Matthew Hayden Critiques South Africa's Performance in WTC Final Against Australia
South Africa's Struggles on Day One
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has expressed his disappointment with South Africa's lack of aggression during the opening day of the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground. After winning the toss, Temba Bavuma's team opted to bowl first against the reigning champions. The South African bowlers seized the opportunity, dismissing Australia for 212 runs in their first innings. Kagiso Rabada was particularly impressive, taking 5 wickets for 51 runs in 15.4 overs, while Marco Jansen contributed with three wickets, significantly impacting Australia's batting lineup.
Hayden's Insights on the Match
Hayden remarked, "I’m not fully convinced it was Australia’s day. South Africa dominated the first session, but Australia’s recovery in the final session, taking nine wickets, was unexpected. The conditions were peculiar, with clouds for half the day and sunshine for the other half. Batting should have been easier, yet it wasn’t. I’d estimate it was about 80% in Australia’s favor, primarily due to South Africa’s lack of intent, starting with Temba Bavuma."
He further added, "As a captain, it’s not solely about making bowling changes; it’s also about establishing a batting tone. Bavuma displayed minimal energy, which is risky against three world-class fast bowlers in favorable conditions. They must approach Day 2 with more determination. Any signs of aggression, even a few boundaries late in the day, will be beneficial. If they fail to do so, Australia will enter Day 2 as strong favorites."
Key Moments from Day 1 of the WTC Final
South Africa opted to bowl first, and Australia found themselves in trouble at 67 for 4 during the initial session. A partnership of 79 runs between Steve Smith (66 runs off 112 balls, including 10 fours) and Beau Webster (72 runs off 92 balls, with 11 fours) helped Australia approach the 200-run mark. However, Kagiso Rabada (5/51) and Marco Jansen (3/49) maintained the pressure, ultimately restricting Australia to 212 runs. South Africa faced a challenging start, losing four wickets for just 43 runs by the end of the day, with none of their batsmen scoring more than 20 runs. Mitchell Starc took two wickets, while captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood each claimed one wicket. South Africa trails by 169 runs.