’s building here! Ryan Rickelton is saying, I have the discipline today but I have the shots as well. Produces another of those, driving Hazlewood gloriously through wide long off.
83rd over: South Africa 236-5 (Rickelton 50, Mulder 24) Jaffa from Starc! Line tight to the off stump, hard length that rises at Mulder, and the seam movement takes the ball away. Mulder lucky to be beaten. Then lucky to get four. Another drive, a big edge and the new ball flies away through the gap.
Half century! Rickelton 50 from 105 balls
82nd over: South Africa 232-5 (Rickelton 50, Mulder 20) Hazlewood the other new-ball operator, and Rickelton soon finds a single, raising his fifty. He’s played so well. Got monstered in Durban, didn’t make a significant contribution in Gqeberha, but he’s played an essential hand here. More needed, but a lead of 132 already gives them something to work with.
What’s with the field, though? Rickelton has hardly been slashing a lot of balls from outside off stump to the fence. He has, however, collected singles wherever possible. So why have a deep point, giving him one?
81st over: South Africa 230-5 (Rickelton 49, Mulder 19) The shiny varnished Kooka flies out of the box. You don’t imagine you’ll see anything like Starc produced on evening one, because that was in cloudy conditions late in the day, and right now it’s sunny with a breeze across the ground, but one never knows. The umpire has held onto the new ball for now, Starc begins the 81st over with the old one. Sends down one loosener, then asks Ump Illy for the new one. But wastes it first up, on the hip and glanced for four. Was looking for swing into the right handed Mulder, but started too straight and too short. Now goes across him. Then has Mulder driving in the air! But it doesn’t go to hand, it goes for three.
80th over: South Africa 222-5 (Rickelton 48, Mulder 16) Last one before the newy, and Rick-Ry takes the single early in his preferred style. Mulder attacks again, seeing width outside off, and a very wristy square drive, a Kohli style hockey snap of the wrists, but where Kohli usually uses that movement to play the ball through long on, Mulder turns his wrists around so that goes in a different direction by 90 degrees, through cover point. Some shot.
79th over: South Africa 216-5 (Rickelton 47, Mulder 11) The Patented Rickelton Strike Rotator is into effect again, cutting Lyon behind point. At which stage, Mulder says, singles be damned. Smotes Lyon for six! Full enough for the shot, and Mulder picks it up with a lofted on-drive over wide long on. Lyon changes to bowling around the wicket for the right-hander, and immediately has him in jeopardy to the ball straightening down the line of the stumps, Mulder made to work hard to keep a couple out.
78th over: South Africa 209-5 (Rickelton 46, Mulder 5) Renshaw with another, and reward for Rickelton’s patience as he gets a shorter one that sits up nicely enough to be whipped away through square leg. Four runs, and a single to follow, he has kept the singles coming even if Mulder has not yet.
77th over: South Africa 204-5 (Rickelton 41, Mulder 5) One run from Lyon’s over. They’re both playing him off the back foot a lot, and he looks like he’s in the game when that happens, pads right in front of stumps, catchers waiting. Just the one wicket for Lyon so far this innings, he needs to deliver on this sense of menace.
76th over: South Africa 203-5 (Rickelton 40, Mulder 5) Don’t get out in the over before lunch? Tick. Don’t get out in the over after lunch? Tick. Call him Ryan Tickelton. Defending stoutly. It might seem incongruous to have Renshaw as the post-prandial bowler, but he’s ticking off a last couple of overs before the second new ball.
Lunch – South Africa 202 for 5, lead by 102 in the third innings
They’re still in it. An even session, only 62 runs added, but it would have been huge for SA had Breetzke still been there. Still, they’ve got their lead past 100, and if they can double that then they’ll be a real show to win this Test. A partnership between these two, some big swings from Big Marco, and that 200 lead could be theirs.
The knife-edge waltz continues!
75th over: South Africa 202-5 (Rickelton 39, Mulder 5) Starc for a second over, annoyed with an extra walk-back and run-up as Mulder pulls out. And if he was annoyed the first time, imagine the second time. Consecutive balls. Starc can’t blame the batter too much though, because the second time was about the towel falling out of the bowler’s waistband. Nasty bouncer, once he’s finally allowed to bowl. Mulder glides the next away, wants a single but Rickelton ignores him, and Mulder isn’t impressed. Might be in the hangry zone with lunch looming. So is Starc, who gets stuck into Mulder about running on the pitch. It’s a preoccupation of Starc’s in recent times, with a few batters, he gets stroppy about that.
It doesn’t get him a wicket though. One no-ball in the over, and that is that.
74th over: South Africa 201-5 (Rickelton 39, Mulder 5) Australia think they have Rickelton’s wicket! Absolutely convinced. But they’re wrong. Renshaw is the bowler, spinner. There’s a huge puff of dust from the ball pitching outside the off stump, and that dust is stirred up again as the toe of the bat clips the ground, I think, or just whooshes through that dust cloud. The ball ends up at slip, but the deflection was not from the outside edge of the bat. Big Rick survives. Big Ren bowls a maiden.
73rd over: South Africa 201-5 (Rickelton 39, Mulder 5) Starc back for Cummins, which is interesting, as he’ll be the new-ball operator, surely. Maybe just two overs here, for something different, then a quick break? Rickelton flashes him away to deep third. Mulder drives at him and nearly edges. That’s the left-arm angle to a right-hander.
72nd over: South Africa 200-5 (Rickelton 38, Mulder 5) They’re a hundred to the good! A single from Lyon completes that. An appeal against Mulder as he pads the ball away, but manages to keep the gloves clear.
