Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test: Australia Player Ratings

Steve Smith and his Australia side were handed their fifth straight defeat in Test matches thus far following the thumping defeat at Hobart. The innings defeat only goes on to prompt the Australian selectors on what needs to be done in the future to avoid such a thumping, to say the least. Although one can certainly point a finger on what went wrong in the match, the report card the selection committee would be holding in their hands would definitely be the one that reads ‘individual performances’. That said, here are the player ratings for Australia in the second Test match at Hobart.

David Warner – 6/10

In spite of the rather rash shot that got him dismissed in the first innings, David Warner was able to pick up the pieces in the second innings. He played rather uncharacteristic innings as he slammed 45 runs in 78 deliveries in a knock that included just the 4 boundaries. However, even the second innings saw Warner dismissed to terrible dismissals when the ball ricocheted off his elbow to fall onto the stumps.

Joe Burns – 2.5/10

The return of Joe Burns has been rather poor since the time he came back into the fold in place of Shaun Marsh. Burns managed just the one solitary run in the match in a performance that included a duck in the second innings. Needless to say, Burns will be left clinging onto his place in the third and final Test.

Usman Khawaja – 6.5/10

In spite of the lack of batting acumen Khawaja showed in the first innings, the southpaw was a breath of fresh air in the second innings wherein he slammed the ball to different parts in a rescue mission for Australia. He managed 64 runs and was one of three batsmen to enter into double digits in the second innings.

Steve Smith – 6.5/10

The Aussie skipper has come under a considerable amount of flak following some sumptuous results in the last few months wherein he has lost all the last five matches he has played. He was the only Australian batsman to enter double digits in both innings in this particular Test match including an impressive and unbeaten 48 in the first innings.

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Adam Voges – 2/10

Apart from all the record Adam Voges holds, they would have meant very little when it came to plying his trade in the diabolical wicket at Hobart. The first innings duck was enough to find that Voges’ weakness lies with the ball swinging away from the off-stump.

Callum Ferguson – 2/10

The debutant had a terrible debut, to say the least. Perhaps one of the memorable things as far as 29-year old Callum Ferguson is concerned would be the baggy green he received on the first day. He managed just the 4 runs in the match, 3 of which came in the first innings wherein he was run out in perhaps one of the most bizarre manners.

Peter Nevill – 4/10

One can cut some slack for Peter Nevill as he is not a specialist batsman. In fact, Nevill’s glove work is something that has gotten him into the side ahead of the likes of Matthew Wade and Tim Paine. However, he backed up this claim with a few catches behind the stumps.

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Joe Mennie – 3.5/10

Another debutant for Australia as the latter continues to be handing out debuts to a plethora of youngsters in recent times. However, Mennie had a debut to forget as the Aussies were thrashed out of sight by some terrific cricket played by the Proteas. Needless to say, Mennie managed the one wicket and the important one of Temba Bavuma.

Mitchell Starc – 6/10

The 27-year old was one of the few shining lights with the ball as he managed to fight through his pain and bowl at astronomical speeds. Although things did not go the way he would have liked, Starc picked three wickets in the only innings the Proteas batted and impressed marginally, to say the least.

Josh Hazelwood – 7/10

The 24-year old Josh Hazelwood was one of the most impressive bowlers in the Test match. Kyle Abbott might have won the man of the match award, but, the fact of the matter remains that Hazelwood has impressed with a herculean effort to bowl out the Proteas on Day 3. He concluded with figures of 6/89, thus trimming the lead the Proteas had in the first innings.

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Nathan Lyon – 2.5/10

On a wicket that offers very little turn, Nathan Lyon was deemed ineffective. He also failed miserably with the bat as well, something the Aussies will be looking into as they go into the Day/Night Test at Adelaide.